The King listened with amazement bold speech, first with frown and then gazing two children old sailor with evident curiosity The courtiers were dumb with fear, for no one had ever dared speak 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 destroy him unless he treated them well So he commanded his people the new arrivals seats, obeyed with trembling haste

After being seated, Cap'n Bill lighted his pipe and began puffing smoke , sight so strange filled them all with wonder Presently the King asked:

"How did you penetrate hidden country ? Did you cross the desert or the mountains ? "

"Desert," answered Cap'n Bill, as task were too easy worth talking about

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

"Well, it's easy enough, how," asserted Cap'n Bill, so carelessly greatly impressed his hearers The King shifted throne uneasily more afraid strangers than before

" intend to stay long in Jinxland ? " was his next anxious question

"Depends on how we like it," said Cap'n Bill "Just now suggest to your Majesty to order some rooms got ready in your dinky little castle here And royal banquet, with some fried onions an' pickled tripe, would set easy stomicks an' make us bit happier than now "

"Your wishes shall be attended to," said King Krewl, but his eyes flashed from between their slits in wicked way that made Trot hope the food wouldn't be poisoned King's command several attendants hastened away the proper orders castle servants and no sooner were they gone than skinny old man entered the courtyard and bowed King

This disagreeable person was dressed in rich velvets, with many furbelows and laces covered with golden chains, finely wrought rings and jeweled ornaments He walked with mincing steps and glared at all the courtiers he considered himself far superior to any or all

"Well, well, your Majesty; what news -- what news ? " he demanded, in shrill, cracked voice

The King gave him surly look

"No news, Lord Googly-Goo, except that strangers have arrived,"

Googly-Goo cast contemptuous glance at Cap'n Bill and disdainful one at Trot and Button-Bright Then :

"Strangers interest me, your Majesty But the Princess Gloria is very interesting -- very interesting, indeed ! What does she say, Sire ? Will she marry me ? "

"Ask her," retorted the King

" , ; and every time she has refused "

"Well ? " said the King harshly

"Well," said Googly-Goo in jaunty tone, "a bird sing, and won't sing, made to sing "

"Huh ! " sneered the King "That's easy, with bird; but girl is harder to manage "

"Still," persisted Googly-Goo, " overcome difficulties The chief trouble Gloria fancies she loves that miserable gardener's boy, Pon Suppose we throw Pon Great Gulf, your Majesty ? "

"It would no good," returned the King " still love him "

"Too bad, too bad ! " sighed Googly-Goo " laid aside more than bushel of precious gems --each worth king's ransom -- to your Majesty day I wed Gloria "

The King's eyes sparkled, for he loved wealth above everything; but the next moment he frowned deeply again

"It won't to kill Pon," he muttered "What do is kill Gloria's love for Pon "

" better, find way ," agreed Googly-Goo "Everything would come right kill Gloria's love gardener's boy Really, Sire, now that I come of it, fully bushel and half jewels ! "

Just then messenger entered the court banquet was prepared strangers So Cap'n Bill, Trot and Button-Bright entered the castle and were taken to room where fine feast was spread table

"I don't like that Lord Googly-Goo," remarked Trot as she was busily eating

"Nor I," said Cap'n Bill "But talk we heard I guess the gardener's boy won't get the Princess "

"Perhaps not," returned the girl; "but old Googly doesn't get her, either "

"The King means her for all those jewels," observed Button-Bright, his mouth half full of cake and jam

"Poor Princess ! " sighed Trot "I'm sorry for her, although I've never seen her But if she says no to Googly-Goo, and means it, what can ? "

"Don't worry about strange Princess," advised Cap'n Bill "I've notion we're not too safe, ourselves, cruel King "

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

had eaten, the servants escorted them rooms Cap'n Bill's room was way to one end castle, very high up, and Trot's room was opposite end, rather low down As for Button-Bright, they placed him middle, all were as far apart as possibly be They didn't like this arrangement , but all the rooms were handsomely furnished and being guests King they dared not complain

strangers had left the courtyard the King and Googly-Goo had long talk together, King said:

" force Gloria to marry you just now, because those strangers may interfere I suspect wooden- legged man possesses great magical powers, or never to carry himself and those children across the deadly desert "

"I don't like him; he looks dangerous," answered Googly-Goo "But perhaps mistaken about his being wizard Why don't you test his powers ? "

"How ? " asked the King

"Send Wicked Witch She will tell you in moment whether that wooden-legged person is common man or magician "

"Ha ! that's good idea," cried the King "Why didn't Wicked Witch before ? But the woman demands rich rewards for her services "

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

So servant was dispatched to summon the Wicked Witch, who lived but few leagues from King Krewl's castle While they awaited her, the withered old courtier proposed pay visit to Princess Gloria if she was not now in more complaisant mood So the two started away together and searched the castle over without finding Gloria

At last Googly-Goo suggested she rear garden, large park filled with bushes and trees and surrounded by high wall And their anger, turned corner path, in quiet nook the beautiful Princess, and kneeling before her, Pon, the gardener's boy ! With roar of rage the King dashed forward; but Pon had scaled the wall of ladder, which still stood in its place, and when the King coming he ran up the ladder and made good his escape But this left Gloria confronted by her angry guardian, the King, and by old Googly-Goo, who was trembling with fury express in words

Seizing the Princess by her arm the King dragged her back castle Pushing her into room lower floor he locked the door unhappy girl And moment the arrival Wicked Witch was announced

Hearing this, the King smiled, as tiger smiles, showing his teeth And Googly-Goo smiled, as serpent smiles, for he had no teeth except couple of fangs And having frightened smiles the two dreadful men went away Royal Council Chamber to meet the Wicked Witch

Chapter Twelve

The Wooden-Legged Grass-Hopper

Now it so happened that Trot, window of her room, had witnessed the meeting lovers garden and had seen the King come and drag Gloria away The little girl's heart went out in sympathy poor Princess, who seemed to her sweetest and loveliest young ladies she had ever seen, so she crept along the passages and from hidden niche saw Gloria locked in her room

The key was still lock, so King had gone away, followed by Googly-Goo, Trot stole door, turned the key and entered The Princess lay prone upon couch, sobbing bitterly Trot went her and smoothed her hair and tried to comfort her

"Don't cry," she said "I've unlocked the door, so go away to "

"It isn't that," sobbed the Princess " unhappy because let me love Pon, the gardener's boy ! "

"Well, never mind; Pon isn't any great shakes, anyhow, seems ," said Trot soothingly " lots of other people love "

Gloria rolled over couch and looked little girl reproachfully

"Pon has won my heart, and 't help loving him," she explained Then with sudden indignation she added: "But I'll never love Googly-Goo -- never, as long as I live ! "

" say not ! " replied Trot "Pon may not be much good, but old Googly is very, very bad Hunt around, and I'm sure you'll find someone worth your love You're very pretty, , and almost anyone ought to love you "

"You don't understand, my dear," said Gloria, as she wiped the tears from her eyes with dainty lace handkerchief bordered with pearls " older young lady cannot decide whom she will love, or choose the most worthy Her heart alone decides for her, and whomsoever her heart selects, love, whether he amounts to much or not "

Trot was little puzzled speech, which seemed to her unreasonable; but she made no reply and presently Gloria's grief softened and she began to question the little girl about herself and her adventures Trot told her how they had happened to Jinxland, and all about Cap'n Bill Ork and Pessim Bumpy Man

While they were thus conversing together, getting more and more friendly became better acquainted, Council Chamber the King and Googly-Goo were talking Wicked Witch