land
again."

[Illustration]

"Let me take the oars," suggested Inga. "You must not forget our
bargain."

"No, indeed," answered Rinkitink. "If you can row us to Regos, or to any
other place, I will go with you without protest."

[Illustration]

So the King took Inga's place in the stern of the boat and the boy
grasped the oars and commenced to row. And now, to the great wonder of
Rinkitink--and even to Inga's surprise--the oars became light as
feathers as soon as the Prince took hold of them. In an instant the boat
began to glide rapidly through the water and, seeing this, the boy
turned its prow toward the north. He did not know exactly where Regos
and Coregos were located, but he did know that the islands lay to the
north of Pingaree, so he decided to trust to luck and the guidance of
the pearls to carry him to them.

Gradually the Island of Pingaree became smaller to their view as the
boat sped onward, until at the end of an hour they had lost sight of it
altogether and were wholly surrounded by the purple waters of the
Nonestic Ocean.

Prince Inga did not tire from the labor of rowing; indeed, it seemed to
him no labor at all. Once he stopped long enough to place the poles of
the canopy in the holes that had been made for them, in the edges of the
boat, and to spread the canopy of silver over the poles, for Rinkitink
had complained of the sun's heat. But the canopy shut out the hot rays
and rendered the interior of the boat cool and pleasant.

"This is a glorious ride!" cried Rinkitink, as he lay back in the shade.
"I find it a decided relief to be away from that dismal island of
Pingaree."

"It may be a relief for a short time," said Bilbil, "but you are going
to the land of your enemies, who will probably stick your fat body full
of spears and arrows."

"Oh, I hope not!" exclaimed Inga, distressed at the thought.

"Never mind," said the King calmly, "a man can die but once, you know,
and when the enemy kills me I shall beg him to kill Bilbil, also, that
we may remain together in death as in life."

"They may be cannibals, in which case they will roast and eat us,"
suggested Bilbil, who wished to terrify his master.

"Who knows?" answered Rinkitink, with a shudder. "But cheer up, Bilbil;
they may not kill us after all, or even capture us; so let us not borrow
trouble. Do not look so cross, my sprightly quadruped, and I will sing
to amuse you."

"Your song would make me more cross than ever," gr