h the ruins until he found some scraps of food that had been
overlooked by the enemy. He sat upon a block of marble and ate of this,
and tears filled his eyes as he gazed upon the desolation around him.
But Inga tried to bear up bravely, and having satisfied his hunger he
walked over to the well, intending to draw a bucket of drinking water.

Fortunately, this well had been overlooked by the invaders and the
bucket was still fastened to the chain that wound around a stout wooden
windlass. Inga took hold of the crank and began letting the bucket down
into the well, when suddenly he was startled by a muffled voice crying
out:

"Be careful, up there!"

The sound and the words seemed to indicate that the voice came from the
bottom of the well, so Inga looked down. Nothing could be seen, on
account of the darkness.

"Who are you?" he shouted.

"It's I--Rinkitink," came the answer, and the depths of the well echoed:
"Tink-i-tink-i-tink!" in a ghostly manner.

"Are you in the well?" asked the boy, greatly surprised.

"Yes, and nearly drowned. I fell in while running from those terrible
warriors, and I've been standing in this damp hole ever since, with my
head just above the water. It's lucky the well was no deeper, for had my
head been under water, instead of above it--hoo, hoo, hoo, keek,
eek!--under instead of over, you know--why, then I wouldn't be talking
to you now! Ha, hoo, hee!" And the well dismally echoed: "Ha, hoo,
hee!" which you must imagine was a laugh half merry and half sad.

"I'm awfully sorry," cried the boy, in answer. "I wonder you have the
heart to laugh at all. But how am I to get you out?"

"I've been considering that all night," said Rinkitink, "and I believe
the best plan will be for you to let down the bucket to me, and I'll
hold fast to it while you wind up the chain and so draw me to the top."

"I will try to do that," replied Inga, and he let the bucket down very
carefully until he heard the King call out:

"I've got it! Now pull me up--slowly, my boy, slowly--so I won't rub
against the rough sides."

Inga began winding up the chain, but King Rinkitink was so fat that he
was very heavy and by the time the boy had managed to pull him halfway
up the well his strength was gone. He clung to the crank as long as
possible, but suddenly it slipped from his grasp and the next minute he
heard Rinkitink fall "plump!" into the water again.

"That's too bad!" called Inga, in real distress; "but