As soon as the Kangaroo heard the Bush Wagtail, she and Dot hurried away
to find him. No Christy Minstrel rattling his bones ever made a merrier
sound. "Click-i-ti-clack, click-i-ti-clack, clack, clack, clack, clack,
click-i-ti-clack," he rattled away as fast as he could, just as if he
hadn't a moment to waste for taking breath, and as if the whole lovely
world was made for the enjoyment of Bush Wagtails.
When Dot and the Kangaroo found him, he was swaying about on a branch,
spreading his big tail like a fan, and clattering gaily; but he stopped in
surprise as soon as he saw his visitors.
After greetings, he opened the conversation by talking of the weather, so
as to conceal his astonishment at seeing Dot and the the Kangaroo together.
"Lovely weather after the rain," he said; "the showers were needed very
much, for insects were getting scarce, and I believe grass was rank, and
not very plentiful. There will be a green shoot in a few days, which will
be very welcome to Kangaroos. I heard about you losing your Joey--my
cousin told me. I was very sorry; so sad. Ah! well, such things will
happen in the bush to anyone. We were most fortunate in our brood; none
of the chicks fell out of the nest, every one of them escaped the Butcher
Birds and were strong of wing.
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