Part 6 (1/2)
[Illustration: DOT, THE NATIVE BEAR, AND THE OPOSSUM]
”I expect what you heard was from me,” said the Koala; ”I had just awakened, and when I saw the moon was up I felt pleased”
”Was all that sound and arded the shaggy little animal on the tree trunk
The Koala smiled modestly ”Yes!” it said; ”when I'm pleased there is no creature in the bush can make such a noise, or so many different noises at once I waken everyone for a quarter of a mile round You wouldn't think it, to see me as I am, would you?” The Koala was evidently very pleased with this accomplish creatures,” said Dot
”Why not?” asked the Koala ”You are a night creature, I suppose, or you wouldn't be awake now Well, don't you think it unfair the way everything is arranged for the day creatures?”
”But then,” said Dot, ”there are so many more day creatures”
”That doesn't make any difference,” observed the Koala
”But it does,” said Dot
”How?” asked the Native Bear
”Because if you had the day it wouldn't be any good to you, and if they had the night it wouldn't be any good to theht couldn't be their day, and their day couldn't be your night”
”You make my head feel empty,” said the Koala ”But you'd think differently if a flock of Kookooburras settled on your tree, and guffawed idiotically when you wanted to sleep”
”As you don't like being waked yourself, why do you wake others then?”
asked Dot
”Because this is a free country,” said the Koala While Dot was trying to understand why the Koala's reason should suffice for one ani another's life uncoht She forgot all about the Koala, and rushed forward to lad you've coaroo was a little breathless and excited ”We are not in danger at present,” she said, ”but one never knohen one will be, so wewhere we are”
”Then let us stay,” said Dot
”That won't do,” replied the Kangaroo ”This is the conclusion I have juht coet to a safe place we o that way We can do this easily if the dogs don't get scent of us, as all the Blacks are prancing about and aet past quite safely I've done it ood-bye to the Koala, but the little aniested to its empty little head that itto be polite to Dot, it had sneaked up its gu tiaroo's pouch, and they started upon their perilous way
For so boldly, with an occasional warning to Dot to shut her eyes as they plunged through the bushes; but after crossing a watercourse, and cli a stiff hill, she whispered that they must both keep quite silent, and told Dot to listen as she stopped for aof voices, and a steady beating sound ”Their caaroo, ”that is the sound of their gao soaroo, ”because past that place we can reach some very wild country where it would be hard for them to pursue us We shall have to pass quite close to their playground” So in perfect silence they went on
[Illustration: THE CORROBOREE]
The Kangaroo seemed to Dot to approach the whereabouts of the Blackfellows as cautiously as when they had visited the water-hole the first night Dot's little heart beat fast as the sound of the Blacks'