get an idea into its little empty head if
it did. When the Koala had taken a timid peep at itself, the Opossum
said that the Koala now had an idea of how stupid it looked, and the
little bear went off to get used to having an idea in its head. The
Opossum was so pleased with its spiteful joke that it hastily said good
night, and hurried away to tell it to the other 'possums.

Gradually the voices of the creatures outside became more and more faint
and indistinct; and then Dot slept in the grey light of the dawn.

When she went out in the morning, the kookooburras were gurgling and
laughing, the magpies were warbling, the parrakeets made their
twittering, and Willy Wagtail was most lively; but Dot was astonished to
find that she could not understand what any of the creatures said,
although they were all very friendly towards her. When the Kangaroo came
to see her she made signs that she wanted some berries of understanding,
but, strange as it may seem, the Kangaroo pretended not to understand.
Dot has often wondered why the Kangaroo would not understand, but,
remembering what that considerate animal had said when she first gave
her the berries, she is inclined to think that the Kangaroo is afraid of
her learning too much, and thereby getting indigestion. Dot and her
parents have often sought for the berries, but up to now they have
failed to find them. There is something very mysterious about those
berries!

During that day every creature Dot had known in the Bush came to see
her, for they all knew that their lives were safe now, so they were not
afraid. It greatly surprised Dot's parents to see such numbers of birds
and animals coming around their little girl, and they thought it very
pretty when in the evening a flock of Native Companions settled down,
and danced their graceful dance with the little girl joining in the
game.

"It seems to me, wife," said Dot's father with a glad laugh, "that the
place has become a regular menagerie!"

[Illustration: BY THE LAKE (EVENING)]

Later on, Dot's father made a dam on a hollow piece of ground near the
house, which soon became full of water, and is surrounded by beautiful
willow trees. There all the thirsty creatures come to drink in safety.
And very pretty it is, to sit on the verandah of that happy home, and
see Dot playing near the water surrounded by her Bush friends, who come
and go as they please, and play with the little girl beside the pretty
lake. And no one in a