strange upside-down picture. This, then, was the home of that wonderful
animal; and Dot felt quite frightened, because she thought she was going
to see something terrible.

At the Kangaroo's bidding, she hid a little way from the edge of the pool,
but she was able to see all that happened.

The Kangaroo evidently did not enjoy the prospect of conversing with the
Platypus. She kept on fidgeting about, putting off calling to the Platypus
by one excuse and another: she was decidedly ill at ease.

"Are you frightened of the Platypus?" asked Dot.

"Dear me, no!" replied the Kangaroo, "but I'd rather have a talk with any
other bush creature. First of all, the sight of it makes me so
uncomfortable, that I want to hop away the instant I set eyes upon it.
Then, too, it's so difficult to be polite to the Platypus, because one
never knows how to behave towards it. If you treat it as an animal, you
offend its bird nature, and if you treat it as a bird, the animal in it is
mighty indignant. One never knows where one is with a creature that is
two creatures," said the Kangaroo.

Dot was so sorry for the perplexity of her friend, that she suggested that
they should not consult the Platypus. But the Kangaroo said it must be
done, because no one in the bush was so learned. Being such a strange
creature, and living in such seclusion, and being so difficult to approach
was a proof that it was the right adviser to seek. So, with a half
desperate air, the Kangaroo left the little girl, and went down to the
water's edge.