aceful ferns and rushes
of the banks, were all reflected in the water, so that it looked to Dot
like a strange upside-down picture. This, then, was the home of that
wonderful animal; and Dot felt quite frightened, because she thought she
was going to see something terrible.

At the Kangaroo's bidding, she hid a little way from the edge of the
pool, but she was able to see all that happened.

The Kangaroo evidently did not enjoy the prospect of conversing with the
Platypus. She kept on fidgetting about, putting off calling to the
Platypus by one excuse and another: she was decidedly ill at ease.

"Are you frightened of the Platypus?" asked Dot.

"Dear me, no!" replied the Kangaroo, "but I'd rather have a talk with
any other bush creature. First of all, the sight of it makes me so
uncomfortable, that I want to hop away the instant I set eyes upon it.
Then, too, it's so difficult to be polite to the Platypus, because one
never knows how to behave towards it. If you treat it as an animal, you
offend its bird nature, and if you treat it as a bird, the animal in it
is mighty indignant. One never knows where one is with a creature that
is two creatures," said the Kangaroo.

Dot was so sorry for the perplexity of her friend, that she suggested
that they should not consult the Platypus. But the Kangaroo said it must
be done, because no one in the bush was so learned. Being such a strange
creature, and living in such seclusion, and being so difficult to
approach, was a proof that it was the right adviser to seek. So, with a
half desperate air, the Kangaroo left the little girl, and went down to
the water's edge.

Pausing a moment, she made a strange little noise that was something
between a grunt and a hiss: and she repeated this many times. At last
Dot saw what looked like a bit of black stick, just above the surface of
the pool, coming towards their side, and, as it moved forward, leaving
two little silvery ripples that widened out behind it on the smooth
waters. Presently the black stick, which was the bill of the Platypus,
reached the bank, and the strangest little creature climbed into view.
Dot had expected to see something big and hideous; but here was quite a
small object after all! It seemed quite ridiculous that the great
Kangaroo should be evidently discomposed by the sight.

Dot could not hear what the Kangaroo said, but she saw the Platypus
hurriedly prepare to regain the water. It began to stumble clumsily do