"Oh, my! It's the bad snake!" cried the rabbit, and he jumped back so quickly that he dropped his toadstool umbrella and the rain came down on the end of his twinkling nose. He was just about to hop away as fast as he could when the long, thin creature, who had been under the tin pan, exclaimed:
"I'm not a snake."
"No? Then pray tell what you are?" asked Uncle Wiggily quickly.
"I am a slippery eel," was the answer. "Just see if you can hold me, and that will show you how slippery I am."
So Uncle Wiggily very politely took hold of the eel by the tail. But, my goodness me, sakes alive and a piece of ice! In an instant that slippery eel had slipped away.
"What did I tell you?" the eel called to the rabbit, as he crawled back toward the tin.
"Well, you are certainly very slippery," said Uncle Wiggily. "I hope I didn't squeeze you too hard."
"Oh, pray do not mention it," said the eel, politely. "I am used to being squeezed, and that's why I'm so slippery; in order that I may get away easily."
"I hope I didn't wake you up from your sleep under the tin pan," went on the rabbit, who was very kind-hearted.
"Pray do not mention that, either," said the slippery eel, who was very polite. "It was time I awakened, anyhow. But, since you have been so nice about it, if ever I can do you a favor please let me know." Then he stood up on the end of his thin tail and made a low bow, and slipped into the ocean.