Part 6 (2/2)

corroboree became clearer and clearer, and they neared the scene of the dance Soon she could hear the staether, and the wild chanting; and sos, and the cry of children at the caround

The Kangaroo showed no signs of fear at the increasing noise of the Blacks, but every sound of a dog caused it to stop and twist about its big ears and sensitive nose, as it sniffed and listened

Soon Dot could see a great red glare of firelight through the trees ahead of their track, and she knew that in that place the tribe of Black one on their way it is possible that they would have slipped past the Blacks without danger But although the Kangaroo is as timid an animal as any in the bush, it is also very curious, and Dot's Kangaroo wished to peep at the corroboree She whispered to Dot that it would be nice for a little Hust bush creatures, and said, also, that there would be no great danger in hopping to a rock that would co held Of course Dot thought this would be great fun, so the Kangaroo took her to the rock, where they peeped through the trees and saw before them the weird scene and dance

Dot nearly screaht she would see a few Black folk, not a crowd of such terrible people as she beheld

They did not look like hus at all, but like dreadful dely in appearance Theithout clothes, but their black bodies were painted with red and white stripes, and bits of down and feathers were stuck on their skin

Some had only white stripes over the places where their bones were, whichbefore the fire, or in and out of the surrounding darkness The dancing men were divided frohtly, lit the horrid scene with a lurid red light The firelight seemed to make the ferocious faces of the tribe still round, beating boos of skin with sticks, toSos to clap their hands and strike their sides, yelling the words of the corroboree song, as the painted figures, like fiends and skeletons, danced before the row of fires

It was a terrifying sight to Dot ”Oh, Kangaroo!” she whispered, ”they are dreadful, horrid creatures”

”They're just Huently

”But white Humans are not like that,” said Dot

”All Huaroos,” said the Kangaroo ”Look there! they are playing at killing us in their dance”

Dot looked once an acting like actors One of the Blackfellows had come froed as to aroo as possible, whilst he worked a stick which he pretended was a kangaroo's tail, and hopped about The other painted savages were creeping in and out of the bushes with their spears and booaroo rass

”What an idea of a kangaroo!” sniffed Dot's friend, ”why, a real kangaroo would have smelt or heard those Huht by now”

”But it's all shaaroo”

”Then it just sho stupid Humans are to try and be one,” said her friend ”Humans think thearoos they s bend the wrong way for juood for a tail, and it has to be worked with those big, cluh to hter to see such foolery!” Dot's friend peeped at the Black's acting with the contes pretending to be one of those noble anirand before She was so tall, so big, and yet so graceful: a really beautiful creature

”Well, that's over!” rearoo, as one of the Blacks pretended to spear the dressed-up Blackfellow, and all the rest began to dance around, whilst the shaive their killing such a silly creature! There wasn't a ju and noise of the on-lookers, a Blackfellow caround, with a battered straw hat on, and a few rags tied round his neck and wrist, in imitation of a collar and cuffs The fellow tried to act the part of a white h he had no s

But, after a great deal of dancing, he strutted about, pulled up the rag collar,off his old straw hat to the other Blackfellows, and to the rest of the tribe, who kept up the noise on the other side of the fires

”Now this is better!” said the Kangaroo, with a stail says that is just the way Hu white Huht that if e She had not seen any like the acting Blackfellow at her cottage ho, for it was quite clear in her little tails had a very poor opinion of white people She felt that they ; but, all the saaroo, and not a despised huirl,” she whispered to the Kangaroo

The gentle animal patted her kindly with her delicate black hands

”You are as nice now as row into a real white Human For some reason there have to be all sorts of creatures on the earth There are hawks, snakes, dingoes and huood they exist They must have dropped on to this world by mistake for another, where there could only have been themselves After all,” said the kind aniaroo, for I doubt if there would be enough grass; but you may become an improved Human”