So Puss, Jr., consented to spend the night in the stately castle of Tart Island.
PUSS CROSSES A WONDERFUL BRIDGE
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:
No loitering allowed on the bridge. The gingerbread must not be eaten, under penalty of a fine and imprisonment.
"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."
"Never mind how it looks," said the retainer, overhearing Puss, Jr.'s, remark. "You must obey the law."