Dot and the Kangaroo Part 11

When she had fallen asleep there had not been a creature near her; but now she was literally hemmed in on every side by birds and small animals. The branches of the fallen tree were covered with a feathered company, and in the open s.p.a.ce between it and Dot's nook, was a constantly increasing crowd of larger birds, such as cranes, plover, duck, turkey-buzzards, black swan, and amongst them a great grave Pelican. The animals were few, and apparently came late. There was a little timid Wallaby, a Bandicoot, some Kangaroo Rats, a shy Wombat who grumbled about the daylight, as also did a Native Bear and an Opossum, who were really driven to the gathering by a bevy of screaming parrots.

Dot was wide awake at once with delight. Nearly every creature she had ever heard of seemed to be present, and the brilliant colours of the parrots and parrakeets made the scene as gay as a rainbow in a summer noonday sky.

"Oh! you darlings!" she said, "how good of you all to come and see me!"

This greeting from Dot caused an instant silence amongst the creatures, and she could not help seeing that they looked very uncomfortable. There was soon a faint whispering from bird to bird, which rose higher and higher, until Dot made out that they were all saying, "She ought to be told!" "You tell her!" "No, you tell her yourself, it's not my business!" and every bird--for it was the birds who by reason of their larger numbers took the lead in the proceedings--seemed to be trying to shift an unpleasant task upon its neighbours.

Presently the solemn Pelican waddled forward and stood before Dot, saying to the a.s.semblage, "I will explain our presence." Addressing the little girl it said, "We are here to place you on trial for the wrongs we Bush creatures have suffered from the cruelties of White Humans. You will meet with all fairness in your trial, as the proceedings will be conducted according to the custom of your own Courts of Justice. The Welcome Swallow, having built its nest for three successive seasons under the eaves of the Gabblebabble Court House, is deeply learned in human law business, and will instruct us how to proceed. Your conviction will, therefore, leave you no room for complaint so far as your trial is concerned."

All the birds clapped their wings in applause at the conclusion of this speech, and the Pelican was told by the Welcome Swallow that he should plead as Prosecutor.

"What do you mean by 'Plead as Prosecutor?'" asked the Pelican gravely.

"You've got to get the prisoner convicted as guilty, whether she is so or not," answered the Swallow, making a dart at a mosquito, which it ate with relish.

"Oh!" said the Pelican, doubtfully; and all the creatures looked at one another as if they didn't quite understand the justice of the arrangement.

"But," said the Pelican, hesitating a little, "suppose I don't think the prisoner guilty? She seems very small, and harmless."

"That doesn't matter at all, you've got to get her made out as guilty by the jury. It's good human law," snapped the Swallow, and all the creatures said "_Oh!_" "Now for the defence," said the Swallow briskly; "there ought to be someone for that. Who is friendly with the King?"

"Who's the King?" asked all the creatures breathlessly.

"He's a bigger Human than the rest, and everybody's business is his business, so he's always going to law."

"I know," said the Magpie, and she piped out six bars of "G.o.d save the King."

"You are the one for the defence!" said the Swallow, quite delighted, as were all the other creatures, at the Magpie's accomplishment; "you must save the prisoner from the jury finding her guilty."

"But," objected the Magpie, "how can I? when only last fruit season my brother, and two sisters, and six cousins were shot just because they ate a few grapes."

"That doesn't matter! you've got to get her off, I tell you!" said the Swallow, irritably; "go over there, and ask her what you are to say." So the Magpie flew over to Dot's side, and she at once began to teach it the rest of "G.o.d save the King."

"I like this game," Dot presently said to the Magpie.

"Do you?" said the Magpie with surprise; "It seems to me very slow, and there's no sense in it."

"Why are the birds all perching together over there?" asked Dot, pointing to a branch of the dead tree, "since they all hate one another and want to get away. The Galahs have pecked the Butcher Bird twice in five minutes, the Peeweet keeps quarrelling with the Soldier Bird, and none of them can bear the English Sparrow."

[Ill.u.s.tration: THE COURT OF ANIMALS]

"The Swallow says that's the jury," answered the Magpie. "Their business is to do just what they like with you when all the talking is done, and whether they find you guilty or not, will depend on if they are tired, or hungry, and feel cross; or if the trial lasts only a short time, and they are pleased with the grubs that will be brought them presently."

"How funny," said Dot, not a bit alarmed at all these preparations for her trial, for she loved all the creatures so much, that she could not think that any of them wished to hurt her.

"If this is human law," said the Magpie, "it isn't funny at all; it is mad, or wicked. Fancy my having to defend a Human!"

At this point of their conversation, the ill-feeling amongst the jury broke out into open fighting, because the English Sparrow was a foreigner, and they said that it would certainly sympathize with the Humans who had brought it to Australia. This was just an excuse to get rid of it. The Sparrow said that it wanted to go out of the jury, and had never wished to belong to it, and flew away joyfully. Then all the rest of the jury grumbled at the good luck of the Sparrow in getting out of the trial--for they could see it picking up gra.s.s seed and enjoying itself greatly, whilst they were all crowded together on one branch, and were feeling hungry before the trial had even begun.

There was great suspense and quiet while the Judge was being chosen.

Although Dot had eaten the berries of understanding, it was generally considered that, to be quite fair, the Judge must be able to understand human talk; and, amidst much clapping of wings, a large white c.o.c.katoo was appointed.

The c.o.c.katoo lost no time in clambering "into position" on the stump near Dot. "You're quite sure you understand human talk?" Said the little Wallaby to the c.o.c.katoo. It was the first remark he had made, for he had been quite bewildered by all the noise and fuss.

"My word! yes," replied the c.o.c.katoo, who had been taught in a public refreshment room. Then, thinking that he would give a display of his learning, he elevated his sulphur crest and gabbled off, "Go to Jericho!

Twenty to one on the favourite! I'm your man! Now then, ma'am; hurry up, don't keep the coach waiting! Give 'um their 'eds, Bill! So long!

Ta-ra-ra, boom-di-ay! G.o.d save the King!"

All the creatures present looked gravely at Dot, to see what effect this harangue in her own language would have upon her, and were somewhat surprised to see her holding her little sides, and rolling about with laughter.

The c.o.c.katoo was quite annoyed at Dot's amus.e.m.e.nt. He fluffed out all his feathers, and let off a scream that could have been heard a quarter of a mile away. This seemed to impress every one with his importance, and the whole Court became attentive to the proceedings.

At this moment the Swallow skimmed overhead, and having caught the words "G.o.d save the King," called out, "That's the way to do it! keep that up!" and the c.o.c.katoo, thinking that the Swallow meant him to scream still more, set up another yell, which he continued until everyone felt deafened by the noise.

"We have chosen quite the right Judge," said an elegant blue crane to a wild duck; "he will make himself heard and respected." Whereat the c.o.c.katoo winked at the Crane, and said, "You bet I will!"

The Pelican now advanced to the s.p.a.ce before the stump, and there was a murmur of excitement, because it was about to open the trial by a recital of wrongs done to the Bush creatures by white humanity.

Dot could not realize that she was being tried seriously, and was delighted that the Pelican had come nearer to her stump, so that she had a better view of him. She thought him such an old, odd-looking bird, with his big bald head, and gigantic beak. She could not help thinking that his beak must be too heavy for him, and asked if he would like to rest it on the stump. The Pelican did not understand Dot's kindness, and gave her a look of offended dignity that was quite withering; so Dot did not speak to him again; but she longed to feel if the bag of skin that drooped under his beak had anything in it. The Pelican's legs seemed to Dot to be too frail and short to bear such a big bird, not to mention the immense beak; and, when the creature stood on one leg only, she laughed; whereat the Pelican gave her another offended look, which effectually prevented their becoming friends.

The Pelican was beginning to open his beak to speak (and, being such a large beak, opening it took some time), when the Welcome Swallow fussed into court, and said that "nothing could be done until they had some horsehair!"

[Ill.u.s.tration: THE c.o.c.kATOO JUDGE]

This interruption, and the Swallow's repeated a.s.surance that no human trial of importance could take place without horsehair, set all the creatures chattering with astonishment and questions. Some said the Swallow was joking; others said that it was making senseless delays, and that night would fall before they could bring the prisoner to justice.

There was much grumbling on all sides, and complaints of hunger, and the jury began to clamour for the grubs that they had been promised, at which the Magpie whispered to Dot that she certainly would be found guilty. The fact was now quite clear to the jury before the trial began.

But the Swallow persisted that they must have horsehair.

"What for?" asked everyone, sulkily.

"Don't you see for yourselves," squeaked the Swallow, excitedly; "the Judge looks like a c.o.c.katoo."

"Well, of course he does," said all the creatures. "He is a c.o.c.katoo, so he looks like one!"

"Yes," cried the Swallow, "but you must stick horse hairs on his head.

Human justice must be done with horsehair. The prisoner won't believe the c.o.c.katoo is a judge without. Good Gracious!" exclaimed the Swallow, "just look! The prisoner is scratching the Judge's poll! We really _must_ have horsehair!"

Dot, seeing the Swallow's indignation, drew away from the stump, and the c.o.c.katoo tried to look as if he had never seen her before, and as if the idea of having his poll scratched by the prisoner was one that could never have entered his head.

"But if we do put horsehair on the c.o.c.katoo's head," argued the creatures, "what will it do?"

"It will impress the prisoner," said the Swallow.

"How?" they all asked curiously.

"Because the c.o.c.katoo won't look like a c.o.c.katoo," replied the Swallow, with exasperation.