ng shall be done to make you comfortable and happy."

"Much obliged," answered Rinkitink, tipping his white cap over his left
ear and heartily shaking the hand of his brother monarch. "I'm sure you
can make me comfortable if you've plenty to eat. And as for being
happy--ha, ha, ha, ha!--why, that's my trouble. I'm too happy. But
stop! I've brought you some presents in those boxes. Please order your
men to carry them up to the palace."

"Certainly," answered King Kitticut, well pleased, and at once he gave
his men the proper orders.

"And, by the way," continued the fat little King, "let them also take
my goat from his cage."

"A goat!" exclaimed the King of Pingaree.

"Exactly; my goat Bilbil. I always ride him wherever I go, for I'm not
at all fond of walking, being a trifle stout--eh, Kitticut?--a trifle
stout! Hoo, hoo, hoo-keek, eek!"

The Pingaree people started to lift the big cage out of the boat, but
just then a gruff voice cried: "Be careful, you villains!" and as the
words seemed to come from the goat's mouth the men were so astonished
that they dropped the cage upon the sand with a sudden jar.

"There! I told you so!" cried the voice angrily. "You've rubbed the
skin off my left knee. Why on earth didn't you handle me gently?"

"There, there, Bilbil," said King Rinkitink soothingly; "don't scold,
my boy. Remember that these are strangers, and we their guests." Then
he turned to Kitticut and remarked: "You have no talking goats on your
island, I suppose."

"We have no goats at all," replied the King; "nor have we any animals,
of any sort, who are able to talk."

"I wish my animal couldn't talk, either," said Rinkitink, winking
comically at Inga and then looking toward the cage. "He is very cross
at times, and indulges in language that is not respectful. I thought,
at first, it would be fine to have a talking goat, with whom I could
converse as I rode about my city on his back;
but--keek-eek-eek-eek!--the rascal treats me as if I were a chimney
sweep instead of a King. Heh, heh, heh, keek, eek! A chimney sweep-hoo,
hoo, hoo!--and me a King! Funny, isn't it?" This last was addressed to
Prince Inga, whom he chucked familiarly under the chin, to the boy's
great embarrassment.

"Why do you not ride a horse?" asked King Kitticut.

"I can't climb upon his back, being rather stout; that's why. Kee, kee,
keek, eek!--rather stout--hoo, hoo, hoo!" He paused to wipe the tears
of merriment from his eyes and t