Dot and the Kangaroo

  CHAPTER XI

  The next day they travelled a long distance. At about noon they came toa part of the country which the Kangaroo said she knew well. "But wemust be careful," she added, "as we are very near Humans in this part."

  As Dot was tired (for she had had to walk much more than usual) theKangaroo suggested that she should rest at the pretty spot they hadreached, whilst she herself went in search of Willy Wagtail. Dot had topromise the Kangaroo over and over again, not to leave the spot duringher absence. She was afraid lest the little girl should get lost, likethe little Joey.

  After many farewells, and much hopping back to give Dot warnings andmake promises of returning soon, the Kangaroo went in search of WillyWagtail; and the little girl was left all alone.

  Dot looked for a nice shady nook, in which to lie down and rest; and shefound the place so cheerful and pretty, that she was not afraid of beingalone. She was in the hollow of an old watercourse. It was rather likean English forest glade, it was so open and grassy; and here and therewere pretty shrubs, and little hillocks and hollows. At first Dotthought that she would sit on the branch of a huge tree that had butrecently fallen, and lay forlornly clothed in withered leaves; butopposite to this dead giant of the Bush was a thick shrub with a decayedtree stump beside it, that made a nice sheltered corner which she likedbetter. So Dot laid herself down there, and in a few minutes she wasfast asleep; though, as she dropped off into the land of dreams, shethought how wonderfully quiet that little glade was, and felt somewhatsurprised to find no Bush creatures to keep her company.

  Some time before Dot woke, her dreams became confused and strange. Thereseemed to be great crowds in them, and the murmur of many voices talkingtogether. As she gradually awakened, she realized that the voices werereal, and not a part of her dreams. There was a great hubbub, afluttering of wings, and rustling of leaves and grass. Through all thisconfusion, odd sentences became clear to her drowsy senses. Such phrasesas, "You'd better perch here!" "This isn't your place!" "Go over there!""No! no! I'm sure I'm right! the Welcome Swallow says so." "Has anyonegone for the Opossum?" "He says the Court ought to be held at night!""Don't make such a noise or you will wake the prisoner;" "Who is to bethe Judge?" This last enquiry provoked such a noise of diverse opinions,that Dot became fully awake, and sitting up, gazed around with eyes fullof astonishment.

  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 smallanimals. The branches of the fallen tree were covered with a featheredcompany, and in the open space between it and Dot's nook, was aconstantly increasing crowd of larger birds, such as cranes, plover,duck, turkey-buzzards, black swan, and amongst them a great gravePelican. The animals were few, and apparently came late. There was alittle timid Wallaby, a Bandicoot, some Kangaroo Rats, a shy Wombat whogrumbled about the daylight, as also did a Native Bear and an Opossum,who were really driven to the gathering by a bevy of screaming parrots.

  Dot was wide awake at once with delight. Nearly every creature she hadever heard of seemed to be present, and the brilliant colours of theparrots and parrakeets made the scene as gay as a rainbow in a summernoonday sky.

  "Oh! you darlings!" she said, "how good of you all to come and see me!"

  This greeting from Dot caused an instant silence amongst the creatures,and she could not help seeing that they looked very uncomfortable. Therewas soon a faint whispering from bird to bird, which rose higher andhigher, until Dot made out that they were all saying, "She ought to betold!" "You tell her!" "No, you tell her yourself, it's not mybusiness!" and every bird--for it was the birds who by reason of theirlarger numbers took the lead in the proceedings--seemed to be trying toshift an unpleasant task upon its neighbours.

  Presently the solemn Pelican waddled forward and stood before Dot,saying to the assemblage, "I will explain our presence." Addressing thelittle girl it said, "We are here to place you on trial for the wrongswe Bush creatures have suffered from the cruelties of White Humans. Youwill meet with all fairness in your trial, as the proceedings will beconducted according to the custom of your own Courts of Justice. TheWelcome Swallow, having built its nest for three successive seasonsunder the eaves of the Gabblebabble Court House, is deeply learned inhuman law business, and will instruct us how to proceed. Your convictionwill, therefore, leave you no room for complaint so far as your trial isconcerned."

  All the birds clapped their wings in applause at the conclusion of thisspeech, and the Pelican was told by the Welcome Swallow that he shouldplead as Prosecutor.

  "What do you mean by 'Plead as Prosecutor?'" asked the Pelican gravely.

  "You've got to get the prisoner convicted as guilty, whether she is soor not," answered the Swallow, making a dart at a mosquito, which it atewith relish.

  "Oh!" said the Pelican, doubtfully; and all the creatures looked at oneanother as if they didn't quite understand the justice of thearrangement.

  "But," said the Pelican, hesitating a little, "suppose I don't think theprisoner guilty? She seems very small, and harmless."

  "That doesn't matter at all, you've got to get her made out as guilty bythe jury. It's good human law," snapped the Swallow, and all thecreatures said "_Oh!_" "Now for the defence," said the Swallow briskly;"there ought to be someone for that. Who is friendly with the King?"

  "Who's the King?" asked all the creatures breathlessly.

  "He's a bigger Human than the rest, and everybody's business is hisbusiness, so he's always going to law."

  "I know," said the Magpie, and she piped out six bars of "God save theKing."

  "You are the one for the defence!" said the Swallow, quite delighted, aswere all the other creatures, at the Magpie's accomplishment; "you mustsave the prisoner from the jury finding her guilty."

  "But," objected the Magpie, "how can I? when only last fruit season mybrother, and two sisters, and six cousins were shot just because theyate a few grapes."

  "That doesn't matter! you've got to get her off, I tell you!" said theSwallow, irritably; "go over there, and ask her what you are to say." Sothe Magpie flew over to Dot's side, and she at once began to teach itthe rest of "God save the King."

  "I like this game," Dot presently said to the Magpie.

  "Do you?" said the Magpie with surprise; "It seems to me very slow, andthere'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 anotherand want to get away. The Galahs have pecked the Butcher Bird twice infive minutes, the Peeweet keeps quarrelling with the Soldier Bird, andnone of them can bear the English Sparrow."

  THE COURT OF ANIMALS]

  "The Swallow says that's the jury," answered the Magpie. "Their businessis to do just what they like with you when all the talking is done, andwhether 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 time, andthey are pleased with the grubs that will be brought them presently."

  "How funny," said Dot, not a bit alarmed at all these preparations forher trial, for she loved all the creatures so much, that she could notthink that any of them wished to hurt her.

  "If this is human law," said the Magpie, "it isn't funny at all; it ismad, or wicked. Fancy my having to defend a Human!"

  At this point of their conversation, the ill-feeling amongst the jurybroke out into open fighting, because the English Sparrow was aforeigner, and they said that it would certainly sympathize with theHumans who had brought it to Australia. This was just an excuse to getrid of it. The Sparrow said that it wanted to go out of the jury, andhad never wished to belong to it, and flew away joyfully. Then all therest of the jury grumbled at the good luck of the Sparrow in getting outof the trial--for they could see it picking up grass seed and enjoyingitself greatly, whilst they were all crowded together on one branch, andwere feeling hungry before the trial had even begun.

  There was great suspense and quiet while the Judge was bein
g chosen.Although Dot had eaten the berries of understanding, it was generallyconsidered that, to be quite fair, the Judge must be able to understandhuman talk; and, amidst much clapping of wings, a large white Cockatoowas appointed.

  The Cockatoo lost no time in clambering "into position" on the stumpnear Dot. "You're quite sure you understand human talk?" Said the littleWallaby to the Cockatoo. It was the first remark he had made, for he hadbeen quite bewildered by all the noise and fuss.

  "My word! yes," replied the Cockatoo, who had been taught in a publicrefreshment room. Then, thinking that he would give a display of hislearning, he elevated his sulphur crest and gabbled off, "Go to Jericho!Twenty to one on the favourite! I'm your man! Now then, ma'am; hurry up,don't keep the coach waiting! Give 'um their 'eds, Bill! So long!Ta-ra-ra, boom-di-ay! God save the King!"

  All the creatures present looked gravely at Dot, to see what effect thisharangue in her own language would have upon her, and were somewhatsurprised to see her holding her little sides, and rolling about withlaughter.

  The Cockatoo was quite annoyed at Dot's amusement. He fluffed out allhis feathers, and let off a scream that could have been heard a quarterof a mile away. This seemed to impress every one with his importance,and the whole Court became attentive to the proceedings.

  At this moment the Swallow skimmed overhead, and having caught the words"God save the King," called out, "That's the way to do it! keep thatup!" and the Cockatoo, thinking that the Swallow meant him to screamstill more, set up another yell, which he continued until everyone feltdeafened by the noise.

  "We have chosen quite the right Judge," said an elegant blue crane to awild duck; "he will make himself heard and respected." Whereat theCockatoo winked at the Crane, and said, "You bet I will!"

  The Pelican now advanced to the space before the stump, and there was amurmur of excitement, because it was about to open the trial by arecital of wrongs done to the Bush creatures by white humanity.

  Dot could not realize that she was being tried seriously, and wasdelighted that the Pelican had come nearer to her stump, so that she hada better view of him. She thought him such an old, odd-looking bird,with his big bald head, and gigantic beak. She could not help thinkingthat his beak must be too heavy for him, and asked if he would like torest it on the stump. The Pelican did not understand Dot's kindness, andgave her a look of offended dignity that was quite withering; so Dot didnot speak to him again; but she longed to feel if the bag of skin thatdrooped under his beak had anything in it. The Pelican's legs seemed toDot to be too frail and short to bear such a big bird, not to mentionthe immense beak; and, when the creature stood on one leg only, shelaughed; whereat the Pelican gave her another offended look, whicheffectually prevented their becoming friends.

  The Pelican was beginning to open his beak to speak (and, being such alarge beak, opening it took some time), when the Welcome Swallow fussedinto court, and said that "nothing could be done until they had somehorsehair!"

  THE COCKATOO JUDGE]

  This interruption, and the Swallow's repeated assurance that no humantrial of importance could take place without horsehair, set all thecreatures chattering with astonishment and questions. Some said theSwallow was joking; others said that it was making senseless delays, andthat night would fall before they could bring the prisoner to justice.There was much grumbling on all sides, and complaints of hunger, and thejury began to clamour for the grubs that they had been promised, atwhich the Magpie whispered to Dot that she certainly would be foundguilty. The fact was now quite clear to the jury before the trial began.

  But the Swallow persisted that they must have horsehair.

  "What for?" asked everyone, sulkily.

  "Don't you see for yourselves," squeaked the Swallow, excitedly; "theJudge looks like a Cockatoo."

  "Well, of course he does," said all the creatures. "He is a Cockatoo, sohe looks like one!"

  "Yes," cried the Swallow, "but you must stick horse hairs on his head.Human justice must be done with horsehair. The prisoner won't believethe Cockatoo is a judge without. Good Gracious!" exclaimed the Swallow,"just look! The prisoner is scratching the Judge's poll! We really_must_ have horsehair!"

  Dot, seeing the Swallow's indignation, drew away from the stump, and theCockatoo tried to look as if he had never seen her before, and as if theidea of having his poll scratched by the prisoner was one that couldnever have entered his head.

  "But if we do put horsehair on the Cockatoo's head," argued thecreatures, "what will it do?"

  "It will impress the prisoner," said the Swallow.

  "How?" they all asked curiously.

  "Because the Cockatoo won't look like a Cockatoo," replied the Swallow,with exasperation.

  "Then what will he look like?" asked every creature in breathlessexcitement.

  "He won't look like any creature that ever lived," retorted the Swallow.

  Perfect silence followed this explanation, for every bird and animal wastrying to understand human sense and reason. Then the smallest KangarooRat broke the stillness.

  "If," said the Kangaroo Rat, "only a little horsehair can do that,surely the prisoner can imagine the Judge isn't a Cockatoo, without ourhaving to wait for the horsehair. Let's get on with the trial."

  This idea was received with applause, and the Swallow flew off in ahuff; whilst the Kookooburra, on a tree near the Court, softly laughedto himself.

  Once more the Pelican took up his position to open the trial. TheCockatoo puffed himself out as big as he could, fluffed out his cheekfeathers, and half closed his eyes. His solemnly attentive attitude wonthe admiration of all the Court, and the absence of horsehair was notfelt by anyone. The Welcome Swallow, having got over its ill temper,returned to help the proceedings; and the jury all put their heads undertheir wings and went to sleep.

  "Fire away!" screamed the Cockatoo, and the trial began.

  "My duty is a most painful one," said the Pelican; "for" ("whereas,"said the Swallow) "the prisoner known" ("named and described," added theSwallow), "as Dot is now before you," ("to be tried, heard, determinedand adjudged," gabbled the Swallow) "on a charge of cruelty" ("andfeloniously killing and slaying," prompted the Swallow) "to birds andanimals," ("the term not applying to horse, mare, pony, bull, ox, dog,cat, heifer, steer, calf, mule, ass, sheep, lamb, hog, pig, sow, goat,or other domestic animal," interposed in one breath the Swallow, quotingthe Cruelty to Animals Act) "she is" ("hereby," put in the Swallow)"brought to trial on" ("divers," whispered the Swallow) "charges,"("hereinafter," said the Swallow) "to be named and described by the"("aforesaid," interjected the Swallow) "birds and animals,"("hereinbefore mentioned," stated the Swallow) "the said animals beingdenizens of the Bush" ("and in no wise relating to horse, mare, pony,bull, ox,"--began the Swallow again, when the Cockatoo raised his crest,and screamed out "STOP THAT, I TELL YOU!" and the Pelican continuedstating the charge.) "Bush law" ("enacts," said the Swallow) "that"("whereas," prompted the Swallow) "all individual rights" ("whatsoever,"put in the Swallow) "shall be according to the statute Victoria--"

  "Victoria! Twenty to one against the field," shouted the Judge.

  "Between you two," said the Pelican, looking angrily at the Swallow andthe Cockatoo, "I've forgotten everything I was going to say! I shan't goon!"

  "Never mind," said the Swallow cheerfully, "you've said quite enough,and no one has understood a word of the charge, so it's all right. Nowthen for the witnesses."

  As the Swallow spoke, there was a great disturbance amongst thecreatures. The swan, ducks, cranes, and waterfowl, besides honeysuckers,and many other birds, were all fanning the air with their wings, andcrying, "Turn him out!" "Disgusting!" "I never heard of such a thing inmy life! the smell of it always gives me a headache!" and there was sucha noise that the jury all woke up, and Dot covered her ears with herhands. The Cockatoo, seeing Dot's distress at the screams and hubbub,and thinking that she wanted to say something, but could not makeherself heard in the general riot, decided to speak for her; so hescreamed lou
der than all the rest, and shouted, "Apples, oranges, pears,lemonade, cigarettes, _and_ cigars! I say! what's the row?"

  THE PELICAN OPENS THE CASE]

  When quiet was restored, it was explained that the Opossum had broughtinto Court a pouch full of gum leaves, which it was eating. It had alsogiven some to the Native Bear, and Wallaby, and in consequence the wholeair was laden with the odour of eucalyptus.

  "Oh, dear!" said Dot, "it smells just like when I have a cold!"

  "Eating eucalyptus leaves in Court is contempt of Court," cried theSwallow; and everyone echoed, "Contempt of Court! contempt of Court!Turn them out!"

  "But they are witnesses," objected the Pelican.

  "That doesn't matter!" shouted the Waterfowl, "it's a disgusting smell!Turn them out!"

  "Hurrah!" shouted the Wallaby, as it leaped off. "What luck!" laughedthe Opossum, as it cleared into the nearest tree. "I am glad," sighedthe Koala, as it slowly moved away; "that trial made my head feelempty."

  "Well, there go three of the most important witnesses," grumbled thePelican.

  "My eye! what a spree!" said the Judge.

  A Galah amongst the Jury, wishing to be thought intelligent, enquiredwhat charge the Wallaby, Native Bear, and Opossum were to bear witnessto.

  "It is a matter of skins, included in the fur rugs clause, and thewickedness known as 'Sport,'" answered the Pelican.

  Whilst the Pelican was making this explanation, the Judge, who had beenlonging to have his poll scratched again, sidled up to Dot, andwhispered softly to her, "Scratch Cockie!" But, just as he was enjoyingthe delicious sensation Dot's fingers produced amongst his neckfeathers, as he held his head down, the Pelican caught sight of theproceeding. The Pelican said nothing, but stared at the Judge with aneye of such astonishment and stern contempt, that the Cockatoo instantlyremembered that he was a judge, and, getting into a proper attitude,said hastily, "Advance Australia! who's the next witness?" And again theKookooburra laughed to himself on the tree.

  "Fur first!" exclaimed a white Ibis. "Call the Platypus!"

  "The Platypus won't come!" cried the Kangaroo Rat.

  "Well, I never!" exclaimed the Judge.

  "It says that if a Court is held at all, it should be conducted by therepresentative of Antediluvian custom, the most ancient and learnedcreatures, such as the Iguana, the Snake, and Ornithorhynchus Paradoxus.That it would prefer to associate with the meanest Troglodite, ratherthan appear amongst the present company. I understood it to say,"continued the Kangaroo Rat, "that real law could only be understood bythose deeply learned in fossils."

  "'Pon my word!" ejaculated the Judge. "Shiver my timbers! What bloomingimpudence!"

  "Oh! you naughty bird to use such words!" exclaimed Dot. But all theCourt murmured "How clever!" and the Cockatoo was pleased.

  "Native Cat, next!" shouted the white Ibis. But at the first mention ofthe Native Cat nearly every bird, and all the small game, prepared toget away.

  "Why don't you call the Dingo at once?" laughed the Kookooburra, who wasreally keeping guard over Dot, although she did not know it. "Humanskill Dingoes."

  "The Dingo! the Dingo!" every creature repeated in horror andconsternation; and they all looked about in fear, while the Kookooburrachuckled to himself at all the stir his words had made.

  "It's quite true that animals and birds kill one another," said theMagpie, who thought he ought to say something in Dot's defence, as thatwas his part in the trial, "therefore it is the same nature that makesHumans kill us. If it is the nature of Humans to kill, the same as it isthe nature of birds and animals to kill, where is the sense and justiceof trying the prisoner for what she can't help doing?"

  "Good!" said the Welcome Swallow, "argued like a lawyer."

  At this unexpected turn of the trial the Judge softly whistled tohimself, "Pop goes the weasel."

  "Don't talk to us about nature and justice and sense," replied thePelican, contemptuously. "This is a Court of law, we have nothing to dowith any of them!"

  The Court all cheered at this reply, and the Magpie subsided in thesulks.

  "Call the Kangaroo!" cried the white Ibis.

  "It's no good," jeered the Kookooburra. "Kangaroo and Dot are greatfriends. She won't come if you called----"

  "'Till all's blue!" interrupted the Judge, and he went on with "Pop goesthe weasel." This news caused a buzz of excitement. Everyone wasastounded that the Kangaroo, who had the heaviest grievances of all,wouldn't appear against the prisoner.

  "Is it possible," said the Pelican, addressing the Kookooburra in slowstern accents, "Is it possible that the Kangaroo has forgiven all hergrievances?"

  "All," said the Kookooburra.

  "The hunting?" asked the Pelican.

  "Yes," answered the Kookooburra.

  "The rugs?"

  "Yes."

  "The boots?"

  "Yes."

  "And," said the Pelican, still more solemnly and slowly, while all theCourt 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 spreadhis huge black wings, and flapped his way up into the sky and away.

  "What a go!" said the Judge; and he might have said more, only Dot couldnot hear anything on account of the racket and confusion. The trial hadfailed, and every creature was making all the noise it could, andpreparing to hurry away. In the middle of the turmoil, Dot's Kangaroobounded into the open space, panting with excitement and delight.

  "Dot! Dot!" she cried, "I've found Willy Wagtail, and he knows your way!Come along at once!" And, putting Dot in her pouch, the Kangaroo leapedclean over the Judge and carried her off!