in the
underground caverns of the nomes than in Regos and Coregos.

Meantime, in the King's royal cavern a great feast had been spread.
King Gos and Queen Cor, having triumphed in their plot, were so well
pleased that they held high revelry with the jolly Nome King until a
late hour that night. And the next morning, having cautioned Kaliko not
to release the prisoners under any consideration without their orders,
the King and Queen of Regos and Coregos left the caverns of the nomes
to return to the shore of the ocean where they had left their boat.

Chapter Eighteen

Inga Parts with his Pink Pearl

The White Pearl guided Inga truly in his pursuit of the boat of King
Gos, but the boy had been so delayed in sending his people home to
Pingaree that it was a full day after Gos and Cor landed on the shore
of the Wheeler Country that Inga's boat arrived at the same place.

There he found the forty rowers guarding the barge of Queen Cor, and
although they would not or could not tell the boy where the King and
Queen had taken his father and mother, the White Pearl advised him to
follow the path to the country and the caverns of the nomes.

Rinkitink didn't like to undertake the rocky and mountainous journey,
even with Bilbil to carry him, but he would not desert Inga, even
though his own kingdom lay just beyond a range of mountains which could
be seen towering southwest of them. So the King bravely mounted the
goat, who always grumbled but always obeyed his master, and the three
set off at once for the caverns of the nomes.

They traveled just as slowly as Queen Cor and King Gos had done, so
when they were about halfway they discovered the King and Queen coming
back to their boat. The fact that Gos and Cor were now alone proved
that they had left Inga's father and mother behind them; so, at the
suggestion of Rinkitink, the three hid behind a high rock until the
King of Regos and the Queen of Coregos, who had not observed them, had
passed them by. Then they continued their journey, glad that they had
not again been forced to fight or quarrel with their wicked enemies.

"We might have asked them, however, what they had done with your poor
parents," said Rinkitink.

"Never mind," answered Inga. "I am sure the White Pearl will guide us
aright."

For a time they proceeded in silence and then Rinkitink began to
chuckle with laughter in the pleasant way he was wont to do before his
misfortunes came upon him.

"W