Chapter Twelve
The Excitement of Bilbil the Goat
Our story must now return to one of our characters whom we have beenforced to neglect. The temper of Bilbil the goat was not sweet underany circumstances, and whenever he had a grievance he was inclined tobe quite grumpy. So, when his master settled down in the palace of KingGos for a quiet life with the boy Prince, and passed his time inplaying checkers and eating and otherwise enjoying himself, he had nouse whatever for Bilbil, and shut the goat in an upstairs room toprevent his wandering through the city and quarreling with thecitizens. But this Bilbil did not like at all. He became very cross anddisagreeable at being left alone and he did not speak nicely to theservants who came to bring him food; therefore those people decided notto wait upon him any more, resenting his conversation and not liking tobe scolded by a lean, scraggly goat, even though it belonged to aconqueror. The servants kept away from the room and Bilbil grew morehungry and more angry every hour. He tried to eat the rugs andornaments, but found them not at all nourishing. There was no grass tobe had unless he escaped from the palace.
When Queen Cor came to capture Inga and Rinkitink, both the prisonerswere so filled with despair at their own misfortune that they gave nothought whatever to the goat, who was left in his room. Nor did Bilbilknow anything of the changed fortunes of his comrades until he heardshouts and boisterous laughter in the courtyard below. Looking out of awindow, with the intention of rebuking those who dared thus to disturbhim, Bilbil saw the courtyard quite filled with warriors and knew fromthis that the palace had in some way again fallen into the hands of theenemy.
Now, although Bilbil was often exceedingly disagreeable to KingRinkitink, as well as to the Prince, and sometimes used harsh words inaddressing them, he was intelligent enough to know them to be hisfriends, and to know that King Gos and his people were his foes. Insudden anger, provoked by the sight of the warriors and the knowledgethat he was in the power of the dangerous men of Regos, Bilbil buttedhis head against the door of his room and burst it open. Then he ran tothe head of the staircase and saw King Gos coming up the stairsfollowed by a long line of his chief captains and warriors.
The goat lowered his head, trembling with rage and excitement, and justas the King reached the top stair the animal dashed forward and buttedHis Majesty so fiercely that the big and powerful King, who did notexpect an attack, doubled up and tumbled backward. His great weightknocked over the man just behind him and he in turn struck the nextwarrior and upset him, so that in an instant the whole line of Bilbil'sfoes was tumbling heels over head to the bottom of the stairs, wherethey piled up in a heap, struggling and shouting and in the mixuphitting one another with their fists, until every man of them wasbruised and sore.
Finally King Gos scrambled out of the heap and rushed up the stairsagain, very angry indeed. Bilbil was ready for him and a second timebutted the King down the stairs; but now the goat also lost his balanceand followed the King, landing full upon the confused heap of soldiers.Then he kicked out so viciously with his heels that he soon freedhimself and dashed out of the doorway of the palace.
"Stop him!" cried King Gos, running after.
But the goat was now so wild and excited that it was not safe foranyone to stand in his way. None of the men were armed and when one ortwo tried to head off the goat, Bilbil sent them sprawling upon theground. Most of the warriors, however, were wise enough not to attemptto interfere with his flight.
Coursing down the street, Bilbil found himself approaching the bridgeof boats and without pausing to think where it might lead him hecrossed over and proceeded on his way. A few moments later a greatstone building blocked his path. It was the palace of Queen Cor, andseeing the gates of the courtyard standing wide open, Bilbil rushedthrough them without slackening his speed.
Rinkitink in Oz Page 12