"Yikes!" thought Tom.
Crocodiles filled the moat.
Some of the crocodiles were sleeping.
Others were swimming in the water.
Dirk clapped Tom hard on the shoulder.
"Ack!" Tom cried.
He started to fall toward the water.
Dirk grabbed Tom's robe just in time.
"Your silly net spell didn't work," Dirk said.
"You better think of something else fast!"
Tom gulped. "No problem!" he said.
"I'll think of another spell!"
Princess Mary started to cry again.
"My royal crown!
It's lost forever!"
Tom wrung his hands.
"What am I going to do?" he thought.
Finally Tom just lifted his wand again.
"Crown that is down!" he yelled.
"Land in my hand!"
Tom held out one hand.
He stared hopefully into the dark water.
"Whoa!" he cried.
Everyone clapped as the crown started to rise.
"Wow! Tom did it!" whispered a servant.
"Hmpf!" Dirk said with a scowl.
Princess Mary wiped away her tears.
"Just one more second, everybody!" Tom called.
He kept his hand over the moat.
"Then I'll have the crown!"
Suddenly Tom saw something else.
"You idiot!" Dirk yelled.
"Oops," Tom whispered.
"Here comes the crown . . .
On top of a hungry crocodile!"