Just before this Uncle Wiggily himself had started out from his hollow
stump bungalow to walk in the woods and across the fields, as he did
every day.

"I wonder what sort of an adventure I shall have this time?" he said to
himself. "I hope it will be a real nice one."

Oh! If Uncle Wiggily had known what was in store for him, I think he
would have stayed in his hollow stump bungalow. But never mind, I'll
make it all come out right in the end, you see if I don't. I don't
know just how I'm going to do it, yet, but I'll find a way, never fear.

Uncle Wiggily hopped on and on, now and then swinging his
red-white-and-blue-striped rheumatism crutch like a cane, because he
felt so young and spry and spring-like. Pretty soon he came to the
willow tree. He was sort of looking up at it, wondering if a nibble of
some of the green leaves would not do him good, when, all of a sudden,
out jumped the two bad alligators and grabbed the bunny gentleman.

"Now we have you!" cried the humped-tail 'gator.

"And you can't get away from us," said the other chap--the
double-jointed tail one.

"Oh, please let me go!" begged Uncle Wiggily, but they hooked their
claws in his fur, and pulled him back under the tree, which held its
branches so low. I told you it was a weeping willow tree, and just now
it was weeping, I think, because Uncle Wiggily was in such trouble.