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 are n't you grateful to Yellow-Dog Dingo ? Why do n'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 did n'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 had n'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 XXXXX . '
Dingo Kangaroo Nqong Tired-Dog balance-weight incantations meal-times o'clock pea salt-pans