t's room, and
tried to fight itself in the looking glass. It then got the Koala to
look into the mirror also, and said it would 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!"

Later on, Dot's father made a dam to 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 co