www.freeclassicebooks.com

They hesitated for a moment, and some few cried: "Pon!" but many more

shouted: "Gloria!"

So the Scarecrow took Gloria's hand and led her to the throne, where he first

seated her and then took the glittering crown off his own head and placed it

upon that of the young lady, where it nestled prettily amongst her soft curls.

The people cheered and shouted then, kneeling before their new Queen; but

Gloria leaned down and took Pon's hand in both her own and raised him to

the seat beside her.

You shall have both a King and a Queen to care for you and to protect you,

my dear subjects," she said in a sweet voice, while her face glowed with

happiness; "for Pon was a King's son before he became a gardener's boy, and

because I love him he is to be my Royal Consort."

That pleased them all, especially Pon, who realized that this was the most

important moment of his life. Trot and Button-Bright and Cap'n Will all

congratulated him on winning the beautiful Gloria; but the Ork sneezed twice

and said that in his opinion the young lady might have done better.

Then the Scarecrow ordered the guards to bring in the wicked Krewl, King no

longer, and when he appeared, loaded with chains and dressed in fustian, the

people hissed him and drew back as he passed so their garments would not

touch him.

Krewl was not haughty or overbearing any more; on the contrary he seemed

very meek and in great fear of the fate his conquerors had in store for him.

But Gloria and Pon were too happy to be revengeful and so they offered to

appoint Krewl to the position of gardener's boy at the castle, Pon having

resigned to become King. But they said he must promise to reform his wicked

ways and to do his duty faithfully, and he must change his name from Krewl

to Grewl. All this the man eagerly promised to do, and so when Pon retired to

a room in the castle to put on princely raiment, the old brown smock he had

formerly worn was given to Grewl, who then went out into the garden to water

the roses.

The remainder of that famous day, which was long remembered in Jinxland,

was given over to feasting and merrymaking. In the evening there was a grand

dance in the courtyard, where the brass band played a new piece of music

called the "Ork Trot" which was dedicated to "Our Glorious Gloria, the Queen."

The Scarecrow of Oz