登陆注册
5240600000032

第32章 Chapter Thirteen Zella Saves the Prince(2)

While Zella sat horrified by this scene, the Prince, who realized he had no time to waste, reached out and pulled the right shoe from the girl's foot, quickly placing it upon his own. Then he stood up and, facing the furious but astonished Queen, said to her in a quiet voice:

"Madam, please give me that whip."

"I won't!" answered Cor. "I'm going to lash those Pingaree women with it."

The boy seized hold of the whip and with irresistible strength drew it from the Queen's hand. But she drew from her bosom a sharp dagger and with the swiftness of lightning aimed a blow at Inga's heart. He merely stood still and smiled, for the blade rebounded and fell clattering to the floor.

Then, at last, Queen Cor understood the magic power that had terrified her husband but which she had ridiculed in her ignorance, not believing in it. She did not know that Inga's power had been lost, and found again, but she realized the boy was no common foe and that unless she could still manage to outwit him her reign in the Island of Coregos was ended. To gain time, she went back to the red-domed chamber and seated herself in her throne, before which were grouped the weeping slaves from Pingaree.

Inga had taken Zella's hand and assisted her to put on the shoes he had given her in exchange for his own.

She found them quite comfortable and did not know she had lost anything by the transfer.

"Come with me," then said the boy Prince, and led her into the presence of Queen Cor, who was giving Rinkitink a scolding. To the overseer Inga said.

"Give me the keys which unlock these chains, that I may set these poor women at liberty."

"Don't you do it!" screamed Queen Cor.

"If you interfere, madam," said the boy, "I will put you into a dungeon."

By this Rinkitink knew that Inga had recovered his Magic Pearls and the little fat King was so overjoyed that he danced and capered all around the room. But the Queen was alarmed at the threat and the slave driver, fearing the conqueror of Regos, tremblingly gave up the keys.

Inga quickly removed all the shackles from the women of his country and comforted them, telling them they should work no more but would soon be restored to their homes in Pingaree. Then he commanded the slave driver to go and get all the children who had been made slaves, and to bring them to their mothers. The man obeyed and left at once to perform his errand, while Queen Cor, growing more and more uneasy, suddenly sprang from her throne and before Inga could stop her had rushed through the room and out into the courtyard of the palace, meaning to make her escape. Rinkitink followed her, running as fast as he could go.

It was at this moment that Bilbil, in his mad dash from Regos, turned in at the gates of the courtyard, and as he was coming one way and Queen Cor was going the other they bumped into each other with great force.

The woman sailed through the air, over Bilbil's head, and landed on the ground outside the gates, where her crown rolled into a ditch and she picked herself up, half dazed, and continued her flight. Bilbil was also somewhat dazed by the unexpected encounter, but he continued his rush rather blindly and so struck poor Rinkitink, who was chasing after Queen Cor. They rolled over one another a few times and then Rinkitink sat up and Bilbil sat up and they looked at each other in amazement.

"Bilbil," said the King, "I'm astonished at you!"

"Your Majesty," said Bilbil, "I expected kinder treatment at your hands."

"You interrupted me," said Rinkitink.

"There was plenty of room without your taking my path," declared the goat.

And then Inga came running out and said. "Where is the Queen?"

"Gone," replied Rinkitink, "but she cannot go far, as this is an island. However, I have found Bilbil, and our party is again reunited. You have recovered your magic powers, and again we are masters of the situation. So let us be thankful."

Saying this, the good little King got upon his feet and limped back into the throne room to help comfort the women.

Presently the children of Pingaree, who had been gathered together by the overseer, were brought in and restored to their mothers, and there was great rejoicing among them, you may be sure.

"But where is Queen Garee, my dear mother?" questioned Inga; but the women did not know and it was some time before the overseer remembered that one of the slaves from Pingaree had been placed in the royal dairy. Perhaps this was the woman the boy was seeking.

Inga at once commanded him to lead the way to the butter house, but when they arrived there Queen Garee was nowhere in the place, although the boy found a silk scarf which he recognized as one that his mother used to wear. Then they began a search throughout the island of Coregos, but could not find Inga's mother anywhere.

When they returned to the palace of Queen Cor, Rinkitink discovered that the bridge of boats had again been removed, separating them from Regos, and from this they suspected that Queen Cor had fled to her husband's island and had taken Queen Garee with her. Inga was much perplexed what to do and returned with his friends to the palace to talk the matter over.

Zella was now crying because she had not sold her honey and was unable to return to her parents on the island of Regos, but the boy prince comforted her and promised she should be protected until she could be restored to her home. Rinkitink found Queen Cor's purse, which she had had no time to take with her, and gave Zella several gold pieces for the honey. Then Inga ordered the palace servants to prepare a feast for all the women and children of Pingaree and to prepare for them beds in the great palace, which was large enough to accommodate them all.

Then the boy and the goat and Rinkitink and Zella went into a private room to consider what should be done next.

同类推荐
  • 天童觉和尚语录

    天童觉和尚语录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 太清石壁记

    太清石壁记

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 佛说咒时气病经

    佛说咒时气病经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • Frances Waldeaux

    Frances Waldeaux

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • Colonel Chabert

    Colonel Chabert

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 恶魔小姐别乱跑

    恶魔小姐别乱跑

    纪晴居然敢站在凳子上和顾凌呈吵架!她纪晴可不是好惹的,长得矮站的高不就好了!集团被暗网操作者重新洗牌,父亲车祸身亡,但凡敢帮助她的人公司一个个轮着倒闭。六年来,在每天日以继夜的练习,学习,就是为了找到暗网操作者为父亲洗冤。六年的寻找,他已经变得足够强大足够保护她,却一点消息都没有。直到酒会上,看到这张熟悉的脸!“纪晴,你去哪里了?”顾凌呈将她抱得死死的。“不好意思,你认错人了,我叫陈婧悦…”他绝不会认错。如今出现在她身边的人又是谁?她要找暗网,他就帮她。哪怕倾尽所有,也会帮她。…………
  • 皇家幼儿园

    皇家幼儿园

    各位朝中的大叔大哥们,把你家的儿子女儿都交给本公主教育吧!保证师资力量雄厚,宰相大人教历史,状元郎教诗书,还有将军大人负责兵法,连女孩子的女工都是太后亲自教导。哪里去找这么厉害的幼儿园?快来速速报名!
  • 他们都是木偶人

    他们都是木偶人

    继《望天树杀人事件》之后,庄秦再次带你追溯恐惧之源!当你回头看到它,请不要尖叫!它会拔掉你的舌头,叫你闭嘴!来自地狱深渊的死亡木偶,噩梦惊魂,庄秦制造。她从身后拿出一个黑糊糊的木偶,突然张开嘴,露出一排白森森的牙齿,还有血红的舌头。一丝嘶哑的声音从她的齿缝中幽幽传了出来:"我们都是木偶人,不能说话不能动。”
  • TFBOYS之书缘

    TFBOYS之书缘

    一本小小的本子,连接了一个偶像与粉丝,距离从未改变,却也就此改变。
  • 己酉避乱录

    己酉避乱录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 喜欢你每天都有据可查

    喜欢你每天都有据可查

    我想写出我和你之间所有爱情的模样。我喜欢你,我想每天在有你的清晨醒来。我喜欢你,我想我的余生都是你。我喜欢你,我想和你一起在夕阳下漫步,想和你一起去旅游,想和你一起到达生命的最后一刻......我喜欢你,每天都有据可查。
  • 美漫里的家教

    美漫里的家教

    达米安韦恩又把老师气走了,随意他父亲只能再请一个呗。不过,这个家庭教师似乎不一般。成为DC宇宙里各种熊孩子的老师,想想都觉得好刺激啊!(虽说是美漫,其实就是DC宇宙里的,┑( ̄Д ̄)┍)
  • 疯狂的炸弹

    疯狂的炸弹

    夜幕,大网似的从天而降,罩住了清源城。月光下,四野一片寂静。欧阳夏雪颓然地坐在鱼塘边上,接连甩了几竿,不见鱼儿上钩,低低叹了口气,就目光空空地望向了罗格。罗格不像夏雪一样焦躁,他对垂钓有自己的理解。钓鱼,本是一个兴趣之事,志趣在钓,并不为鱼。况且,鱼塘的鱼,钓上之后要上秤,比鱼市上的价格高出好几倍。不合算呦!罗格叼着烟,盯着鱼塘,眼神突然一闪。
  • 种田后嫁了个傲娇夫君

    种田后嫁了个傲娇夫君

    新坑种田文《娇娇女的古代团宠生活》已开坑,超级甜宠爽文,女主可甜可盐,欢迎入坑一朝穿越,金牌特工变丧门星,车子房子美男子转眼成空,只剩极品渣亲一箩筐。容九撸起袖子就干,虐渣发家两不误,顺便调教傲娇冰山美相公。不想这货太上道:“确认过眼神,你是我要宠的人!”
  • 沟通有艺术

    沟通有艺术

    什么是沟通?简单地说,就是为人处事的方法和技巧。戴尔?卡耐基认为人际关系是取得成功的重要因素,他指出:一个人事业的成功,只有15%是由于他的专业技术,另外的85%要靠人际关系、处事技巧。要想取得有效沟通的真经,也不是什么难事。本书以“沟通”为圆心,以各个成功的事例为半径,为广大急于求知的读者阐述了沟通的艺术、方法。它分别从朋友、异性、陌生人、家庭、职场、商场、情感、应酬、办事、社交等十个方面阐述了沟通的技巧。