But, instead, he saw the bad old fox, who
had, so many times, tried to catch the rabbit gentleman.
"Oh!" said Uncle Wiggily, astonished like. And again he said: "Oh!"
"Surprised, are you?" asked the fox, sort of curling his whiskers
around his tongue, sarcastic fashion.
"A little--yes," answered Uncle Wiggily. "I didn't expect to see you."
"But I've been expecting you a long time," said the fox, grinning most
impolitely. "In fact, I've been waiting for you. Just as soon as you
have pulled up that sassafras root you may come with me. I'll take you
off to my den, to my dear little foxes Eight, Nine and Ten. Those are
their numbers. It's easier to number them than name them."
"Oh, indeed?" asked Uncle Wiggily, as politely as he could, considering
everything. "And so you won't take me until I pull this sassafras
root?"
"No, I'll wait until you have finished," spoke the fox. "I like you
better, anyhow, flavored with sassafras. So pull away."
Uncle Wiggily tried to pull up the root, but he did not pull very hard.
"For," he thought, "as soon as I pull it up then the fox will take me,
but if I don't pull it he may not."
"What's the matter? Can't you get that root up?" asked the fox, after
a while. "I can't wait all day."
"Then perhaps you will kindly pull it up for me," said the bunny uncle.
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