A few days after this, on a bright and sunny morningwhen the breeze blew soft and sweet from the ocean andthe trees waved their leaf-laden branches, the RoyalWatchman, whose duty it was to patrol the shore, camerunning to the King with news that a strange boat wasapproaching the island.

At first the King was sore afraid and made a steptoward the hidden pearls, but the next moment hereflected that one boat, even if filled with enemies,would be powerless to injure him, so he curbed his fearand went down to the beach to discover who thestrangers might be. Many of the men of Pingareeassembled there also, and Prince Inga followed hisfather. Arriving at the water's edge, they all stoodgazing eagerly at the oncoming boat.

It was quite a big boat, they observed, and coveredwith a canopy of purple silk, embroidered with gold. Itwas rowed by twenty men, ten on each side. As it camenearer, Inga could see that in the stern, seated upon ahigh, cushioned chair of state, was a little man whowas so very fat that he was nearly as broad as he washigh This man was dressed in a loose silken robe ofpurple that fell in folds to his feet, while upon hishead was a cap of white velvet curiously worked withgolden threads and having a circle of diamonds sewnaround the band. At the opposite end of the boat stoodan oddly shaped cage, and several large boxes ofsandalwood were piled near the center of the craft.

As the boat approached the shore the fat little mangot upon his feet and bowed several times in thedirection of those who had assembled to greet him, andas he bowed he flourished his white cap in an energeticmanner. His face was round as an apple and nearly asrosy. When he stopped bowing he smiled in such a sweetand happy way that Inga thought he must be a very jollyfellow.

The prow of the boat grounded on the beach, stoppingits speed so suddenly that the little man was caughtunawares and nearly toppled headlong into the sea. Buthe managed to catch hold of the chair with one hand andthe hair of one of his rowers with the other, and sosteadied himself. Then, again waving his jeweled caparound his head, he cried in a merry voice:

"Well, here I am at last!"

"So I perceive," responded King Kitticut, bowing withmuch dignity.

The fat man glanced at all the sober faces before himand burst into a rollicking laugh. Perhaps I should sayit was half laughter and half a chuckle of merriment,for the sounds he emitted were quaint and droll andtempted every hearer to laugh with him.

"Heh, heh -- ho, ho, ho!" he roared. "Didn't expectme, I see. Keek-eek-eek-eek! This is funny -- it'sreally funny. Didn't know I was coming, did you? Hoo,hoo, hoo, hoo! This is certainly amusing. But I'm here,just the same."

"Hush up!" said a deep, growling voice. "You'remaking yourself ridiculous."

Everyone looked to see where this voice came from;but none could guess who had uttered the words ofrebuke. The rowers of the boat were all solemn andsilent and certainly no one on the shore had spoken.But the little man did not seem astonished in theleast, or even annoyed.

King Kitticut now addressed the stranger, sayingcourteously:

"You are welcome to the Kingdom of Pingaree. Perhapsyou will deign to come ashore and at your convenienceinform us whom we have the honor of receiving as aguest."

"Thanks; I will," returned the little fat man,waddling from his place in the boat and stepping, withsome difficulty, upon the sandy beach. "I am KingRinkitink, of the City of Gilgad in the Kingdom ofRinkitink, and I have come to Pingaree to see formyself the monarch who sends to my city so manybeautiful pearls. I have long wished to visit thisisland; and so, as I said before, here I am!"

"I am pleased to welcome you," said King Kitticut."But why has Your Majesty so few attendants? Is it notdangerous for the King of a great country to makedistant journeys in one frail boat, and with but twentymen?"

"Oh, I suppose so," answered King Rinkitink, with alaugh. "But what else could I do? My subjects would notallow me to go anywhere at all, if they knew it. So Ijust ran away."

"Ran away!" exclaimed King Kitticut in surprise.

"Funny, isn't it? Heh, heh, heh -- woo, hoo!" laughedRinkitink, and this is as near as I can spell withletters the jolly sounds of his laughter. "Fancy a Kingrunning away from his own ple -- hoo, hoo -- keek, eek,eek, eek! But I had to, don't you see!"

"Why?" asked the other King.

"They're afraid I'll get into mischief. They don'ttrust me. Keek-eek-eek -- Oh, dear me! Don't trusttheir own King. Funny, isn't it?"

"No harm can come to you on this island," saidKitticut, pretending not to notice the odd ways of hisguest. "And, whenever it pleases you to return to yourown country, I will send with you a fitting escort ofmy own people. In the meantime, pray accompany me to mypalace, where everything shall be done to make youcomfortable and happy."

"Much obliged," answered Rinkitink, tipping his whitecap over his left ear and heartily shaking the hand ofhis brother monarch. "I'm sure you can make mecomfortable if you've plenty to eat. And as for beinghappy -- ha, ha, ha, ha! -- why, that's my trouble. I'mtoo happy. But stop! I've brought you some presents inthose boxes. Please order your men to carry them up tothe palace."

"Certainly," answered King Kitticut, well pleased,and at once he gave his men the proper orders.

"And, by the way," continued the fat little King,"let them also take my goat from his cage."

"A goat!" exclaimed the King of Pingaree.

"Exactly; my goat Bilbil. I always ride him whereverI go, for I'm not at all fond of walking, being atrifle stout -- eh, Kitticut? -- a trifle stout! Hoo,hoo, hoo-keek, eek!"

The Pingaree people started to lift the big cage outof the boat, but just then a gruff voice cried: "Becareful, you villains!" and as the words seemed to comefrom the goat's mouth the men were so astonished thatthey dropped the cage upon the sand with a sudden jar.

"There! I told you so!" cried the voice angrily."You've rubbed the skin off my left knee. Why on earthdidn't you handle me gently?"

"There, there, Bilbil," said King Rinkitinksoothingly; "don't scold, my boy. Remember that theseare strangers, and we their guests." Then he turned toKitticut and remarked: "You have no talking goats onyour island, I suppose."

"We have no goats at all," replied the King; "norhave we any animals, of any sort, who are able totalk."

"I wish my animal couldn't talk, either," saidRinkitink, winking comically at Inga and then lookingtoward the cage. "He is very cross at times, andindulges in language that is not respectful. I thought,at first, it would be fine to have a talking goat, withwhom I could converse as I rode about my city on hisback; but -- keek-eek-eek-eek! -- the rascal treats meas if I were a chimney sweep instead of a King. Heh,heh, heh, keek, eek! A chimney sweep-hoo, hoo, hoo! --and me a King! Funny, isn't it?" This last wasaddressed to Prince Inga, whom he chucked familiarlyunder the chin, to the boy's great embarrassment.

"Why do you not ride a horse?" asked King Kitticut.

"I can't climb upon his back, being rather stout;that's why. Kee, kee, keek, eek! -- rather stout --hoo, hoo, hoo!" He paused to wipe the tears ofmerriment from his eyes and then added: "But I can geton and off Bilbil's back with ease."

He now opened the cage and the goat deliberatelywalked out and looked about him in a sulky manner. Oneof the rowers brought from the boat a saddle made ofred velvet and beautifully embroidered with silverthistles, which he fastened upon the goat's back. Thefat King put his leg over the saddle and seated himselfcomfortably, saying:

"Lead on, my noble host, and we will follow."

"What! Up that steep hill?" cried the goat. "Get offmy back at once, Rinkitink, or I won't budge a step.

"But-consider, Bilbil," remonstrated the King. "Howam I to get up that hill unless I ride?"

"Walk!" growled Bilbil.

"But I'm too fat. Really, Bilbil, I'm surprised atyou. Haven't I brought you all this distance so you maysee something of the world and enjoy life? And now youare so ungrateful as to refuse to carry me! Turn aboutis fair play, my boy. The boat carried you to thisshore, because you can't swim, and now you must carryme up the hill, because I can't climb. Eh, Bilbil,isn't that reasonable?"

"Well, well, well," said the goat, surlily, "keepquiet and I'll carry you. But you make me very tired,Rinkitink, with your ceaseless chatter."

After making this protest Bilbil began walkingup the hill, carrying the fat King upon his backwith no difficulty whatever.

Prince Inga and his father and all the men ofPingaree were much astonished to overhear this disputebetween King Rinkitink and his goat; but they were toopolite to make critical remarks in the presence oftheir guests. King Kitticut walked beside the goat andthe Prince followed after, the men coming last with theboxes of sandalwood.

When they neared the palace, the Queen and hermaidens came out to meet them and the royal guest wasescorted in state to the splendid throne room of thepalace. Here the boxes were opened and King Rinkitinkdisplayed all the beautiful silks and laces and jewelrywith which they were filled. Every one of the courtiersand ladies received a handsome present, and the Kingand Queen had many rich gifts and Inga not a few. Thusthe time passed pleasantly until the Chamberlainannounced that dinner was served.

Bilbil the goat declared that he preferred eating ofthe sweet, rich grass that grew abundantly in thepalace grounds, and Rinkitink said that the beast couldnever bear being shut up in a stable; so they removedthe saddle from his back and allowed him to wanderwherever he pleased.

During the dinner Inga divided his attention betweenadmiring the pretty gifts he had received and listeningto the jolly sayings of the fat King, who laughed whenhe was not eating and ate when he was not laughing andseemed to enjoy himself immensely.

"For four days I have lived in that narrow boat,"said he, "with no other amusement than to watch therowers and quarrel with Bilbil; so I am very glad to beon land again with such friendly and agreeable people."

"You do us great honor," said King Kitticut, with apolite bow.

"Not at all -- not at all, my brother. This Pingareemust be a wonderful island, for its pearls are theadmiration of all the world; nor will I deny the factthat my kingdom would be a poor one without the richesand glory it derives from the trade in your pearls. SoI have wished for many years to come here to see you,but my people said: 'No! Stay at home and behaveyourself, or we'll know the reason why.'"

"Will they not miss Your Majesty from yourpalace at Gilgad?" inquired Kitticut.

"I think not," answered Rinkitink. "You see, one ofmy clever subjects has written a parchment entitled'How to be Good,' and I believed it would benefit me tostudy it, as I consider the accomplishment of beinggood one of the fine arts. I had just scolded severelymy Lord High Chancellor for coming to breakfast withoutcombing his eyebrows, and was so sad and regretful athaving hurt the poor man's feelings that I decided toshut myself up in my own room and study the scrolluntil I knew how to be good -- hee, heek, keek, eek,eek! --to be good! Clever idea, that, wasn't it? Mightyclever! And I issued a decree that no one should entermy room, under pain of my royal displeasure, until Iwas ready to come out. They're awfully afraid of myroyal displeasure, although not a bit afraid of me.Then I put the parchment in my pocket and escapedthrough the back door to my boat -- and here I am. Oo,hoo-hoo, keek-eek! Imagine the fuss there would be inGilgad if my subjects knew where I am this veryminute!"

"I would like to see that parchment," said thesolemn-eyed Prince Inga, "for if it indeed teaches oneto be good it must be worth its weight in pearls."

"Oh, it's a fine essay," said Rinkitink, "andbeautifully written with a goosequill. Listen to this:You'll enjoy it -- tee, hee, hee! -- enjoy it."

He took from his pocket a scroll of parchment tiedwith a black ribbon, and having carefully unrolled it,he proceeded to read as follows:

"'A Good Man is One who is Never Bad.' How's that,eh? Fine thought, what? 'Therefore, in order to beGood, you must avoid those Things which are Evil.' Oh,hoo-hoo-hoo! -- how clever! When I get back I shallmake the man who wrote that a royal hippolorum, for,beyond question, he is the wisest man in my kingdom -ashe has often told me himself." With this, Rinkitink layback in his chair and chuckled his queer chuckle untilhe coughed, and coughed until he choked and chokeduntil he sneezed. And he wrinkled his face in such ajolly, droll way that few could keep from laughing withhim, and even the good Queen was forced to titterbehind her fan.

When Rinkitink had recovered from his fit of laughterand had wiped his eyes upon a fine lace handkerchief,Prince Inga said to him:

"The parchment speaks truly."

"Yes, it is true beyond doubt," answered Rinkitink,"and if I could persuade Bilbil to read it he would bea much better goat than he is now. Here is anotherselection: 'To avoid saying Unpleasant Things, alwaysSpeak Agreeably.' That would hit Bilbil, to a dot. Andhere is one that applies to you, my Prince: 'GoodChildren are seldom punished, for the reason that theydeserve no punishment.' Now, I think that is neatlyput, and shows the author to be a deep thinker. But theadvice that has impressed me the most is in thefollowing paragraph: 'You may not find it as Pleasantto be Good as it is to be Bad, but Other People willfind it more Pleasant.' Haw-hoo-ho! keek-eek! 'Otherpeople will find it more pleasant!' -- hee, hee, heek,keek! -- 'more pleasant.' Dear me -- dear me! Thereinlies a noble incentive to be good, and whenever I gettime I'm surely going to try it."

Then he wiped his eyes again with the lacehandkerchief and, suddenly remembering his dinner,seized his knife and fork and began eating.