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. The
grasshopper leaped to the Scarecrow's shoulder and asked
him what he was going to do next.
"Conquer," was the reply. "But I will go alone, this
time, for beatings cannot hurt me at all; nor can lance
thrusts -- or sword cuts -- or arrow pricks."
"Why is that?" inquired Trot.
"Because I have no nerves, such as you meat people
possess. Even grasshoppers have nerves, but straw
doesn't; so whatever they do -- except just one thing --
they cannot injure me. Therefore I expect to conquer King
Krewl with ease."
"What is that one thing you excepted?" asked Trot.
"They will never think of it, so never mind. And now,
if you will kindly excuse me for a time, I'll go over to
the castle and do my conquering.
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