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eyes glowed like coals of fire. He was dressed in brilliant satins and velvets

and was seated in a golden throne-chair.

This personage was King Krewl, and as soon as Cap'n Bill saw him the old

sailor knew at once that he was not going to like the King of Jinxland.

Hello! who's here?" said his Majesty, with a deep scowl.

Strangers, Sire," answered the soldier, bowing so low that his forehead

touched the marble tiles.

Strangers, eh? Well, well; what an unexpected visit! Advance, strangers, and

give an account of yourselves."

The King's voice was as harsh as his features. Trot shuddered a little but

Cap'n Bill calmly replied:

There ain't much for us to say, 'cept as we've arrived to look over your

country an' see how we like it. Judgin' from the way you speak, you don't

know who we are, or you'd be jumpin' up to shake hands an' offer us seats.

Kings usually treat us pretty well, in the great big Outside World where we

come from, but in this little kingdom--which don't amount to much, anyhow--

folks don't seem to 'a' got much culchure."

The King listened with amazement to this bold speech, first with a frown and

then gazing at the two children and the old sailor with evident curiosity. The

courtiers were dumb with fear, for no one had ever dared speak in such a

manner to their self-willed, cruel King before. His Majesty, however, was

somewhat frightened, for cruel people are always cowards, and he feared these

mysterious strangers might possess magic powers that would destroy him

unless he treated them well. So he commanded his people to give the new

arrivals seats, and they obeyed with trembling haste.

After being seated, Cap'n Bill lighted his pipe and began puffing smoke from

it, a sight so strange to them that it filled them all with wonder. Presently the

King asked:

How did you penetrate to this hidden country? Did you cross the desert or

the mountains?"

Desert," answered Cap'n Bill, as if the task were too easy to be worth talking

about.

Indeed! No one has ever been able to do that before," said the King.

The Scarecrow of Oz