<h2><span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[43]</SPAN></span> <SPAN name="bridge" id="bridge"></SPAN>PUSS CROSSES A WONDERFUL BRIDGE</h2>
<p class="cap2">THE next morning, bright and early, Puss, Jr., left the stately castle
of Cranberry Tart Island and continued his journey. The Queen had bidden
him a kind farewell, at the same time instructing one of her retainers
to show him the bridge connecting Cranberry Tart Island with the
mainland.</p>
<p>On arriving at the bridge Puss, Jr., was most surprised to see that it
was built entirely of gingerbread. "Goodness!" he exclaimed to himself,
"if many stopped on their way over to take a bite, there would soon be
no bridge left."</p>
<p>Probably the builder had been aware of this fact, for at the entrance of
the bridge was displayed a large sign which read as follows:</p>
<blockquote><p>No loitering allowed on the bridge. The gingerbread must not be eaten,
under penalty of a fine and imprisonment.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>"It looks pretty stale, anyway," tooted the little owl, who blinked and
winked in the early morning light as he flew beside Puss, Jr.</p>
<p>"You can't see very well, my dear friend," answered Puss. "It looks
perfectly delicious to me."</p>
<p><span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[44]</SPAN></span>"Never mind how it looks," said the retainer, overhearing Puss, Jr.'s,
remark. "You must obey the law."</p>
<p>"I have no intention of not obeying," answered Puss, "nor would I
endanger our safety by biting off a piece. Should the bridge fall into
the water I should be forced to swim, and swimming is no easy matter for
a cat, especially with high-top boots."</p>
<p>"Wisely said," replied the retainer. "And now that we have crossed over
safely, I will leave you to pursue your journey, for you need no further
help from me."</p>
<p>"Thank you," cried Puss, Jr.</p>
<p>"Yet there is one thing I would warn you of," replied the retainer,
pausing before taking himself off. "In yonder forest is a gingerbread
cottage. Beware of it, for within lives a wicked witch." With these
words he turned away and crossed the gingerbread bridge that led back to
Cranberry Tart Island.</p>
<p>"A gingerbread cottage," laughed Puss to himself, following the path
that led into the forest:</p>
<div class="block">
<div class="poem"><div class="stanza">
<span class="io">"A gingerbread bridge<br/></span>
<span class="i0">And a gingerbread house,<br/></span>
<span class="i0">A gingerbread cat<br/></span>
<span class="i0">And a gingerbread mouse.<br/></span>
<span class="i0">But the gingerbread cat<br/></span>
<span class="i0">Ate the gingerbread mouse<br/></span>
<span class="i0">As she ran on the bridge<br/></span>
<span class="i0">From the gingerbread house."<br/></span>
<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[45]</SPAN></span></div>
</div></div>
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