ught over this plan and that, and
tried to decide which was most likely to succeed. She had never seen
the boy Prince but had heard so many tales of him from the defeated
warriors, and especially from Captain Buzzub, that she had learned to
respect his power.

Spurred on by the knowledge that she would never get rid of her
unwelcome guests until Prince Inga was overcome and Regos regained for
King Gos, the Queen of Coregos finally decided to trust to luck and her
native wit to defeat a simple-minded boy, however powerful he might be.
Inga could not suspect what she was going to do, because she did not
know herself. She intended to act boldly and trust to chance to win.

It is evident that had the cunning Queen known that Inga had lost all
his magic, she would not have devoted so much time to the simple matter
of capturing him, but like all others she was impressed by the
marvelous exhibition of power he had shown in capturing Regos, and had
no reason to believe the boy was less powerful now.

One morning Queen Cor boldly entered a boat, and, taking four men with
her as an escort and bodyguard, was rowed across the narrow channel to
Regos. Prince Inga was sitting in the palace playing checkers with King
Rinkitink when a servant came to him, saying that Queen Cor had arrived
and desired an audience with him.

With many misgivings lest the wicked Queen discover that he had now
lost his magic powers, the boy ordered her to be admitted, and she soon
entered the room and bowed low before him, in mock respect.

Cor was a big woman, almost as tall as King Gos. She had flashing black
eyes and the dark complexion you see on gypsies. Her temper, when
irritated, was something dreadful, and her face wore an evil expression
which she tried to cover by smiling sweetly--often when she meant the
most mischief.

"I have come," said she in a low voice, "to render homage to the noble
Prince of Pingaree. I am told that Your Highness is the strongest
person in the world, and invincible in battle, and therefore I wish you
to become my friend, rather than my enemy."

Now Inga did not know how to reply to this speech. He disliked the
appearance of the woman and was afraid of her and he was unused to
deception and did not know how to mask his real feelings. So he took
time to think over his answer, which he finally made in these words:

"I have no quarrel with Your Majesty, and my only reason for coming
here is to liberate my father and