the hearts
of the defenseless people of Pingaree, whose sole weapons were their
oyster rakes.

When night fell the whole of the Island of Pingaree had been conquered
by the men of the North, and all its people were slaves of the
conquerors. Next morning the men of Regos and Coregos, being capable of
no further mischief, departed from the scene of their triumph, carrying
their prisoners with them and taking also every boat to be found upon
the island. Many of the boats they had filled with rich plunder, with
pearls and silks and velvets, with silver and gold ornaments and all the
treasure that had made Pingaree famed as one of the richest kingdoms in
the world. And the hundreds of slaves they had captured would be set to
work in the mines of Regos and the grain fields of Coregos.

So complete was the victory of the Northmen that it is no wonder the
warriors sang songs of triumph as they hastened back to their homes.
Great rewards were awaiting them when they showed the haughty King of
Regos and the terrible Queen of Coregos the results of their ocean raid
and conquest.

[Illustration]

The Deserted Island

[Illustration]

CHAPTER 4

All through that terrible night Prince Inga remained hidden in his tree.
In the morning he watched the great fleet of boats depart for their own
country, carrying his parents and his countrymen with them, as well as
everything of value the Island of Pingaree had contained.

Sad, indeed, were the boy's thoughts when the last of the boats had
become a mere speck in the distance, but Inga did not dare leave his
perch of safety until all of the craft of the invaders had disappeared
beyond the horizon. Then he came down, very slowly and carefully, for he
was weak from hunger and the long and weary watch, as he had been in the
tree for twenty-four hours without food.

The sun shone upon the beautiful green isle as brilliantly as if no
ruthless invader had passed and laid it in ruins. The birds still
chirped among the trees and the butterflies darted from flower to flower
as happily as when the land was filled with a prosperous and contented
people.

Inga feared that only he was left of all his nation. Perhaps he might be
obliged to pass his life there alone. He would not starve, for the sea
would give him oysters and fish, and the trees fruit; yet the life that
confronted him was far from enticing.

The boy's first act was to walk over to where the palace had stood and
searc