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Chapter Sixteen - Pon Summons the King to Surrender

Gloria had drawn near to the group to listen to their talk, and it seemed to

interest her in spite of her frigid manner. They knew, of course, that the poor

Princess could not help being cold and reserved, so they tried not to blame

her.

I ought to have come here a little sooner," said the Scarecrow, regretfully;

but Glinda sent me as soon as she discovered you were here and were likely

to get into trouble. And now that we are all together--except Button-Bright,

over whom it is useless to worry--I propose we hold a council of war, to decide

what is best to be done."

That seemed a wise thing to do, so they all sat down upon the grass, including

Gloria, and the grasshopper perched upon Trot's shoulder and allowed her to

stroke him gently with her hand.

In the first place," began the Scarecrow, "this King Krewl is a usurper and

has no right to rule this Kingdom of Jinxland."

That is true," said Pon, eagerly. "My father was King before him, and I--"

You are a gardener's boy," interrupted the Scarecrow. "Your father had no

right to rule, either, for the rightful King of this land was the father of Princess

Gloria, and only she is entitled to sit upon the throne of Jinxland."

Good!" exclaimed Trot. "But what'll we do with King Krewl? I s'pose he won't

give up the throne unless he has to."

No, of course not," said the Scarecrow. "Therefore it will be our duty to make

him give up the throne."

"How?" asked Trot.

Give me time to think," was the reply. "That's what my brains are for. I don't

know whether you people ever think, or not, but my brains are the best that

the Wizard of Oz ever turned out, and if I give them plenty of time to work, the

result usually surprises me."

Take your time, then," suggested Trot. "There's no hurry."

Thank you," said the straw man, and sat perfectly still for half an hour.

During this interval the grasshopper whispered in Trot's ear, to which he was

The Scarecrow of Oz