In the uncertain light, Dot could see a little creature near them, and
knew at once that it was an Opossum.

"What is the matter?" said the Kangaroo, softly. "Blacks!" said the
Opossum. And as it spoke, Dot heard a sound as of a half dingo dog
howling and snapping in the distance. As that sound was heard, the
Opossum made one flying leap to the nearest tree, and scrambled out of
sight in a moment.

"I wish he had told us a little more," said the Kangaroo. "Still, for a
possum, it was a good-natured act to wake me up. They are selfish,
spiteful little beasts, as a rule. Now I wonder where these blacks are?
I shall have to go a little way to sniff and listen. I won't go far, so
don't be afraid, but stay quietly here until I come back."




CHAPTER VI.



It was terrible to Dot to see the Kangaroo hop off into the dark bush, and
to find herself all alone; so she crawled out from under the ledge of rock
into the moonlight, and sat on a stone where she could see the sky, and
watch the black ragged clouds hurry over the moon. But the bush was not
altogether quiet. She could hear an owl hooting at the moon. Not far off
was a camp of quarrelsome Flying Foxes, and the melancholy Nightjar in the
distance was fulfilling its mission of making all the bush creatures
miserable with its incessant, mournful "mo-poke! mo-poke!" As Dot could