, although I
fully appreciate Your Majesty's difficult position and am truly sorry
for you," said Pinkerbloo.

King Kitticut had listened to this conversation thoughtfully, so now he
said to his friend:

"The man is right, dear Rinkitink. It is your duty to reign, since fate
has made you a King, and I see no honorable escape for you. I shall
grieve to lose your companionship, but I feel the separation cannot be
avoided."

Rinkitink sighed.

"Then," said he, turning to Lord Pinkerbloo, "in three days I will
depart with you for Gilgad; but during those three days I propose to
feast and make merry with my good friend King Kitticut."

Then all the people of Gilgad shouted with delight and eagerly scrambled
ashore to take their part in the festival.

Those three days were long remembered in Pingaree, for never--before nor
since--has such feasting and jollity been known upon that island.
Rinkitink made the most of his time and everyone laughed and sang with
him by day and by night.

Then, at last, the hour of parting arrived and the King of Gilgad and
Ruler of the Dominion of Rinkitink was escorted by a grand procession to
his boat and seated upon his golden throne. The rowers of the fifty
boats paused, with their glittering oars pointed into the air like
gigantic uplifted sabres, while the people of Pingaree--men, women and
children--stood upon the shore shouting a royal farewell to the jolly
King.

Then came a sudden hush, while Rinkitink stood up and, with a bow to
those assembled to witness his departure, sang the following song, which
he had just composed for the occasion.

"Farewell, dear Isle of Pingaree--
The fairest land in all the sea!
No living mortals, kings or churls,
Would scorn to wear thy precious pearls.

"King Kitticut, 'tis with regret
I'm forced to say farewell; and yet
Abroad no longer can I roam
When fifty boats would drag me home.

"Good-bye, my Prince of Pingaree;
A noble King some time you'll be
And long and wisely may you reign
And never face a foe again!"

[Illustration]

They cheered him from the shore; they cheered him from the boats; and
then all the oars of the fifty boats swept downward with a single motion
and dipped their blades into the purple-hued waters of the Nonestic
Ocean.

As the boats shot swiftly over the ripples of the sea Rinkitink turned
to Prince Bobo, who had decided not to desert his former master and his
present friend, and aske