near his old haunt; how
that gossiping little bird had told all the news of the Gabblebabble
town and district in ten minutes, and how he had said he believed he
knew Dot by sight, and that if such were the case he would show Dot and
the Kangaroo the way to the little girl's home. Then Dot and the
Kangaroo hurried on their way again, the little girl sometimes running
and walking to rest the kind animal, and sometimes being 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 making love," said the Kangaroo, with a humorous
twinkle in her quiet eyes. "Peep round the bush," she said to Dot, "and
you'll see them spooning."

[Illustration: THE KANGAROO CARRIES DOT OUT OF COURT]

Dot glanced through the branches, and saw two wagtails, who looked very
smart with their black coats and white waistcoats, sitting on two posts
of the fence a little way off. They were each pretending that their
long big tails were too heavy to balance them properly, and they seemed
to be always just saving themselves from toppling off their perch.
Occasionally Willy would dart into the air, to show what an expert in
flying he was; he would shoot straight upwards, turn a double somersault
backwards, and wing off in the direction one least expected. Afterwards
he would return to his post as calm and cool as if he had done nothing
surprising, and say "Pretty pretty Chip-pi-ti-chip!" that name meaning
the other wagtail. 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 knowing who was disturbing
them, scolded angrily; but when he saw the Kangaroo and the little girl,
he gave them the most cordial greeting, and wobbled about on a rail as
if he must tumble off every second.

"This is Dot," said the Kangaroo a little anxiously, and rather
breathless with the speed she had made.

"Just as I had expected!" exclaimed Willy Wagtail, with a jerk of his
tail which nearly sent him headlong off the rail. "I should know you
anywhere, little Human, though you do look a bit different. You want
preening," he added.

This last remark was in allusion to Dot's appearance, which certainly