Page:The Aborigines of Victoria and Riverina.djvu/147

142 various beasts and birds of the earth enjoying themselves after their respective natures, and wished in her heart that she might join them in their sports; amongst them all, however, the proceedings of the courtenies met with the greatest approbation.

Having thus seen the courtenies so apparently happy, dancing and singing, the kurwie could not help returning again and again to view their proceedings in the swamps, and to listen enraptured to the sweet tones of their voices. On one of these occasions she became so ravished by reason of the dulcet music and graceful dancing of the courtenies, she could no longer contain herself in the clouds, so swept right down amongst the birds and beasts much to their consternation. With the exception of the courtenies every bird and beast that could fly or run took themselves off in the direst of terror; the courtenies would gladly have done the same had they been able, but fear, craven fear, had paralysed their wings, so that they were unable to budge even a single feather; this fact, however, is not much to be wondered at, as the sudden and abrupt advent of such an uncouth monster as the kurwie seemed to them was cause ample enough to frighten the very bravest, whether beast or bird.

When the kurwie found that her feet felt firm and did not sink into the ground, she folded her wings with much complacency, after which, on finding that she possessed the power of progression (of which, until then, she had been