old in the center, over which was draped the King's royal robe of
purple velvet, embroidered with gold buttercups.

Rinkitink shuddered when he saw this throne; but now a tall man,
handsomely dressed, approached and knelt upon the grass before his King,
while all the other occupants of the boats shouted joyfully and waved
their plumed hats in the air.

"Thanks to our good fortune," said the man who kneeled, "we have found
Your Majesty at last!"

"Pinkerbloo," answered Rinkitink sternly, "I must have you hanged, for
thus finding me against my will."

"You think so now, Your Majesty, but you will never do it," returned
Pinkerbloo, rising and kissing the King's hand.

"Why won't I?" asked Rinkitink.

"Because you are much too tender-hearted, Your Majesty."

"It may be--it may be," agreed Rinkitink, sadly. "It is one of my
greatest failings. But what chance brought you here, my Lord
Pinkerbloo?"

"We have searched for you everywhere, sire, and all the people of Gilgad
have been in despair since you so mysteriously disappeared. We could not
appoint a new King, because we did not know but that you still lived;
so we set out to find you, dead or alive. After visiting many islands of
the Nonestic Ocean we at last thought of Pingaree, from where come the
precious pearls; and now our faithful quest has been rewarded."

"And what now?" asked Rinkitink.

"Now, Your Majesty, you must come home with us, like a good and dutiful
King, and rule over your people," declared the man in a firm voice.

"I will not."

"But you must--begging Your Majesty's pardon for the contradiction."

"Kitticut," cried poor Rinkitink, "you must save me from being captured
by these, my subjects. What! must I return to Gilgad and be forced to
reign in splendid state when I much prefer to eat and sleep and sing in
my own quiet way? They will make me sit in a throne three hours a day
and listen to dry and tedious affairs of state; and I must stand up for
hours at the court receptions, till I get corns on my heels; and forever
must I listen to tiresome speeches and endless petitions and
complaints!"

"But someone must do this, Your Majesty," said Pinkerbloo respectfully,
"and since you were born to be our King you cannot escape your duty."

[Illustration]

"'Tis a horrid fate!" moaned Rinkitink. "I would die willingly, rather
than be a King--if it did not hurt so terribly to die."

"You will find it much more comfortable to reign than to die