登陆注册
15283500000010

第10章 THE SING-SONG OF OLD MAN KANGAROO(2)

Still ran Dingo--Yellow-Dog Dingo--very much bewildered,very much hungry,and wondering what in the world or out of it made Old Man Kangaroo hop.

For he hopped like a cricket;like a pea in a saucepan;or a new rubber ball on a nursery floor.

He had to!

He tucked up his front legs;he hopped on his hind legs;he stuck out his tail for a balance-weight behind him;and he hopped through the Darling Downs.

He had to!

Still ran Dingo--Tired-Dog Dingo--hungrier and hungrier,very much bewildered,and wondering when in the world or out of it would Old Man Kangaroo stop.

Then came Nqong from his bath in the salt-pans,and said,'It's five o'clock.'

Down sat Dingo--Poor Dog Dingo--always hungry,dusky in the sunshine;hung out his tongue and howled.

Down sat Kangaroo--Old Man Kangaroo--stuck out his tail like a milking-stool behind him,and said,'Thank goodness that's finished!'

Then said Nqong,who is always a gentleman,'Why aren't you grateful to Yellow-Dog Dingo?Why don't you thank him for all he has done for you?'

Then said Kangaroo--Tired Old Kangaroo--He's chased me out of the homes of my childhood;he's chased me out of my regular meal-times;he's altered my shape so I'll never get it back;and he's played Old Scratch with my legs.'

Then said Nqong,'Perhaps I'm mistaken,but didn't you ask me to make you different from all other animals,as well as to make you very truly sought after?And now it is five o'clock.'

'Yes,'said Kangaroo.'I wish that I hadn't.I thought you would do it by charms and incantations,but this is a practical joke.'

'Joke!'said Nqong from his bath in the blue gums.'Say that again and I'll whistle up Dingo and run your hind legs off.'

'No,'said the Kangaroo.'I must apologise.Legs are legs,and you needn't alter 'em so far as I am concerned.I only meant to explain to Your Lordliness that I've had nothing to eat since morning,and I'm very empty indeed.'

'Yes,'said Dingo--Yellow-Dog Dingo,--'I am just in the same situation.I've made him different from all other animals;but what may I have for my tea?'

Then said Nqong from his bath in the salt-pan,'Come and ask me about it tomorrow,because I'm going to wash.'

So they were left in the middle of Australia,Old Man Kangaroo and Yellow-Dog Dingo,and each said,'That's your fault.'

THIS is the mouth-filling song Of the race that was run by a Boomer,Run in a single burst--only event of its kind--Started by big God Nqong from Warrigaborrigarooma,Old Man Kangaroo first:Yellow-Dog Dingo behind.

Kangaroo bounded away,His back-legs working like pistons--Bounded from morning till dark,Twenty-five feet to a bound.

Yellow-Dog Dingo lay Like a yellow cloud in the distance--Much too busy to bark.

My!but they covered the ground!

Nobody knows where they went,Or followed the track that they flew in,For that Continent Hadn't been given a name.

They ran thirty degrees,From Torres Straits to the Leeuwin (Look at the Atlas,please),And they ran back as they came.

S'posing you could trot From Adelaide to the Pacific,For an afternoon's run Half what these gentlemen did You would feel rather hot,But your legs would develop terrific--Yes,my importunate son,You'd be a Marvellous Kid!

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 我的婚外恋

    我的婚外恋

    讲述了一段婚外恋情的起落与变故,告诉现在热恋中的人们如何把握爱情的尺度,如何珍惜情侣间的友谊,如何对待恋爱变故的得与失,启示人们让自己从失恋的痛苦中看到新的人生,奋发向上,创造出自己喜欢的事业……
  • 仙君请留步

    仙君请留步

    一朝穿越,莫名其妙身死、废柴、被毁容?深仇大恨不是不报,时候未到!一场试炼,恭喜你获得“残损的神器”,要恢复请找齐二十三块碎片么么哒!尼玛这真不是开玩笑?!一只仙君,面瘫、冷漠、寡言。可是看起来帅帅哒!跟前跟后、嘘寒问暖,简直不能更忠犬!一场劫数,谁解了谁的红鸾?如果不能全给我,那就全都别给我!当云娆面对众多修者追杀之时,唯有他不离不弃,不惜此身入魔道,屠尽天下人!化魔失忆后...云娆:“前面的仙君请留步!”宫:“怎?”云娆:“怕你丢了,我来带你回家!”
  • 湖镇

    湖镇

    几乎与世隔绝的小镇为什么异常繁荣;名为湖镇,却找不到任何河流、湖泊、雨水。究竟是记忆出现了问题,还是眼睛欺骗了自己?少女的左脸为何烧伤,她记忆中模糊的身影究竟是谁?面对一次又一次的神秘事件,让日渐麻木的她开始积极主动的迎接挑战,她知道她终将成为英雄。关于本书1.本书类型为奇幻小说,更像是一篇童话故事,背景是在一个无限接近地球但不是地球的星球上。2.书中不存在任何YY,推倒剧情。主角也并非无敌,说不定在哪一章就挂了3.写书只为兴趣,只按照按照本人意愿来写4.本人不存稿,一天一章现写现传直到完结。
  • 流氓学院

    流氓学院

    世界上有许多职业不分性别,比如说流氓,有男流氓,自然也有女流氓……额额额,好吧,如果流氓算是一个职业吧!这是一个特殊的大学校园,这是一个与世隔绝的大学校园。一个以流氓自居的学院,一群以流氓自居的学生我们所做的一切都是为了活的更好
  • 鬼仙玄说

    鬼仙玄说

    宇宙边荒,有一颗被大海包裹的星球,其名却为‘地球’,只因,大地,更适合埋葬!而地球,在生灵眼中生机盎然,但在鬼物眼中,却是一整座大坟!在地球上,人类文明已有五千多年的历史,但是,这五千年来,真的都是人类的文明吗?上古魔神蚩尤善巫术,可是巫术,多为御鬼之术!大夏王朝共有一十七代君王,然而第八代君王名作“槐”,木中之鬼也!商、周两代之间,其实有一个极其短命的王朝——妖!历史,葬下了太多事实,却无法埋葬一个传说:尘封的过去,蔚蓝的星球,还有那些被宿命选中的祭品,都在等待鬼仙的归来!一场注定的大劫即将到来!应劫之人何在?
  • 天生剑侠

    天生剑侠

    千事万事,都是一剑的事。他曾一剑开天门,送她成仙,从此他的后半生与剑作伴,脑海里都是那一袭绿袍的身影。
  • 鬼谷子商学院:历史上最伟大的公关口才讲义

    鬼谷子商学院:历史上最伟大的公关口才讲义

    本书从商业的角度出发,并通过大量的案例和分析,让读者来领会咀嚼《鬼谷子》,内容分社交纵横、商务谈判、职场处世、危机公关等七篇。
  • 养生类要

    养生类要

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 永不坠落的星辰

    永不坠落的星辰

    虚无之中无数大能横空出世,他们居无定所,游历万千。直至一个人的出现,他为所有的生物建造了一个个无与伦比的乐土,而他最后却厌弃世俗不知所踪,成为了人人口口传送的史诗神话。
  • 我们的远古梦

    我们的远古梦

    以DOTA这款游戏为主线的青年电子竞技梦大神,我想打职业。好啊!大神,我要得冠军!可以!大神我是认真的!我知道,我从不打击别人!你这话说的好打击人啊。