How the Kangaroo Got His Legs

Not always was the Kangaroo as now we know him, but once 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 the great southern land, and he went to the Little God.

He went to the Little God at six before breakfast, saying, 'Make me different from all other animals by five this afternoon.'

Up jumped the Little God from his seat on the sand-flat and shouted, 'Go away!'

He was grey and he was woolly, and his pride was inordinate. He danced on a rock-ledge in the middle of the great southern land, and he went to the Middle God.

He went to the Middle God at eight after breakfast, saying, 'Make me different from all other animals; make me, also, wonderfully popular by five this afternoon.'

Up jumped the Middle God from his burrow in the spinifex and shouted, 'Go away!'

He was grey and he was woolly, and his pride was inordinate. He danced on a sandbank in the middle of the great southern land, and he went to the Big God.

He went to the Big God 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 the Big God from his bath in the salt-pan and shouted, 'Yes, I will!'

The Big God called for Dingo — Yellow-Dog Dingo — always hungry, dusty in the sunshine. He showed Dingo the Kangaroo. 'Dingo,' he said, 'do you see that gentleman dancing on his rock? He wants to be popular and truly run after. Dingo — make him so!'

Up jumped Dingo — Yellow-Dog Dingo — and said, 'What, that cat-rabbit?'

Off ran Dingo — Yellow-Dog Dingo — always hungry, grinning like a coal-scuttle — ran after Kangaroo.

Off went the proud Kangaroo on his four little legs like a bunny.

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!

Kangaroo came to a river. There wasn't any bridge, and there wasn't any ferry-boat, and Kangaroo didn't know how to get over. So he stood on his hind legs and he hopped.

He had to!

He hopped through the deserts and the plains. First he hopped one yard; then he hopped three yards; then he hopped five yards. His hind legs grew stronger and stronger; his hind legs grew longer and longer. His tail stuck out behind him for a balance-weight. He hadn't 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 made Old Man Kangaroo hop.

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

He had to!

Then, at five o'clock exactly, the Big God came up from his bath and said, 'It's five o'clock.'

Down sat Dingo — Poor-Dog Dingo — always hungry, dusty 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 the Big God, '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 all sorts of tricks with my legs.'

'Ah,' said the Big God, '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 magic. This has been a practical joke.'

'A joke!' said the Big God from his bath. 'Say that again, and I'll whistle up Dingo and run your hind legs off.'

'No, no,' said Kangaroo. 'I apologise. Legs are legs, and you needn't alter them again. I only meant to say that I've had nothing to eat since morning, and I'm very empty indeed.'

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

Then said the Big God, 'Come and ask me tomorrow. Right now, I am going to wash.'

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

(Freely retold for bedtime from Rudyard Kipling's Just So Stories, 1902.)