eyed and left at once to perform his
errand, while Queen Cor, growing more and more uneasy, suddenly sprang
from her throne and before Inga could stop her had rushed through the
room and out into the courtyard of the palace, meaning to make her
escape. Rinkitink followed her, running as fast as he could go.

It was at this moment that Bilbil, in his mad dash from Regos, turned
in at the gates of the courtyard, and as he was coming one way and
Queen Cor was going the other they bumped into each other with great
force. The woman sailed through the air, over Bilbil's head, and landed
on the ground outside the gates, where her crown rolled into a ditch
and she picked herself up, half dazed, and continued her flight. Bilbil
was also somewhat dazed by the unexpected encounter, but he continued
his rush rather blindly and so struck poor Rinkitink, who was chasing
after Queen Cor. They rolled over one another a few times and then
Rinkitink sat up and Bilbil sat up and they looked at each other in
amazement.

"Bilbil," said the King, "I'm astonished at you!"

"Your Majesty," said Bilbil, "I expected kinder treatment at your
hands."

"You interrupted me," said Rinkitink.

"There was plenty of room without your taking my path," declared the
goat.

And then Inga came running out and said. "Where is the Queen?"

"Gone," replied Rinkitink, "but she cannot go far, as this is an
island. However, I have found Bilbil, and our party is again reunited.
You have recovered your magic powers, and again we are masters of the
situation. So let us be thankful."

Saying this, the good little King got upon his feet and limped back
into the throne room to help comfort the women.

Presently the children of Pingaree, who had been gathered together by
the overseer, were brought in and restored to their mothers, and there
was great rejoicing among them, you may be sure.

"But where is Queen Garee, my dear mother?" questioned Inga; but the
women did not know and it was some time before the overseer remembered
that one of the slaves from Pingaree had been placed in the royal
dairy. Perhaps this was the woman the boy was seeking.

Inga at once commanded him to lead the way to the butter house, but
when they arrived there Queen Garee was nowhere in the place, although
the boy found a silk scarf which he recognized as one that his mother
used to wear. Then they began a search throughout the island of
Coregos, but could not find Inga's mother a