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But the young lady, being in an especially bad temper that day, positively refused to see him. Having overcome so many obstacles, Timtom did not intend to be thwarted by a sulky girl, so he walked boldly to the room where the Princess sat alone, every one being afraid to go near her. "Good day, my dear Pattycake," he said pleasantly; "I have come to cure your bad temper."
"I wish to visit the castle of the sorceress Maetta on very important business," he replied, "but I can not get over the gulf." "I could carry you over with ease," said the bird, "and shall gladly do so if, in return, you promise to grant me one favor." "What is the favor?" inquired Timtom. "I have forgotten my song, through having a sore throat for a long time," replied the bird.
Timtom obeyed and looked around for a chair, but could see none in the room. The lady made a motion with her scepter and instantly at his side appeared a splendid diamond chair, in which the young man seated himself, finding it remarkably comfortable. "Tell me what you desire," said the sorceress, in her sweet voice. "I love the Princess Pattycake," replied Timtom, without hesitation.
The young man agreed to this, for he was anxious to proceed. So the spider threw a web across the river, and then another, and another, until it had made a bridge of spider-web strong enough for Timtom to cross over. It bent and swayed when his weight was on the slender bridge, but it did not break, and after he was safe across he thanked the spider and renewed his promise to bring back the eye.
At the end of that time he was no nearer solving it than he was before; but his mother, who had noticed that her boy was in trouble, now came to him to ask the cause of his sad looks. Timtom told her all about the Princess Pattycake, and of his love for her, and the evil temper that would not be cured.
The wren hopped into his lap, and carefully opening one of its tiny claws disclosed the identical spider's eye which Maetta had given him. "That is wonderful!" exclaimed Timtom, in amazement. "But where did you get it?" "I found it in the wood, hidden in the moss near the den of the Sly Fox. It is so bright and sparkling I thought I would take it home for my children to play with.
In fact, I believe that unless you go away at once I shall be obliged to box your ears!" There seemed to be no help for her, so Timtom left the room sadly, and going to the King, told him what she had said. "Then that is the end of the matter," declared the King, "for no one can cure Pattycake of her bad temper."
Seeing this, Pattycake rushed forward and seizing him by his hair began to pull with all her strength. At the same time she opened her mouth to scream, and while it was open Timtom threw the golden pill down her throat. Immediately the Princess released his hair and sank at his feet sobbing and trembling, while she covered her pretty face with her hands to hide her blushes and shame.
The lion and the tiger therefore met in mid air, and each one thinking it had hold of Timtom, tried to tear him to pieces, with the result that in a few moments they had devoured each other instead of him. The youth now strode rapidly through the wood, and was getting along famously when he came to a high wall of jasper that completely blocked his way.
A week later there was a great feast in the Valley of Mo, and much rejoicing among the people, for it was the wedding-day of Timtom and the Princess Pattycake. The Eighth Surprise There is no country so delightful but that it suffers some disadvantages, and so it was with the Valley of Mo.
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