to bear Dot's weight. Her
panting became more and more distressing, and so did her sad moans; and
flecks of foam from her straining lips fell on Dot's face and hands. Dot
knew that her Kangaroo was trying to save her at the risk of her own
life. Without the little girl in her pouch, she might get away safely;
but, with her to carry, they would both probably fall victims to the
fierce Blacks and their dogs.

"Kangaroo! Kangaroo!" she cried, "put me down; drop Dot anywhere,
anywhere, but don't get killed yourself!"

But all Dot heard was a little hissing sound from the brave animal,
which sounded like, "Never again!"

"You will be killed," moaned Dot.

"Together!" said the little hissing voice, as another great bound
brought them to the spur of the hill; and then the Kangaroo had to
pause.

In that moment Dot seemed to hear and see everything. They were perched
on a rock, and the moonlight lit all their surroundings like day. To the
right was a deep black chasm, with a white foaming waterfall pouring
into the darkness below. In front was the same wide chasm, only less
wide, and beyond it, on the other side of the great yawning cleft in the
earth, was a wild spread of morass country--a gloomy, terrible-looking
place. To the left was a steep slope of small rocks and stones, leading
downwards to the hollow of sedgy land that fringed the cliffs of the
chasm. The only retreat possible was to pass down this declivity, and
try to escape by the sedgy land, and this is what the Black huntsmen had
expected. It was a very weird and desolate place; and everything looked
dark and dismal, under the moonlight, as it streamed between stormy
black clouds. In that light Dot could see the Blacks hurrying forward.
Already one of the dogs had far outrun the others, and with wolfish gait
and savage sounds, was pressing towards their place of observation.

The panting, trembling Kangaroo saw the approaching dog, also, and
leaped down from the crag. As she dropped to earth, she stooped, and
quickly lifted Dot out of her pouch, and, almost before Dot could
realize the movement, she found herself standing alone, whilst the
Kangaroo hopped forward to the front of a big boulder, as if to meet the
dog. Here the poor hunted creature took her stand, with her back close
to the rock. Gentle and timid as she was, and unfitted by nature to
fight for her life against fierce odds, it was brave indeed of the poor
Kangaroo to face her enemies, prepared