The Kingdom of the Nomes does not border on the Nonestic Ocean, from which it is separated by the Kingdom of Rinkitink and the Country of the Wheelers, which is a part of the Land of Ev. Rinkitink's country is separated from the country of the Nomes by a row of high and steep mountains, from which it extends to the sea. The Country of the Wheelers is a sandy waste that is open on one side to the Nonestic Ocean and on the other side has no barrier to separate it from the Nome Country, therefore it was on the coast of the Wheelers that King Cos landed—in a spot quite deserted1 by any of the curious inhabitants of that country.
The Nome Country is very large in extent, and is only separated from the Land of Oz, on its eastern borders, by a Deadly Desert that can not be crossed by mortals, unless they are aided by the fairies or by magic.
The nomes are a numerous and mischievous2 people, living in underground caverns3 of wide extent, connected one with another by arches and passages. The word "nome" means "one who knows," and these people are so called because they know where all the gold and silver and precious stones are hidden in the earth—a knowledge that no other living creatures share with them. The nomes are busy people, constantly digging up gold in one place and taking it to another place, where they secretly bury it, and perhaps this is the reason they alone know where to find it. The nomes were ruled, at the time of which I write, by a King named Kaliko.
King Gos had expected to be pursued by Inga in his magic boat, so he made all the haste possible, urging his forty rowers to their best efforts night and day. To his joy he was not overtaken but landed on the sandy beach of the Wheelers on the morning of the eighth day.
The forty rowers were left with the boat, while Queen Cor and King Cos, with their royal prisoners, who were still chained, began the journey to the Nome King.
It was not long before they passed the sands and reached the rocky country belonging to the nomes, but they were still a long way from the entrance to the underground caverns in which lived the Nome King. There was a dim path, winding5 between stones and boulders6, over which the walking was quite difficult, especially as the path led up hills that were small mountains, and then down steep and abrupt7 slopes where any misstep might mean a broken leg. Therefore it was the second day of their journey before they climbed halfway8 up a rugged9 mountain and found themselves at the entrance of the Nome King's caverns.
On their arrival, the entrance seemed free and unguarded, but Gos and Cor had been there before, and they were too wise to attempt to enter without announcing themselves, for the passage to the caves was full of traps and pitfalls10. So King Gos stood still and shouted, and in an instant they were surrounded by a group of crooked11 nomes, who seemed to have sprung from the ground.
One of these had very long ears and was called The Long-Eared Hearer. He said: "I heard you coming early this morning."
Another had eyes that looked in different directions at the same time and were curiously12 bright and penetrating13. He could look over a hill or around a corner and was called The Lookout14. Said he: "I saw you coming yesterday."
"Then," said King Gos, "perhaps King Kaliko is expecting us."
"It is true," replied another nome, who wore a gold collar around his neck and carried a bunch of golden keys. "The mighty15 Nome King expects you, and bids you follow me to his presence."
With this he led the way into the caverns and Gos and Cor followed, dragging their weary prisoners with them, for poor King Kitticut and his gentle Queen had been obliged to carry, all through the tedious journey, the bags of gold and jewels which were to bribe16 the Nome King to accept them as slaves.
Through several long passages the guide led them and at last they entered a small cavern4 which was beautifully decorated and set with rare jewels that flashed from every part of the wall, floor and ceiling. This was a waiting-room for visitors, and there their guide left them while he went to inform King Kaliko of their arrival.
Before long they were ushered17 into a great domed18 chamber19, cut from the solid rock and so magnificent that all of them—the King and Queen of Pingaree and the King and Queen of Regos and Coregos—drew long breaths of astonishment20 and opened their eyes as wide as they could.
In an ivory throne sat a little round man who had a pointed21 beard and hair that rose to a tall curl on top of his head. He was dressed in silken robes, richly embroidered22, which had large buttons of cut rubies23. On his head was a diamond crown and in his hand he held a golden sceptre with a big jeweled ball at one end of it. This was Kaliko, the King and ruler of all the nomes. He nodded pleasantly enough to his visitors and said in a cheery voice:
"It is my desire," answered King Gos, respectfully, "to place in your care two prisoners, whom you now see before you. They must be carefully guarded, to prevent them from escaping, for they have the cunning of foxes and are not to be trusted. In return for the favor I am asking you to grant, I have brought Your Majesty25 valuable presents of gold and precious gems26."
He then commanded Kitticut and Garee to lay before the Nome King the bags of gold and jewels, and they obeyed, being helpless.
"Very good," said King Kaliko, nodding approval, for like all the nomes he loved treasures of gold and jewels. "But who are the prisoners you have brought here, and why do you place them in my charge instead of guarding them, yourself? They seem gentle enough, I'm sure."
"The prisoners," returned King Gos, "are the King and Queen of Pingaree, a small island north of here. They are very evil people and came to our islands of Regos and Coregos to conquer them and slay27 our poor people. Also they intended to plunder28 us of all our riches, but by good fortune we were able to defeat and capture them. However, they have a son who is a terrible wizard and who by magic art is trying to find this awful King and Queen of Pingaree, and to set them free, that they may continue their wicked deeds. Therefore, as we have no magic to defend ourselves with, we have brought the prisoners to you for safe keeping."
"Your Majesty," spoke29 up King Kitticut, addressing the Nome King with great indignation, "do not believe this tale, I implore30 you. It is all a lie!"
"I know it," said Kaliko. "I consider it a clever lie, though, because it is woven without a thread of truth. However, that is none of my business. The fact remains31 that my good friend King Gos wishes to put you in my underground caverns, so that you will be unable to escape. And why should I not please him in this little matter? Gos is a mighty King and a great warrior32, while your island of Pingaree is desolated33 and your people scattered34. In my heart, King Kitticut, I sympathize with you, but as a matter of business policy we powerful Kings must stand together and trample35 the weaker ones under our feet."
King Kitticut was surprised to find the King of the nomes so candid36 and so well informed, and he tried to argue that he and his gentle wife did not deserve their cruel fate and that it would be wiser for Kaliko to side with them than with the evil King of Regos. But Kaliko only shook his head and smiled, saying:
"The fact that you are a prisoner, my poor Kitticut, is evidence that you are weaker than King Cos, and I prefer to deal with the strong. By the way," he added, turning to the King of Regos, "have these prisoners any connection with the Land of Oz?"
"Why do you ask?" said Gos.
"Because I dare not offend the Oz people," was the reply. "I am very powerful, as you know, but Ozma of Oz is far more powerful than I; therefore, if this King and Queen of Pingaree happened to be under Ozma's protection, I would have nothing to do with them."
"I assure Your Majesty that the prisoners have nothing to do with the Oz people," Gos hastened to say. And Kitticut, being questioned, admitted that this was true.
"But how about that wizard you mentioned?" asked the Nome King.
"Oh, he is merely a boy; but he is very ferocious37 and obstinate38 and he is assisted by a little fat sorcerer called Rinkitink and a talking goat."
"Oho! A talking goat, do you say? That certainly sounds like magic; and it also sounds like the Land of Oz, where all the animals talk," said Kaliko, with a doubtful expression.
But King Gos assured him the talking goat had never been to Oz.
"As for Rinkitink, whom you call a sorcerer," continued the Nome King, "he is a neighbor of mine, you must know, but as we are cut off from each other by high mountains beneath which a powerful river runs, I have never yet met King Rinkitink. But I have heard of him, and from all reports he is a jolly rogue39, and perfectly40 harmless. However, in spite of your false statements and misrepresentations, I will earn the treasure you have brought me, by keeping your prisoners safe in my caverns.
"Make them work," advised Queen Cor. "They are rather delicate, and to make them work will make them suffer delightfully41."
"I'll do as I please about that," said the Nome King sternly. "Be content that I agree to keep them safe."
The bargain being thus made and concluded, Kaliko first examined the gold and jewels and then sent it away to his royal storehouse, which was well filled with like treasure. Next the captives were sent away in charge of the nome with the golden collar and keys, whose name was Klik, and he escorted them to a small cavern and gave them a good supper.
"I shall lock your door," said Klik, "so there is no need of your wearing those heavy chains any longer." He therefore removed the chains and left King Kitticut and his Queen alone. This was the first time since the Northmen had carried them away from Pingaree that the good King and Queen had been alone together and free of all bonds, and as they embraced lovingly and mingled42 their tears over their sad fate they were also grateful that they had passed from the control of the heartless King Gos into the more considerate care of King Kaliko. They were still captives but they believed they would be happier 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.
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1
deserted
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| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
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mischievous
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| adj.调皮的，恶作剧的，有害的，伤人的 | |
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3
caverns
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| 大山洞，大洞穴( cavern的名词复数 ) | |
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cavern
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| n.洞穴，大山洞 | |
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winding
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| n.绕，缠，绕组，线圈 | |
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6
boulders
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| n.卵石( boulder的名词复数 )；巨砾；（受水或天气侵蚀而成的）巨石；漂砾 | |
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7
abrupt
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| adj.突然的，意外的；唐突的，鲁莽的 | |
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8
halfway
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| adj.中途的，不彻底的，部分的；adv.半路地，在中途，在半途 | |
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rugged
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| adj.高低不平的，粗糙的，粗壮的，强健的 | |
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10
pitfalls
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| （捕猎野兽用的）陷阱( pitfall的名词复数 )； 意想不到的困难，易犯的错误 | |
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11
crooked
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| adj.弯曲的；不诚实的，狡猾的，不正当的 | |
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12
curiously
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| adv.有求知欲地；好问地；奇特地 | |
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13
penetrating
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| adj.（声音）响亮的，尖锐的adj.（气味）刺激的adj.（思想）敏锐的，有洞察力的 | |
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14
lookout
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| n.注意，前途，瞭望台 | |
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15
mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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16
bribe
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| n.贿赂；v.向…行贿，买通 | |
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17
ushered
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| v.引，领，陪同( usher的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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domed
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| adj. 圆屋顶的, 半球形的, 拱曲的 动词dome的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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19
chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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21
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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22
embroidered
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| adj．绣花的 | |
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23
rubies
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| 红宝石( ruby的名词复数 )； 红宝石色，深红色 | |
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24
majesties
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| n.雄伟( majesty的名词复数 )；庄严；陛下；王权 | |
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majesty
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| n.雄伟，壮丽，庄严，威严；最高权威，王权 | |
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26
gems
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| growth； economy； management； and customer satisfaction 增长 | |
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27
slay
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| v.杀死，宰杀，杀戮 | |
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28
plunder
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| vt.劫掠财物，掠夺；n.劫掠物，赃物；劫掠 | |
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29
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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30
implore
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| vt.乞求，恳求，哀求 | |
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31
remains
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| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
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32
warrior
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| n.勇士，武士，斗士 | |
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33
desolated
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| adj.荒凉的，荒废的 | |
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34
scattered
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| adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的 | |
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35
trample
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| vt.踩，践踏；无视，伤害，侵犯 | |
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candid
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| adj.公正的，正直的；坦率的 | |
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37
ferocious
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| adj.凶猛的，残暴的，极度的，十分强烈的 | |
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38
obstinate
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| adj.顽固的，倔强的，不易屈服的，较难治愈的 | |
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39
rogue
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| n.流氓；v.游手好闲 | |
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40
perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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41
delightfully
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| 大喜，欣然 | |
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42
mingled
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| 混合，混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 )； 混进，与…交往[联系] | |
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