companions were free
from danger--for a time, at least.

The jolly little King appreciated this fact and rejoiced that he had
escaped all injury during the battle. How it had all happened he could
not tell, nor even guess, but he was content in being safe and free to
take possession of the enemy's city. So, as they passed through the
lines of respectful civilians on their way to the palace, the King
tipped his crown back on his bald head and folded his arms and sang in
his best voice the following lines:

"Oh, here comes the army of King Rinkitink!
It isn't a big one, perhaps you may think,
But it scattered the warriors quicker than wink--
Rink-i-tink, tink-i-tink, tink!
Our Bilbil's a hero and so is his King;
Our foemen have vanished like birds on the wing;
I guess that as fighters we're quite the real thing--
Rink-i-tink, tink-i-tink, tink!"

"Why don't you give a little credit to Inga?" inquired the goat. "If I
remember aright, he did a little of the conquering himself."

"So he did," responded the King, "and that's the reason I'm sounding our
own praise, Bilbil. Those who do the least, often shout the loudest and
so get the most glory. Inga did so much that there is danger of his
becoming more important than we are, and so we'd best say nothing about
him."

When they reached the palace, which was an immense building, furnished
throughout in regal splendor, Inga took formal possession and ordered
the majordomo to show them the finest rooms the building contained.
There were many pleasant apartments, but Rinkitink proposed to Inga that
they share one of the largest bedrooms together.

"For," said he, "we are not sure that old Gos will not return and try to
recapture his city, and you must remember that I have no magic to
protect me. In any danger, were I alone, I might be easily killed or
captured, while if you are by my side you can save me from injury."

The boy realized the wisdom of this plan, and selected a fine big
bedroom on the second floor of the palace, in which he ordered two
golden beds placed and prepared for King Rinkitink and himself. Bilbil
was given a suite of rooms on the other side of the palace, where
servants brought the goat fresh-cut grass to eat and made him a soft bed
to lie upon.

That evening the boy Prince and the fat King dined in great state in the
lofty-domed dining-hall of the palace, where forty servants waited upon
them. The royal chef, anxious to w