Part 11 (2/2)

The cockatoo lost no ti ”into position” on the stump near Dot ”You're quite sure you understand human talk?” Said the little Wallaby to the cockatoo It was the first remark he had made, for he had been quite bewildered by all the noise and fuss

”My word! yes,” replied the cockatoo, who had been taught in a public refreshive a display of his learning, he elevated his sulphur crest and gabbled off, ”Go to Jericho!

Twenty to one on the favourite! I'm your ! Give 'u!

Ta-ra-ra, boo!”

All the creatures present looked gravely at Dot, to see what effect this harangue in her own language would have upon her, and were so her little sides, and rolling about with laughter

The cockatoo was quite annoyed at Dot's amusement He fluffed out all his feathers, and let off a scream that could have been heard a quarter of a mile away This seemed to impress every one with his importance, and the whole Court becas

At this ht the words ”God save the King,” called out, ”That's the way to do it! keep that up!” and the cockatoo, thinking that the S meant him to scream still more, set up another yell, which he continued until everyone felt deafened by the noise

”We have chosen quite the right Judge,” said an elegant blue crane to a wild duck; ”he will make himself heard and respected” Whereat the cockatoo winked at the Crane, and said, ”You bet I will!”

The Pelican now advanced to the space before the stump, and there was a murmur of excitement, because it was about to open the trial by a recital of wrongs done to the Bush creatures by white hu tried seriously, and was delighted that the Pelican had come nearer to her stuht hiigantic beak She could not help thinking that his beak must be too heavy for him, and asked if he would like to rest it on the stuave her a look of offended dignity that was quite withering; so Dot did not speak to hi of skin that drooped under his beak had anything in it The Pelican's legs see bird, not to mention the i only, she laughed; whereat the Pelican gave her another offended look, which effectually prevented their beco to open his beak to speak (and, being such a large beak, opening it took some time), when the Welco could be done until they had some horsehair!”

[Illustration: THE cockATOO JUDGE]

This interruption, and the S's repeated assurance that no human trial of importance could take place without horsehair, set all the creatures chattering with astonish; others said that it was ht would fall before they could bring the prisoner to justice

There was er, and the jury began to clarubs that they had been propie whispered to Dot that she certainly would be found guilty The fact was now quite clear to the jury before the trial began

But the S persisted that they must have horsehair

”What for?” asked everyone, sulkily

”Don't you see for yourselves,” squeaked the S, excitedly; ”the Judge looks like a cockatoo”

”Well, of course he does,” said all the creatures ”He is a cockatoo, so he looks like one!”

”Yes,” cried the S, ”but you must stick horse hairs on his head

Human justice must be done with horsehair The prisoner won't believe the cockatoo is a judge without Good Gracious!” exclai the Judge's poll! We really _nation, dreay from the stump, and the cockatoo tried to look as if he had never seen her before, and as if the idea of having his poll scratched by the prisoner was one that could never have entered his head

”But if we do put horsehair on the cockatoo's head,” argued the creatures, ”ill it do?”

”It will impress the prisoner,” said the S

”How?” they all asked curiously

”Because the cockatoo won't look like a cockatoo,” replied the Sith exasperation