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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 mountains？〃
〃Desert；〃 answered Cap'n Bill； as if the task were too
easy to be worth talking about。
〃Indeed！ No one has ever been able to do that before；〃
said the King。
〃Well； it's easy enough； if you know how；〃 asserted
Cap'n Bill； so carelessly that it greatly impressed his
hearers。 The King shifted in his throne uneasily。 He was
more afraid of these strangers than before。
〃Do you intend to stay long in Jinxland？〃 was his next
anxious question。
〃Depends on how we like it；〃 said Cap'n Bill。 〃Just now
I might suggest to your Majesty to order some rooms got
ready for us in your dinky little castle here。 And a
royal banquet； with some fried onions an' pickled tripe；
would set easy on our stomicks an' make us a bit happier
than we are now。〃
〃Your wishes shall be attended to；〃 said King Krewl；
but his eyes flashed from between their slits in a wicked
way that made Trot hope the food wouldn't be poisoned。 At
the King's command several of his attendants hastened
away to give the proper orders to the castle servants and
no sooner were they gone than a skinny old man entered
the courtyard and bowed before the King。
This disagreeable person was dressed in rich velvets；
with many furbelows and laces。 He was covered with golden
chains； finely wrought rings and jeweled ornaments。 He
walked with mincing steps and glared at all the courtiers
as if he considered himself far superior to any or all of
them。
〃Well； well； your Majesty； what news what news？〃 he
demanded； in a shrill； cracked voice。
The King gave him a surly look。
〃No news； Lord Googly…Goo； except that strangers have
arrived；〃 he said。
Googly…Goo cast a contemptuous glance at Cap'n Bill and
a disdainful one at Trot and Button…Bright。 Then he said：
〃Strangers do not 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。
〃I have； many times； and every time she has refused。〃
〃Well？〃 said the King harshly。
〃Well；〃 said Googly…Goo in a jaunty tone； 〃a bird
that can sing； and won't sing； must be made to sing。〃
〃Huh！〃 sneered the King。 〃That's easy； with a bird； but
a girl is harder to manage。〃
〃Still；〃 persisted Googly…Goo； 〃we must overcome
difficulties。 The chief trouble is that Gloria fancies
she loves that miserable gardener's boy； Pon。 Suppose we
throw Pon into the Great Gulf； your Majesty？〃
〃It would do you no good；〃 returned the King。 〃She
would still love him。〃
〃Too bad； too bad！〃 sighed Googly…Goo。 〃I have