Blinkie leader of all the other witches and therefore the most hated and feared The King used her witchcraft at times to assist him in carrying out his cruelties and revenge, but always obliged Blinkie large sums of money or heaps of precious jewels before undertake an enchantment This made him hate the old woman almost as his subjects did, but to-day Lord Googly-Goo had agreed the witch's price, so the King greeted her with gracious favor

" destroy the love of Princess Gloria gardener's boy ? " inquired his Majesty

The Wicked Witch thought before she replied:

"That's hard question to answer do lots of clever magic, but love is stubborn thing to conquer When you've killed it, it's liable to bob up again as strong as ever I believe love and cats have nine lives In other words, killing love is hard job, even for skillful witch, but I believe do something answer your purpose just "

"What ? " asked the King

" freeze the girl's heart I've got special incantation , and when Gloria's heart is thoroughly frozen no longer love Pon "

"Just the thing ! " exclaimed Googly-Goo, King was likewise much pleased

They bargained price, but finally the old courtier agreed the Wicked Witch's demands arranged should take Gloria to Blinkie's house the , her heart frozen

Then King Krewl mentioned old hag the strangers who had that day arrived in Jinxland, and said to her:

" the two children -- the boy girl -- are unable to harm me, but suspicion wooden-legged man is powerful wizard "

The witch's face wore troubled look when she heard this

" right," she said, "this wizard might spoil my incantation and interfere with me in other ways So best to meet this stranger at once and match my magic against his, to decide the stronger "

"All right," said the King "Come with me lead you man's room "

Googly-Goo accompany them, as obliged home the money and jewels he had promised old Blinkie, so the other two climbed several flights of stairs and went through many passages until they came room occupied by Cap'n Bill

The sailor-man, finding his bed soft and inviting, and being tired adventures he had experienced, had decided nap Wicked Witch King softly opened his door and entered, Cap'n Bill was snoring vigor that hear them at all

Blinkie approached the bed and with her one eye anxiously stared sleeping stranger

"Ah," she said in soft whisper, "I believe right, King Krewl The man looks like very powerful wizard But by good luck caught him asleep, so transform him before he wakes up, giving him such form that unable to oppose me "

"Careful ! " cautioned the King, also speaking low "If he discovers what doing destroy you, and annoy me because you to attend to Gloria "

But the Wicked Witch realized as that be careful She carried over her arm black bag, she now drew several packets carefully wrapped in paper Three she selected, replacing the others bag Two packets she mixed together and then she cautiously opened the third

"Better stand back, your Majesty," she advised, "for powder falls on you transformed yourself "

The King hastily retreated end room As Blinkie mixed the third powder others she waved her hands over it, mumbled few words, and then backed away as quickly as

Cap'n Bill was slumbering peacefully, all unconscious of going on Puff ! great cloud of smoke rolled over the bed and completely hid him from view smoke rolled away, both Blinkie King saw body stranger had quite disappeared, while place, crouching middle bed, was little gray grasshopper

One curious thing grasshopper the last joint left leg of wood Another curious thing -- considering grasshopper -- it began talking, crying out in tiny but sharp voice:

"Here -- you people ! What by treating me so ? Put me back where I belong, at once, or you'll be sorry ! "

The cruel King turned pale at hearing the grasshopper's threats, but the Wicked Witch merely laughed in derision Then she raised her stick and aimed vicious blow grasshopper, but stick struck the bed the tiny hopper made marvelous jump -- marvelous, indeed, when we consider had wooden leg It rose air and sailed across the room and passed right open window, where it disappeared from their view

"Good ! " shouted the King " well rid desperate wizard " And then they both laughed heartily success incantation, and went away to complete their horrid plans

After Trot had visited time with Princess Gloria, the little girl went to Button-Bright's room but find him there Then she went to Cap'n Bill's room, but not there because the witch King there before her So she made her way downstairs and questioned the servants They said they had seen the little boy go out garden, , but the old man wooden leg they seen at all

Therefore Trot, not knowing what else , rambled great gardens, seeking for Button-Bright or Cap'n Bill and not finding either This part garden, which lay castle, was not walled in, but extended roadway, paths were open edge forest; so, after two hours of vain search for her friends, the little girl returned castle

But doorway soldier stopped her

"I live here," said Trot, "so it's all right to let me in The King me room "

"Well, he has taken it back again," soldier's reply "His Majesty's orders are you away attempt to enter also ordered to forbid the boy, your companion, to again enter the King's castle "

"How 'bout Cap'n Bill ? " she inquired

"Why, it seems he has mysteriously disappeared," replied the soldier, shaking his head ominously "Where he has gone to, 't make out, but assure you no longer castle I'm sorry, little girl, to disappoint you Don't blame me; obey my master's orders "

Now, all her life Trot accustomed to depend on Cap'n Bill, so good friend was suddenly taken from her she felt very miserable and forlorn indeed She was brave enough not to cry soldier, or even to let him see her grief and anxiety, but after she was turned away castle she sought quiet bench garden and for time sobbed her heart would break

Button-Bright who found her, at last, just sun had set shades of evening were falling He also turned away King's castle, when he tried to enter it, and park across Trot

"Never mind," said the boy " find place to sleep "

" Cap'n Bill," wailed the girl

"Well, so do I," reply "But we haven't got him Where s'pose , Trot ?

"I don't s'pose anything He's gone, an' that's all 'bout it "

Button-Bright sat bench beside her and thrust his hands pockets knickerbockers Then he reflected somewhat gravely for him

"Cap'n Bill isn't around here," , letting his eyes wander over the dim garden, "so go somewhere else if him Besides, it's fast getting dark, and if place to sleep get busy while where "

He rose bench as this and Trot also jumped up, drying her eyes on her apron Then she walked beside him grounds King's castle go main path, but passed through an opening in hedge and found themselves in small but well-worn roadway Following this for some distance, along winding way, they came upon no house or building afford them refuge night It became so dark that scarcely see their way, and finally Trot stopped and suggested camp under tree

"All right," said Button-Bright, "I've often found that leaves make good warm blanket But -- look there, Trot ! -- isn't that light flashing over yonder ? "