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Adventures of Puss in Boots, Jr.

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<h2>[43] PUSS CROSSES A WONDERFUL BRIDGE</h2> 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. 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." 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: <blockquote>No loitering allowed on the bridge. The gingerbread must not be eaten, under penalty of a fine and imprisonment. </blockquote> "It looks pretty stale, anyway," tooted the little owl, who blinked and winked in the early morning light as he flew beside Puss, Jr. "You can't see very well, my dear friend," answered Puss. "It looks perfectly delicious to me." [44]"Never mind how it looks," said the retainer, overhearing Puss, Jr.'s, remark. "You must obey the law." "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." "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." "Thank you," cried Puss, Jr. "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. "A gingerbread cottage," laughed Puss to himself, following the path that led into the forest: <div class="block"> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> "A gingerbread bridge And a gingerbread house, A gingerbread cat And a gingerbread mouse. But the gingerbread cat Ate the gingerbread mouse As she ran on the bridge From the gingerbread house." [45]</div> </div></div> <hr /> <div style="break-after:column;"></div>

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