head. "I won't do it. Ask me anything else and I'll try
to please you, but I can't allow these friendly enemies
to triumph over me.

"In that case," said Dorothy, beginning to remove the
cover from her basket, "I'll show you some eggs."

"Eggs!" screamed the Nome King in horror. "Have you
eggs in that basket?"

"A dozen of 'em," replied Dorothy.

"Then keep them there -- I beg -- I implore you! --
and I'll do anything you say," pleaded Kaliko, his
teeth chattering so that he could hardly speak.

"Send for the King and Queen of Pingaree," said
Dorothy.

"Go, Klik," commanded the Nome King, and Klik ran
away in great haste, for he was almost as much
frightened as his master.

It was an affecting scene when the unfortunate King
and Queen of Pingaree entered the chamber and with sobs
and tears of joy embraced their brave and adventurous
son. All the others stood silent until greetings and
kisses had been exchanged and Inga had told his parents
in a few words of his vain struggles to rescue them and
how Princess Dorothy had finally come to his