to do battle for the lives of
little Dot and herself.

So noble did Dot's Kangaroo look in that desperate moment, standing
erect, waiting for her foe, and conquering her naturally frightened
nature by a grand effort of courage, that it seemed impossible that
either dogs or men should be so cruel as to take her life. For a moment
the dingo hound seemed daunted by her bravery, and paused a little way
off, panting, with its great tongue lolling out of its mouth. Dot could
see its sharp wicked teeth gleaming in the moonlight. For a few seconds
it hesitated to make the attack, and looked back down the slope, to see
if the other dogs were coming to help; but they were only just beginning
the ascent, and the shouting Blackfellows were further off still. Then
the dog could no longer control its savage nature. It longed to leap at
the poor Kangaroo's throat--that pretty furry throat that Dot's arms had
so often encircled lovingly, and it was impatient to fix its terrible
teeth there, and hold, and hold, in a wild struggle, until the poor
Kangaroo should gradually weaken from fear and exhaustion, and be choked
to death. These thoughts filled the dog with a wicked joy. It wouldn't
wait any longer for the other dingo hounds. It wanted to murder the
Kangaroo all by itself; so, with a toss of its head, and a terrible
snarl, it sprang forward ferociously, with open jaws, aiming at the
victim's throat.

Dot clasped her cold hands together. Tears streamed down her cheeks, and
her little voice, choking with sobs, could only wail, "Oh! dear
Kangaroo! my dear Kangaroo! Don't kill my dear Kangaroo!" and she ran
forward to throw herself upon the dog and try to save her friend.

But before the terrified little girl could reach the big rock, the dog
had made its spring upon her friend. The brave Kangaroo, instead of
trying to avoid her fierce enemy, opened her little arms, and stood
erect and tall to receive the attack. The dog in its eagerness, and
owing to the nature of the ground, misjudged the distance it had to
spring. It failed to reach the throat it had aimed at, and in a moment
the Kangaroo had seized the hound in a tight embrace. There was a
momentary struggle, the dog snapping and trying to free itself, and the
Kangaroo holding it firmly. Then she used the only weapon she had to
defend herself from dogs and men,--the long sharp claw in her foot.
Whilst she held the dog in her arms, she raised her powerful leg, and
with that long,