hid in the
grass, but I went boldly into the open on the hillside to see where the
danger was. I saw, far off, Humans on their big animals that go so
quickly, and directly I hopped into the open, they raised a great noise
like the blacks did last night, and I could see by the movement in the
grass that they had those dreadful dogs they teach to kill us: they
are far worse than dingoes. Joey heard the shouting and bounded into
my pouch, and I went off as fast as I could. It was a worse hunt than
last night, for it was longer, and there was no darkness to help me. I
gradually got ahead in the chase, and I knew if I were alone I could
distance them all; for we had seen them a long way off. But little
Joey was heavy, though not so heavy as you are, and in the long
distance I began to feel weak, as I did last night.

"I knew if I tried to go on as we were, that those cruel Humans (doing
nothing but sit quietly on those big beasts, which have four legs and
never get tired) would overtake us, and their dogs (which carry no
weight and go so fast) would tear me down before their masters even
arrived, for I was going gradually slower. So I asked Joey if I
dropped him into a soft bush whether he would hide until I came back
for him. It was our only chance. I had an idea that if I did that he
would be safe--even if I got killed; as they would be more likely to
follow me, and never think I had parted from my little Joey. So we did
this, and I crossed a creek, which put the hounds off the scent, and I
got away. In the dusk I came back again to find Joey, but he had gone,
and I could not find a trace of him. All night and all day I searched,
but I've never seen my Joey since," said the Kangaroo sadly, and Dot
saw the tears dim her eyes.

Dot could not speak all she felt. She was so sorry for the Kangaroo,
and so ashamed of being a Human. She realised too, how good and
forgiving this dear animal was; how she had cared for her, and nearly
died to save her life, in spite of the wrongs done to her by human
beings.

"When I grow up," she said, "I will never let anyone hurt a bush
creature. They shall all be happy where I am."

"But there are so many Humans. They're getting to be as many as
Kangaroos." said the animal reflectively, and shook her head.

CHAPTER X.

The fourth day of Dot's wanderings in the Bush dawned brightly. The
sun arose in a sky all gorgeous in gold and crimson, and flashed upon a
world