“OH, WHAT A WONDERFUL LUNCH!” CRIED BABY BUNTY.
Uncle Wiggily was so busy in the tent, helping Uncle Butter take off his wet clothes, that neither of them heard Baby Bunty take away the lunch basket. “I have had a bath,” laughed the goat, “and now I am hungry.” He went out to hang up his dripping coat and trousers. “We shall eat our lunch as soon as I set the trap to catch any bad animals who may come to spoil our picnic,” spoke Uncle Wiggily. But when he looked for the lunch basket—it was gone! “Oh, dear me!” cried the bunny rabbit. “I did not set the trap soon enough!” Uncle Butter bleated sadly, for he was hungry. “Never mind,” he said. “We can go in the tent and sleep and make believe we have eaten. Afterward we can get more picnic lunch from Nurse Jane.” While Uncle Wiggily and Uncle Butter were asleep, a big, black Bear shuffled along. “Wuff! Wuff!” growled the Bear, when he saw the spring trap. “Perhaps this is something good to eat,” he growled louder.
“PERHAPS THIS IS SOMETHING GOOD TO EAT,” GROWLED THE BEAR.
After smelling at the trap the bear growled: “This isn’t anything good to eat! I will kick it out of my way and go inside the tent. There I may find some cake.” The bear kicked the trap, but, suddenly it snapped together, catching him fast. “Oh, Wowzie scowzie!” howled the bear. He jumped up and his hat flew off. In the tent Uncle Wiggily and Uncle Butter were awakened by the howls of the shaggy fellow. “Oh, ho!” cried the rabbit. “There is the bad chap who took our lunch basket, Uncle Butter! He is caught in my trap.” The bear, dancing on one paw, growled: “I am not bad! I didn’t take your lunch basket! I never even saw it!” Then over the hill came Baby Bunty and the boy animals with the lunch. They had only tasted it. So Uncle Wiggily set a table for the children, and one for Uncle Butter, the Good Bear and himself. Then the bunny uncle and the goat went to the ninety-nine cent store, bought scooters, and rode home.