hunted the animals and killed as many as they possibly could.

Once Keesa's mother, and a number of other kangaroos, were having a
comfortable feed on the plain, when suddenly numbers of men called
hunters came from all parts and attacked the poor kangaroos with
spears, clubs and horrible fire things.

The poor animals looked wildly around with their pathetic eyes, and
then swiftly and silently--for, like the giraffe, the kangaroo never
makes a sound--tore backwards and forwards, wild and bewildered with
fear, assailed on all sides by sharp arrows and spears, and by heavy
things which struck terrible blows.

[Illustration: "EVEN HIS MOTHER LOOKED AT HIM WITH SURPRISE"]

Only two kangaroos escaped at this dreadful time; they were Keesa's
mother and another kangaroo mother, both of whom had fought fiercely
and desperately for the sake of their little ones.

Away went the two kangaroos at breakneck speed, leaping from twelve to
fifteen feet at a time. But the hunters were prepared for this, and in
a few minutes the kangaroo dogs were after them.

This was a terrible time. The terror and agony of Keesa's mother
communicated itself in some way to him, and he shivered inside his
pouch half dead with fear.

On and on went the kangaroos, and close behind came the dogs. But the
mother kangaroos, when too exhausted to run further, turned, only too
ready to die, if need be, for their young ones.