WHEN SAILING IN A BOAT, IF NO WIND BLOWS, YOU FLOAT. AND IF THE BAD SHARK CHASES AFTER, WHY, GREET HIM WITH SOME HEARTY LAUGHTER.
1. Having nothing special to do, Uncle Wiggily built himself a sail boat from a wash tub and some old boards. “Come and take a ride with me, Nurse Jane,” he invited. “You need a little rest from washing dishes all the while.” The muskrat lady housekeeper thought this would be great fun. “But suppose something happens to us, Uncle Wiggily?” she asked. “It will be an adventure!” laughed the rabbit.
2. Uncle Wiggily and Nurse Jane took their places in the washtub boat. “All aboard!” cried Uncle Wiggily. At first the wind blew just right, and away sailed Uncle Wiggily and Nurse Jane. “A happy voyage!” grunted Mr. Twistytail, the pig gentleman, waving his handkerchief at them. “But look out for the Snappy Shark. I heard he was splashing around in this duck pond ocean!”
3. The wind, blowing strong at first, blew Uncle Wiggily and Nurse Jane out into the middle of the duck pond ocean. Then, as often happens, the wind died away and all was calm. “We aren’t moving!” cried the muskrat lady. “No, we need some wind,” spoke Uncle Wiggily. “I’ll fan the sail,” offered Nurse Jane. “And I’ll blow on it,” added Uncle Wiggily. But all this did no good. The ship stood still.
4. While Uncle Wiggily and Nurse Jane were trying to make their boat go, the Snappy Shark met the Skillery Scallery Alligator near shore. “Who’s out in that boat?” asked the Shark. “Uncle Wiggily,” grunted the ’Gator. “Good!” whispered the Shark. “I’ll chase him from behind, and you swim in front of the boat so he can’t escape that way. Between us we’ll catch him and nibble his ears. Get ready!”
5. No matter how hard Nurse Jane fanned, nor how hard Uncle Wiggily blew, they could not, of course, make wind enough to move the boat. Then the bunny said: “I’ll do as the sailors do. I’ll whistle a tune and see if that will bring a breeze!” So Uncle Wiggily began to whistle, but Nurse Jane cried: “Stop! You have called the Snappy Shark instead of the wind! Oh, what shall we do to get away?”
6. “Don’t be afraid!” cried Uncle Wiggily, when Nurse Jane told about the Shark. “If the wind won’t blow our boat I’ll jump in and swim ashore, pulling the boat after me with the anchor and rope.” Just as the bunny was about to jump in, he saw, in front of his ship, the Skillery Scallery Alligator swimming along. “Ah, I have a better plan!” laughed the bunny. “I’ll make the ’Gator pull us to shore!”
7. Uncle Wiggily dropped the anchor and tow rope so that it caught on one of the ’Gator’s legs, and then the Skillery Scallery creature had to pull the boat along, whether he wanted to or not. “Stop! Stop! Stop!” cried the Shark. “How can I nibble ears when you are pulling Uncle Wiggily away?” But the ’Gator would not stop, not knowing any better. “I’ll cut the rope when we are near shore!” said the bunny.
8. “What are you doing, Nurse Jane?” asked Uncle Wiggily, as the ’Gator towed the boat faster and faster. “Trying to sprinkle pepper in the eyes of the Shark,” answered the muskrat lady. “Never mind about that,” said Uncle Wiggily. “We are close to the dock now, and I’ll cut the rope so we’ll drift in.” Then the bunny did this, and then he had to fan Nurse Jane, who fainted. Now what comes next?
9. Safely to the dock floated Uncle Wiggily’s boat, which had been towed by the ’Gator, even if there was no wind. “Oh, such a voyage!” cried Nurse Jane, as Mr. Twistytail helped her off the ship. “But see what happened to the Shark and ’Gator!” laughed Uncle Wiggily. “Their plans went wrong. They bunked together and how angry they are!” The Shark blamed the ’Gator and the ’Gator blamed the Shark!
And if the lead pencil doesn’t give the fountain pen a black mark for staying out too late at the moving pictures, you shall next hear about Uncle Wiggily’s Bob Sled.
