Dot saw her spring with her legs all spread out, so that the skinny flaps
were like furry wings. By this means she was able to break her fall, and
softly alighting on the earth, a moment after, she had scrambled up
another tree, followed by her mate. From tree to tree, from branch to
branch, they fled or pursued one another, with growls, screams, and
splutters, until they disappeared from sight.
"How unhappy those poor Opossums must be, living in the same tree," said
Dot; "why don't they live in different trees?"
"They wouldn't be happy," observed the Koala, "they are so fond of one
another."
"Then why do they quarrel?" asked Dot.
"Because they live in the same tree of course," said the Koala. "If they
lived in different trees, and never quarrelled, they wouldn't like it at
all. They'd find life dull, and they'd get sulky. There's nothing worse
than a sulky possum. They are champions at that."
"They make a dreadful noise with their quarrelling," said Dot. "They are
nearly as bad as the Flying Foxes over there. I wonder if they made that
fearful sound I heard just before you came?"
"I expect what you heard was from me," said the Koala; "I had just
awakened, and when I saw the moon was up I felt pleased."
"Was all that sound and many noises yours?" asked Dot with astonishment,
as she regarded the shaggy little animal on the tree trunk.
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