The Kingdom of the Nomes does not border on theNonestic Ocean, from which it is separated by theKingdom of Rinkitink and the Country of the Wheelers,which is a part of the Land of Ev. Rinkitink's countryis separated from the country of the Nomes by a row ofhigh and steep mountains, from which it extends to thesea. The Country of the Wheelers is a sandy waste thatis open on one side to the Nonestic Ocean and on theother side has no barrier to separate it from the NomeCountry, therefore it was on the coast of the Wheelersthat King Cos landed -- in a spot quite deserted by anyof the curious inhabitants of that country.

The Nome Country is very large in extent, and is onlyseparated 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 mischievous people,living in underground caverns of wide extent, connectedone with another by arches and passages. The word"nome" means "one who knows," and these people are socalled because they know where all the gold and silverand precious stones are hidden in the earth -- aknowledge that no other living creatures share withthem. The nomes are busy people, constantly digging upgold in one place and taking it to another place, wherethey secretly bury it, and perhaps this is the reasonthey 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 hismagic boat, so he made all the haste possible, urginghis forty rowers to their best efforts night and day.To his joy he was not overtaken but landed on the sandybeach of the Wheelers on the morning of the eighth day.

The forty rowers were left with the boat, while QueenCor and King Cos, with their royal prisoners, who werestill chained, began the journey to the Nome King.

It was not long before they passed the sands andreached the rocky country belonging to the nomes, butthey were still a long way from the entrance to theunderground caverns in which lived the Nome King. Therewas a dim path, winding between stones and boulders,over which the walking was quite difficult, especiallyas the path led up hills that were small mountains, andthen down steep and abrupt slopes where any misstepmight mean a broken leg. Therefore it was the secondday of their journey before they climbed halfway up arugged mountain and found themselves at the entrance ofthe Nome King's caverns.

On their arrival, the entrance seemed free andunguarded, but Gos and Cor had been there before, andthey were too wise to attempt to enter withoutannouncing themselves, for the passage to the caves wasfull of traps and pitfalls. So King Gos stood still andshouted, and in an instant they were surrounded by agroup of crooked nomes, who seemed to have sprung fromthe ground.

One of these had very long ears and was called TheLong-Eared Hearer. He said: "I heard you coming earlythis morning."

Another had eyes that looked in different directionsat the same time and were curiously bright andpenetrating. He could look over a hill or around acorner and was called The Lookout. Said he: "I saw youcoming yesterday."

"Then," said King Gos, "perhaps King Kaliko isexpecting us."

"It is true," replied another nome, who wore a goldcollar around his neck and carried a bunch of goldenkeys. "The mighty Nome King expects you, and bids youfollow me to his presence."

With this he led the way into the caverns and Gos andCor followed, dragging their weary prisoners with them,for poor King Kitticut and his gentle Queen had beenobliged to carry, all through the tedious journey, thebags of gold and jewels which were to bribe the NomeKing to accept them as slaves.

Through several long passages the guide led them andat last they entered a small cavern which wasbeautifully decorated and set with rare jewels thatflashed from every part of the wall, floor and ceiling.This was a waiting-room for visitors, and there theirguide left them while he went to inform King Kaliko oftheir arrival.

Before long they were ushered into a great domedchamber, cut from the solid rock and so magnificentthat all of them -- the King and Queen of Pingaree andthe King and Queen of Regos and Coregos -- drew longbreaths of astonishment and opened their eyes as wideas they could.

In an ivory throne sat a little round man who had apointed beard and hair that rose to a tall curl on topof his head. He was dressed in silken robes, richlyembroidered, which had large buttons of cut rubies. Onhis head was a diamond crown and in his hand he held agolden sceptre with a big jeweled ball at one end ofit. This was Kaliko, the King and ruler of all thenomes. He nodded pleasantly enough to his visitors andsaid in a cheery voice:

"Well, Your Majesties, what can I do for you?"

"It is my desire," answered King Gos, respectfully,"to place in your care two prisoners, whom you now seebefore you. They must be carefully guarded, to preventthem from escaping, for they have the cunning of foxesand are not to be trusted. In return for the favor I amasking you to grant, I have brought Your Majestyvaluable presents of gold and precious gems.

He then commanded Kitticut and Garee to lay beforethe Nome King the bags of gold and jewels, and theyobeyed, being helpless.

"Very good," said King Kaliko, nodding approval, forlike all the nomes he loved treasures of gold andjewels. "But who are the prisoners you have broughthere, and why do you place them in my charge instead ofguarding them, yourself? They seem gentle enough, I'msure."

"The prisoners," returned King Gos, "are the King andQueen of Pingaree, a small island north of here. Theyare very evil people and came to our islands of Regosand Coregos to conquer them and slay our poor people.Also they intended to plunder us of all our riches, butby good fortune we were able to defeat and capturethem. However, they have a son who is a terrible wizardand who by magic art is trying to find this awful Kingand Queen of Pingaree, and to set them free, that theymay continue their wicked deeds. Therefore, as we haveno magic to defend ourselves with, we have brought theprisoners to you for safe keeping."

"Your Majesty," spoke up King Kitticut, addressingthe Nome King with great indignation, "do not believethis tale, I implore you. It is all a lie!"

"I know it," said Kaliko. "I consider it a cleverlie, though, because it is woven without a thread oftruth. However, that is none of my business. The factremains that my good friend King Gos wishes to put youin my underground caverns, so that you will be unableto escape. And why should I not please him in thislittle matter? Gos is a mighty King and a greatwarrior, while your island of Pingaree is desolated andyour people scattered. In my heart, King Kitticut, Isympathize with you, but as a matter of business policywe powerful Kings must stand together and trample theweaker ones under our feet."

King Kitticut was surprised to find the King of thenomes so candid and so well informed, and he tried toargue that he and his gentle wife did not deserve theircruel fate and that it would be wiser for Kaliko toside with them than with the evil King of Regos. ButKaliko 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 Iprefer to deal with the strong. By the way," he added,turning to the King of Regos, "have these prisoners anyconnection with the Land of Oz?"

"Why do you ask?" said Gos.

"Because I dare not offend the Oz people," was thereply. "I am very powerful, as you know, but Ozma of Ozis far more powerful than I; therefore, if this Kingand Queen of Pingaree happened to be under Ozma'sprotection, I would have nothing to do with them."

"I assure Your Majesty that the prisoners havenothing to do with the Oz people," Gos hastened to say.And Kitticut, being questioned, admitted that this wastrue.

"But how about that wizard you mentioned?" asked theNome King.

"Oh, he is merely a boy; but he is very ferocious andobstinate and he is assisted by a little fat sorcerercalled Rinkitink and a talking goat."

"Oho! A talking goat, do you say? That certainlysounds like magic; and it also sounds like the Land ofOz, where all the animals talk," said Kaliko, with adoubtful expression.

But King Gos assured him the talking goat had neverbeen to Oz.

"As for Rinkitink, whom you call a sorcerer,"continued the Nome King, "he is a neighbor of mine, youmust know, but as we are cut off from each other byhigh mountains beneath which a powerful river runs, Ihave never yet met King Rinkitink. But I have heard ofhim, and from all reports he is a jolly rogue, andperfectly harmless. However, in spite of your falsestatements and misrepresentations, I will earn thetreasure you have brought me, by keeping your prisonerssafe in my caverns.

"Make them work," advised Queen Cor. "They are ratherdelicate, and to make them work will make them sufferdelightfully."

"I'll do as I please about that," said the Nome Kingsternly. "Be content that I agree to keep them safe."

The bargain being thus made and concluded, Kalikofirst examined the gold and jewels and then sent itaway to his royal storehouse, which was well filledwith like treasure. Next the captives were sent away incharge of the nome with the golden collar and keys,whose name was Klik, and he escorted them to a smallcavern and gave them a good supper.

"I shall lock your door," said Klik, "so there is noneed of your wearing those heavy chains any longer." Hetherefore removed the chains and left King Kitticut andhis Queen alone. This was the first time since theNorthmen had carried them away from Pingaree that thegood King and Queen had been alone together and free ofall bonds, and as they embraced lovingly and mingledtheir tears over their sad fate they were also gratefulthat they had passed from the control of the heartlessKing Gos into the more considerate care of King Kaliko.They were still captives but they believed they wouldbe happier in the underground caverns of the nomes thanin Regos and Coregos.

Meantime, in the King's royal cavern a great feasthad been spread. King Gos and Queen Cor, havingtriumphed in their plot, were so well pleased that theyheld high revelry with the jolly Nome King until a latehour that night. And the next morning, having cautionedKaliko not to release the prisoners under anyconsideration without their orders, the King and Queenof Regos and Coregos left the caverns of the nomes toreturn to the shore of the ocean where they had lefttheir boat.