Part 3 (2/2)
It clambered up into a more erect position, and its little brown eyes became quite fiery
”I didn't say a million; I said millions! I can prove by a bone in my body that my ancestors were the Amphitheriunathus!” almost shrieked the little creature
[Illustration: THE PREHISTORIC CREATURES OF THE PLATYPUS'S SONG]
Dot didn't understand what all these words aroo for an explanation; but she saw that the Kangaroo didn't understand either, only she was trying to hide her ignorance by a calrass she held in her fore paw But Dot noticed, by the slight trearoo was very nervous She thought she would try and say so to please Platypus; so she asked, very kindly, if the bone ever hurt it But this strange creature did not seest the grass, it muttered in cale Where does man come in?”
”I don't know,” said Dot
”Of course you don't!” replied the Platypus, contenorant! That is because they are so new When they have existed a few more million years, they will be more like us of old fa, like that of the Ornithorhynchus Paradoxus, and will not be so inquisitive, pushi+ng, and dangerous as now The age will come when they will understand, and will cease to write books, and there will be peace for everyone”
The Kangaroo now thought it a good opportunity to change the subject, and gently introduced the topic of Dot's lost way, saying how she had found the little girl, and had taken care of her ever since
The Platypus did not seearoo spoke
”The question is,” concluded the Kangaroo, ”who shall I ask to find it?
Someone must knohere it is”
”Of course,” said the Platypus, yawning again, without soits web foot in front of its bill, which Dot thought very rude, or else very ancient manners ”Little Human,” it said, ”tell me what kind of bush creatures coe,” she said, but seeing that the Platypus did not like to be corrected, and that the Kangaroo looked quite shocked at her doing so, she hurriedly described the creatures she had seen there She said there were Crickets, Grasshoppers, Mice, Lizards, Ss, Opossupies, and Shepherd's Companions----
”Stop!” interrupted the Platypus, with a wave of its web foot; ”that is the right one”
”Who?” asked the Kangaroo and Dot anxiously, together
”The bird you call Shepherd's Cotail” Turning to the Kangaroo especially, it continued ”If you can bring yourself to speak to anything so obtrusive and gossiping, without any ancestry or manners whatever, you will be able to learn all you need froether They're both post-glacial”
”I knew you could advise ratefully
”Oh! Platypus, how clever you are!” cried Dot, clapping her hands
Directly Dot had spoken she saw that she had offended the queer little creature before her It raised itself with an air of offended dignity that was un,” it re at the child severely, ”it ar pseudonym which could only have emanated from the brutally coarse expressions of a Human My name is Ornithorhynchus Paradoxus Besides, even if my front feet can expand, they can also contract; see! as narrow and refined as a bird's claw
Observe, too, that h it has been described as a mole's foot”
As the Platypus spoke, and thrust out its strangely different feet, the Kangaroo edged a little closer to Dot and whispered in her ear ”It's getting angry, and is beginning to use long words; do be careful what you say or it will be terrible!”
”I beg your pardon,” said Dot; ”I did not wish to hurt your feelings, Para--, Pa--ra--dox--us”