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with Princess Gloria, who since her heart had been frozen had escaped to
some unknown place, instead of returning to the castle to wed Googly-Goo, as
she had been expected to do. So the King bared his teeth angrily as he
demanded:
"
"
What have you done with Princess Gloria?"
Nothing, your Majesty! I have done nothing at all," answered Pon in a
faltering voice. "She does not love me any more and even refuses to speak to
me."
"
Then why are you here, you rascal?" roared the King.
Pon looked first one way and then another, but saw no means of escape; so he
plucked up courage.
"
"
I am here to summon your Majesty to surrender."
What!" shouted the King. "Surrender? Surrender to whom?"
Pon's heart sank to his boots.
"
To the Scarecrow," he replied.
Some of the courtiers began to titter, but King Krewl was greatly annoyed. He
sprang up and began to beat poor Pon with the golden staff he carried. Pon
howled lustily and would have run away had not two of the soldiers held him
until his Majesty was exhausted with punishing the boy. Then they let him go
and he left the castle and returned along the road, sobbing at every step
because his body was so sore and aching.
"
"
Well," said the Scarecrow, "did the King surrender?"
No; but he gave me a good drubbing!" sobbed poor Pon.
Trot was very sorry for Pon, but Gloria did not seem affected in any way by her
lover's anguish. The grasshopper leaped to the Scarecrow's shoulder and
asked him what he was going to do next.
"
Conquer," was the reply. "But I will go alone, this time, for beatings cannot
hurt me at all; nor can lance thrusts--or sword cuts--or arrow pricks."
"
Why is that?" inquired Trot.
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