of civilization that gives our modern children
such advantages as schools and learned professors, but the King owned
several manuscript books, the pages being made of sheepskin. Being a man
of intelligence, he was able to teach his son something of reading,
writing and arithmetic.

When studying his lessons Prince Inga used to go into the grove near his
father's palace and climb into the branches of a tall tree, where he had
built a platform with a comfortable seat to rest upon, all hidden by the
canopy of leaves. There, with no one to disturb him, he would pore over
the sheepskin on which were written the queer characters of the
Pingarese language.

King Kitticut was very proud of his little son, as well he might be, and
he soon felt a high respect for Inga's judgment and thought that he was
worthy to be taken into the confidence of his father in many matters of
state. He taught the boy the needs of the people and how to rule them
justly, for some day he knew that Inga would be King in his place. One
day he called his son to his side and said to him:

"Our island now seems peaceful enough, Inga, and we are happy and
prosperous, but I cannot forget those terrible people of Regos and
Coregos. My constant fear is that they will send a fleet of boats to
search for those of their race whom we defeated many years ago, and whom
the sea afterwards destroyed. If the warriors come in great numbers we
may be unable to oppose them, for my people are little trained to
fighting at best; they surely would cause us much injury and suffering."

"Are we, then, less powerful than in my grandfather's day?" asked Prince
Inga.

The King shook his head thoughtfully.

"It is not that," said he. "That you may fully understand that marvelous
battle, I must confide to you a great secret. I have in my possession
three Magic Talismans, which I have ever guarded with utmost care,
keeping the knowledge of their existence from anyone else. But, lest I
should die and the secret be lost, I have decided to tell you what these
talismans are and where they are hidden. Come with me, my son."

He led the way through the rooms of the palace until they came to the
great banquet hall. There, stopping in the center of the room, he
stooped down and touched a hidden spring in the tiled floor. At once one
of the tiles sank downward and the King reached within the cavity and
drew out a silken bag.

This bag he proceeded to open, showing Inga that it conta