But Uncle Wiggily knew better than that, for just as surely as he jumped down into that hole the wolf would have eaten him all up. And the rabbit didn't know what to do, for he couldn't walk without his crutch on account of being lame with the rheumatism.
"Oh, this is terrible!" cried the rabbit. "Whatever shall I do? I can't stay in these woods forever."
And just then there was a rustling in the leaves, and out walked a big black, pinching beetle. In front of his head he had two things just like fire tongs, or a crab's claws, with which to pinch.
"What is the trouble?" asked the black beetle politely.
"The wolf, down the hole, has my crutch, and he won't give it to me," said the rabbit.
"Ha! we will very soon fix that," spoke the beetle. "Just tie a string around me, Uncle Wiggily, and lower me down into the hole. Then I'll pick up the crutch in my strong pincers, and you can haul me up again as I hold fast to it."
"But the wolf may get you," said the rabbit.
"I'll fix that wolf," replied the beetle, winking his two little eyes, real jolly-like.
So Uncle Wiggily tied a string around the black insect, and lowered him down into the hole. The wolf saw him coming and cried out:
"Oh! You can't get this crutch, for I'm sitting on it, and I'll bite you."