rowds in them, and the murmur of many voices talking
together. As she gradually awakened, she realized that the voices were
real, and not a part of her dreams. There was a great hubbub, a
fluttering of wings, and rustling of leaves and grass. Through all this
confusion, odd sentences became clear to her drowsy senses. Such phrases
as, "You'd better perch here!" "This isn't your place!" "Go over there!"
"No! no! I'm sure I'm right! the Welcome Swallow says so." "Has anyone
gone for the Opossum?" "He says the Court ought to be held at night!"
"Don't make such a noise or you will wake the prisoner;" "Who is to be
the Judge?" This last enquiry provoked such a noise of diverse opinions,
that Dot became fully awake, and sitting up, gazed around with eyes full
of astonishment.

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 space 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 assemblage, "I will explain our presence." Addressing the
little girl