English
NOTalwayswastheKangarooasnowwedobeholdhim,butaDifferentAnimalwithfourshortlegs.
Hewasgreyandhewaswoolly,andhispridewasinordinate:hedancedonanoutcropinthemiddleofAustralia,andhewenttotheLittleGodNqa.
HewenttoNqaatsixbeforebreakfast,saying,‘Makemedifferentfromallotheranimalsbyfivethisafternoon.’
UpjumpedNqafromhisseatonthesandflatandshouted,‘Goaway!’
Hewasgreyandhewaswoolly,andhispridewasinordinate:hedancedonarock-ledgeinthemiddleofAustralia,andhewenttotheMiddleGodNquing.
HewenttoNquingateightafterbreakfast,saying,‘Makemedifferentfromallotheranimals;makeme,also,wonderfullypopularbyfivethisafternoon.’
UpjumpedNquingfromhisburrowinthespinifexandshouted,‘Goaway!’
Hewasgreyandhewaswoolly,andhispridewasinordinate:hedancedonasandbankinthemiddleofAustralia,andhewenttotheBigGodNqong.
HewenttoNqongattenbeforedinner-time,saying,‘Makemedifferentfromallotheranimals;makemepopularandwonderfullyrunafterbyfivethisafternoon.’
UpjumpedNqongfromhisbathinthesalt-panandshouted,‘Yes,Iwill!’
NqongcalledDingo—Yellow-DogDingo—alwayshungry,dustyinthesunshine,andshowedhimKangaroo.Nqongsaid,‘Dingo!Wakeup,Dingo!
Doyouseethatgentlemandancingonanashpit?
Hewantstobepopularandverytrulyrunafter.Dingo,makehimSO!’
UpjumpedDingo—Yellow-DogDingo—andsaid,‘What,thatcat-rabbit?’
OffranDingo—Yellow-DogDingo—alwayshungry,grinninglikeacoal-scuttle,—ranafterKangaroo.
OffwenttheproudKangarooonhisfourlittlelegslikeabunny.
This,OBelovedofmine,endsthefirstpartofthetale!
Heranthroughthedesert;heranthroughthemountains;heranthroughthesalt-pans;heranthroughthereed-beds;heranthroughthebluegums;heranthroughthespinifex;herantillhisfrontlegsached.
Hehadto!
StillranDingo—Yellow-DogDingo—alwayshungry,grinninglikearat-trap,nevergettingnearer,nevergettingfarther,—ranafterKangaroo.
Hehadto!
StillranKangaroo—OldManKangaroo.Heranthroughtheti-trees;heranthroughthemulga;heranthroughthelonggrass;heranthroughtheshortgrass;heranthroughtheTropicsofCapricornandCancer;herantillhishindlegsached.
Hehadto!
StillranDingo—Yellow-DogDingo—hungrierandhungrier,grinninglikeahorse-collar,nevergettingnearer,nevergettingfarther;andtheycametotheWollgongRiver.
Now,therewasn’tanybridge,andtherewasn’tanyferry-boat,andKangaroodidn’tknowhowtogetover;sohestoodonhislegsandhopped.
Hehadto!
HehoppedthroughtheFlinders;hehoppedthroughtheCinders;hehoppedthroughthedesertsinthemiddleofAustralia.HehoppedlikeaKangaroo.
Firsthehoppedoneyard;thenhehoppedthreeyards;thenhehoppedfiveyards;hislegsgrowingstronger;hislegsgrowinglonger.
Hehadn’tanytimeforrestorrefreshment,andhewantedthemverymuch.
StillranDingo—Yellow-DogDingo—verymuchbewildered,verymuchhungry,andwonderingwhatintheworldoroutofitmadeOldManKangaroohop.
Forhehoppedlikeacricket;likeapeainasaucepan;oranewrubberballonanurseryfloor.
Hehadto!
Hetuckeduphisfrontlegs;hehoppedonhishindlegs;hestuckouthistailforabalance-weightbehindhim;andhehoppedthroughtheDarlingDowns.
Hehadto!
StillranDingo—Tired-DogDingo—hungrierandhungrier,verymuchbewildered,andwonderingwhenintheworldoroutofitwouldOldManKangaroostop.
ThencameNqongfromhisbathinthesalt-pans,andsaid,‘It’sfiveo’clock.’
DownsatDingo—PoorDogDingo—alwayshungry,duskyinthesunshine;hungouthistongueandhowled.
DownsatKangaroo—OldManKangaroo—stuckouthistaillikeamilking-stoolbehindhim,andsaid,‘Thankgoodnessthat’sfinished!’
ThensaidNqong,whoisalwaysagentleman,‘Whyaren’tyougratefultoYellow-DogDingo?Whydon’tyouthankhimforallhehasdoneforyou?’
ThensaidKangaroo—TiredOldKangaroo—He’schasedmeoutofthehomesofmychildhood;he’schasedmeoutofmyregularmeal-times;he’salteredmyshapesoI’llnevergetitback;andhe’splayedOldScratchwithmylegs.’
ThensaidNqong,‘PerhapsI’mmistaken,butdidn’tyouaskmetomakeyoudifferentfromallotheranimals,aswellastomakeyouverytrulysoughtafter?Andnowitisfiveo’clock.’
‘Yes,’saidKangaroo.‘IwishthatIhadn’t.Ithoughtyouwoulddoitbycharmsandincantations,butthisisapracticaljoke.’
‘Joke!’saidNqongfromhisbathinthebluegums.‘SaythatagainandI’llwhistleupDingoandrunyourhindlegsoff.’
‘No,’saidtheKangaroo.‘Imustapologise.
Legsarelegs,andyouneedn’talter‘emsofarasIamconcerned.
IonlymeanttoexplaintoYourLordlinessthatI’vehadnothingtoeatsincemorning,andI’mveryemptyindeed.’
‘Yes,’saidDingo—Yellow-DogDingo,—’Iamjustinthesamesituation.I’vemadehimdifferentfromallotheranimals;butwhatmayIhaveformytea?’
ThensaidNqongfromhisbathinthesalt-pan,‘Comeandaskmeaboutittomorrow,becauseI’mgoingtowash.’
SotheywereleftinthemiddleofAustralia,OldManKangarooandYellow-DogDingo,andeachsaid,‘That’syourfault.’
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