e is Dot?"

"Umph, that silly!" exclaimed the Bittern, as Dot came forward, and she
and the Kangaroo rejoiced over each other's safety. "Much good she'd
have been to you with the blacks, and their dogs after you, if we
Bitterns hadn't played that old trick of ours of scaring them with our
big voices. He! he! he!" it chuckled, "how they did run when we tuned
up! They thought the Bunyip had got them this time. Didn't we laugh!"

"It was very good of you," said the Kangaroo gratefully, "and it is not
the first time you have saved Kangaroos by your cleverness. I didn't
know you Bitterns were near, so I told Dot to make a noise in the hope
of frightening them."

The Bittern was really touched by the Kangaroo's gratitude, and was
delighted at being called clever, so it became still more ungracious.
"You needn't trouble me with thanks," it said indifferently, "we didn't
do it to save you, but for our own fun. As for that little stupid," it
continued, with a nod of the head towards Dot, "her squeals were no
more good than the squeak of a tree frog in a Bittern's beak."

"But you were very kind," said Dot, "and showed me how to get water to
save Kangaroo's life."

The Bittern was greatly pleased at this praise, and in consequence it
got still ruder, and making a face at Dot, exclaimed, "Yah!" and
stalked off. But when it had gone a few steps it turned round and said
to the Kangaroo, roughly, "If you hop that way, keeping to the side of
the sedges, and go half a dozen small hops beyond that white gum tree,
you'll find a little cave. It's dry and warm, and good enough for
Kangaroos." And without waiting for thanks for this last kind act, it
spread its wings and flew away.

CHAPTER IX.

The Kangaroo, hopping very weakly, and little Dot trudging over the
oozy ground, followed the Bittern's directions and found the cave,
which proved a very snug retreat. Here they lay down together, full of
happiness at their escape, and worn out with fatigue and excitement,
they were soon fast asleep.

The next day, before the sun rose, the Bittern visited the cave.
"Hullo, you precious lazy pair! I've been over there," and it tossed
its beak in the direction of the blacks' camp. "They're off northward.
Too frightened to stay. I thought you might like the news brought you,
since you're too lazy to get it for yourselves!" and off it went again
without saying good-bye.

"Now isn't he a kind little fellow?" said the Kanga