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The two children felt the same way and all three were rather solemn during

the remainder of the meal.

When they had eaten, the servants escorted them to their rooms. Cap'n Bill's

room was way to one end of the castle, very high up, and Trot's room was at

the opposite end, rather low down. As for Button-Bright, they placed him in

the middle, so that all were as far apart as they could possibly be. They didn't

like this arrangement very well, but all the rooms were handsomely furnished

and being guests of the King they dared not complain.

After the strangers had left the courtyard the King and Googly-Goo had a long

talk together, and the King said:

I cannot force Gloria to marry you just now, because those strangers may

interfere. I suspect that the wooden-legged man possesses great magical

powers, or he would never have been able to carry himself and those children

across the deadly desert."

I don't like him; he looks dangerous," answered Googly-Goo. "But perhaps

you are mistaken about his being a wizard. Why don't you test his powers?"

How?" asked the King.

Send for the Wicked Witch. She will tell you in a moment whether that

wooden-legged person is a common man or a magician."

Ha! that's a good idea," cried the King. "Why didn't I think of the Wicked

Witch before? But the woman demands rich rewards for her services."

Never mind; I will pay her," promised the wealthy Googly-Goo.

So a servant was dispatched to summon the Wicked Witch, who lived but a

few leagues from King Krewl's castle. While they awaited her, the withered old

courtier proposed that they pay a visit to Princess Gloria and see if she was

not now in a more complaisant mood. So the two started away together and

searched the castle over without finding Gloria.

At last Googly-Goo suggested she might be in the rear garden, which was a

large park filled with bushes and trees and surrounded by a high wall. And

what was their anger, when they turned a corner of the path, to find in a quiet

nook the beautiful Princess, and kneeling before her, Pon, the gardener's boy!

With a roar of rage the King dashed forward; but Pon had scaled the wall by

means of a ladder, which still stood in its place, and when he saw the King

The Scarecrow of Oz