saying I was a Beaver; another, that I was a Duck; another, that I was
a Mole, or a Rat. Then they argued whether I was a bird, or an animal,
or if we laid eggs, or not; and everyone wrote a book, full of lies,
all out of his head.
"That's the way Humans amuse themselves. They write books about things
they don't understand, and keep the game going by each new book saying
the others are all wrong. It's a silly game, and very insulting to the
creatures they write about. Humans at the other end of the world, who,
never took the trouble to come here to see me, wrote books about me.
Those who did come were more impudent than those who stayed away.
Their idea of learning all about a creature was to dig up its home, and
frighten it out of its wits, and kill it; and after a few moons of that
sort of foolery they claimed to know all about us. Us! whose
ancestors knew the world millions of years before the ignorant Humans
came on the earth at all!" The Platypus spluttered out more dirty
water, in its indignation.
The Kangaroo became very timid, as it saw the rising anger of the
Platypus, and whispered to Dot to say something to calm the little
creature.
"A million years is a very long time," said Dot; unable at the moment
to think of anything better to say. But this remark angered the
Platypus more, for it seemed to suspect Dot of doubting what it said.
It clambered up into a more erect position, and its little brown eyes
became quite fiery.
"I didn't say a million; I said millions! I can prove by a bone in my
body that my ancestors were the Amphitherium, the Amphilestes, the
Phascolotherium, and the Stereognathus!" almost shrieked the little
creature.
Dot didn't understand what all these words meant, and looked at the
Kangaroo for an explanation; but she saw that the Kangaroo didn't
understand either, only she was trying to hide her ignorance by a calm
appearance, while she nibbled the end of a long grass she held in her
fore paw. But Dot noticed, by the slight trembling of the little black
paw, that the Kangaroo was very nervous. She thought she would try and
say something to please Platypus; so she asked, very kindly, if the
bone ever hurt it. But this strange creature did not seem to notice
the remark. Settling itself more comfortably amongst the grass, it
muttered in calmer tones, "I trace my ancestry back to the oolite age.
Where does man come in?"
"I don't know," said Dot.
"Of course you don'
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