. I have always wanted to
visit the Nome Country, which is full of mystery and magic and all sorts
of adventures, but my devoted subjects forbade me to think of such a
thing, fearing I would get hurt or enchanted."

"Are you afraid, now that you are here?" asked Inga.

"A little, but not much, for they say the new Nome King is not as wicked
as the old King used to be. Still, we are undertaking a dangerous
journey and I think you ought to protect me by lending me one of your
pearls."

Inga thought this over and it seemed a reasonable request.

"Which pearl would you like to have?" asked the boy.

"Well, let us see," returned Rinkitink; "you may need strength to
liberate your captive parents, so you must keep the Blue Pearl. And you
will need the advice of the White Pearl, so you had best keep that also.
But in case we should be separated I would have nothing to protect me
from harm, so you ought to lend me the Pink Pearl."

"Very well," agreed Inga, and sitting down upon a rock he removed his
right shoe and after withdrawing the cloth from the pointed toe took out
the Pink Pearl--the one which protected from any harm the person who
carried it.

"Where can you put it, to keep it safely?" he asked.

"In my vest pocket," replied the King. "The pocket has a flap to it and
I can pin it down in such a way that the pearl cannot get out and become
lost. As for robbery, no one with evil intent can touch my person while
I have the pearl."

So Inga gave Rinkitink the Pink Pearl and the little King placed it in
the pocket of his red-and-green brocaded velvet vest, pinning the flap
of the pocket down tightly.

[Illustration]

They now resumed their journey and finally reached the entrance to the
Nome King's caverns. Placing the White Pearl to his ear, Inga asked:
"What shall I do now?" and the Voice of the Pearl replied: "Clap your
hands together four times and call aloud the word 'Klik.' Then allow
yourselves to be conducted to the Nome King, who is now holding your
father and mother captive."

Inga followed these instructions and when Klik appeared in answer to his
summons the boy requested an audience of the Nome King. So Klik led them
into the presence of King Kaliko, who was suffering from a severe
headache, due to his revelry the night before, and therefore was
unusually cross and grumpy.

"I know what you've come for," said he, before Inga could speak. "You
want to get the captives from Regos away from me; but