A little boy named Boudin leaves home one morning to check his trot line for catfish. An alligator flips over his boat. Boudin manages to salvage one fish from his catch and runs home with he gator close behind him in pursuit. Along the way, other creatures of the swamp are in fear for Boudin's life. They encourage him to run all the way home where he learns that the gator had only been chasing him in hopes of being fed the catfish. Boudin offers his fish and befriends the gator then asks his mother's permission to keep the gator as a pet. She reluctantly agrees. The alligator is named Fais-Do and becomes a playful companion of Boudin.