and leaving the dance, opened her wings, and still making dainty steps
with her long legs, half danced and half flew to where the Kangaroo was
sitting.

"Good evening, Kangaroo," she said, gracefully bowing; "will you not come
a little nearer to see the dance?" Then the Native Companion saw Dot in
the Kangaroo's pouch, and made a little spring of surprise. "Dear me!"
she said, "what have you in your pouch?"

"It's a Human," said the Kangaroo, apologetically; "it's quite a little,
harmless one. Let me introduce you."

So Dot alighted from the pouch, and joined in the conversation, and the
Native Companion was much interested in hearing her story.

"Do you dance?" asked the Native Companion, with a quick turn of her head,
on its long, graceful neck. Dot said that she loved dancing. So the
Native Companion took her down to the creek, and all the other Companions
stopped dancing and gathered round her, whilst she was introduced, and her
story told. Then they spread their wings, and with stately steps escorted
her to the edge of the water, whilst the Kangaroo sat a little way off,
and delightedly watched the proceedings.

Dot didn't understand any of the figures of the dance; but the scenery and
the pink sunset were so beautiful, and the Native Companions were so
elegant and gay, that Dot caught up her ragged little skirts in both hands
and followed their movements with her bare brown feet as best she could,
and enjoyed herself very much. To Dot, the eight birds that took part in
the entertainment were very tall and splendid, with their lovely grey
plumage and greeny heads, and she felt quite small as they gathered round