I have always wanted to visit the Nome Country, which is full of mystery and magic and all sorts of adventures, but my devoted subjects forbade me to think of such a thing, fearing I would get hurt or enchanted." "Are you afraid, now that you are here ?" asked Inga.
"A little, but not much, for they say the new Nome King is not as wicked as the old King used to be.

Still, we are undertaking a dangerous journey and I think you ought to protect me by lending me one of your pearls." Inga thought this over and it seemed a reasonable request.
"Which pearl would you like to have ?" asked the boy.
"Well, let us see," returned Rinkitink; "you may need strength to liberate your captive parents, so you must keep the Blue Pearl.

And you will need the advice of the White Pearl, so you had best keep that also.

But in case we should be separated I would have nothing to protect me from harm, so you ought to lend me the Pink Pearl." "Very well," agreed Inga, and sitting down upon a rock he removed his right shoe and after withdrawing the cloth from the pointed toe took out the Pink Pearl--the one which protected from any harm the person who carried it.
"Where can you put it, to keep it safely ?" he asked.
"In my vest pocket," replied the King.

"The pocket has a flap to it and I can pin it down in such a way that the pearl cannot get out and become lost.