feels. I
assure you, good Nikobob, that I quite enjoy my high rank, although a
jeweled crown is rather heavy to wear in hot weather."

"With you, noble sir, it is different," said Nikobob, "for you are far
from your kingdom and its trials and worries and may do as you please.
But to remain in Regos, as King over these fierce and unruly warriors,
would be to live in constant anxiety and peril, and the chances are that
they would murder me within a month. As I have done no harm to anyone
and have tried to be a good and upright man, I do not think that I
should be condemned to such a dreadful fate."

"Very well," replied Inga, "we will say no more about your being King. I
merely wanted to make you rich and prosperous, as I had promised Zella."

"Please forget that promise," pleaded the charcoal-burner, earnestly; "I
have been safe from molestation for many years, because I was poor and
possessed nothing that anyone else could envy. But if you make me rich
and prosperous I shall at once become the prey of thieves and marauders
and probably will lose my life in the attempt to protect my fortune."

Inga looked at the man in surprise.

"What, then, can I do to please you?" he inquired.

"Nothing more than to allow me to go home to my poor cabin," said
Nikobob.

"Perhaps," remarked King Rinkitink, "the charcoal-burner has more wisdom
concealed in that hard head of his than we gave him credit for. But let
us use that wisdom, for the present, to counsel us what to do in this
emergency."

[Illustration]

"What you call my wisdom," said Nikobob, "is merely common sense. I have
noticed that some men become rich, and are scorned by some and robbed by
others. Other men become famous, and are mocked at and derided by their
fellows. But the poor and humble man who lives unnoticed and unknown
escapes all these troubles and is the only one who can appreciate the
joy of living."

"If I had a hand, instead of a cloven hoof, I'd like to shake hands with
you, Nikobob," said Bilbil the goat. "But the poor man must not have a
cruel master, or he is undone."

During the council they found, indeed, that the advice of the
charcoal-burner was both shrewd and sensible, and they profited much by
his words.

Inga gave Captain Buzzub the command of the warriors and made him
promise to keep his men quiet and orderly--if he could. Then the boy
allowed all of King Gos's former slaves, except those who came from
Pingaree, to choose what boa