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78 THE THREE HEROES

"Where?" asked the Willow and Oak together.

"There, on that little island in the pond, underneath that white obelisk, lies all that is mortal of the man that you and I and all our brothers should count among the greatest of men—Allan Cunningham. He was a man, if you like. He did not spend his days in killing men, and burning towns, and making the whole world tremble with fear. Not he. But he fought enemies just as strong and fierce — heat and thirst in the lonely Australian desert. And why? Not to break down empires, and get great gain for himself; not to wear a golden crown and be bowed down to as a king. But to add to the store of the world’s knowledge, to give wisdom to many, to find out the truth about this new and wonderful land, and to teach mankind what he could about Australia's trees and flowers. This is what that man fought, and lived, and died for!"

The Pine’s voice rose higher and higher as he spoke till he ended in a triumphant shout, that made the Cygnets tremble with excitement.

"That man," went on the Pine, "has done more for us trees than any of your Napoleons

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