:

"Are you also going to consult that empty-headed King over yonder?"

"I am sorry to hear you speak of your kind master in such a way," said
the boy gravely. "All men are deserving of respect, being the highest of
living creatures, and Kings deserve respect more than others, for they
are set to rule over many people."

"Nevertheless," said Bilbil with conviction, "Rinkitink's head is
certainly empty of brains."

"That I am unwilling to believe," insisted Inga. "But anyway his heart
is kind and gentle and that is better than being wise. He is merry in
spite of misfortunes that would cause others to weep and he never speaks
harsh words that wound the feelings of his friends."

"Still," growled Bilbil, "he is--"

"Let us forget everything but his good nature, which puts new heart into
us when we are sad," advised the boy.

"But he is--"

"Come with, me, please," interrupted Inga, "for the matter of which I
wish to speak is very important."

Bilbil followed him, although the boy still heard the goat muttering
that the King had no brains. Rinkitink, seeing them turn into the ruins,
also followed, and upon joining them asked for his breakfast.

Inga opened the sack of food and while he and the King ate of it the boy
said:

"If I could find a way to remove some of the blocks of marble which have
fallen in the banquet hall, I think I could find means for us to escape
from this barren island."

"Then," mumbled Rinkitink, with his mouth full, "let us move the blocks
of marble."

"But how?" inquired Prince Inga. "They are very heavy."

"Ah, how, indeed?" returned the King, smacking his lips contentedly.
"That is a serious question. But--I have it! Let us see what my famous
parchment says about it." He wiped his fingers upon a napkin and then,
taking the scroll from a pocket inside his embroidered blouse, he
unrolled it and read the following words: "'Never step on another man's
toes.'"

The goat gave a snort of contempt; Inga was silent; the King looked from
one to the other inquiringly.

"That's the idea, exactly!" declared Rinkitink.

"To be sure," said Bilbil scornfully, "it tells us exactly how to move
the blocks of marble."

"Oh, does it?" responded the King, and then for a moment he rubbed the
top of his bald head in a perplexed manner. The next moment he burst
into a peal of joyous laughter. The goat looked at Inga and sighed.

"What did I tell you?" asked the creature. "Was I right, or was I
wro