e heard Inga say triumphantly, "We have won the fight
without striking a blow!" that Rinkitink dared open his eyes again.
Then he saw the warriors rushing into the City of Regos and barring the
heavy gates, and he was very much relieved at the sight.

"Without striking a blow!" said Bilbil indignantly. "That is not quite
true, Prince Inga. You did not fight, I admit, but I struck a couple of
times to good purpose, and I claim to have conquered the cowardly
warriors unaided."

"You and I together, Bilbil," said Rinkitink mildly. "But the next time
you make a charge, please warn me in time, so that I may dismount and
give you all the credit for the attack."

There being no one now to oppose their advance, the three walked to the
gates of the city, which had been closed against them. The gates were
of iron and heavily barred, and upon the top of the high walls of the
city a host of the warriors now appeared armed with arrows and spears
and other weapons. For Buzzub had gone straight to the palace of King
Cos and reported his defeat, relating the powerful magic of the boy,
the fat King and the goat, and had asked what to do next.

The big captain still trembled with fear, but King Gos did not believe
in magic, and called Buzzub a coward and a weakling. At once the King
took command of his men personally, and he ordered the walls manned
with warriors and instructed them to shoot to kill if any of the three
strangers approached the gates.

Of course, neither Rinkitink nor Bilbil knew how they had been
protected from harm and so at first they were inclined to resent the
boy's command that the three must always keep together and touch one
another at all times. But when Inga explained that his magic would not
otherwise save them from injury, they agreed to obey, for they had now
seen enough to convince them that the Prince was really protected by
some invisible power.

As they came before the gates another shower of arrows and spears
descended upon them, and as before not a single missile touched their
bodies. King Gos, who was upon the wall, was greatly amazed and
somewhat worried, but he depended upon the strength of his gates and
commanded his men to continue shooting until all their weapons were
gone.

Inga let them shoot as much as they wished, while he stood before the
great gates and examined them carefully.

"Perhaps Bilbil can batter down the gates, suggested Rinkitink.

"No," replied the goat; "my head is ha