Part 13 (1/2)

”The rugs?”

”Yes”

”The boots?”

”Yes”

”And,” said the Pelican, still more solemnly and slohile all the Court listened in breathless attention, ”and has she forgiven _Kangaroo-tail soup_?”

”Yes! she's forgiven that too,” answered the Kookooburra cheerfully

”Then,” said the Pelican, hotly, ”I throw up the case,” and he spread his huge black wings, and flapped his way up into the sky and away

”What a go!” said the Judge; and heon account of the racket and confusion The trial had failed, and every creature wasto hurry away In the aroo bounded into the open space, panting with exciteht

”Dot! Dot!” she cried, ”I've found willy Wagtail, and he knows your way!

Coaroo leaped clean over the Judge and carried her off!

CHAPTER XII

Although the Kangaroo was longing to hear the reason why so many Bush creatures had collected round Dot whilst she ay, she was too anxious to carry her to willy Wagtail before nightfall to wait and enquire what had happened Dot, too, was so excited at hearing that her way hoht of seeing her father and aroo had hopped until she was tired and needed rest, before they spoke Then Dot described the Trial, and e, but she did not say how it had all ended because the Kangaroo had forgiven Dot for Hus of her fur, boots of her skin, and soup of her tail

She was afraid of hurting her feelings by aroo never noticed that anything was left out, because she was bursting to relate her intervieilly Wagtail

She told Dot how she had found willy Wagtail near his old haunt; how that gossiping little bird had told all the news of the Gabblebabble town and district in ten ht, and that if such were the case he would show Dot and the Kangaroo the way to the little girl's hoain, the little girl so to rest the kind ani carried in that soft cosy pouch that had been her cradle and carriage for all those days

It was quite dusk by the time they arrived at a split-rail fence, and heard a little bird singing, ”Sweet pretty creature! sweet pretty creature!”

”That is willy Wagtail aroo, with a humorous twinkle in her quiet eyes ”Peep round the bush,” she said to Dot, ”and you'll see the”

[Illustration: THE KANGAROO CARRIES DOT OUT OF COURT]

Dot glanced through the branches, and saagtails, who looked very s on two posts of the fence a little way off They were each pretending that their long big tails were too heavy to balance the the off their perch

Occasionally willy would dart into the air, to shohat an expert in flying he was; he would shoot straight upwards, turn a double so off in the direction one least expected Afterwards he would return to his post as cal, and say ”Pretty pretty Chip-pi-ti-chip!” that natail Then Chip-pi-ti-chip showed off _her_ flying, and they both said to one another ”Sweet pretty creature!”

At the sound of Dot and the Kangaroo's approach ”Chip-pi-ti-chip” hid herself in a tree, and willy Wagtail, not knoas disturbing thearoo and the little girl, he gave the, and wobbled about on a rail as if he must tuaroo a little anxiously, and rather breathless with the speed she had tail, with a jerk of his tail which nearly sent hi off the rail ”I should know you anywhere, little Hu,” he added