"She does not love me any more and even refuses to speak to me." "Then why are you here, you rascal ?" roared the King.
Pon looked first one way and then another, but saw no means of escape; so he plucked up courage.
"I am here to summon your Majesty to surrender." "What!" shouted the King.

"Surrender?
Surrender to whom ?" Pon's heart sank to his boots.
"To the Scarecrow," he replied.
Some of the courtiers began to titter, but King Krewl was greatly annoyed.

He sprang up and began to beat poor Pon with the golden staff he carried.

Pon howled lustily and would have run away had not two of the soldiers held him until his Majesty was exhausted with punishing the boy.

Then they let him go and he left the castle and returned along the road, sobbing at every step because his body was so sore and aching.
"Well," said the Scarecrow, "did the King surrender ?" "No; but he gave me a good drubbing!" sobbed poor Pon.
Trot was very sorry for Pon, but Gloria did not seem affected in any way by her lover's anguish.