Neddie crouched down under the bushes. He knew well enough that something had happened up in the oak tree. What it was he could not tell.
“But if it’s a giant, or a bad elephant or a flying eagle trying to get me, they shan’t!” exclaimed Neddie.
Then he heard the voice crying again:
“Help! Help! Is there anybody around to help me? I’m stuck in the tree!”
“Ha!” exclaimed Neddie to himself. “He’s only saying that to fool me. I believe that’s the skillery-scalery alligator sailing around in a balloon, looking for me. But he shan’t find me. I’ll hide here until he goes away.”
So Neddie got farther under the bush, and then the voice cried again:
“Help! Help! Please help me!”
Then some bells jingled, and Neddie heard a song that went something like this:
“Won’t you please come to help me.
I am caught fast in a tree.