the scarecrow of oz-第16节
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her to marry a rich courtier named Googly…Goo； who is old
enough to be Gloria's father。 She has refused Googly…Goo
thirty…nine times； but he still persists and has brought
many rich presents to bribe the King。 On that account
King Krewl has commanded his niece to marry the old man；
but the Princess has assured me； time and again； that she
will wed only me。 This morning we happened to meet in the
grape arbor and as I was respectfully saluting the cheek
of the Princess； two of the King's guards seized me and
beat me terribly before the very eyes of Gloria； whom the
King himself held back so she could not interfere。〃
〃Why； this King must be a monster！〃 cried Trot。
〃He is far worse than that；〃 said Pon； mournfully。
〃But； see here；〃 interrupted Cap'n Bill； who had
listened carefully to Pon。 〃This King may not be so much
to blame； after all。 Kings are proud folks； because
they're so high an' mighty； an' it isn't reasonable for a
royal Princess to marry a common gardener's boy。〃
〃It isn't right；〃 declared Button…Bright。 〃A Princess
should marry a Prince。〃
〃I'm not a common gardener's boy；〃 protested Pon。 〃If I
had my rights I would be the King instead of Krewl。 As it
is； I'm a Prince； and as royal as any man in Jinxland。〃
〃How does that come？〃 asked Cap'n Bill。
〃My father used to be the King and Krewl was his Prime
Minister。 But one day while out hunting； King Phearse
that was my father's name had a quarrel with Krewl and
tapped him gently on the nose with the knuckles of his
closed hand。 This so provoked the wicked Krewl that he
tripped my father backward； so that he fell into a deep
pond。 At once Krewl threw in a mass of heavy stones；
which so weighted down my poor father that his body could
not rise again to the surface。 It is impossible to kill
anyone in this land； as perhaps you know； but when my
father was pressed down into the mud at the bottom of the
deep pool and the stones held him so he could never
escape； he was of no more use to himself or the world
than if he had died。 Knowing this； Krewl proclaimed
himself King； taking possession of the royal castle and
driving all my father's people out。 I was a small boy；
then； but when I grew up I became a gardener。 I have
served King Krewl without his knowing that I am the son
of the same King Phearse whom he so cruelly made away
with。〃
〃My； but that's a terr'bly exciting story！〃 said Trot；
drawing a long breath。 〃But tell us； Pon； who was
Gloria's father？〃
〃Oh； he was the King before my father；〃 replied Pon。
〃Father was Prime Minister for King Kynd； who was
Gloria's father。 She was only a baby when King Kynd fell
into the Great Gulf that lies just this side of the
mountains the same mountains that separate Jinxland
from the rest of the Land of Oz。 It is said the Great
Gulf has no bottom； but； however that may be； King Kynd
has never been seen again and my father became King in
his place。〃
〃Seems to me；〃 said Trot； 〃that if Gloria had her
rights she would be Queen of Jinxland。〃
〃Well； her father was a King；〃 admitted Pon； 〃and so
was my father； so we are of equal rank； although she's a
great lady and I'm a humble gardener's boy。 I can't see
why we should not marry if we want to except that King
Krewl won't let us。〃
〃It's a sort of mixed…up mess； taken altogether；〃
remarked Cap'n Bill。 〃But we are on our way to visit King
Krewl； and if we get a chance； young man； we'll put in a
good word for you。〃
〃Do； please！〃 begged Pon。
〃Was it the flogging you got that broke your heart？〃
inquired Button…Bright。
〃Why； it helped to break it； of course；〃 said Pon。
〃I'd get it fixed up； if I were you；〃 advised the boy；
tossing a pebble at a chipmunk in a tree。 〃You ought to
give Gloria just as good a heart as she gives you。〃
〃That's common sense；〃 agreed Cap'n Bill。 So they left
the gardener's boy standing beside the path； and resumed
their journey toward the castle。
Chapter Eleven
The Wicked King and Googly…Goo
When our friends approached the great doorway of the
castle they found it guarded by several soldiers dressed
in splendid uniforms。 They were armed with swords and
lances。 Cap'n Bill walked straight up to them and asked：
〃Does the King happen to be at home？〃
〃His Magnificent and Glorious Majesty； King Krewl； is
at present inhabiting his Royal Castle；〃 was the stiff
reply。
〃Then I guess we'll go in an' say how…d'ye…do；〃
continued Cap'n Bill； attempting to enter the doorway。
But a soldier barred his way with a lance。
〃Who are you； what are your names； and where
do you come from？〃 demanded the soldier。
〃You wouldn't know if we told you；〃 returned the
sailor； 〃seein' as we're strangers in a strange land。〃
〃Oh； if you are strangers you will be permitted to
enter；〃 said the soldier； lowering his lance。 〃His
Majesty is very fond of strangers。〃
〃Do many strangers come here？〃 asked Trot。
〃You are the first that ever came to our country；〃 said
the man。 〃But his Majesty has often said that if
strangers ever arrived in Jinxland he would see that they
had a very exciting time。〃
Cap'n Bill scratched his chin thoughtfully。 He wasn't
very favorably impressed by this last remark。 But he
decided that as there was no way of escape from Jinxland
it would be wise to confront the King boldly and try to
win his favor。 So they entered the castle； escorted by
one of the soldiers。
It was certainly a fine castle； with many large rooms；
all beautifully furnished。 The passages were winding and
handsomely decorated； and after following several of
these the soldier led them into an open court that
occupied the very center of the huge building。 It was
surrounded on every side by high turreted walls； and
contained beds of flowers； fountains and walks of many
colored marbles which were matched together in quaint
designs。 In an open space near the middle of the court
they saw a group of courtiers and their ladies； who
surrounded a lean man who wore upon his head a jeweled
crown。 His face was hard and sullen and through the slits
of his half…closed eyelids the eyes glowed like coals of
fire。 He was dressed in brilliant satins and velvets and
was seated in a golden throne…chair。
This personage was King Krewl； and as soon as Cap'n
Bill saw him the old sailor knew at once that he was not
going to like the King of Jinxland。
〃Hello！ who's here？〃 said his Majesty； with a deep
scowl。
〃Strangers； Sire；〃 answered the soldier； bowing so low
that his forehead touched the marble tiles。
〃Strangers； eh？ Well； well； what an unexpected visit！
Advance； strangers； and give an account of yourselves。〃
The King's voice was as harsh as his features。 Trot
shuddered a little but Cap'n Bill calmly replied：
〃There ain't much for us to say； 'cept as we've arrived
to look over your country an' see how we like it。 Judgin'
from the way you speak； you don't know who we are； or
you'd be jumpin' up to shake hands an' offer us seats。
Kings usually treat us pretty well； in the great big
Outside World where we come from； but in this little
kingdom which don't amount to much； anyhow folks
don't seem to 'a' got much culchure。〃
The King listened with amazement to this bold speech；
first with a frown and then gazing at the two children
and the old sailor with evident curiosity。 The courtiers
were dumb with fear； for no one had ever dared speak in
such a manner to their 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 that would destroy
him unless he treated them well。 So he commanded his
people to give the new arrivals seats； and they obeyed
with trembling haste。
After being seated； Cap'n Bill lighted his pipe and
began puffing smoke from it； a sight so strange to them
that it filled them all with wonder。 Presently the King
asked：
〃How did you penetrate to this hidden country？ Did you
cross the desert or the
