"It is
dreadful for you pigeons," she said, "because you can only drink at
evening; we sometimes can quench our thirst in the day. I wish we
could do without water! The Humans know all the water-holes, and
sooner or later we all get murdered, or die of thirst. How cruel they
are!"

Still the pigeons cried on, "we're so thirsty and so frightened;" and
the Bronze-Wing asked the Kangaroo to try again, if she could either
smell or hear a Human near the water-hole.

"I think we are safe," said the Kangaroo, having sniffed and listened
as before; "I will now try a nearer view."

The news soon spread that the Kangaroo was going to venture near the
water, to see if all was safe. The light was very dim, and there was a
general whisper that the attempt to get a drink of water should not be
left later; as some feared such foes as dingos and night birds, should
they venture into the open space at night. As the Kangaroo moved
stealthily forward, pushing aside the branches of the scrub, or
standing erect to peep here and there, there was absolute silence in
the bush. Even the pigeons ceased to say they were afraid, but hopped
silently from bough to bough, following the movements of the Kangaroo
with eager little eyes. The Brush Turkey and the Mound-Builder left
their heaped-up nests and joined the other thirsty creatures, and only
by the crackling of the dry scrub, or the falling of a few leaves,
could one tell that so many live creatures were together in that wild
place.

Presently the Kangaroo had reached the last bushes of the scrub, behind
which she crouched.

"There's not a smell or a sound," she said. "Get out, Dot, and wait
here until I return, and the Bronze-Wings have had their drink; for,
did they see you, they would be too frightened to come down, and would
have to wait another night and day."

Dot got out of the pouch, and she was very sorry when she saw how
terrified her friend looked. She could see the fur on the Kangaroo's
chest moving with the frightened beating of her heart; and her
beautiful brown eyes looked wild and strange with fear.

Instantly, the Kangaroo leaped into the open. For a second she paused
erect, sniffing and listening, and then she hastened to the water. As
she stooped to drink, Dot heard a "whrr, whrr, whrr," and, like falling
leaves, down swept the Bronze-Wings. It was a wonderful sight. The
water-hole shone in the dim light, with the great black darkness of the
trees surro