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revenged upon the Scarecrow and his friends she at once
began to mumble a charm so terrible in its effect that it
would have destroyed half the population of Jinxland
had it worked。 But it did not work at all； to the
amazement of old Blinkie。 And by this time the Scarecrow
noticed what the little witch was trying to do； and said
to her：
〃Go home； Blinkie； and behave yourself。 You are no
longer a witch； but an ordinary old woman； and since you
are powerless to do more evil I advise you to try to do
some good in the world。 Believe me； it is more fun to
accomplish a good act than an evil one； as you will
discover when once you have tried it。〃
But Blinkie was at that moment filled with grief and
chagrin at losing her magic powers。 She started away
toward her home； sobbing and bewailing her fate； and not
one who saw her go was at all sorry for her。
Chapter Twenty
Queen Gloria
Next morning the Scarecrow called upon all the
courtiers and the people to assemble in the throne room
of the castle； where there was room enough for all that
were able to attend。 They found the straw man seated upon
the velvet cushions of the throne； with the King's
glittering crown still upon his stuffed head。 On one side
of the throne； in a lower chair； sat Gloria； looking
radiantly beautiful and fresh as a new…blown rose。 On the
other side sat Pon； the gardener's boy； still dressed in
his old smock frock and looking sad and solemn； for Pon
could not make himself believe that so splendid a
Princess would condescend to love him when she had come
to her own and was seated upon a throne。 Trot and Cap'n
Bill sat at the feet of the Scarecrow and were much
interested in the proceedings。 Button…Bright had lost
himself before breakfast； but came into the throne room
before the ceremonies were over。 Back of the throne stood
a row of the great Orks； with their leader in the center；
and the entrance to the palace was guarded by more Orks；
who were regarded with wonder and awe。
When all were assembled； the Scarecrow stood up and
made a speech。 He told how Gloria's father； the good King
Kynd； who had once ruled them and been loved by everyone；
had been destroyed by King Phearce； the father of Pon；
and how King Phearce had been destroyed by King Krewl。
This last King had been a bad ruler； as they knew very
well； and the Scarecrow declared that the only one in all
Jinxland who had the right to sit upon the throne was
Princess Gloria； the daughter of King Kynd。
〃But；〃 he added； 〃it is not for me； a stranger； to say
who shall rule you。 You must decide for yourselves； or
you will not be content。 So choose now who shall be your
future ruler。〃
And they all shouted： 〃The Scarecrow！ The Scarecrow
shall rule us！〃
Which proved that the stuffed man had made himself very
popular by his conquest of King Krewl； and the people
thought they would like him for their King。 But the
Scarecrow shook his head so vigorously that it became
loose； and Trot had to pin it firmly to his body again。
〃No；〃 said he； 〃I belong in the Land of Oz； where I am
the humble servant of the lovely girl who rules us all
the royal Ozma。 You must choose one of your own
inhabitants to rule over Jinxland。 Who shall it be？〃
They hesitated for a moment； and some few cried： 〃Pon！〃
but many more shouted： 〃Gloria！〃
So the Scarecrow took Gloria's hand and led her to the
throne； where he first seated her and then took the
glittering crown off his own head and placed it upon that
of the young lady； where it nestled prettily amongst her
soft curls。 The people cheered and shouted then； kneeling
before their new Queen； but Gloria leaned down and took
Pon's hand in both her own and raised him to the seat
beside her。
〃You shall have both a King and a Queen to care for you
and to protect you； my dear subjects；〃 she said in a
sweet voice； while her face glowed with happiness； 〃for
Pon was a King's son before he became a gardener's boy；
and because I love him he is to be my Royal Consort。〃
That pleased them all； especially Pon； who realized
that this was the most important moment of his life。 Trot
and Button…Bright and Cap'n Will all congratulated him on
winning the beautiful Gloria； but the Ork sneezed twice
and said that in his opinion the young lady might have
done better。
Then the Scarecrow ordered the guards to bring in the
wicked Krewl； King no longer； and when he appeared；
loaded with chains and dressed in fustian； the people
hissed him and drew back as he passed so their garments
would not touch him。
Krewl was not haughty or overbearing any more； on the
contrary he seemed very meek and in great fear of the
fate his conquerors had in store for him。 But Gloria and
Pon were too happy to be revengeful and so they offered
to appoint Krewl to the position of gardener's boy at the
castle； Pon having resigned to become King。 But they said
he must promise to reform his wicked ways and to do his
duty faithfully； and he must change his name from Krewl
to Grewl。 All this the man eagerly promised to do； and so
when Pon retired to a room in the castle to put on
princely raiment； the old brown smock he had formerly
worn was given to Grewl； who then went out into the
garden to water the roses。
The remainder of that famous day； which was long
remembered in Jinxland； was given over to feasting and
merrymaking。 In the evening there was a grand dance in
the courtyard； where the brass band played a new piece of
music called the 〃Ork Trot〃 which was dedicated to 〃Our
Glorious Gloria； the Queen。〃
While the Queen and Pon were leading this dance； and
all the Jinxland people were having a good time； the
strangers were gathered in a group in the park outside
the castle。 Cap'n Bill； Trot； Button…Bright and the
Scarecrow were there； and so was their old friend the
Ork； but of all the great flock of Orks which had
assisted in the conquest but three remained in Jinxland；
besides their leader； the others having returned to their
own country as soon as Gloria was crowned Queen。 To the
young Ork who had accompanied them in their adventures
Cap'n Bill said：
〃You've surely been a friend in need； and we're mighty
grateful to you for helping us。 I might have been a
grasshopper yet if it hadn't been for you； an' I might
remark that bein'