Part 11 (1/2)
When she had fallen asleep there had not been a creature near her; but now she was literally hemmed in on every side by birds and small animals The branches of the fallen tree were covered with a feathered company, and in the open space between it and Dot's nook, was a constantly increasing crowd of larger birds, such as cranes, plover, duck, turkey-buzzards, black swan, and arave Pelican The animals were few, and apparently came late There was a little tiaroo Rats, a shy Woht, as also did a Native Bear and an Opossu by a bevy of screaht Nearly every creature she had ever heard of seemed to be present, and the brilliant colours of the parrots and parrakeets ay as a rainbow in a suood of you all to co frost the creatures, and she could not help seeing that they looked very unco froher, until Dot ht to be told!” ”You tell her!” ”No, you tell her yourself, it's not my business!” and every bird--for it was the birds who by reason of their larger nu to shi+ft an unpleasant task upon its neighbours
Presently the sole to the asseirl it said, ”We are here to place you on trial for the wrongs we Bush creatures have suffered from the cruelties of White Humans You will s will be conducted according to the custo built its nest for three successive seasons under the eaves of the Gabblebabble Court House, is deeply learned in human law business, and will instruct us how to proceed Your conviction will, therefore, leave you no room for complaint so far as your trial is concerned”
All the birds clapped their wings in applause at the conclusion of this speech, and the Pelican was told by the Welcome S that he should plead as Prosecutor
”What do you ravely
”You've got to get the prisoner convicted as guilty, whether she is so or not,” answered the S,a dart at a mosquito, which it ate with relish
”Oh!” said the Pelican, doubtfully; and all the creatures looked at one another as if they didn't quite understand the justice of the arrange a little, ”suppose I don't think the prisoner guilty? She seems very small, and haret her ood human law,” snapped the S, and all the creatures said ”_Oh!_” ”Now for the defence,” said the S briskly; ”there ought to be so?”
”Who's the King?” asked all the creatures breathlessly
”He's a bigger Human than the rest, and everybody's business is his business, so he's always going to law”
”I know,” said the Magpie, and she piped out six bars of ”God save the King”
”You are the one for the defence!” said the S, quite delighted, as were all the other creatures, at the Magpie's acco her guilty”
”But,” objected the Magpie, ”how can I? when only last fruit season my brother, and two sisters, and six cousins were shot just because they ate a few grapes”
”That doesn't et her off, I tell you!” said the S, irritably; ”go over there, and ask her what you are to say” So the Magpie flew over to Dot's side, and she at once began to teach it the rest of ”God save the King”
”I like this gapie
”Do you?” said the Magpie with surprise; ”It seems to me very slow, and there's no sense in it”
”Why are the birds all perching together over there?” asked Dot, pointing to a branch of the dead tree, ”since they all hate one another and want to get away The Galahs have pecked the Butcher Bird twice in fivewith the Soldier Bird, and none of thelish Sparrow”
[Illustration: THE COURT OF ANIMALS]
”The S says that's the jury,” answered the Magpie ”Their business is to do just what they like with you when all the talking is done, and whether they find you guilty or not, will depend on if they are tired, or hungry, and feel cross; or if the trial lasts only a short tiht them presently”
”How funny,” said Dot, not a bit alarmed at all these preparations for her trial, for she loved all the creatures so much, that she could not think that any of them wished to hurt her
”If this is hupie, ”it isn't funny at all; it isto defend a Human!”
At this point of their conversation, the ill-feeling alish Sparroas a foreigner, and they said that it would certainly syht it to Australia This was just an excuse to get rid of it The Sparrow said that it wanted to go out of the jury, and had never wished to belong to it, and fleay joyfully Then all the rest of the jury gru out of the trial--for they could see it picking up grass seed and enjoying itself greatly, whilst they were all crowded together on one branch, and were feeling hungry before the trial had even begun
There was great suspense and quiet while the Judge was being chosen
Although Dot had eaten the berries of understanding, it was generally considered that, to be quite fair, the Judge must be able to understand hue white cockatoo was appointed