ranches of his favorite tree and sat for hours in his
"tree-top rest," reading his father's precious manuscripts and thinking
upon what he read.

You must not think that Inga was a mollycoddle or a prig, because he was
so solemn and studious. Being a King's son and heir to a throne, he
could not play with the other boys of Pingaree, and he lived so much in
the society of the King and Queen, and was so surrounded by the pomp and
dignity of a court, that he missed all the jolly times that boys usually
have. I have no doubt that had he been able to live as other boys do, he
would have been much like other boys; as it was, he was subdued by his
surroundings, and more grave and thoughtful than one of his years should
be.

Inga was in his tree one morning when, without warning, a great fog
enveloped the Island of Pingaree. The boy could scarcely see the tree
next to that in which he sat, but the leaves above him prevented the
dampness from wetting him, so he curled himself up in his seat and fell
fast asleep.

[Illustration]

All that forenoon the fog continued. King Kitticut, who sat in his
palace talking with his merry visitor, ordered the candles lighted, that
they might be able to see one another. The good Queen, Inga's mother,
found it was too dark to work at her embroidery, so she called her
maidens together and told them wonderful stories of bygone days, in
order to pass away the dreary hours.

But soon after noon the weather changed. The dense fog rolled away like
a heavy cloud and suddenly the sun shot his bright rays over the island.

"Very good!" exclaimed King Kitticut. "We shall have a pleasant
afternoon, I am sure," and he blew out the candles.

Then he stood a moment motionless, as if turned to stone, for a terrible
cry from without the palace reached his ears--a cry so full of fear and
horror that the King's heart almost stopped beating. Immediately there
was a scurrying of feet as every one in the palace, filled with dismay,
rushed outside to see what had happened. Even fat little Rinkitink
sprang from his chair and followed his host and the others through the
arched vestibule.

After many years the worst fears of King Kitticut were realized.

[Illustration]

Landing upon the beach, which was but a few steps from the palace
itself, were hundreds of boats, every one filled with a throng of fierce
warriors. They sprang upon the land with wild shouts of defiance and
rushed to the King's palace, wavi