out for a nursemaid?"

"I do not recall it just now," said Rinkitink, with a wink at Inga.

"Well, the bear tried to sing a lullaby to put the baby to sleep."

"And then?" said the King.

"The bear was highly pleased with its own voice, but the baby was nearly
frightened to death."

"Heh, heh, heh, heh, whoo, hoo, hoo! You are a merry rogue, Bilbil,"
laughed the King; "a merry rogue in spite of your gloomy features.
However, if I have not amused you, I have at least pleased myself, for I
am exceedingly fond of a good song. So let us say no more about it."

All this time the boy Prince was rowing the boat. He was not in the
least tired, for the oars he held seemed to move of their own accord. He
paid little heed to the conversation of Rinkitink and the goat, but
busied his thoughts with plans of what he should do when he reached the
islands of Regos and Coregos and confronted his enemies. When the others
finally became silent, Inga inquired:

"Can you fight, King Rinkitink?"

[Illustration]

"I have never tried," was the answer. "In time of danger I have found
it much easier to run away than to face the foe."

"But _could_ you fight?" asked the boy.

"I might try, if there was no chance to escape by running. Have you a
proper weapon for me to fight with?"

"I have no weapon at all," confessed Inga.

"Then let us use argument and persuasion instead of fighting. For
instance, if we could persuade the warriors of Regos to lie down, and
let me step on them, they would be crushed with ease."

Prince Inga had expected little support from the King, so he was not
discouraged by this answer. After all, he reflected, a conquest by
battle would be out of the question, yet the White Pearl would not have
advised him to go to Regos and Coregos had the mission been a hopeless
one. It seemed to him, on further reflection, that he must rely upon
circumstances to determine his actions when he reached the islands of
the barbarians.

By this time Inga felt perfect confidence in the Magic Pearls. It was
the White Pearl that had given him the boat, and the Blue Pearl that had
given him strength to row it. He believed that the Pink Pearl would
protect him from any danger that might arise; so his anxiety was not
for himself, but for his companions. King Rinkitink and the goat had no
magic to protect them, so Inga resolved to do all in his power to keep
them from harm.

For three days and three nights the boat with the silver