It was easy to say: "We will conquer King Krewl," but when Pon drew near to the great castle he began to doubt the ability of a straw-stuffed man, a girl, a grasshopper and a frozen-hearted Princess to do it.

As for himself, he had never thought of defying the King before.
That was why the gardener's boy was not very bold when he entered the castle and passed through to the enclosed court where the King was just then seated, with his favorite courtiers around him.

None prevented Pon's entrance, because he was known to be the gardener's boy, but when the King saw him he began to frown fiercely.

He considered Pon to be to blame for all his trouble with Princess Gloria, who since her heart had been frozen had escaped to some unknown place, instead of returning to the castle to wed Googly-Goo, as she had been expected to do.

So the King bared his teeth angrily as he demanded: "What have you done with Princess Gloria ?" "Nothing, your Majesty! I have done nothing at all," answered Pon in a faltering voice.