"HELP! HELP!"
ALLIGATOR. But I tell thee I did!
RABBIT. Ha, ha, ha! That's too funny!
ALLIGATOR (angrily). I do not like thy manners, young man.
RABBIT. But it's such a joke! Ho, ho, ho!
ALLIGATOR. Cease thy laughing or I shall eat thee some day!
RABBIT. I laugh because I must laugh! Ha, ha, ho, ho!
ALLIGATOR. Thou wilt not believe it, eh?
RABBIT. Well, not unless I see it.
MAN. We can prove it to thee, Brother Rabbit.
RABBIT. Oh, that's good too! Ha, ha, ho!
ALLIGATOR. Dost thou think we cannot?
RABBIT. Of course thou canst not! If thou couldst, thou wouldst.
ALLIGATOR. And we will! Get thy net ready, Man.
MAN. But how? Thou art holding my leg.
ALLIGATOR (freeing the Man; turning to the Rabbit). We'll show thee just how it was done, young man.
RABBIT. Seeing is believing.
[The Man brings his net; opens it.]
ALLIGATOR. See! I put my legs under—so! Then I fold my arms—so! Now I roll myself up and up and up. And now I am in—all in!
RABBIT. As I live—thou art! Well, seeing is believing. But how couldst thou remain within the net? It is quite open.
ALLIGATOR. Tie it up, Man. Show him exactly how we did it.
MAN (tying net). I tied it tight—like this, Brother Rabbit.
RABBIT. Is it quite tight?
ALLIGATOR. Let him try the knot, Man.
RABBIT (trying knot). Most truly, it is tight.
(Turning to the Alligator.)
Thou dost look as if thou couldst not move, Ally dear.
ALLIGATOR. Of a surety—I cannot.
RABBIT. Well, Brother Man, now that thou hast him, don't be foolish enough to let him go. Get thy big stick and beat him to death.
ALLIGATOR (surprised). Eh?
MAN (not heeding the Alligator). That is just what I will do, that I will! Thanks to thee for helping me, Brother Rabbit.
ALLIGATOR. Have pity!
RABBIT (not heeding the Alligator). No thanks are necessary, Brother Man. I haven't forgotten the good turnips thou didst give me last winter when the ground was covered with snow. Some of us know how to return favor for favor.