Part 8 (1/2)

”It was very good of you,” said the Kangaroo gratefully, ”and it is not the first tiaroos by your cleverness I didn't know you Bitterns were near, so I told Dot totheratitude, and was delighted at being called clever, so it becaracious

”You needn't trouble me with thanks,” it said indifferently, ”we didn't do it to save you, but for our own fun As for that little stupid,” it continued, with a nod of the head towards Dot, ”her squeals were noin a Bittern's beak”

”But you were very kind,” said Dot, ”and showed aroo's life”

The Bittern was greatly pleased at this praise, and in consequence it got still ruder, anda face at Dot, exclaione a few steps it turned round and said to the Kangaroo, roughly, ”If you hop that way, keeping to the side of the sedges, and go half a dozen suood enough for Kangaroos” And without waiting for thanks for this last kind act, it spread its wings and fleay

CHAPTER IX

The Kangaroo, hopping very weakly, and little Dot trudging over the oozy ground, followed the Bittern's directions and found the cave, which proved a very snug retreat Here they lay down together, full of happiness at their escape, and being worn out with fatigue and excitement, they were soon fast asleep

The next day, before the sun rose, the Bittern visited the cave ”Hullo, you precious lazy pair! I've been over there,” and it tossed its beak in the direction of the Black's caht you et it for yourselves!” and off it went again without saying good-bye

”Now isn't he a kind little fellow?” said the Kangaroo ”That's his way of telling us that we are safe”

”Thanks, Bittern! thanks!” they both cried, but the crearatitude: it sees on its way

All that day the Kangaroo and Dot stayed near the cave, so that the poor aniaroo said she did not know that part of the country, and so she had better get her legs again before they faced fresh dangers Neither of theht and merry as before The weather was showery, and Dot kept thinking that perhaps she would never get ho the time when the little boy was lost and everyone's sadness

The Kangaroo too seemed melancholy ”Whatof the last time before this that I was hunted It was then I lost !” exclaiht?”

”Yes,” said the Kangaroo with a little weary sigh ”It was just a few days before I found you White Humans did it that time”

”Tell me all about it,” said Dot, ”how did you escape?”

[Illustration: THE BITTERN HELPS DOT]

”I escaped then,” said the Kangaroo, settling herself on her haunches to tell the tale, ”in a way I could have done last night But I will die sooner than do it again”

”Tell me,” repeated Dot

”There is notquite big, and ere very happy It was a lovely Joey It was so strong, and could jump so well for its size It had the blackest of little noses and hands and tail you ever saw, and big soft ears which heard , and we played and were merry from sunrise to sunset Until that day I had never been sad, and I thought all the creaturesto say that in this beautiful world there could be such cruel beings as they said White Hu, and I kno that the world is a sad place because Huh it wason the side of a plain that day, and our gareat fun, when suddenly little Joey said, 'Strange creatures are coed the plain, and thought as I did so I could hear a new sound on the breeze Joey hid in the grass, but I went boldly into the open on the hillside to see where the danger was

I saw, far off, Huo so quickly, and directly I hopped into the open, they raised a great noise like the Blacks did last night, and I could see by the s they teach to kill us: they are far worse than dingoes Joey heard the shouting and bounded into my pouch, and I went off as fast as I could It was a worse hunt than last night, for it was longer, and there was no darkness to help ot ahead in the chase, and I knew if I were alone I could distance the way off But little Joey was heavy, though not so heavy as you are, and in the long distance I began to feel weak, as I did last night

”I knew if I tried to go on as ere, that those cruel Hus and never get tired) would overtake us, and their dogs (which carry no weight and go so fast) would tear radually slower So I asked Joey if I dropped him into a soft bush whether he would hide until I came back for him It was our only chance

I had an idea that if I did that he would be safe--even if I got killed; as they would be more likely to follow me, and never think I had parted from my little Joey So we did this, and I crossed a creek, which put the hounds off the scent, and I got away In the dusk I caone, and I could not find a trace of hiht and all day I searched, but I've never seen aroo sadly, and Dot saw the tears dim her eyes