Inga found Zella, who was living very happy
and contented in her new home. Not only had Nikobob accomplished all
this in a comparatively brief space of time, but he had started the
pearl fisheries again and when King Kitticut returned to Pingaree he
found a quantity of fine pearls already in the royal treasury.

So pleased was Kitticut with the good judgment, industry and honesty of
the former charcoal-burner of Regos, that he made Nikobob his Lord High
Chamberlain and put him in charge of the pearl fisheries and all the
business matters of the island kingdom.

They all settled down very comfortably in the new palace and the Queen
gathered her maids about her once more and set them to work
embroidering new draperies for the royal throne. Inga placed the three
Magic Pearls in their silken bag and again deposited them in the secret
cavity under the tiled flooring of the banquet hall, where they could
be quickly secured if danger ever threatened the now prosperous island.

King Rinkitink occupied a royal guest chamber built especially for his
use and seemed in no hurry to leave his friends in Pingaree. The fat
little King had to walk wherever he went and so missed Bilbil more and
more; but he seldom walked far and he was so fond of Prince BoBo that
he never regretted Bilbil's disenchantment.

Indeed, the jolly monarch was welcome to remain forever in Pingaree, if
he wished to, for his merry disposition set smiles on the faces of all
his friends and made everyone near him as jolly as he was himself. When
King Kitticut was not too busy with affairs of state he loved to join
his guest and listen to his brother monarch's songs and stories. For he
found Rinkitink to be, with all his careless disposition, a shrewd
philosopher, and in talking over their adventures one day the King of
Gilgad said:

"The beauty of life is its sudden changes. No one knows what is going
to happen next, and so we are constantly being surprised and
entertained. The many ups and downs should not discourage us, for if we
are down, we know that a change is coming and we will go up again;
while those who are up are almost certain to go down. My grandfather
had a song which well expresses this and if you will listen I will sing
it."

"Of course I will listen to your song," returned Kitticut, "for it
would be impolite not to."

So Rinkitink sang his grandfather's song:

"A mighty King once ruled the land--
But now he's baking pies.
A paup