One day when Princess Dorothy of Oz was visiting Glinda the Good, who is Ozma's
Royal Sorceress, she was looking through Glinda's Great Book of Records -- wherein is
inscribed all important events that happen in every part of the world -- when she came
upon the record of the destruction of Pingaree, the capture of King Kitticut and Queen
Garee and all their people, and the curious escape of Inga, the boy Prince, and of King
Rinkitink and the talking goat. Turning over some of the following pages, Dorothy read
how Inga had found the Magic Pearls and was rowing the silver-lined boat to Regos to try
to rescue his parents.
The little girl was much interested to know how well Inga succeeded, but she returned to
the palace of Ozma at the Emerald City of Oz the next day and other events made her
forget the boy Prince of Pingaree for a time. However, she was one day idly looking at
Ozma's Magic Picture, which shows any scene you may wish to see, when the girl
thought of Inga and commanded the Magic Picture to show what the boy was doing at
that moment.
It was the time when Inga and Rinkitink had followed the King of Regos and Queen of
Coregos to the Nome King's country and she saw them hiding behind the rock as Cor and
Gos passed them by after having placed the King and Queen of Pingaree in the keeping
of the Nome King. From that time Dorothy followed, by means of the Magic Picture, the
adventures of Inga and his friend in the Nome King's caverns, and the danger and
helplessness of the poor boy aroused the little girl's pity and indignation.
So she went to Ozma and told the lovely girl Ruler of Oz all about Inga and Rinkitink.
"I think Kaliko is treating them dreadfully mean," declared Dorothy, "and I wish you'd let
me go to the Nome Country and help them out of their troubles."
"Go, my dear, if you wish to," replied Ozma, "but I think it would be best for you to take
the Wizard with you."
"Oh, I'm not afraid of the nomes," said Dorothy, "but I'll be glad to take the Wizard, for
company. And may we use your Magic Carpet, Ozma?"
"Of course. Put the Magic Carpet in the Red Wagon and have the Sawhorse take you and
the Wizard to the edge of the desert. While you are gone, Dorothy, I'll watch you in the
Magic Picture, and if any danger threatens you I'll see you are not harmed."
Dorothy thanked the Ruler of Oz and kissed her good- bye, for she was determined to
start at once. She found the Wizard of Oz, who was planting shoetrees in the garden, and
when she told him Inga's story he willingly agreed to accompany the little girl to the
Nome King's caverns. They had both been there before and had conquered the nomes
with ease, so they were not at all afraid.
The Wizard, who was a cheery little man with a bald head and a winning smile,
harnessed the Wooden Sawhorse to the Red Wagon and loaded on Ozma's Magic Carpet.
Then he and Dorothy climbed to the seat and the Sawhorse started off and carried them
