p of parts of two or three different sorts of creatures. None of
us can account for it. It must have been an experiment, when all the
rest of us were made: or else it was made up of the odds and ends of the
birds and beasts that were left over after we were all finished."

Little Dot clapped her hands. "Oh, dear Kangaroo," she said, "do take me
to see the Platypus! there was nothing like that in my Noah's ark."

"I should say not!" remarked the Kangaroo. "The animals in the Ark said
they were each to be of its kind, and every sort of bird and beast
refused to admit the Platypus, because it was of so many kinds; and at
last Noah turned it out to swim for itself, because there was such a
row. That's why the Platypus is so secluded. Ever since then no Platypus
is friendly with any other creature, and no animal or bird is more than
just polite to it. They couldn't be, you see, because of that trouble in
the Ark."

"But that was so long ago," said Dot, filled with compassion for the
lonely Platypus; "and, after all, this is not the same Platypus, nor are
all the bush creatures the same now as then."

"No," returned the Kangaroo, "and some say there was no Ark, and no fuss
over the matter, but that, of course, doesn't make any difference, for
it's a very ancient quarrel, so it must be kept up. But if we are to go
to the Platypus we had better start now; it is a good time to see it--so
come along, little Dot," said the Kangaroo.

CHAPTER IV

"Good-bye, Kookooburra!" cried Dot, as they left the cave; and the bird
gave her a nod of the head, followed by a wink, which was supposed to
mean hearty good-will at parting. He would have spoken, only he had
swallowed but part of the Snake, and the rest hung out of the side of
his beak, like an old man's pipe; so he couldn't speak. It wouldn't have
been polite to do so with his beak full.

Dot was so rested by her sleep all night that she did not ride in the
Kangaroo's pouch; but they proceeded together, she walking, and her
friend making as small hops as she could, so as not to get too far
ahead. This was very difficult for the Kangaroo, because even the
smallest hops carried her far in front. After a time they arranged that
the friendly animal should hop a few yards, then wait for Dot to catch
her up, and then go on again. This she did, nibbling bits of grass as
she waited, or playing a little game of hide-and-seek behind the bushes.

Sometimes when she hid like this, D