ON THE ISLAND THEY PLAYED BASE-BALL.
After the ball game Uncle Wiggily said: “It is time we sailed on again.” The piggie boy grunted: “When do we eat?” The bunny twinkled his pink nose and answered: “You shall soon have something to eat, Floppy.” Just then, from where he was hiding in the water near Baseball Island, up rose the Heavy Hippo. “Here is where I eat now!” grunted the Heavy Hippo. “I’m going to nibble Uncle Wiggily’s ears!” But the bunny was too quick! “Come on!” cried Mr. Longears. He caught Nurse Jane by one paw, and Floppy by the other, and, leaping from the island, jumped as far as he could. Uncle Wiggily stepped on the Hippo’s back and from there into the motor boat with the muskrat lady and piggie boy. “Oh, what a surprise!” howled the Hippo! On puffed the motor boat until Nurse Jane saw another island. But Miss Fuzzy Wuzzy did not know that the ’Gator and Hippo had swam there and were having lunch on this second island.
THE GATOR AND THE HIPPO HAVE LUNCH.
“Let us stop there,” said Nurse Jane, as Uncle Wiggily steered the boat toward the second island. “Are we going to eat soon?” the piggie boy asked. “I’m ashamed of you—wanting to eat all the while, Floppy!” spoke Nurse Jane. Floppy blushed red behind his ears and grunted: “Well, I’m hungry!” By this time the ’Gator and Hippo, eating lunch on the island, had seen the motor boat coming. “You had better let me catch Uncle Wiggily,” bellowed the ’Gator. “All right!” grunted the Hippo. The Alligator swam off under water and caught in his teeth the anchor rope on Uncle Wiggily’s boat. “This time they shall not get away!” rumbled the Hippo. “I’ll hold my mouth wide open and the ’Gator will pull the boat and Uncle Wiggily right in where I can nibble his ears.” On swam the ’Gator pulling the boat toward the big mouth of the Heavy Hippo which opened wider and wider. Nurse Jane gave Uncle Wiggily a hatchet, crying: “Cut the rope!”