It was arranged that they should take Gloria to Blinkie's house the next day, to have her heart frozen.
Then King Krewl mentioned to the old hag the strangers who had that day arrived in Jinxland, and said to her: "I think the two children--the boy and the girl--are unable to harm me, but I have a suspicion that the wooden-legged man is a powerful wizard." The witch's face wore a troubled look when she heard this.
"If you are right," she said, "this wizard might spoil my incantation and interfere with me in other ways.

So it will be best for me to meet this stranger at once and match my magic against his, to decide which is the stronger." "All right," said the King.

"Come with me and I will lead you to the man's room." Googly-Goo did not accompany them, as he was obliged to go home to get the money and jewels he had promised to pay old Blinkie, so the other two climbed several flights of stairs and went through many passages until they came to the room occupied by Cap'n Bill.
The sailor-man, finding his bed soft and inviting, and being tired with the adventures he had experienced, had decided to take a nap.

When the Wicked Witch and the King softly opened his door and entered, Cap'n Bill was snoring with such vigor that he did not hear them at all.
Blinkie approached the bed and with her one eye anxiously stared at the sleeping stranger.
"Ah," she said in a soft whisper, "I believe you are right, King Krewl.
The man looks to me like a very powerful wizard.

But by good luck I have caught him asleep, so I shall transform him before he wakes up, giving him such a form that he will be unable to oppose me." "Careful!" cautioned the King, also speaking low.