[Illustration: As they passed a high rock, out from behind it jumped
the bad old tail-pulling monkey.]
"Ah, ha!" chattered the monkey chap. "I am just in time, I see."
"Time for what?" asked Uncle Wiggily, suspicious like.
"To pull your tails," answered the monkey. "I haven't had any tails to
pull in a long while, and I must pull some. So, though you rabbits
haven't very good tails, for pulling, I must do the best I can. Now
come to me and have your tails pulled. Come on!"
"Oh, dear!" cried Susie. "I don't want my tail pulled, even if it is
very short."
"Nor I mine," Uncle Wiggily said.
"That makes no manner of difference to me," chattered the monkey. "I'm
a tail-pulling chap, and tails I must pull. So you might as well have
it over with, now as later." And he spoke just like a dentist who
wants to take your lolly-pop away from you.
"Pull our tails! Well, I guess you won't!" cried Uncle Wiggily
suddenly. "Come on, Susie! Let's run away!"
Before the monkey could grab them Uncle Wiggily and Susie started to
run. But soon the monkey was running after them, crying:
"Stop! Stop! I must pull your tails!"
"But we don't want you to," answered Susie.
"Oh, but you must let me!" cried the monkey. Then he gave a great big,
long, strong and double-jointed jump, like a circus clown going over
the backs of fourteen elephants, and part of another one, and the
monkey grabbed Uncle Wiggily by his ears.
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