.

"Oh! it must be some bad boys after me," thought the poor old gentleman
rabbit. "My! I do seem to be having a dreadful time seeking my fortune.
There is always some kind of trouble."

And then more stones came through the air, and banged on the door and this
time Uncle Wiggily saw that they came from the stream, and, what is more,
he saw the goldfish throwing the stones and pebbles out of the brook with
his tail. Then the rabbit knew it was all right, for the goldfish was a
friend of his, so he ran out.

"Were you throwing stones at the house?" asked Uncle Wiggily.

"Yes," replied the fish, "it was the only way in which I could knock on
your door. You see I dare not leave the water, and I wanted you to know
that I had some breakfast for you."

And with that the kind goldfish took a little basket, made of watercress,
from off his left front fin, and handed Uncle Wiggily the basket, not his
fin, for he needed that to swim with.

"You'll find some cabbage-salad with snorkery-snickery ell-grass dressing
on it, some water-lily cake, and some moss covered eggs for your
breakfast," said the fish. "And I wish you good luck on your travels
to-day."

"Thank you very much," said Uncle Wiggily, "and I am very much obliged to
you for saving me from the alligator last night."

"Pray do not mention it," spoke the fish most condescendingly. "I always
like to help my friends." And with that he swam away, and Uncle Wiggily
ate his breakfast, and then, taking his crutch and valise, he set off on
his travels again.

He hopped on for some time, and finally he came to a place where there
were some high, prickly bramble-briar bushes.

"I will rest here in their shade a bit," thought the old gentleman rabbit,
"and then I will go on."

So he sat down, and, as the sun was quite warm, he fell asleep before he
knew it. But he was suddenly awakened by a hissing sound, just like when
steam comes out of the parlor radiator on a frosty night. Then a voice
cried:

"Now I've got you!"

Uncle Wiggily looked up, and there was a big snake, just going to grab
him. But do you s'pose the rabbit waited for that snake? Not a bit of it.
Catching up his crutch and valise, he gave one tremendous and
extraordinary springery-spring, and over the prickery stickery briar and
bramble bushes he went, flying through the air, and the snake couldn't get
him.

But when Uncle Wiggily came down on the other side of the bushes! Oh, my!
that was a differen