the prisoners you
have brought here, and why do you place them in my charge instead of
guarding them yourself? They seem gentle enough, I'm sure."

"The prisoners," returned King Gos, "are the King and Queen of Pingaree,
a small island north of here. They are very evil people and came to our
islands of Regos and Coregos to conquer them and slay our poor people.
Also they intended to plunder us of all our riches, but by good fortune
we were able to defeat and capture them. However, they have a son who is
a terrible wizard and who by magic art is trying to find this awful King
and Queen of Pingaree, and to set them free, that they may continue
their wicked deeds. Therefore, as we have no magic to defend ourselves
with, we have brought the prisoners to you for safe keeping."

"Your Majesty," spoke up King Kitticut, addressing the Nome King with
great indignation, "do not believe this tale, I implore you. It is all a
lie!"

"I know it," said Kaliko. "I consider it a clever lie, though, because
it is woven without a thread of truth. However, that is none of my
business. The fact remains that my good friend King Gos wishes to put
you in my underground caverns, so that you will be unable to escape. And
why should I not please him in this little matter? Gos is a mighty King
and a great warrior, while your island of Pingaree is desolated and your
people scattered. In my heart, King Kitticut, I sympathize with you, but
as a matter of business policy we powerful Kings must stand together and
trample the weaker ones under our feet."

King Kitticut was surprised to find the King of the nomes so candid and
so well informed, and he tried to argue that he and his gentle wife did
not deserve their cruel fate and that it would be wiser for Kaliko to
side with them than with the evil King of Regos. But Kaliko only shook
his head and smiled, saying:

[Illustration]

"The fact that you are a prisoner, my poor Kitticut, is evidence that
you are weaker than King Gos, and I prefer to deal with the strong. By
the way," he added, turning to the King of Regos, "have these prisoners
any connection with the Land of Oz?"

"Why do you ask?" said Gos.

"Because I dare not offend the Oz people," was the reply. "I am very
powerful, as you know, but Ozma of Oz is far more powerful than I;
therefore, if this King and Queen of Pingaree happened to be under
Ozma's protection, I would have nothing to do with them."

"I assure Your Majesty that the