Sposing you could trot
From Torres Straits to the Leeuwin
Hadnt been given a name.
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 had to!
Yes, my importunate son, Youd be a Marvellous Kid!
He went to Nqong at ten before dinner-time, saying, Make me different from all other animals; make me popular and wonderfully run after by five this afternoon.
Up jumped Nqa from his seat on the sandflat and shouted, Go away!
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.
Half what these gentlemen did
Then said Nqong, who is always a gentleman, Why arent you grateful to Yellow-Dog Dingo? Why dont you thank him for all he has done for you?
Kangaroo bounded away,
Bounded from morning till dark,
(Look at the Atlas, please),
THIS is the mouth-filling song
Or followed the track that they flew in,
No, said the Kangaroo. I must apologise. Legs are legs, and you neednt alter em so far as I am concerned. I only meant to explain to Your Lordliness that Ive had nothing to eat since morning, and Im very empty indeed.
Nobody knows where they went,
Then came Nqong from his bath in the salt-pans, and said, Its five oclock.
Down sat Kangaroo--Old Man Kangaroo--stuck out his tail like a milking-stool behind him, and said, Thank goodness thats finished!
Up jumped Nqong from his bath in the salt-pan and shouted, Yes, I will!
His back-legs working like pistons--
My! but they covered the ground!
He went to Nqa at six before breakfast, saying, Makeme different from all other animals by five this afternoon.
Off went the proud Kangaroo on his four little legs like a bunny.
He had to!
Off ran Dingo--Yellow-Dog Dingo--always hungry, grinning like a coal-scuttle,--ran after Kangaroo.
Butyour legs would develop terrific--
NOT always was the Kangaroo as now we do behold him, but a Different Animal with four short legs. He was grey and he was woolly, and his pride was inordinate: he danced on an outcrop in the middle of Australia, and he went to the Little God Nqa.
First he hopped one yard; then he hopped three yards; then he hopped five yards; his legs growing stronger; his legs growing longer. He hadnt any time for rest or refreshment, and he wanted them very much.
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.
Run in a single burst--only event of its kind--
So they were left in the middle of Australia, Old Man Kangaroo and Yellow-Dog Dingo, and each said, Thats your fault.
Much too busy to bark.
Up jumped Nquing from his burrow in the spinifex and shouted, Go away!
You would feel rather hot,
For an afternoons run
Then said Nqong from his bath in the salt-pan, Come and ask me about it tomorrow, because Im going to wash.
He ran through the desert; he ran through the mountains; he ran through the salt-pans; he ran through the reed-beds; he ran through the blue gums; he ran through the spinifex; he ran till his front legs ached.
He had to!
Still ran Dingo--Yellow-Dog Dingo--always hungry, grinning like a rat-trap, never getting nearer, never getting farther,--ran after Kangaroo.
He had to!
Started by big God Nqong from Warrigaborrigarooma,
Nqong called Dingo--Yellow-Dog Dingo--always hungry, dusty in the sunshine, and showed him Kangaroo. Nqong said, Dingo! Wake up, Dingo! Do you see that gentleman dancing on an ashpit? He wants to be popular and very truly run after. Dingo, make him SO!
Down sat Dingo--Poor Dog Dingo--always hungry, dusky in the sunshine; hung out his tongue and howled.
Now, there wasnt any bridge, and there wasnt any ferry-boat, and Kangaroo didnt know how to get over; so he stood on his legs and hopped.
They ran thirty degrees,
Still ran Kangaroo--Old Man Kangaroo. He ran through the ti-trees; he ran through the mulga; he ran through the long grass; he ran through the short grass; he ran through the Tropics of Capricorn and Cancer; he ran till his hind legs ached.
Joke! said Nqong from his bath in the blue gums. Say that again and Ill whistle up Dingo and run your hind legs off.
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.
Yellow-Dog Dingo lay
And they ran back as they came.
He hopped through the Flinders; he hopped through the Cinders; he hopped through the deserts in the middle of Australia. He hopped like a Kangaroo.
He went to Nquing at eight after breakfast, saying, Make me different from all other animals; make me, also, wonderfully popular by five this afternoon.
Still ran Dingo--Yellow-Dog Dingo--hungrier and hungrier, grinning like a horse-collar, never getting nearer, never getting farther; and they came to the Wollgong River.
He was grey and he was woolly, and his pride was inordinate: he danced on a rock-ledge in the middle of Australia, and he went to the Middle God Nquing.
For that Continent
Like a yellow cloud in the distance--
Then said Nqong, Perhaps Im mistaken, but didnt 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 oclock.
Twenty-five feet to a bound.
He had to!
Up jumped Dingo--Yellow-DogDingo--and said, What, that cat-rabbit?
From Adelaide to the Pacific,
Yes, said Dingo--Yellow-Dog Dingo,--I am just in the same situation. Ive made him different from all other animals; but what may I have for my tea?
Old Man Kangaroo first: Yellow-Dog Dingo behind.
Then said Kangaroo--Tired Old Kangaroo--Hes chased me out of the homes of my childhood; hes chased me out of my regular meal-times; hes altered my shape so Ill never get it back; and hes played Old Scratch with my legs.
This, O Beloved of mine, ends the first part of the tale!
Yes, said Kangaroo. I wish that I hadnt. I thought you would do it by charms and incantations, but this is a practical joke.
Of the race that was run by a Boomer,
He was grey and he was woolly, and his pride was inordinate: he danced on a sandbank in the middle of Australia, and he went to the Big God Nqong.
