"I'd like to see you," went on the toad. "See if you jump from here over
on that pile of leaves," and he pointed to them with his warty toes.
"I'll do it," exclaimed Uncle Wiggily. So he laid aside his crutch and his
valise, gave a little run and a big jump, and then he came down kerthump
on the pile of leaves.
But wait. Oh! I have something sad to tell you. That toad was only playing
a trick on the rabbit, and those leaves were right over a big, deep, dark
well. And as soon as Uncle Wiggily landed on the leaves he fell through,
for there were no boards under them to cover up the well, and down, down,
down he went, and if there had been water in the well he would have been
drowned. But the well was dry, I'm glad to say. Still Uncle Wiggily had a
great fall--almost like the tumble of Humpty-Dumpty.
"Ah, ha!" exclaimed the mean, squatty-squirmy toad. "Now you are in the
well, and I'm going off, and tell the wolves, so they can come and get
you out, and eat you. Ah, ha!" Oh! but wasn't that toad a most unpleasant
one? You see, he used to work for the wolves, doing all sorts of mean
things for them, and trapping all the animals he could for them.
So off the toad hopped, to call the wolves to come and get Uncle Wiggily,
and the poor rabbit was left alone at the bottom of the well. He tried his
best to get up, but he couldn't.
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