Part 14 (1/2)
”That's what beats me,” said the tall ht There is the track of the dear little mite as clear as possible for five miles, as far as the dry creek The trackers say she rested her poor weary legs by sitting under the blackbutt tree At that point she vanishes completely The blacks say there isn't a trace ofkangaroo As you say, it's a mystery!”
As the men walked towards the bush, close to the place where Dot had run after the hare the day she was lost, neither of thetail; although the little bird seetail was really saying, ”Dot and her Kangaroo are coun”
Presently the young man, Jack, noticed the little bird ”What friendly little chaps those wagtails are,” he said, ”and see how tame and fearless this one is Upon my word, he nearly flew in your face that time!”
[Illustration: DOT WAVING ADIEU TO THE KANGAROO]
Dot's father did not notice the re into the bush whilst he quietly shi+fted his gun into position, ready to raise it and fire
”By Jove!” he said, ”I saw the head of a Kangaroo aso near the house Next tiet a shot at it”
Both ain
The next instant the Kangaroo bounded out of the Bush into the open paddock Swift as lightning up went the cruel gun, but, as it exploded with a terrible report, the ed in the branch of a tall gu at the Kangaroo
”Dot!” cried her father, dropping his gun, and stu blindly forith outstretched arirl, who had just tuaroo's pouch in her hurry to reach her father
”Hoo! hoo! ho! ho! he! he! ha! ha! ha! ha!” laughed a Kookooburra on a tree, as he saw Dot clasped in her father's great strong ar brown beard
”Wife! wife!” shouted Dot's father, ”Dot's come back! Dot's co ood Kangaroo sat up on her haunches, still panting with fear froun, and a little afraid to stay, yet so interested in all the exciteht, that she couldn't make up her mind to hop away
”Dadda,” said Dot, ”You nearly killed Dot and her Kangaroo! Oh! if you'd killed aroo, I'd never have been happy any more!”
”But I don't understand,” said her father ”How did you coot lots and lots to tell you!” said Dot; ”but coht her home”
”That I will!” said Dot's father, ”and never aroo!”
”Nor any of the Bush creatures,” said Dot ”Provoice, as he kissed Dot over and over again, and walked towards the frightened aniled down froht; no one's ever going to be shot or hurt here again!” and the Kangaroo looked delighted at the good news
”Dadda,” said Dot, holding her father's hand, and, with her disengaged hand touching the Kangaroo's little paw ”This isquite how to show his gratitude, stroked the Kangaroo's head, and said ”How do you do?” which, when he ca to say But he wasn't used, like Dot, to talking to Bush creatures, and had not eaten the berries of understanding
The Kangaroo saw that Dot's father was grateful, and so she was pleased, but she did not like to be stroked by a lad that Dot'sand kissing the little girl, and crying all the time; for then Dot's father turned and watched his wife and child, and kept doing so to his eyes with a handkerchief, so that there was no attention to spare for Kangaroos
The good Kangaroo, seeing how happy these people were, and knowing that her life was quite safe, wanted to peep about Dot's ho curious So presently she quietly hopped off towards the cottage, and then a very strange thing happened Just as the Kangaroo ondering what the great iron tank by the kitchen door was aroo Now, to huaroos there are no two the sanised in the little Joey her own baby Kangaroo The Joey knew its aroo was too astonished to et at a conclusion why her Joey was coaroo, with a hop-skip-and-a-jump, had landed itself comfortably in the nice pouch Dot had just vacated
Then Dot's irl, was not aroo with her Joey oncebounds she leapt towards Dot, and the little girl suddenly looking round for her Kangaroo friend, clapped her hands with delight as she saw a little grey nose, a pair of tiny black paws, and the point of a little black tail, hanging out of the pouch that had carried her so often
”Why!” exclaiot the little Joey, Jack brought aroo hunt soo”