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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/16865-8.txt b/16865-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..e0c7970 --- /dev/null +++ b/16865-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,6557 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Pinocchio, by C. Collodi + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Pinocchio + The Tale of a Puppet + +Author: C. Collodi + +Illustrator: Alice Carsey + +Release Date: October 13, 2005 [EBook #16865] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PINOCCHIO *** + + + + +Produced by Mark C. Orton, Melissa Er-Raqabi and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net. + + + + + +PINOCCHIO + +THE TALE OF A +PUPPET + +By C COLLODI + + + + +[Illustration: "HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO GO IN?"] + + + + +[Illustration] + + + +PINOCCHIO + +THE TALE OF A +PUPPET + +By C COLLODI + +Illustrated By +ALICE CARSEY + + +WHITMAN PUBLISHING CO. +RACINE, WISCONSIN + + + + +COPYRIGHT 1916 BY +WHITMAN PUBLISHING CO. +RACINE, WISCONSIN +PRINTED IN U.S.A. + + + +Transcriber's Note: + +The untitled illustration on page 26 was not listed in the List of +Illustrations of the source book. + +In several cases, missing punctuation was added or wrong punctuation +removed. + +The following typos were fixed: + thouand to thousand + Harelquin to Harlequin + pretrified to petrified + + + + +CONTENTS + + Chap. Page + I THE PIECE OF WOOD THAT LAUGHED AND CRIED LIKE A CHILD 9 + II MASTER CHERRY GIVES THE WOOD AWAY 12 + III GEPPETTO NAMES HIS PUPPET PINOCCHIO 16 + IV THE TALKING-CRICKET SCOLDS PINOCCHIO 23 + V THE FLYING EGG 26 + VI PINOCCHIO'S FEET BURN TO CINDERS 29 + VII GEPPETTO GIVES HIS OWN BREAKFAST TO PINOCCHIO 31 + VIII GEPPETTO MAKES PINOCCHIO NEW FEET 35 + IX PINOCCHIO GOES TO SEE A PUPPET-SHOW 39 + X THE PUPPETS RECOGNIZE THEIR BROTHER PINOCCHIO 42 + XI FIRE-EATER SNEEZES AND PARDONS PINOCCHIO 45 + XII PINOCCHIO RECEIVES A PRESENT OF FIVE GOLD PIECES 49 + XIII THE INN OF THE RED CRAW-FISH 57 + XIV PINOCCHIO FALLS AMONG ASSASSINS 61 + XV THE ASSASSINS HANG PINOCCHIO TO THE BIG OAK 65 + XVI THE BEAUTIFUL CHILD RESCUES THE PUPPET 71 + XVII PINOCCHIO WILL NOT TAKE HIS MEDICINE 75 + XVIII PINOCCHIO AGAIN MEETS THE FOX AND THE CAT 81 + XIX PINOCCHIO IS ROBBED OF HIS MONEY 87 + XX PINOCCHIO STARTS BACK TO THE FAIRY'S HOUSE 91 + XXI PINOCCHIO ACTS AS WATCH-DOG 94 + XXII PINOCCHIO DISCOVERS THE ROBBERS 97 + XXIII PINOCCHIO FLIES TO THE SEASHORE 101 + XXIV PINOCCHIO FINDS THE FAIRY AGAIN 109 + XXV PINOCCHIO PROMISES THE FAIRY TO BE GOOD 116 + XXVI THE TERRIBLE DOG-FISH 120 + XXVII PINOCCHIO IS ARRESTED BY THE GENDARMES 126 +XXVIII PINOCCHIO ESCAPES BEING FRIED LIKE A FISH 133 + XXIX HE RETURNS TO THE FAIRY'S HOUSE 139 + XXX THE "LAND OF BOOBIES" 147 + XXXI PINOCCHIO ENJOYS FIVE MONTHS OF HAPPINESS 153 + XXXII PINOCCHIO TURNS INTO A DONKEY 160 +XXXIII PINOCCHIO IS TRAINED FOR THE CIRCUS 167 + XXXIV PINOCCHIO IS SWALLOWED BY THE DOG-FISH 178 + XXXV A HAPPY SURPRISE FOR PINOCCHIO 186 + XXXVI PINOCCHIO AT LAST CEASES TO BE A PUPPET AND BECOMES A BOY 194 + + + + +LINE ILLUSTRATIONS + +DECORATIVE TITLE PAGE 1 +THE RUNAWAY PUPPET 9 +GEPPETTO CARRIED OFF HIS FINE PIECE OF WOOD 12 +HE SET TO WORK TO CUT OUT HIS PUPPET 16 +A LITTLE CHICKEN POPPED OUT 17 +PINOCCHIO THREW HIS HAMMER AT THE TALKING-CRICKET 23 +UNTITLED 26 +POOR PINOCCHIO'S FEET BURN TO CINDERS 29 +GEPPETTO MAKES HIS PUPPET SOME CLOTHES 35 +THE PUPPETS BEGAN TO DANCE MERRILY 45 +PINOCCHIO MEETS THE CAT AND THE FOX 49 +SPLASH! SPLASH! THEY FELL INTO THE DITCH 52 +DINNER AT THE RED CRAW-FISH INN 57 +PINOCCHIO ESCAPES FROM HIS ASSASSINS 61 +THEY HUNG PINOCCHIO TO THE BIG OAK TREE 65 +FOUR RABBITS AS BLACK AS INK ENTERED 69 +THE FALCON SAVES PINOCCHIO 71 +PINOCCHIO REFUSES TO TAKE HIS MEDICINE 75 +TREACHEROUS COMPANIONS 81 +THE JUDGE WAS A BIG APE 87 +PINOCCHIO GETS HIS FOOT CAUGHT IN A TRAP 94 +THE NEW WATCH-DOG 97 +PINOCCHIO'S WILD RIDE ON THE PIGEON'S BACK 101 +AN IMMENSE SERPENT STRETCHED ACROSS THE ROAD 104 +PINOCCHIO BRAVES THE SEA TO SAVE HIS FATHER 109 +"SCHOOL GIVES ME PAIN ALL OVER THE BODY" 116 +PINOCCHIO STARTS OFF HAPPILY FOR SCHOOL 120 +"OH, I AM SICK OF BEING A PUPPET!" 121 +THE BOYS THREW THEIR BOOKS AT POOR PINOCCHIO 126 +THE FISHERMAN PUT HIS HAND INTO THE NET 133 +THE DOG SEIZES PINOCCHIO AND ESCAPES 139 +"HERE IS THE COACH!" SHOUTED CANDLEWICK 147 +THEY ARRIVE IN THE "LAND OF THE BOOBIES" 153 +THE BOYS ARE TURNED INTO DONKEYS 160 +THE LITTLE DONKEYS ARE SOLD 167 +ALL HIS FRIENDS WERE INVITED 172 +THE PUPPET WAS WRIGGLING LIKE AN EEL 178 +SWALLOWED BY THE DOG-FISH 186 +IT WOULD BE MORE COMFORTABLE ON THE TUNNY'S BACK 189 +THE BLIND CAT AND THE TAILLESS FOX 194 + + + + +[Illustration] + +PINOCCHIO + +CHAPTER I + +THE PIECE OF WOOD THAT LAUGHED AND CRIED LIKE A CHILD + + +There was once upon a time a piece of wood in the shop of an old +carpenter named Master Antonio. Everybody, however, called him Master +Cherry, on account of the end of his nose, which was always as red and +polished as a ripe cherry. + +No sooner had Master Cherry set eyes on the piece of wood than his face +beamed with delight, and, rubbing his hands together with satisfaction, +he said softly to himself: + +"This wood has come at the right moment; it will just do to make the leg +of a little table." + +He immediately took a sharp axe with which to remove the bark and the +rough surface, but just as he was going to give the first stroke he +heard a very small voice say imploringly, "Do not strike me so hard!" + +He turned his terrified eyes all around the room to try and discover +where the little voice could possibly have come from, but he saw nobody! +He looked under the bench--nobody; he looked into a cupboard that was +always shut--nobody; he looked into a basket of shavings and +sawdust--nobody; he even opened the door of the shop and gave a glance +into the street--and still nobody. Who, then, could it be? + +"I see how it is," he said, laughing and scratching his wig, "evidently +that little voice was all my imagination. Let us set to work again." + +And, taking up the axe, he struck a tremendous blow on the piece of +wood. + +"Oh! oh! you have hurt me!" cried the same little voice dolefully. + +This time Master Cherry was petrified. His eyes started out of his head +with fright, his mouth remained open, and his tongue hung out almost to +the end of his chin, like a mask on a fountain. As soon as he had +recovered the use of his speech he began to say, stuttering and +trembling with fear: + +"But where on earth can that little voice have come from that said 'Oh! +oh!'? Is it possible that this piece of wood can have learned to cry and +to lament like a child? I cannot believe it. This piece of wood is +nothing but a log for fuel like all the others, and thrown on the fire +it would about suffice to boil a saucepan of beans. How then? Can anyone +be hidden inside it? If anyone is hidden inside, so much the worse for +him. I will settle him at once." + +So saying, he seized the poor piece of wood and commenced beating it +without mercy against the walls of the room. + +Then he stopped to listen if he could hear any little voice lamenting. +He waited two minutes--nothing; five minutes--nothing; ten +minutes--still nothing! + +"I see how it is," he then said, forcing himself to laugh, and pushing +up his wig; "evidently the little voice that said 'Oh! oh!' was all my +imagination! Let us set to work again." + +Putting the axe aside, he took his plane, to plane and polish the bit of +wood; but whilst he was running it up and down he heard the same little +voice say, laughing: + +"Stop! you are tickling me all over!" + +This time poor Master Cherry fell down as if he had been struck by +lightning. When he at last opened his eyes he found himself seated on +the floor. + +His face was changed, even the end of his nose, instead of being +crimson, as it was nearly always, had become blue from fright. + + + + +[Illustration] + +CHAPTER II + +MASTER CHERRY GIVES THE WOOD AWAY + + +At that moment some one knocked at the door. + +"Come in," said the carpenter, without having the strength to rise to +his feet. + +A lively little old man immediately walked into the shop. His name was +Geppetto, but when the boys of the neighborhood wished to make him angry +they called him Pudding, because his yellow wig greatly resembled a +pudding made of Indian corn. + +Geppetto was very fiery. Woe to him who called him Pudding! He became +furious and there was no holding him. + +"Good-day, Master Antonio," said Geppetto; "what are you doing there on +the floor?" + +"I am teaching the alphabet to the ants." + +"Much good may that do you." + +"What has brought you to me, neighbor Geppetto?" + +"My legs. But to tell the truth. Master Antonio, I came to ask a favor +of you." + +"Here I am, ready to serve you," replied the carpenter, getting on his +knees. + +"This morning an idea came into my head." + +"Let us hear it." + +"I thought I would make a beautiful wooden puppet; one that could dance, +fence, and leap like an acrobat. With this puppet I would travel about +the world to earn a piece of bread and a glass of wine. What do you +think of it?" + +"Bravo, Pudding!" exclaimed the same little voice, and it was impossible +to say where it came from. + +Hearing himself called Pudding, Geppetto became as red as a turkey-cock +from rage and, turning to the carpenter, he said in a fury: + +"Why do you insult me?" + +"Who insults you?" + +"You called me Pudding!" + +"It was not I!" + +"Do you think I called myself Pudding? It was you, I say!" + +"No!" + +"Yes!" + +"No!" + +"Yes!" + +And, becoming more and more angry, from words they came to blows, and, +flying at each other, they bit and fought, and scratched. + +When the fight was over Master Antonio was in possession of Geppetto's +yellow wig, and Geppetto discovered that the grey wig belonging to the +carpenter remained between his teeth. + +"Give me back my wig," screamed Master Antonio. + +"And you, return me mine, and let us be friends again." + +The two old men having each recovered his own wig, shook hands and swore +that they would remain friends to the end of their lives. + +"Well, then, neighbor Geppetto," said the carpenter, to prove that peace +was made, "what is the favor that you wish of me?" + +"I want a little wood to make my puppet; will you give me some?" + +Master Antonio was delighted, and he immediately went to the bench and +fetched the piece of wood that had caused him so much fear. But just as +he was going to give it to his friend the piece of wood gave a shake +and, wriggling violently out of his hands, struck with all of its force +against the dried-up shins of poor Geppetto. + +"Ah! is that the courteous way in which you make your presents, Master +Antonio? You have almost lamed me!" + +"I swear to you that it was not I!" + +"Then you would have it that it was I?" + +"The wood is entirely to blame!" + +"I know that it was the wood; but it was you that hit my legs with it!" + +"I did not hit you with it!" + +"Liar!" + +"Geppetto, don't insult me or I will call you Pudding!" + +"Knave!" + +"Pudding!" + +"Donkey!" + +"Pudding!" + +"Baboon!" + +"Pudding!" + +On hearing himself called Pudding for the third time Geppetto, mad with +rage, fell upon the carpenter and they fought desperately. + +When the battle was over, Master Antonio had two more scratches on his +nose, and his adversary had lost two buttons off his waistcoat. Their +accounts being thus squared, they shook hands and swore to remain good +friends for the rest of their lives. + +Geppetto carried off his fine piece of wood and, thanking Master +Antonio, returned limping to his house. + + + + +[Illustration] + +CHAPTER III + +GEPPETTO NAMES HIS PUPPET PINOCCHIO + + +Geppetto lived in a small ground-floor room that was only lighted from +the staircase. The furniture could not have been simpler--a rickety +chair, a poor bed, and a broken-down table. At the end of the room there +was a fireplace with a lighted fire; but the fire was painted, and by +the fire was a painted saucepan that was boiling cheerfully and sending +out a cloud of smoke that looked exactly like real smoke. + +As soon as he reached home Geppetto took his tools and set to work to +cut out and model his puppet. + +[Illustration: A Little Chicken Popped Out, Very Gay and Polite] + +"What name shall I give him?" he said to himself; "I think I will call +him Pinocchio. It is a name that will bring him luck. I once knew a +whole family so called. There was Pinocchio the father, Pinocchia the +mother, and Pinocchi the children, and all of them did well. The +richest of them was a beggar." + +Having found a name for his puppet he began to work in good earnest, and +he first made his hair, then his forehead, and then his eyes. + +The eyes being finished, imagine his astonishment when he perceived that +they moved and looked fixedly at him. + +Geppetto, seeing himself stared at by those two wooden eyes, said in an +angry voice: + +"Wicked wooden eyes, why do you look at me?" + +No one answered. + +He then proceeded to carve the nose, but no sooner had he made it than +it began to grow. And it grew, and grew, and grew, until in a few +minutes it had become an immense nose that seemed as if it would never +end. + +Poor Geppetto tired himself out with cutting it off, but the more he cut +and shortened it, the longer did that impertinent nose become! + +The mouth was not even completed when it began to laugh and deride him. + +"Stop laughing!" said Geppetto, provoked; but he might as well have +spoken to the wall. + +"Stop laughing, I say!" he roared in a threatening tone. + +The mouth then ceased laughing, but put out its tongue as far as it +would go. + +Geppetto, not to spoil his handiwork, pretended not to see and continued +his labors. After the mouth he fashioned the chin, then the throat, then +the shoulders, the stomach, the arms and the hands. + +The hands were scarcely finished when Geppetto felt his wig snatched +from his head. He turned round, and what did he see? He saw his yellow +wig in the puppet's hand. + +"Pinocchio! Give me back my wig instantly!" + +But Pinocchio, instead of returning it, put it on his own head and was +in consequence nearly smothered. + +Geppetto at this insolent and derisive behavior felt sadder and more +melancholy than he had ever been in his life before; and, turning to +Pinocchio, he said to him: + +"You young rascal! You are not yet completed and you are already +beginning to show want of respect to your father! That is bad, my boy, +very bad!" + +And he dried a tear. + +The legs and the feet remained to be done. + +When Geppetto had finished the feet he received a kick on the point of +his nose. + +"I deserve it!" he said to himself; "I should have thought of it sooner! +Now it is too late!" + +He then took the puppet under the arms and placed him on the floor to +teach him to walk. + +Pinocchio's legs were stiff and he could not move, but Geppetto led him +by the hand and showed him how to put one foot before the other. + +When his legs became limber Pinocchio began to walk by himself and to +run about the room, until, having gone out of the house door, he jumped +into the street and escaped. + +Poor Geppetto rushed after him but was not able to overtake him, for +that rascal Pinocchio leaped in front of him like a hare and knocking +his wooden feet together against the pavement made as much clatter as +twenty pairs of peasants' clogs. + +"Stop him! stop him!" shouted Geppetto; but the people in the street, +seeing a wooden puppet running like a race-horse, stood still in +astonishment to look at it, and laughed and laughed. + +At last, as good luck would have it, a soldier arrived who, hearing the +uproar, imagined that a colt had escaped from his master. Planting +himself courageously with his legs apart in the middle of the road, he +waited with the determined purpose of stopping him and thus preventing +the chance of worse disasters. + +When Pinocchio, still at some distance, saw the soldier barricading the +whole street, he endeavored to take him by surprise and to pass between +his legs. But he failed entirely. + +The soldier without disturbing himself in the least caught him cleverly +by the nose and gave him to Geppetto. Wishing to punish him, Geppetto +intended to pull his ears at once. But imagine his feelings when he +could not succeed in finding them. And do you know the reason? In his +hurry to model him he had forgotten to make any ears. + +He then took him by the collar and as he was leading him away he said to +him, shaking his head threateningly: + +"We will go home at once, and as soon as we arrive we will settle our +accounts, never doubt it." + +At this information Pinocchio threw himself on the ground and would not +take another step. In the meanwhile a crowd of idlers and inquisitive +people began to assemble and to make a ring around them. + +Some of them said one thing, some another. + +"Poor puppet!" said several, "he is right not to wish to return home! +Who knows how Geppetto, that bad old man, will beat him!" + +And the others added maliciously: + +"Geppetto seems a good man! but with boys he is a regular tyrant! If +that poor puppet is left in his hands he is quite capable of tearing him +in pieces!" + +It ended in so much being said and done that the soldier at last set +Pinocchio at liberty and led Geppetto to prison. The poor man, not being +ready with words to defend himself, cried like a calf and as he was +being led away to prison sobbed out: + +"Wretched boy! And to think how I labored to make him a well-conducted +puppet! But it serves me right! I should have thought of it sooner!" + + + + +[Illustration] + +CHAPTER IV + +THE TALKING-CRICKET SCOLDS PINOCCHIO + + +While poor Geppetto was being taken to prison for no fault of his, that +imp Pinocchio, finding himself free from the clutches of the soldier, +ran off as fast as his legs could carry him. That he might reach home +the quicker he rushed across the fields, and in his mad hurry he jumped +high banks, thorn hedges and ditches full of water. + +Arriving at the house he found the street door ajar. He pushed it open, +went in, and having fastened the latch, threw himself on the floor and +gave a great sigh of satisfaction. + +But soon he heard some one in the room who was saying: + +"Cri-cri-cri!" + +"Who calls me?" said Pinocchio in a fright. + +"It is I!" + +Pinocchio turned round and saw a big cricket crawling slowly up the +wall. + +"Tell me, Cricket, who may you be?" + +"I am the Talking-Cricket, and I have lived in this room a hundred years +or more." + +"Now, however, this room is mine," said the puppet, "and if you would do +me a pleasure go away at once, without even turning round." + +"I will not go," answered the Cricket, "until I have told you a great +truth." + +"Tell it me, then, and be quick about it." + +"Woe to those boys who rebel against their parents and run away from +home. They will never come to any good in the world, and sooner or later +they will repent bitterly." + +"Sing away, Cricket, as you please, and as long as you please. For me, I +have made up my mind to run away tomorrow at daybreak, because if I +remain I shall not escape the fate of all other boys; I shall be sent to +school and shall be made to study either by love or by force. To tell +you in confidence, I have no wish to learn; it is much more amusing to +run after butterflies, or to climb trees and to take the young birds out +of their nests." + +"Poor little goose! But do you not know that in that way you will grow +up a perfect donkey, and that every one will make fun of you?" + +"Hold your tongue, you wicked, ill-omened croaker!" shouted Pinocchio. + +But the Cricket, who was patient and philosophical, instead of becoming +angry at this impertinence, continued in the same tone: + +"But if you do not wish to go to school why not at least learn a trade, +if only to enable you to earn honestly a piece of bread!" + +"Do you want me to tell you?" replied Pinocchio, who was beginning to +lose patience. "Amongst all the trades in the world there is only one +that really takes my fancy." + +"And that trade--what is it?" + +"It is to eat, drink, sleep and amuse myself, and to lead a vagabond +life from morning to night." + +"As a rule," said the Talking-Cricket, "all those who follow that trade +end almost always either in a hospital or in prison." + +"Take care, you wicked, ill-omened croaker! Woe to you if I fly into a +passion!" + +"Poor Pinocchio! I really pity you!" + +"Why do you pity me?" + +"Because you are a puppet and, what is worse, because you have a wooden +head." + +At these last words Pinocchio jumped up in a rage and, snatching a +wooden hammer from the bench, he threw it at the Talking-Cricket. + +Perhaps he never meant to hit him, but unfortunately it struck him +exactly on the head, so that the poor Cricket had scarcely breath to cry +"Cri-cri-cri!" and then he remained dried up and flattened against the +wall. + + + + +[Illustration] + +CHAPTER V + +THE FLYING EGG + + +Night was coming on and Pinocchio, remembering that he had eaten nothing +all day, began to feel a gnawing in his stomach that very much resembled +appetite. + +After a few minutes his appetite had become hunger and in no time his +hunger became ravenous. + +Poor Pinocchio ran quickly to the fireplace, where a saucepan was +boiling, and was going to take off the lid to see what was in it, but +the saucepan was only painted on the wall. You can imagine his feelings. +His nose, which was already long, became longer by at least three +inches. + +He then began to run about the room, searching in the drawers and in +every imaginable place, in hopes of finding a bit of bread. If it was +only a bit of dry bread, a crust, a bone left by a dog, a little moldy +pudding of Indian corn, a fish bone, a cherry stone--in fact, anything +that he could gnaw. But he could find nothing, nothing at all, +absolutely nothing. + +And in the meanwhile his hunger grew and grew. Poor Pinocchio had no +other relief than yawning, and his yawns were so tremendous that +sometimes his mouth almost reached his ears. And after he had yawned he +spluttered and felt as if he were going to faint. + +Then he began to cry desperately, and he said: + +"The Talking-Cricket was right. I did wrong to rebel against my papa and +to run away from home. If my papa were here I should not now be dying of +yawning! Oh! what a dreadful illness hunger is!" + +Just then he thought he saw something in the dust-heap--something round +and white that looked like a hen's egg. To give a spring and seize hold +of it was the affair of a moment. It was indeed an egg. + +Pinocchio's joy was beyond description. Almost believing it must be a +dream he kept turning the egg over in his hands, feeling it and kissing +it. And as he kissed it he said: + +"And now, how shall I cook it? Shall I make an omelet? No, it would be +better to cook it in a saucer! Or would it not be more savory to fry it +in the frying-pan? Or shall I simply boil it? No, the quickest way of +all is to cook it in a saucer: I am in such a hurry to eat it!" + +Without loss of time he placed an earthenware saucer on a brazier full +of red-hot embers. Into the saucer instead of oil or butter he poured a +little water; and when the water began to smoke, tac! he broke the +egg-shell over it and let the contents drop in. But, instead of the +white and the yolk a little chicken popped out very gay and polite. +Making a beautiful courtesy it said to him: + +"A thousand thanks, Master Pinocchio, for saving me the trouble of +breaking the shell. Adieu until we meet again. Keep well, and my best +compliments to all at home!" + +Thus saying, it spread its wings, darted through the open window and, +flying away, was lost to sight. + +The poor puppet stood as if he had been bewitched, with his eyes fixed, +his mouth open, and the egg-shell in his hand. Recovering, however, from +his first stupefaction, he began to cry and scream, and to stamp his +feet on the floor in desperation, and amidst his sobs he said: + +"Ah, indeed, the Talking-Cricket was right. If I had not run away from +home, and if my papa were here, I should not now be dying of hunger! Oh! +what a dreadful illness hunger is!" + +And, as his stomach cried out more than ever and he did not know how to +quiet it, he thought he would leave the house and make an excursion in +the neighborhood in hopes of finding some charitable person who would +give him a piece of bread. + + + + +[Illustration] + +CHAPTER VI + +PINOCCHIO'S FEET BURN TO CINDERS + + +It was a wild and stormy night. The thunder was tremendous and the +lightning so vivid that the sky seemed on fire. + +Pinocchio had a great fear of thunder, but hunger was stronger than +fear. He therefore closed the house door and made a rush for the +village, which he reached in a hundred bounds, with his tongue hanging +out and panting for breath like a dog after game. + +But he found it all dark and deserted. The shops were closed, the +windows shut, and there was not so much as a dog in the street. It +seemed the land of the dead. + +Pinocchio, urged by desperation and hunger, took hold of the bell of a +house and began to ring it with all his might, saying to himself: + +"That will bring somebody." + +And so it did. A little old man appeared at a window with a night-cap on +his head and called to him angrily: + +"What do you want at such an hour?" + +"Would you be kind enough to give me a little bread?" + +"Wait there, I will be back directly," said the little old man, thinking +it was one of those rascally boys who amuse themselves at night by +ringing the house-bells to rouse respectable people who are sleeping +quietly. + +After half a minute the window was again opened and the voice of the +same little old man shouted to Pinocchio: + +"Come underneath and hold out your cap." + +Pinocchio pulled off his cap; but, just as he held it out, an enormous +basin of water was poured down on him, soaking him from head to foot as +if he had been a pot of dried-up geraniums. + +He returned home like a wet chicken, quite exhausted with fatigue and +hunger; and, having no longer strength to stand, he sat down and rested +his damp and muddy feet on a brazier full of burning embers. + +And then he fell asleep, and whilst he slept his feet, which were +wooden, took fire, and little by little they burnt away and became +cinders. + +Pinocchio continued to sleep and to snore as if his feet belonged to +some one else. At last about daybreak he awoke because some one was +knocking at the door. + +"Who is there?" he asked, yawning and rubbing his eyes. + +"It is I!" answered a voice. + +And Pinocchio recognized Geppetto's voice. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +GEPPETTO GIVES HIS OWN BREAKFAST TO PINOCCHIO + + +Poor Pinocchio, whose eyes were still half shut from sleep, had not as +yet discovered that his feet were burnt off. The moment, therefore, that +he heard his father's voice he slipped off his stool to run and open the +door; but, after stumbling two or three times, he fell his whole length +on the floor. + +And the noise he made in falling was as if a sack of wooden ladles had +been thrown from a fifth story. + +"Open the door!" shouted Geppetto from the street. + +"Dear papa, I cannot," answered the puppet, crying and rolling about on +the ground. + +"Why can't you?" + +"Because my feet have been eaten." + +"And who has eaten your feet?" + +"The cat," said Pinocchio, seeing the cat, who was amusing herself by +making some shavings dance with her forepaws. + +"Open the door, I tell you!" repeated Geppetto. "If you don't, when I +get into the house you shall have the cat from me!" + +"I cannot stand up, believe me. Oh, poor me! poor me! I shall have to +walk on my knees for the rest of my life!" + +Geppetto, believing that all this lamentation was only another of the +puppet's tricks, thought of a means of putting an end to it, and, +climbing up the wall, he got in at the window. + +He was very angry and at first he did nothing but scold; but when he saw +his Pinocchio lying on the ground and really without feet he was quite +overcome. He took him in his arms and began to kiss and caress him, and +to say a thousand endearing things to him, and as the big tears ran down +his cheeks he said, sobbing: + +"My little Pinocchio! how did you manage to burn your feet?" + +"I don't know, papa, but it has been such a dreadful night that I shall +remember it as long as I live. It thundered and lightened, and I was +very hungry, and then the Talking-Cricket said to me: 'It serves you +right; you have been wicked and you deserve it,' and I said to him: +'Take care, Cricket!' and he said: 'You are a puppet and you have a +wooden head,' and I threw the handle of a hammer at him, and he died, +but the fault was his, for I didn't wish to kill him, and the proof of +it is that I put an earthenware saucer on a brazier of burning embers, +but a chicken flew out and said: 'Adieu until we meet again, and many +compliments to all at home': and I got still more hungry, for which +reason that little old man in a night-cap, opening the window, said to +me: 'Come underneath and hold out your hat,' and poured a basinful of +water on my head, because asking for a little bread isn't a disgrace, is +it? and I returned home at once, and because I was always very hungry I +put my feet on the brazier to dry them, and then you returned, and I +found they were burnt off, and I am always hungry, but I have no longer +any feet! Oh! oh! oh! oh!" And poor Pinocchio began to cry and to roar +so loudly that he was heard five miles off. + +Geppetto, who from all this jumbled account had only understood one +thing, which was that the puppet was dying of hunger, drew from his +pocket three pears and, giving them to him, said: + +"These three pears were intended for my breakfast, but I will give them +to you willingly. Eat them, and I hope they will do you good." + +"If you wish me to eat them, be kind enough to peel them for me." + +"Peel them?" said Geppetto, astonished. "I should never have thought, my +boy, that you were so dainty and fastidious. That is bad! In this world +we should accustom ourselves from childhood to like and to eat +everything, for there is no saying to what we may be brought. There are +so many chances!" + +"You are no doubt right," interrupted Pinocchio, "but I will never eat +fruit that has not been peeled. I cannot bear rind." + +So good Geppetto peeled the three pears and put the rind on a corner of +the table. + +Having eaten the first pear in two mouthfuls, Pinocchio was about to +throw away the core, but Geppetto caught hold of his arm and said to +him: + +"Do not throw it away; in this world everything may be of use." + +"But core I am determined I will not eat," shouted the puppet, turning +upon him like a viper. + +"Who knows! there are so many chances!" repeated Geppetto, without +losing his temper. + +And so the three cores, instead of being thrown out of the window, were +placed on the corner of the table, together with the three rinds. + +Having eaten, or rather having devoured the three pears, Pinocchio +yawned tremendously, and then said in a fretful tone: + +"I am as hungry as ever!" + +"But, my boy, I have nothing more to give you!" + +"Nothing, really nothing?" + +"I have only the rind and the cores of the three pears." + +"One must have patience!" said Pinocchio; "if there is nothing else I +will eat a rind." + +And he began to chew it. At first he made a wry face, but then one after +another he quickly disposed of the rinds: and after the rinds even the +cores, and when he had eaten up everything he clapped his hands on his +sides in his satisfaction and said joyfully: + +"Ah! now I feel comfortable." + +"You see, now," observed Geppetto, "that I was right when I said to you +that it did not do to accustom ourselves to be too particular or too +dainty in our tastes. We can never know, my dear boy, what may happen to +us. There are so many chances!" + + + + +[Illustration] + +CHAPTER VIII + +GEPPETTO MAKES PINOCCHIO NEW FEET + + +No sooner had the puppet satisfied his hunger than he began to cry and +to grumble because he wanted a pair of new feet. + +But Geppetto, to punish him for his naughtiness, allowed him to cry and +to despair for half the day. He then said to him: + +"Why should I make you new feet? To enable you, perhaps, to escape again +from home?" + +"I promise you," said the puppet, sobbing, "that for the future I will +be good." + +"All boys," replied Geppetto, "when they are bent upon obtaining +something, say the same thing." + +"I promise you that I will go to school and that I will study and bring +home a good report." + +"All boys, when they are bent on obtaining something, repeat the same +story." + +"But I am not like other boys! I am better than all of them and I always +speak the truth. I promise you, papa, that I will learn a trade and that +I will be the consolation and the staff of your old age." + +Geppetto's eyes filled with tears and his heart was sad at seeing his +poor Pinocchio in such a pitiable state. He did not say another word, +but, taking his tools and two small pieces of well-seasoned wood, he set +to work with great diligence. + +In less than an hour the feet were finished: two little feet--swift, +well-knit and nervous. They might have been modelled by an artist of +genius. + +Geppetto then said to the puppet: + +"Shut your eyes and go to sleep!" + +And Pinocchio shut his eyes and pretended to be asleep. + +And whilst he pretended to sleep, Geppetto, with a little glue which he +had melted in an egg-shell, fastened his feet in their place, and it was +so well done that not even a trace could be seen of where they were +joined. + +No sooner had the puppet discovered that he had feet than he jumped down +from the table on which he was lying and began to spring and to cut a +thousand capers about the room, as if he had gone mad with the greatness +of his delight. + +"To reward you for what you have done for me," said Pinocchio to his +father, "I will go to school at once." + +"Good boy." + +"But to go to school I shall want some clothes." + +Geppetto, who was poor and who had not so much as a penny in his pocket, +then made him a little dress of flowered paper, a pair of shoes from the +bark of a tree, and a cap of the crumb of bread. + +Pinocchio ran immediately to look at himself in a crock of water, and he +was so pleased with his appearance that he said, strutting about like a +peacock: + +"I look quite like a gentleman!" + +"Yes, indeed," answered Geppetto, "for bear in mind that it is not fine +clothes that make the gentleman, but rather clean clothes." + +"By the bye," added the puppet, "to go to school I am still in +want--indeed, I am without the best thing, and the most important." + +"And what is it?" + +"I have no spelling-book." + +"You are right: but what shall we do to get one?" + +"It is quite easy. We have only to go to the bookseller's and buy it." + +"And the money?" + +"I have got none." + +"Neither have I," added the good old man, very sadly. + +And Pinocchio, although he was a very merry boy, became sad also, +because poverty, when it is real poverty, is understood by +everybody--even by boys. + +"Well, patience!" exclaimed Geppetto, all at once rising to his feet, +and putting on his old corduroy coat, all patched and darned, he ran out +of the house. + +He returned shortly, holding in his hand a spelling-book for Pinocchio, +but the old coat was gone. The poor man was in his shirt-sleeves and out +of doors it was snowing. + +"And the coat, papa?" + +"I have sold it." + +"Why did you sell it?" + +"Because I found it too hot." + +Pinocchio understood this answer in an instant, and unable to restrain +the impulse of his good heart he sprang up and, throwing his arms around +Geppetto's neck, he began kissing him again and again. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +PINOCCHIO GOES TO SEE A PUPPET-SHOW + + +As soon as it stopped snowing Pinocchio set out for school with his fine +spelling-book under his arm. As he went along he began to imagine a +thousand things in his little brain and to build a thousand castles in +the air, one more beautiful than the other. + +And, talking to himself, he said: + +"Today at school I will learn to read at once; then tomorrow I will +begin to write, and the day after tomorrow to figure. Then, with my +acquirements, I will earn a great deal of money, and with the first +money I have in my pocket I will immediately buy for my papa a beautiful +new cloth coat. But what am I saying? Cloth, indeed! It shall be all +made of gold and silver, and it shall have diamond buttons. That poor +man really deserves it, for to buy me books and have me taught he has +remained in his shirt-sleeves. And in this cold! It is only fathers who +are capable of such sacrifices!" + +Whilst he was saying this with great emotion, he thought that he heard +music in the distance that sounded like fifes and the beating of a big +drum: Fi-fie-fi, fi-fi-fi; zum, zum, zum. + +He stopped and listened. The sounds came from the end of a cross street +that led to a little village on the seashore. + +"What can that music be? What a pity that I have to go to school, or +else--" + +And he remained irresolute. It was, however, necessary to come to a +decision. Should he go to school? or should he go after the fifes? + +"Today I will go and hear the fifes, and tomorrow I will go to school," +finally decided the young scapegrace, shrugging his shoulders. + +The more he ran the nearer came the sounds of the fifes and the beating +of the big drum: Fi-fi-fi; zum, zum, zum, zum. + +At last he found himself in the middle of a square quite full of people, +who were all crowded round a building made of wood and canvas, and +painted a thousand colors. + +"What is that building?" asked Pinocchio, turning to a little boy who +belonged to the place. + +"Read the placard--it is all written--and then you will know." + +"I would read it willingly, but it so happens that today I don't know +how to read." + +"Bravo, blockhead! Then I will read it to you. The writing on that +placard in those letters red as fire is: + + "THE GREAT PUPPET THEATER." + +"Has the play begun long?" + +"It is beginning now." + +"How much does it cost to go in?" + +"A dime." + +Pinocchio, who was in a fever of curiosity, lost all control of himself, +and without any shame he said to the little boy to whom he was talking: + +"Would you lend me a dime until tomorrow?" + +"I would lend it to you willingly," said the other, "but it so happens +that today I cannot give it to you." + +"I will sell you my jacket for a dime," the puppet then said to him. + +"What do you think that I could do with a jacket of flowered paper? If +there were rain and it got wet, it would be impossible to get it off my +back." + +"Will you buy my shoes?" + +"They would only be of use to light the fire." + +"How much will you give me for my cap?" + +"That would be a wonderful acquisition indeed! A cap of bread crumb! +There would be a risk of the mice coming to eat it whilst it was on my +head." + +Pinocchio was on thorns. He was on the point of making another offer, +but he had not the courage. He hesitated, felt irresolute and +remorseful. At last he said: + +"Will you give me a dime for this new spelling-book?" + +"I am a boy and I don't buy from boys," replied his little interlocutor, +who had much more sense than he had. + +"I will buy the spelling-book for a dime," called out a hawker of old +clothes, who had been listening to the conversation. + +And the book was sold there and then. And to think that poor Geppetto +had remained at home trembling with cold in his shirt-sleeves in order +that his son should have a spelling-book. + + + + +CHAPTER X + +THE PUPPETS RECOGNIZE THEIR BROTHER PINOCCHIO + + +When Pinocchio came into the little puppet theater, an incident occurred +that almost produced a revolution. + +The curtain had gone up and the play had already begun. + +On the stage Harlequin and Punch were as usual quarrelling with each +other and threatening every moment to come to blows. + +All at once Harlequin stopped short and, turning to the public, he +pointed with his hand to some one far down in the pit and exclaimed in a +dramatic tone: + +"Gods of the firmament! Do I dream or am I awake? But surely that is +Pinocchio!" + +"It is indeed Pinocchio!" cried Punch. + +"It is indeed himself!" screamed Miss Rose, peeping from behind the +scenes. + +"It is Pinocchio! it is Pinocchio!" shouted all the puppets in chorus, +leaping from all sides on to the stage. "It is Pinocchio! It is our +brother Pinocchio! Long live Pinocchio!" + +"Pinocchio, come up here to me," cried Harlequin, "and throw yourself +into the arms of your wooden brothers!" + +At this affectionate invitation Pinocchio made a leap from the end of +the pit into the reserved seats; another leap landed him on the head of +the leader of the orchestra, and he then sprang upon the stage. + +The embraces, the friendly pinches, and the demonstrations of warm +brotherly affection that Pinocchio received from the excited crowd of +actors and actresses of the puppet dramatic company are beyond +description. + +The sight was doubtless a moving one, but the public in the pit, finding +that the play was stopped, became impatient and began to shout: "We will +have the play--go on with the play!" + +It was all breath thrown away. The puppets, instead of continuing the +recital, redoubled their noise and outcries, and, putting Pinocchio on +their shoulders, they carried him in triumph before the footlights. + +At that moment out came the showman. He was very big, and so ugly that +the sight of him was enough to frighten anyone. His beard was as black +as ink, and so long that it reached from his chin to the ground. I need +only say that he trod upon it when he walked. His mouth was as big as an +oven, and his eyes were like two lanterns of red glass with lights +burning inside them. He carried a large whip made of snakes and foxes' +tails twisted together, which he cracked constantly. + +At his unexpected appearance there was a profound silence: no one dared +to breathe. A fly might have been heard in the stillness. The poor +puppets of both sexes trembled like so many leaves. + +"Why have you come to raise a disturbance in my theater?" asked the +showman of Pinocchio, in the gruff voice of a hobgoblin suffering from a +severe cold in the head. + +"Believe me, honored sir, it was not my fault!" + +"That is enough! Tonight we will settle our accounts." + +As soon as the play was over the showman went into the kitchen, where a +fine sheep, preparing for his supper, was turning slowly on the spit in +front of the fire. As there was not enough wood to finish roasting and +browning it, he called Harlequin and Punch, and said to them: + +"Bring that puppet here: you will find him hanging on a nail. It seems +to me that he is made of very dry wood and I am sure that if he were +thrown on the fire he would make a beautiful blaze for the roast." + +At first Harlequin and Punch hesitated; but, appalled by a severe glance +from their master, they obeyed. In a short time they returned to the +kitchen carrying poor Pinocchio, who was wriggling like an eel taken out +of water and screaming desperately: "Papa! papa! save me! I will not +die, I will not die!" + + + + +[Illustration] + +CHAPTER XI + +FIRE-EATER SNEEZES AND PARDONS PINOCCHIO + + +The showman, Fire-Eater--for that was his name--looked like a wicked +man, especially with his black beard that covered his chest and legs +like an apron. On the whole, however, he had not a bad heart. In proof +of this, when he saw poor Pinocchio brought before him, struggling and +screaming "I will not die, I will not die!" he was quite moved and felt +very sorry for him. He tried to hold out, but after a little he could +stand it no longer and he sneezed violently. When he heard the sneeze, +Harlequin, who up to that moment had been in the deepest affliction and +bowed down like a weeping willow, became quite cheerful and, leaning +towards Pinocchio, he whispered to him softly: + +"Good news, brother. The showman has sneezed and that is a sign that he +pities you, and consequently you are saved." + +Most men, when they feel compassion for somebody, either weep or at +least pretend to dry their eyes. Fire-Eater, on the contrary, whenever +he was really overcome, had the habit of sneezing. + +After he had sneezed, the showman, still acting the ruffian, shouted to +Pinocchio: + +"Have done crying! Your lamentations have given me a pain in my stomach. +I feel a spasm that almost--Etchoo! etchoo!" and he sneezed again twice. + +"Bless you!" said Pinocchio. + +"Thank you! And your papa and your mamma, are they still alive?" asked +Fire-Eater. + +"Papa, yes; my mamma I have never known." + +"Who can say what a sorrow it would be for your poor old father if I +were to have you thrown amongst those burning coals! Poor old man! I +pity him! Etchoo! etchoo! etchoo!" and he sneezed again three times. + +"Bless you" said Pinocchio. + +"Thank you! All the same, some compassion is due to me, for as you see I +have no more wood with which to finish roasting my mutton, and, to tell +you the truth, under the circumstances you would have been of great use +to me! However, I have had pity on you, so I must have patience. Instead +of you I will burn under the spit one of the puppets belonging to my +company. Ho there, gendarmes!" + +At this call two wooden gendarmes immediately appeared. They were very +long and very thin, and had on cocked hats, and held unsheathed swords +in their hands. + +The showman said to them in a hoarse voice: + +"Take Harlequin, bind him securely, and then throw him on the fire to +burn. I am determined that my mutton shall be well roasted." + +Only imagine that poor Harlequin! His terror was so great that his legs +bent under him, and he fell with his face on the ground. + +At this agonizing sight Pinocchio, weeping bitterly, threw himself at +the showman's feet and, bathing his long beard with his tears, he began +to say, in a supplicating voice: + +"Have pity, Sir Fire-Eater!" + +"Here there are no sirs," the showman answered severely. + +"Have pity, Sir Knight!" + +"Here there are no knights!" + +"Have pity, Commander!" + +"Here there are no commanders!" + +"Have pity, Excellence!" + +Upon hearing himself called Excellence the showman began to smile and +became at once kinder and more tractable. Turning to Pinocchio, he +asked: + +"Well, what do you want from me?" + +"I implore you to pardon poor Harlequin." + +"For him there can be no pardon. As I have spared you he must be put on +the fire, for I am determined that my mutton shall be well roasted." + +"In that case," cried Pinocchio proudly, rising and throwing away his +cap of bread crumb--"in that case I know my duty. Come on, gendarmes! +Bind me and throw me amongst the flames. No, it is not just that poor +Harlequin, my true friend, should die for me!" + +These words, pronounced in a loud, heroic voice, made all the puppets +who were present cry. Even the gendarmes, although they were made of +wood, wept like two newly born lambs. + +Fire-Eater at first remained as hard and unmoved as ice, but little by +little he began to melt and to sneeze. And, having sneezed four or five +times, he opened his arms affectionately and said to Pinocchio: + +"You are a good, brave boy! Come here and give me a kiss." + +Pinocchio ran at once and, climbing like a squirrel up the showman's +beard, he deposited a hearty kiss on the point of his nose. + +"Then the pardon is granted?" asked poor Harlequin in a faint voice that +was scarcely audible. + +"The pardon is granted!" answered Fire-Eater; he then added, sighing and +shaking his head: + +"I must have patience! Tonight I shall have to resign myself to eat the +mutton half raw; but another time, woe to him who displeases me!" + +At the news of the pardon the puppets all ran to the stage and, having +lighted the lamps and chandeliers as if for a full-dress performance, +they began to leap and to dance merrily. At dawn they were still +dancing. + + + + +[Illustration] + +CHAPTER XII + +PINOCCHIO RECEIVES A PRESENT OF FIVE GOLD PIECES + + +The following day Fire-Eater called Pinocchio to one side and asked him: + +"What is your father's name?" + +"Geppetto." + +"And what trade does he follow?" + +"He is a beggar." + +"Does he gain much?" + +"Gain much? Why, he has never a penny in his pocket. Only think, in +order to buy a spelling-book so that I could go to school he was obliged +to sell the only coat he had to wear--a coat that, between patches and +darns, was not fit to be seen." + +"Poor devil! I feel almost sorry for him! Here are five gold pieces. Go +at once and take them to him with my compliments." + +Pinocchio was overjoyed and thanked the showman a thousand times. He +embraced all the puppets of the company one by one, even to the +gendarmes, and set out to return home. + +But he had not gone far when he met on the road a Fox lame of one foot, +and a Cat blind of both eyes, and they were going along helping each +other like good companions in misfortune. The Fox, who was lame, walked +leaning on the Cat; and the Cat, who was blind, was guided by the Fox. + +"Good-day, Pinocchio," said the Fox, greeting him politely. + +"How do you come to know my name?" asked the puppet. + +"I know your father well." + +"Where did you see him?" + +"I saw him yesterday at the door of his house." + +"And what was he doing?" + +"He was in his shirt-sleeves and shivering with cold." + +"Poor papa! But that is over; for the future he shall shiver no more!" + +"Why?" + +"Because I have become a gentleman." + +"A gentleman--you!" said the Fox, and he began to laugh rudely and +scornfully. The Cat also began to laugh, but to conceal it she combed +her whiskers with her forepaws. + +[Illustration: Splash! Splash! They fell Into the Very Middle of the +Ditch] + +"There is little to laugh at," cried Pinocchio angrily. "I am really +sorry to make your mouth water, but if you know anything about it, you +can see that these are five gold pieces." + +And he pulled out the money that Fire-Eater had given him. + +At the jingling of the money the Fox, with an involuntary movement, +stretched out the paw that seemed crippled, and the Cat opened wide two +eyes that looked like two green lanterns. It is true that she shut them +again, and so quickly that Pinocchio observed nothing. + +"And now," asked the Fox, "what are you going to do with all that +money?" + +"First of all," answered the puppet, "I intend to buy a new coat for my +papa, made of gold and silver, and with diamond buttons; and then I will +buy a spelling-book for myself." + +"For yourself?" + +"Yes indeed, for I wish to go to school to study in earnest." + +"Look at me!" said the Fox. "Through my foolish passion for study I have +lost a leg." + +"Look at me!" said the Cat. "Through my foolish passion for study I have +lost the sight of both my eyes." + +At that moment a white Blackbird, that was perched on the hedge by the +road, began his usual song, and said: + +"Pinocchio, don't listen to the advice of bad companions; if you do you +will repent it!" + +Poor Blackbird! If only he had not spoken! The Cat, with a great leap, +sprang upon him, and without even giving him time to say "Oh!" ate him +in a mouthful, feathers and all. + +Having eaten him and cleaned her mouth she shut her eyes again and +feigned blindness as before. + +"Poor Blackbird!" said Pinocchio to the Cat, "why did you treat him so +badly?" + +"I did it to give him a lesson. He will learn another time not to +meddle in other people's conversation." + +They had gone almost half-way when the Fox, halting suddenly, said to +the puppet: + +"Would you like to double your money?" + +"In what way?" + +"Would you like to make out of your five miserable sovereigns, a +hundred, a thousand, two thousand?" + +"I should think so! but in what way?" + +"The way is easy enough. Instead of returning home you must go with us." + +"And where do you wish to take me?" + +"To the land of the Owls." + +Pinocchio reflected a moment, and then he said resolutely: + +"No, I will not go. I am already close to the house, and I will return +home to my papa, who is waiting for me. Who can tell how often the poor +old man must have sighed yesterday when I did not come back! I have +indeed been a bad son, and the Talking-Cricket was right when he said: +'Disobedient boys never come to any good in the world.' I have found it +to be true, for many misfortunes have happened to me. Even yesterday in +Fire-Eater's house I ran the risk--Oh! it makes me shudder only to think +of it!" + +"Well, then," said the Fox, "you are quite decided to go home? Go, then, +and so much the worse for you." + +"So much the worse for you!" repeated the Cat. + +"Think well of it, Pinocchio, for you are giving a kick to fortune." + +"To fortune!" repeated the Cat. + +"Between today and tomorrow your five sovereigns would have become two +thousand." + +"Two thousand!" repeated the Cat. + +"But how is it possible that they could become so many?" asked +Pinocchio, remaining with his mouth open from astonishment. + +"I will explain it to you at once," said the Fox. "You must know that in +the land of the Owls there is a sacred field called by everybody the +Field of Miracles. In this field you must dig a little hole, and you put +into it, we will say, one gold sovereign. You then cover up the hole +with a little earth; you must water it with two pails of water from the +fountain, then sprinkle it with two pinches of salt, and when night +comes you can go quietly to bed. In the meanwhile, during the night, the +gold piece will grow and flower, and in the morning when you get up and +return to the field, what do you find? You find a beautiful tree laden +with as many gold sovereigns as a fine ear of corn has grains in the +month of June." + +"So that," said Pinocchio, more and more bewildered, "supposing I buried +my five sovereigns in that field, how many should I find there the +following morning?" + +"That is an exceedingly easy calculation," replied the Fox, "a +calculation that you can make on the ends of your fingers. Every +sovereign will give you an increase of five hundred; multiply five +hundred by five, and the following morning will find you with two +thousand five hundred shining gold pieces in your pocket." + +"Oh! how delightful!" cried Pinocchio, dancing for joy. "As soon as ever +I have obtained those sovereigns, I will keep two thousand for myself +and the other five hundred I will make a present of to you two." + +"A present to us?" cried the Fox with indignation and appearing much +offended. "What are you dreaming of?" + +"What are you dreaming of?" repeated the Cat. + +"We do not work," said the Fox, "for interest: we work solely to enrich +others." + +"Others!" repeated the Cat. + +"What good people!" thought Pinocchio to himself, and, forgetting there +and then his papa, the new coat, the spelling-book, and all his good +resolutions, he said to the Fox and the Cat: + +"Let us be off at once. I will go with you." + +[Illustration: A LITTLE CHICKEN POPPED OUT, VERY GAY AND POLITE] + + + + +[Illustration] + +CHAPTER XIII + +THE INN OF THE RED CRAW-FISH + + +They walked, and walked, and walked, until at last, towards evening, +they arrived, all tired out, at the inn of The Red Craw-Fish. + +"Let us stop here a little," said the Fox, "that we may have something +to eat, and rest ourselves for an hour or two. We will start again at +midnight, so as to arrive at the Field of Miracles by dawn tomorrow +morning." + +Having gone into the inn they all three sat down to table, but none of +them had any appetite. + +The Cat, who was suffering from indigestion and feeling seriously +indisposed, could only eat thirty-five fish with tomato sauce and four +portions of tripe with Parmesan cheese; and because she thought the +tripe was not seasoned enough, she asked three times for the butter and +grated cheese! + +The Fox would also willingly have picked a little, but as his doctor had +ordered him a strict diet, he was forced to content himself simply with +a hare dressed with a sweet and sour sauce, and garnished lightly with +fat chickens and early pullets. After the hare he sent for a made dish +of partridges, rabbits, frogs, lizards and other delicacies; he could +not touch anything else. He cared so little for food, he said, that he +could put nothing to his lips. + +The one who ate the least was Pinocchio. He asked for some walnuts and a +hunch of bread, and left everything on his plate. The poor boy's +thoughts were continually fixed on the Field of Miracles. + +When they had supped, the Fox said to the host: + +"Give us two good rooms, one for Mr. Pinocchio, and the other for me and +my companion. We will snatch a little sleep before we leave. Remember, +however, that at midnight we wish to be called to continue our journey." + +"Yes, gentlemen," answered the host, and he winked at the Fox and the +Cat, as much as to say: "I know what you are up to. We understand one +another!" + +No sooner had Pinocchio got into bed than he fell asleep at once and +began to dream. And he dreamed that he was in the middle of a field, and +the field was full of shrubs covered with clusters of gold sovereigns, +and as they swung in the wind they went zin, zin, zin, almost as if they +would say: "Let who will, come and take us." But just as Pinocchio was +stretching out his hand to pick handfuls of those beautiful gold pieces +and to put them in his pocket, he was suddenly awakened by three violent +blows on the door of his room. + +It was the host who had come to tell him that midnight had struck. + +"Are my companions ready?" asked the puppet. + +"Ready! Why, they left two hours ago." + +"Why were they in such a hurry?" + +"Because the Cat had received a message to say that her eldest kitten +was ill with chilblains on his feet and was in danger of death." + +"Did they pay for the supper?" + +"What are you thinking of? They are too well educated to dream of +offering such an insult to a gentleman like you." + +"What a pity! It is an insult that would have given me so much +pleasure!" said Pinocchio, scratching his head. He then asked: + +"And where did my good friends say they would wait for me?" + +"At the Field of Miracles, tomorrow morning at daybreak." + +Pinocchio paid a sovereign for his supper and that of his companions, +and then left. + +Outside the inn it was so pitch dark that he had almost to grope his +way, for it was impossible to see a hand's breadth in front of him. Some +night-birds flying across the road from one hedge to the other brushed +Pinocchio's nose with their wings as they passed, which caused him so +much terror that, springing back, he shouted: "Who goes there?" and the +echo in the surrounding hills repeated in the distance: "Who goes there? +Who goes there?" + +As he was walking along he saw a little insect shining dimly on the +trunk of a tree, like a night-light in a lamp of transparent china. + +"Who are you?" asked Pinocchio. + +"I am the ghost of the Talking-Cricket," answered the insect in a low +voice, so weak and faint that it seemed to come from the other world. + +"What do you want with me?" said the puppet. + +"I want to give you some advice. Go back and take the four sovereigns +that you have left to your poor father, who is weeping and in despair +because you have not returned to him." + +"By tomorrow my papa will be a gentleman, for these four sovereigns will +have become two thousand." + +"Don't trust to those who promise to make you rich in a day. Usually +they are either mad or rogues! Give ear to me, and go back, my boy." + +"On the contrary, I am determined to go on." + +"The hour is late!" + +"I am determined to go on." + +"The night is dark!" + +"I am determined to go on." + +"The road is dangerous!" + +"I am determined to go on." + +"Remember that boys who are bent on following their caprices, and will +have their own way, sooner or later repent it." + +"Always the same stories. Good-night, Cricket." + +"Good-night, Pinocchio, and may Heaven preserve you from dangers and +from assassins." + +No sooner had he said these words than the Talking-Cricket vanished +suddenly like a light that has been blown out, and the road became +darker than ever. + + + + +[Illustration] + +CHAPTER XIV + +PINOCCHIO FALLS AMONGST ASSASSINS + + +"Really," said the puppet to himself, as he resumed his journey, "how +unfortunate we poor boys are. Everybody scolds us and gives us good +advice. See now; because I don't choose to listen to that tiresome +Cricket, who knows, according to him, how many misfortunes are to happen +to me! I am even to meet with assassins! That is, however, of little +consequence, for I don't believe in assassins--I have never believed in +them. For me, I think that assassins have been invented purposely by +papas to frighten boys who want to go out at night. Besides, supposing I +was to come across them here in the road, do you imagine they would +frighten me? Not the least in the world. I should go to meet them and +cry: 'Gentlemen assassins, what do you want with me? Remember that with +me there is no joking. Therefore go about your business and be quiet!' +At this speech they would run away like the wind. If, however, they were +so badly educated as not to run away, why, then I would run away myself +and there would be an end of it." + +But Pinocchio had not time to finish his reasoning, for at that moment +he thought that he heard a slight rustle of leaves behind him. + +He turned to look and saw in the gloom two evil-looking black figures +completely enveloped in charcoal sacks. They were running after him on +tiptoe and making great leaps like two phantoms. + +"Here they are in reality!" he said to himself and, not knowing where to +hide his gold pieces, he put them in his mouth precisely under his +tongue. + +Then he tried to escape. But he had not gone a step when he felt himself +seized by the arm and heard two horrid, sepulchral voices saying to him: + +"Your money or your life!" + +Pinocchio, not being able to answer in words, owing to the money that +was in his mouth, made a thousand low bows and a thousand pantomimes. He +tried thus to make the two muffled figures, whose eyes were only visible +through the holes in their sacks, understand that he was a poor puppet, +and that he had not as much as a counterfeit nickel in his pocket. + +"Come, now! Less nonsense and out with the money!" cried the two +brigands threateningly. + +And the puppet made a gesture with his hands to signify: "I have none." + +"Deliver up your money or you are dead," said the tallest of the +brigands. + +"Dead!" repeated the other. + +"And after we have killed you, we will also kill your father!" + +"Also your father!" + +"No, no, no, not my poor papa!" cried Pinocchio in a despairing voice, +and as he said it the sovereigns clinked in his mouth. + +"Ah! you rascal! Then you have hidden your money under your tongue! Spit +it out at once!" + +Pinocchio was obstinate. + +"Ah! you pretend to be deaf, do you? Wait a moment, leave it to us to +find a means to make you give it up." + +And one of them seized the puppet by the end of his nose, and the other +took him by the chin, and began to pull them brutally, the one up and +the other down, to force him to open his mouth. But it was all to no +purpose. Pinocchio's mouth seemed to be nailed and riveted together. + +Then the shorter assassin drew out an ugly knife and tried to put it +between his lips like a lever or chisel. But Pinocchio, as quick as +lightning, caught his hand with his teeth, and with one bite bit it +clear off and spat it out. Imagine his astonishment when instead of a +hand he perceived that a cat's paw lay on the ground. + +Encouraged by this first victory he used his nails to such purpose that +he succeeded in liberating himself from his assailants, and, jumping the +hedge by the roadside, he began to fly across the country. The assassins +ran after him like two dogs chasing a hare, and the one who had lost a +paw ran on one leg, and no one ever knew how he managed it. + +After a race of some miles Pinocchio could go no more. Giving himself +up for lost, he climbed the trunk of a very high pine tree and seated +himself in the topmost branches. The assassins attempted to climb after +him, but when they had reached half-way up they slid down again and +arrived on the ground with the skin grazed from their hands and knees. + +But they were not to be beaten by so little; collecting a quantity of +dry wood, they piled it beneath the pine and set fire to it. In less +time than it takes to tell, the pine began to burn and to flame like a +candle blown by the wind. Pinocchio, seeing that the flames were +mounting higher every instant, and not wishing to end his life like a +roasted pigeon, made a stupendous leap from the top of the tree and +started afresh across the fields and vineyards. The assassins followed +him, and kept behind him without once giving up. + +The day began to break and they were still pursuing him. Suddenly +Pinocchio found his way barred by a wide, deep ditch full of stagnant +water the color of coffee. What was he to do? "One! two! three!" cried +the puppet, and, making a rush, he sprang to the other side. The +assassins also jumped, but not having measured the distance +properly--splash! splash! they fell into the very middle of the ditch. +Pinocchio, who heard the plunge and the splashing of the water, shouted +out, laughing, and without stopping: + +"A fine bath to you, gentleman assassins." + +And he felt convinced that they were drowned, when, turning to look, he +perceived that, on the contrary, they were both running after him, still +enveloped in their sacks, with the water dripping from them as if they +had been two hollow baskets. + + + + +[Illustration] + +CHAPTER XV + +THE ASSASSINS HANG PINOCCHIO TO THE BIG OAK + + +At this sight the puppet's courage failed him and he was on the point of +throwing himself on the ground and giving himself over for lost. +Turning, however, his eyes in every direction, he saw, at some distance, +a small house as white as snow. + +"If only I had breath to reach that house," he said to himself, "perhaps +I should be saved." + +And, without delaying an instant, he recommenced running for his life +through the wood, and the assassins after him. + +At last, after a desperate race of nearly two hours, he arrived quite +breathless at the door of the house, and knocked. + +No one answered. + +He knocked again with great violence, for he heard the sound of steps +approaching him and the heavy panting of his persecutors. The same +silence. + +Seeing that knocking was useless, he began in desperation to kick and +pommel the door with all his might. The window then opened and a +beautiful Child appeared at it. She had blue hair and a face as white as +a waxen image; her eyes were closed and her hands were crossed on her +breast. Without moving her lips in the least, she said, in a voice that +seemed to come from the other world: + +"In this house there is no one. They are all dead." + +"Then at least open the door for me yourself," shouted Pinocchio, crying +and imploring. + +"I am dead also." + +"Dead? Then what are you doing there at the window?" + +"I am waiting for the bier to come to carry me away." + +Having said this she immediately disappeared and the window was closed +again without the slightest noise. + +"Oh! beautiful Child with blue hair," cried Pinocchio, "open the door, +for pity's sake! Have compassion on a poor boy pursued by assas--" + +But he could not finish the word, for he felt himself seized by the +collar and the same two horrible voices said to him threateningly: + +"You shall not escape from us again!" + +The puppet, seeing death staring him in the face, was taken with such a +violent fit of trembling that the joints of his wooden legs began to +creak, and the sovereigns hidden under his tongue to clink. + +"Now, then," demanded the assassins, "will you open your mouth--yes or +no? Ah! no answer? Leave it to us: this time we will force you to open +it!" + +And, drawing out two long, horrid knives as sharp as razors, +clash!--they attempted to stab him twice. + +But the puppet, luckily for him, was made of very hard wood; the knives +therefore broke into a thousand pieces and the assassins were left with +the handles in their hands, staring at each other. + +"I see what we must do," said one of them. "He must be hung! let us hang +him!" + +"Let us hang him!" repeated the other. + +Without loss of time they tied his arms behind him, passed a running +noose round his throat, and hung him to the branch of a tree called the +Big Oak. + +They then sat down on the grass and waited for his last struggle. But at +the end of three hours the puppet's eyes were still open, his mouth +closed, and he was kicking more than ever. + +Losing patience, they turned to Pinocchio and said in a bantering tone: + +"Good-bye till tomorrow. Let us hope that when we return you will be +polite enough to allow yourself to be found quite dead, and with your +mouth wide open." + +And they walked off. + +In the meantime a tempestuous northerly wind began to blow and roar +angrily, and it beat the poor puppet from side to side, making him swing +violently, like the clatter of a bell ringing for a wedding. And the +swinging gave him atrocious spasms, and the running noose, becoming +still tighter round his throat, took away his breath. + +Little by little his eyes began to grow dim, but although he felt that +death was near he still continued to hope that some charitable person +would come to his assistance before it was too late. But when, after +waiting and waiting, he found that no one came, absolutely no one, then +he remembered his poor father, and, thinking he was dying, he stammered +out: + +"Oh, papa! papa! if only you were here!" + +[Illustration: Four Rabbits as Black as Ink Entered Carrying a Little +Bier] + +His breath failed him and he could say no more. He shut his eyes, opened +his mouth, stretched his legs, gave a long shudder, and hung stiff and +insensible. + + + + +[Illustration] + +CHAPTER XVI + +THE BEAUTIFUL CHILD RESCUES THE PUPPET + + +While poor Pinocchio, suspended to a branch of the Big Oak, was +apparently more dead than alive, the beautiful Child with blue hair came +again to the window. When she saw the unhappy puppet hanging by his +throat, and dancing up and down in the gusts of the north wind, she was +moved by compassion. Striking her hands together, she gave three little +claps. + +At this signal there came a sound of the sweep of wings flying rapidly +and a large Falcon flew on to the window-sill. + +"What are your orders, gracious Fairy?" he asked, inclining his beak in +sign of reverence. + +"Do you see that puppet dangling from a branch of the Big Oak?" + +"I see him." + +"Very well. Fly there at once: with your strong beak break the knot that +keeps him suspended in the air, and lay him gently on the grass at the +foot of the tree." + +The Falcon flew away and after two minutes he returned, saying: + +"I have done as you commanded." + +"And how did you find him?" + +"To see him he appeared dead, but he cannot really be quite dead, for I +had no sooner loosened the running noose that tightened his throat than, +giving a sigh, he muttered in a faint voice: 'Now I feel better!'" + +The Fairy then struck her hands together twice and a magnificent Poodle +appeared, walking upright on his hind legs exactly as if he had been a +man. + +He was in the full-dress livery of a coachman. On his head he had a +three-cornered cap braided with gold, his curly white wig came down on +to his shoulders, he had a chocolate-colored waistcoat with diamond +buttons, and two large pockets to contain the bones that his mistress +gave him at dinner. He had, besides, a pair of short crimson velvet +breeches, silk stockings, cut-down shoes, and hanging behind him a +species of umbrella case made of blue satin, to put his tail into when +the weather was rainy. + +"Be quick, Medoro, like a good dog!" said the Fairy to the Poodle. "Have +the most beautiful carriage in my coach-house harnessed, and take the +road to the wood. When you come to the Big Oak you will find a poor +puppet stretched on the grass half dead. Pick him up gently and lay him +flat on the cushions of the carriage and bring him here to me. Do you +understand?" + +The Poodle, to show that he had understood, shook the case of blue +satin three or four times and ran off like a race-horse. + +Shortly afterwards a beautiful little carriage came out of the +coach-house. The cushions were stuffed with canary feathers and it was +lined on the inside with whipped cream, custard and vanilla wafers. The +little carriage was drawn by a hundred pairs of white mice, and the +Poodle, seated on the coach-box, cracked his whip from side to side like +a driver when he is afraid that he is behind time. + +Scarcely had a quarter of an hour passed, when the carriage returned. +The Fairy, who was waiting at the door of the house, took the poor +puppet in her arms and carried him into a little room that was +wainscoted with mother-of-pearl. She sent at once to summon the most +famous doctors in the neighborhood. + +They came immediately, one after the other: namely, a Crow, an Owl, and +a Talking-Cricket. + +"I wish to know from you, gentlemen," said the Fairy, "if this +unfortunate puppet is alive or dead!" + +At this request the Crow, advancing first, felt Pinocchio's pulse; he +then felt his nose and then the little toe of his foot: and, having done +this carefully, he pronounced solemnly the following words: + +"To my belief the puppet is already quite dead; but, if unfortunately he +should not be dead, then it would be a sign that he is still alive!" + +"I regret," said the Owl, "to be obliged to contradict the Crow, my +illustrious friend and colleague; but, in my opinion the puppet is still +alive; but, if unfortunately he should not be alive, then it would be a +sign that he is dead indeed!" + +"And you--have you nothing to say?" asked the Fairy of the +Talking-Cricket. + +"In my opinion, the wisest thing a prudent doctor can do, when he does +not know what he is talking about, is to be silent. For the rest, that +puppet there has a face that is not new to me. I have known him for some +time!" + +Pinocchio, who up to that moment had lain immovable, like a real piece +of wood, was seized with a fit of convulsive trembling that shook the +whole bed. + +"That puppet there," continued the Talking-Cricket, "is a confirmed +rogue." + +Pinocchio opened his eyes, but shut them again immediately. + +"He is a ragamuffin, a do-nothing, a vagabond." + +Pinocchio hid his face beneath the clothes. + +"That puppet there is a disobedient son who will make his poor father +die of a broken heart!" + +At that instant a suffocated sound of sobs and crying was heard in the +room. Imagine everybody's astonishment when, having raised the sheets a +little, it was discovered that the sounds came from Pinocchio. + +"When a dead person cries, it is a sign that he is on the road to get +well," said the Crow solemnly. + +"I grieve to contradict my illustrious friend and colleague," added the +Owl; "but for me, when the dead person cries, it is a sign that he is +sorry to die." + + + + +[Illustration] + +CHAPTER XVII + +PINOCCHIO WILL NOT TAKE HIS MEDICINE + + +As soon as the three doctors had left the room the Fairy approached +Pinocchio and, having touched his forehead, she perceived that he was in +a high fever. + +She therefore dissolved a certain white powder in half a tumbler of +water and, offering it to the puppet, she said to him lovingly: + +"Drink it and in a few days you will be cured." + +Pinocchio looked at the tumbler, made a wry face, and then asked in a +plaintive voice: + +"Is it sweet or bitter?" + +"It is bitter, but it will do you good." + +"If it is bitter, I will not take it." + +"Listen to me: drink it." + +"I don't like anything bitter." + +"Drink it, and when you have drunk it I will give you a lump of sugar to +take away the taste." + +"Where is the lump of sugar?" + +"Here it is," said the Fairy, taking a piece from a gold sugar-basin. + +"Give me first the lump of sugar and then I will drink that bad bitter +water." + +"Do you promise me?" + +"Yes." + +The Fairy gave him the sugar and Pinocchio, having crunched it up and +swallowed it in a second, said, licking his lips: + +"It would be a fine thing if sugar were medicine! I would take it every +day." + +"Now keep your promise and drink these few drops of water, which will +restore you to health." + +Pinocchio took the tumbler unwillingly in his hand and put the point of +his nose to it: he then approached it to his lips: he then again put his +nose to it, and at last said: + +"It is too bitter! too bitter! I cannot drink it." + +"How can you tell that, when you have not even tasted it?" + +"I can imagine it! I know it from the smell. I want first another lump +of sugar and then I will drink it!" + +The Fairy then, with all the patience of a good mamma, put another lump +of sugar in his mouth, and again presented the tumbler to him. + +"I cannot drink it so!" said the puppet, making a thousand grimaces. + +"Why?" + +"Because that pillow that is down there on my feet bothers me." + +The Fairy removed the pillow. + +"It is useless. Even so I cannot drink it." + +"What is the matter now?" + +"The door of the room, which is half open, bothers me." + +The Fairy went and closed the door. + +"In short," cried Pinocchio, bursting into tears, "I will not drink that +bitter water--no, no, no!" + +"My boy, you will repent it." + +"I don't care." + +"Your illness is serious." + +"I don't care." + +"The fever in a few hours will carry you into the other world." + +"I don't care." + +"Are you not afraid of death?" + +"I am not in the least afraid! I would rather die than drink that bitter +medicine." + +At that moment the door of the room flew open and four rabbits as black +as ink entered carrying on their shoulders a little bier. + +"What do you want with me?" cried Pinocchio, sitting up in bed in a +great fright. + +"We have come to take you," said the biggest rabbit. + +"To take me? But I am not yet dead!" + +"No, not yet? but you have only a few minutes to live, as you have +refused the medicine that would have cured you of the fever." + +"Oh, Fairy, Fairy!" the puppet then began to scream, "give me the +tumbler at once; be quick, for pity's sake, for I will not die--no, I +will not die." + +And, taking the tumbler in both hands, he emptied it at a gulp. + +"We must have patience!" said the rabbits; "this time we have made our +journey in vain." And, taking the little bier again on their shoulders, +they left the room, grumbling and murmuring between their teeth. + +In fact, a few minutes afterwards, Pinocchio jumped down from the bed +quite well, because wooden puppets have the privilege of being seldom +ill and of being cured very quickly. + +The Fairy, seeing him running and rushing about the room as gay and as +lively as a young cock, said to him: + +"Then my medicine has really done you good?" + +"Good? I should think so! It has restored me to life!" + +"Then why on earth did you require so much persuasion to take it?" + +"Because you see that we boys are all like that! We are more afraid of +medicine than of the illness." + +"Disgraceful! Boys ought to know that a good remedy taken in time may +save them from a serious illness, and perhaps even from death." + +"Oh! but another time I shall not require so much persuasion. I shall +remember those black rabbits with the bier on their shoulders and then I +shall immediately take the tumbler in my hand, and down it will go!" + +"Now, come here to me and tell me how it came about that you fell into +the hands of those assassins." + +"You see, the showman, Fire-Eater, gave me some gold pieces and said to +me: 'Go, and take them to your father!' and instead I met on the road a +Fox and a Cat, who said to me: 'Would you like those pieces of gold to +become a thousand or two? Come with us and we will take you to the Field +of Miracles,' and I said: 'Let us go.' And they said: 'Let us stop at +the inn of The Red Craw-Fish,' and after midnight they left. And when I +awoke I found that they were no longer there, because they had gone +away. Then I began to travel by night, for you cannot imagine how dark +it was; and on that account I met on the road two assassins in charcoal +sacks who said to me: 'Out with your money,' and I said to them: 'I have +got none,' because I had hidden the four gold pieces in my mouth, and +one of the assassins tried to put his hand in my mouth, and I bit his +hand off and spat it out, but instead of a hand it was a cat's paw. And +the assassins ran after me, and I ran, and ran, until at last they +caught me and tied me by the neck to a tree in this wood, and said to +me: 'Tomorrow we shall return here and then you will be dead with your +mouth open and we shall be able to carry off the pieces of gold that you +have hidden under your tongue." + +"And the four pieces--where have you put them?" asked the Fairy. + +"I have lost them!" said Pinocchio, but he was telling a lie, for he had +them in his pocket. + +He had scarcely told the lie when his nose, which was already long, grew +at once two inches longer. + +"And where did you lose them?" + +"In the wood near here." + +At this second lie his nose went on growing. + +"If you have lost them in the wood near here," said the Fairy, "we will +look for them and we shall find them: because everything that is lost in +that wood is always found." + +"Ah! now I remember all about it," replied the puppet, getting quite +confused; "I didn't lose the four gold pieces, I swallowed them whilst I +was drinking your medicine." + +At this lie his nose grew to such an extraordinary length that poor +Pinocchio could not move in any direction. If he turned to one side he +struck his nose against the bed or the window-panes, if he turned to the +other he struck it against the walls or the door, if he raised his head +a little he ran the risk of sticking it into one of the Fairy's eyes. + +And the Fairy looked at him and laughed. + +"What are you laughing at?" asked the puppet, very confused and anxious +at finding his nose growing so prodigiously. + +"I am laughing at the lie you have told." + +"And how can you possibly know that I have told a lie?" + +"Lies, my dear boy, are found out immediately, because they are of two +sorts. There are lies that have short legs, and lies that have long +noses. Your lie, as it happens, is one of those that have a long nose." + +Pinocchio, not knowing where to hide himself for shame, tried to run out +of the room; but he did not succeed, for his nose had increased so much +that it could no longer pass through the door. + +[Illustration: SPLASH! SPLASH! THEY FELL INTO THE VERY MIDDLE OF THE +DITCH] + + + + +[Illustration] + +CHAPTER XVIII + +PINOCCHIO AGAIN MEETS THE FOX AND THE CAT + + +The Fairy allowed the puppet to cry for a good half-hour over his nose, +which could no longer pass through the door of the room. This she did to +give him a severe lesson, and to correct him of the disgraceful fault of +telling lies--the most disgraceful fault that a boy can have. But when +she saw him quite disfigured and his eyes swollen out of his head from +weeping, she felt full of compassion for him. She therefore beat her +hands together and at that signal a thousand large birds called +Woodpeckers flew in at the window. They immediately perched on +Pinocchio's nose and began to peck at it with such zeal that in a few +minutes his enormous and ridiculous nose was reduced to its usual +dimensions. + +"What a good Fairy you are," said the puppet, drying his eyes, "and how +much I love you!" + +"I love you also," answered the Fairy; "and if you will remain with me +you shall be my little brother and I will be your good little sister." + +"I would remain willingly if it were not for my poor papa." + +"I have thought of everything. I have already let your father know, and +he will be here tonight." + +"Really?" shouted Pinocchio, jumping for joy. "Then, little Fairy, if +you consent, I should like to go and meet him. I am so anxious to give a +kiss to that poor old man, who has suffered so much on my account, that +I am counting the minutes." + +"Go, then, but be careful not to lose yourself. Take the road through +the wood and I am sure that you will meet him." + +Pinocchio set out, and as soon as he was in the wood he began to run +like a kid. But when he had reached a certain spot, almost in front of +the Big Oak, he stopped, because he thought he heard people amongst the +bushes. In fact, two persons came out on to the road. Can you guess who +they were? His two traveling companions, the Fox and the Cat, with whom +he had supped at the inn of The Red Craw-Fish. + +"Why, here is our dear Pinocchio!" cried the Fox, kissing and embracing +him. "How came you to be here?" + +"How come you to be here?" repeated the Cat. + +"It is a long story," answered the puppet, "which I will tell you when I +have time. But do you know that the other night, when you left me alone +at the inn, I met with assassins on the road?" + +"Assassins! Oh, poor Pinocchio! And what did they want?" + +"They wanted to rob me of my gold pieces." + +"Villains!" said the Fox. + +"Infamous villains!" repeated the Cat. + +"But I ran away from them," continued the puppet, "and they followed me, +and at last they overtook me and hung me to a branch of that oak tree." + +And Pinocchio pointed to the Big Oak, which was two steps from them. + +"Is it possible to hear of anything more dreadful?" said the Fox. "In +what a world we are condemned to live! Where can respectable people like +us find a safe refuge?" + +Whilst they were thus talking Pinocchio observed that the Cat was lame +of her front right leg, for in fact she had lost her paw with all its +claws. He therefore asked her: + +"What have you done with your paw?" + +The Cat tried to answer, but became confused. Therefore the Fox said +immediately: + +"My friend is too modest, and that is why she doesn't speak. I will +answer for her. I must tell you that an hour ago we met an old wolf on +the road, almost fainting from want of food, who asked alms of us. Not +having so much as a fish-bone to give him, what did my friend, who has +really the heart of a Cæsar, do? She bit off one of her fore paws and +threw it to that poor beast that he might appease his hunger." + +And the Fox, in relating this, dried a tear. + +Pinocchio was also touched and, approaching the Cat, he whispered into +her ear: + +"If all cats resembled you, how fortunate the mice would be!" + +"And now, what are you doing here?" asked the Fox of the puppet. + +"I am waiting for my papa, whom I expect to arrive every moment." + +"And your gold pieces?" + +"I have got them in my pocket, all but one that I spent at the inn of +The Red Craw-Fish." + +"And to think that, instead of four pieces, by tomorrow they might +become one or two thousand! Why do you not listen to my advice? Why will +you not go and bury them in the Field of Miracles?" + +"Today it is impossible; I will go another day." + +"Another day it will be too late!" said the Fox. + +"Why?" + +"Because the field has been bought by a gentleman and after tomorrow no +one will be allowed to bury money there." + +"How far off is the Field of Miracles?" + +"Not two miles. Will you come with us? In half an hour you will be +there. You can bury your money at once, and in a few minutes you will +collect two thousand, and this evening you will return with your pockets +full. Will you come with us?" + +Pinocchio thought of the good Fairy, old Geppetto, and the warnings of +the Talking-Cricket, and he hesitated a little before answering. He +ended, however, by doing as all boys do who have not a grain of sense +and who have no heart--he ended by giving his head a little shake and +saying to the Fox and the Cat: + +"Let us go: I will come with you." + +And they went. + +After having walked half the day they reached a town that was called +"Trap for Blockheads." As soon as Pinocchio entered this town he saw +that the streets were crowded with dogs who were yawning from hunger, +shorn sheep trembling with cold, cocks without combs begging for a grain +of Indian corn, large butterflies that could no longer fly because they +had sold their beautiful colored wings, peacocks which had no tails and +were ashamed to be seen, and pheasants that went scratching about in a +subdued fashion, mourning for their brilliant gold and silver feathers +gone forever. + +In the midst of this crowd of beggars and shamefaced creatures some +lordly carriage passed from time to time containing a Fox, or a thieving +Magpie, or some other ravenous bird of prey. + +"And where is the Field of Miracles?" asked Pinocchio. + +"It is here, not two steps from us." + +They crossed the town and, having gone beyond the walls, they came to a +solitary field. + +"Here we are," said the Fox to the puppet. "Now stoop down and dig with +your hands a little hole in the ground and put your gold pieces into +it." + +Pinocchio obeyed. He dug a hole, put into it the four gold pieces that +he had left, and then filled up the hole with a little earth. + +"Now, then," said the Fox, "go to that canal close to us, fetch a can of +water, and water the ground where you have sowed them." + +Pinocchio went to the canal, and, as he had no can, he took off one of +his old shoes and filling it with water he watered the ground over the +hole. + +He then asked: + +"Is there anything else to be done?" + +"Nothing else," answered the Fox. "We can now go away. You can return in +about twenty minutes and you will find a shrub already pushing through +the ground, with its branches quite loaded with money." + +The poor puppet, beside himself with joy, thanked the Fox and the Cat a +thousand times, and promised them a beautiful present. + +"We wish for no presents," answered the two rascals. "It is enough for +us to have taught you the way to enrich yourself without undergoing hard +work, and we are as happy as people out for a holiday." + +Thus saying, they took leave of Pinocchio, and, wishing him a good +harvest, went about their business. + + + + +[Illustration] + +CHAPTER XIX + +PINOCCHIO IS ROBBED OF HIS MONEY + + +The puppet returned to the town and began to count the minutes one by +one, and when he thought that it must be time he took the road leading +to the Field of Miracles. + +And as he walked along with hurried steps his heart beat fast--tic, tac, +tic, tac--like a drawing-room clock when it is really going well. +Meanwhile he was thinking to himself: + +"And if, instead of a thousand gold pieces, I were to find on the +branches of the tree two thousand? And instead of two thousand, +supposing I found five thousand? and instead of five thousand, that I +found a hundred thousand? Oh! what a fine gentleman I should then +become! I would have a beautiful palace, a thousand little wooden horses +and a thousand stables to amuse myself with, a cellar full of currant +wine and sweet syrups, and a library quite full of candies, tarts, +plum-cakes, macaroons, and biscuits with cream." + +Whilst he was building these castles in the air he had arrived in the +neighborhood of the field, and he stopped to look about for a tree with +its branches laden with money, but he saw nothing. He advanced another +hundred steps--nothing; he entered the field and went right up to the +little hole where he had buried his sovereigns--and nothing. He then +became very thoughtful and, forgetting the rules of society and good +manners, he took his hands out of his pocket and gave his head a long +scratch. + +At that moment he heard an explosion of laughter close to him and, +looking up, he saw a large Parrot perched on a tree, who was pruning the +few feathers he had left. + +"Why are you laughing?" asked Pinocchio in an angry voice. + +"I am laughing because in pruning my feathers I tickled myself under my +wings." + +The puppet did not answer, but went to the canal and, filling the same +old shoe full of water, he proceeded to water the earth afresh that +covered his gold pieces. + +While he was thus occupied another laugh, still more impertinent than +the first, rang out in the silence of that solitary place. + +"Once for all," shouted Pinocchio in a rage, "may I know, you +ill-educated Parrot, what you are laughing at?" + +"I am laughing at those simpletons who believe in all the foolish things +that are told them, and who allow themselves to be entrapped by those +who are more cunning than they are." + +"Are you perhaps speaking of me?" + +"Yes, I am speaking of you, poor Pinocchio--of you who are simple +enough to believe that money can be sown and gathered in fields in the +same way as beans and gourds. I also believed it once and today I am +suffering for it. Today--but it is too late--I have at last learned that +to put a few pennies honestly together it is necessary to know how to +earn them, either by the work of our own hands or by the cleverness of +our own brains." + +"I don't understand you," said the puppet, who was already trembling +with fear. + +"Have patience! I will explain myself better," rejoined the Parrot. "You +must know, then, that while you were in the town the Fox and the Cat +returned to the field; they took the buried money and then fled like the +wind. And now he that catches them will be clever." + +Pinocchio remained with his mouth open and, not choosing to believe the +Parrot's words, he began with his hands and nails to dig up the earth +that he had watered. And he dug, and dug, and dug, and made such a deep +hole that a rick of straw might have stood upright in it, but the money +was no longer there. + +He rushed back to the town in a state of desperation and went at once to +the Courts of Justice to denounce the two knaves who had robbed him to +the judge. + +The judge was a big ape of the gorilla tribe, an old ape respectable for +his age, his white beard, but especially for his gold spectacles without +glasses that he was always obliged to wear, on account of an +inflammation of the eyes that had tormented him for many years. + +Pinocchio related in the presence of the judge all the particulars of +the infamous fraud of which he had been the victim. He gave the names, +the surnames, and other details, of the two rascals, and ended by +demanding justice. + +The judge listened with great benignity; took a lively interest in the +story; was much touched and moved; and when the puppet had nothing +further to say he stretched out his hand and rang a bell. + +At this summons two mastiffs immediately appeared dressed as gendarmes. +The judge then, pointing to Pinocchio, said to them: + +"That poor devil has been robbed of four gold pieces; take him away and +put him immediately into prison." + +The puppet was petrified on hearing this unexpected sentence and tried +to protest; but the gendarmes, to avoid losing time, stopped his mouth +and carried him off to the lockup. + +And there he remained for four months--four long months--and he would +have remained longer still if a fortunate chance had not released him. +The young Emperor who reigned over the town of "Trap for Blockheads," +having won a splendid victory over his enemies, ordered great public +rejoicings. There were illuminations, fireworks, horse races and +velocipede races, and as a further sign of triumph he commanded that the +prisons should be opened and all the prisoners freed. + +"If the others are to be let out of prison, I will go also," said +Pinocchio to the jailor. + +"No, not you," said the jailor, "because you do not belong to the +fortunate class." + +"I beg your pardon," replied Pinocchio, "I am also a criminal." + +"In that case you are perfectly right," said the jailor, and, taking off +his hat and bowing to him respectfully, he opened the prison doors and +let him escape. + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +PINOCCHIO STARTS BACK TO THE FAIRY'S HOUSE + + +You can imagine Pinocchio's joy when he found himself free. Without +stopping to take breath he immediately left the town and took the road +that led to the Fairy's house. + +On account of the rainy weather the road had become a marsh into which +he sank knee-deep. But the puppet would not give in. Tormented by the +desire of seeing his father and his little sister with blue hair again, +he ran on like a greyhound, and as he ran he was splashed with mud from +head to foot. And he said to himself as he went along: "How many +misfortunes have happened to me. But I deserved them, for I am an +obstinate, passionate puppet. I am always bent upon having my own way, +without listening to those who wish me well, and who have a thousand +times more sense than I have! But from this time forth I am determined +to change and to become orderly and obedient. For at last I have seen +that disobedient boys come to no good and gain nothing. And has my papa +waited for me? Shall I find him at the Fairy's house? Poor man, it is so +long since I last saw him: I am dying to embrace him and to cover him +with kisses! And will the Fairy forgive me my bad conduct to her? To +think of all the kindness and loving care I received from her, to think +that if I am now alive I owe it to her! Would it be possible to find a +more ungrateful boy, or one with less heart than I have?" + +Whilst he was saying this he stopped suddenly, frightened to death, and +made four steps backwards. + +What had he seen? + +He had seen an immense Serpent stretched across the road. Its skin was +green, it had red eyes, and a pointed tail that was smoking like a +chimney. + +It would be impossible to imagine the puppet's terror. He walked away to +a safe distance and, sitting down on a heap of stones, waited until the +Serpent should have gone about its business and left the road clear. + +He waited an hour; two hours; three hours; but the Serpent was always +there, and even from a distance he could see the red light of his fiery +eyes and the column of smoke that ascended from the end of his tail. + +At last Pinocchio, trying to feel courageous, approached to within a few +steps, and said to the Serpent in a little soft, insinuating voice: + +"Excuse me. Sir Serpent, but would you be so good as to move a little to +one side--just enough to allow me to pass?" + +He might as well have spoken to the wall. Nobody moved. + +He began again in the same soft voice: + +"You must know. Sir Serpent, that I am on my way home, where my father +is waiting for me, and it is such a long time since I saw him last! Will +you, therefore, allow me to continue my road?" + +He waited for a sign in answer to this request, but there was none; in +fact, the Serpent, who up to that moment had been sprightly and full of +life, became motionless and almost rigid. He shut his eyes and his tail +ceased smoking. + +"Can he really be dead?" said Pinocchio, rubbing his hands with delight. +He determined to jump over him and reach the other side of the road. +But, just as he was going to leap, the Serpent raised himself suddenly +on end, like a spring set in motion; and the puppet, drawing back, in +his terror caught his feet and fell to the ground. + +And he fell so awkwardly that his head stuck in the mud and his legs +went into the air. + +At the sight of the puppet kicking violently with his head in the mud, +the Serpent went into convulsions of laughter, and laughed, and laughed, +until he broke a blood-vessel in his chest and died. And that time he +was really dead. + +Pinocchio then set off running, in hopes that he should reach the +Fairy's house before dark. But before long he began to suffer so +dreadfully from hunger that he could not bear it, and he jumped into a +field by the wayside, intending to pick some bunches of Muscatel grapes. +Oh, that he had never done it! + +He had scarcely reached the vines when crack--his legs were caught +between two cutting iron bars and he became so giddy with pain that +stars of every color danced before his eyes. + +The poor puppet had been taken in a trap put there to capture some big +polecats which were the scourge of the poultry-yards in the +neighborhood. + + + + +[Illustration] + +CHAPTER XXI + +PINOCCHIO ACTS AS WATCH-DOG + + +Pinocchio began to cry and scream, but his tears and groans were +useless, for there was not a house to be seen, and not a living soul +passed down the road. + +At last night came on. + +Partly from the pain of the trap, that cut his legs, and a little from +fear at finding himself alone in the dark in the midst of the fields, +the puppet was on the point of fainting. Just at that moment he saw a +Firefly flitting over his head. He called to it and said: + +"Oh, little Firefly, will you have pity on me and liberate me from this +torture?" + +"Poor boy!" said the Firefly, stopping and looking at him with +compassion; "but how could your legs have been caught by those sharp +irons?" + +"I came into the field to pick two bunches of these Muscatel grapes, +and--" + +"But were the grapes yours?" + +"No." + +"Then who taught you to carry off other people's property?" + +"I was so hungry." + +"Hunger, my boy, is not a good reason for appropriating what does not +belong to us." + +"That is true, that is true!" said Pinocchio, crying. "I will never do +it again." + +At this moment their conversation was interrupted by a slight sound of +approaching footsteps. It was the owner of the field coming on tiptoe to +see if one of the polecats that ate his chickens during the night had +been caught in his trap. + +His astonishment was great when, having brought out his lantern from +under his coat, he perceived that instead of a polecat a boy had been +taken. + +"Ah, little thief," said the angry peasant, "then it is you who carries +off my chickens?" + +"No, it is not I; indeed it is not!" cried Pinocchio, sobbing. "I only +came into the field to take two bunches of grapes!" + +"He who steals grapes is quite capable of stealing chickens. Leave it to +me, I will give you a lesson that you will not forget in a hurry." + +Opening the trap, he seized the puppet by the collar and carried him to +his house as if he had been a young lamb. + +When he reached the yard in front of the house he threw him roughly on +the ground and, putting his foot on his neck, he said to him: + +"It is late and I want to go to bed; we will settle our accounts +tomorrow. In the meanwhile, as the dog who kept guard at night died +today, you shall take his place at once. You shall be my watch-dog." + +And, taking a great collar covered with brass knobs, he strapped it so +tightly round his throat that he was not able to draw his head out of +it. A heavy chain attached to the collar was fastened to the wall. + +"If it should rain tonight," he then said to him, "you can go and lie +down in the kennel; the straw that has served as a bed for my poor dog +for the last four years is still there. If unfortunately robbers should +come, remember to keep your ears pricked and to bark." + +After giving him this last injunction the man went into the house, shut +the door, and put up the chain. + +Poor Pinocchio remained lying on the ground more dead than alive from +the effects of cold, hunger and fear. From time to time he put his hands +angrily to the collar that tightened his throat and said, crying: + +"It serves me right! Decidedly, it serves me right! I was determined to +be a vagabond and a good-for-nothing. I would listen to bad companions, +and that is why I always meet with misfortunes. If I had been a good +little boy, as so many are; if I had remained at home with my poor papa, +I should not now be in the midst of the fields and obliged to be the +watch-dog to a peasant's house. Oh, if I could be born again! But now it +is too late and I must have patience!" + +Relieved by this little outburst, which came straight from his heart, he +went into the dog-kennel and fell asleep. + + + + +[Illustration] + +CHAPTER XXII + +PINOCCHIO DISCOVERS THE ROBBERS + + +He had been sleeping heavily for about two hours when, towards midnight, he +was aroused by a whispering of strange voices that seemed to come from the +courtyard. Putting the point of his nose out of the kennel, he saw four +little beasts with dark fur, that looked like cats, standing consulting +together. But they were not cats; they were polecats--carnivorous little +animals, especially greedy for eggs and young chickens. One of the +polecats, leaving his companions, came to the opening of the kennel and +said in a low voice: + +"Good evening, Melampo." + +"My name is not Melampo," answered the puppet. + +"Oh! then who are you?" + +"I am Pinocchio." + +"And what are you doing here?" + +"I am acting as watch-dog." + +"Then where is Melampo? Where is the old dog who lived in this kennel?" + +"He died this morning." + +"Is he dead? Poor beast! He was so good. But, judging you by your face, +I should say that you were also a good dog." + +"I beg your pardon, I am not a dog." + +"Not a dog? Then what are you?" + +"I am a puppet." + +"And you are acting as watch-dog?" + +"That is only too true--as a punishment." + +"Well, then, I will offer you the same conditions that we made with the +deceased Melampo, and I am sure you will be satisfied with them." + +"What are these conditions?" + +"One night in every week you are to permit us to visit this poultry-yard +as we have hitherto done, and to carry off eight chickens. Of these +chickens seven are to be eaten by us, and one we will give to you, on +the express understanding, however, that you pretend to be asleep, and +that it never enters your head to bark and to waken the peasant." + +"Did Melampo act in this manner?" asked Pinocchio. + +"Certainly, and we were always on the best terms with him. Sleep +quietly, and rest assured that before we go we will leave by the kennel +a beautiful chicken ready plucked for your breakfast tomorrow. Have we +understood each other clearly?" + +"Only too clearly!" answered Pinocchio, and he shook his head +threateningly, as much as to say: "You shall hear of this shortly!" + +The four polecats, thinking themselves safe, repaired to the +poultry-yard, which was close to the kennel, and, having opened the +wooden gate with their teeth and claws, they slipped in one by one. But +they had only just passed through when they heard the gate shut behind +them with great violence. + +It was Pinocchio who had shut it, and for greater security he put a +large stone against it to keep it closed. + +He then began to bark, and he barked exactly like a watch-dog: "Bow-wow, +bow-wow." + +Hearing the barking, the peasant jumped out of bed and, taking his gun, +he came to the window and asked: + +"What is the matter?" + +"There are robbers!" answered Pinocchio. + +"Where are they?" + +"In the poultry-yard." + +"I will come down directly." + +In fact, in less time than it takes to say "Amen!" the peasant came +down. He rushed into the poultry-yard, caught the polecats, and, having +put them into a sack, he said to them in a tone of great satisfaction: + +"At last you have fallen into my hands! I might punish you, but I am not +so cruel. I will content myself instead by carrying you in the morning +to the innkeeper of the neighboring village, who will skin and cook you +as hares with a sweet and sour sauce. It is an honor that you don't +deserve, but generous people like me don't consider such trifles!" + +He then approached Pinocchio and began to caress him, and amongst other +things he asked him: + +"How did you manage to discover the four thieves? To think that Melampo, +my faithful Melampo, never found out anything!" + +The puppet might then have told him the whole story; he might have +informed him of the disgraceful conditions that had been made between +the dog and the polecats; but he remembered that the dog was dead and he +thought to himself: + +"What is the good of accusing the dead? The dead are dead, and the best +thing to be done is to leave them in peace!" + +"When the thieves got into the yard, were you asleep or awake?" the +peasant went on to ask him. + +"I was asleep," answered Pinocchio, "but the polecats woke me with their +chatter and one of them came to the kennel and said to me: 'If you +promise not to bark, and not to wake the master, we will make you a +present of a fine chicken ready plucked!' To think that they should have +had the audacity to make such a proposal to me! For, although I am a +puppet, possessing perhaps nearly all the faults in the world, there is +one that I certainly will never be guilty of, that of making terms with, +and sharing the gains of, dishonest people!" + +"Well said, my boy!" cried the peasant, slapping him on the shoulder. +"Such sentiments do you honor; and as a proof of my gratitude I will at +once set you at liberty, and you may return home." + +And he removed the dog-collar. + + + + +[Illustration] + +CHAPTER XXIII + +PINOCCHIO FLIES TO THE SEASHORE + + +As soon as Pinocchio was released from the heavy and humiliating weight +of the dog-collar he started off across the fields and never stopped +until he had reached the high road that led to the Fairy's house. He +could see amongst the trees the top of the Big Oak to which he had been +hung, but, although he looked in every direction, the little house +belonging to the beautiful Child with the blue hair was nowhere visible. + +Seized with a sad presentiment, he began to run with all the strength he +had left and in a few minutes he reached the field where the little +white house had once stood. But it was no longer there. Instead of the +house he saw a marble stone, on which were engraved these sad words: + + HERE LIES + THE CHILD WITH THE BLUE HAIR + WHO DIED FROM SORROW + BECAUSE SHE WAS ABANDONED BY HER + LITTLE BROTHER PINOCCHIO + +I leave you to imagine the puppet's feelings when he had with difficulty +spelled out this epitaph. He fell with his face on the ground and, +covering the tombstone with a thousand kisses, burst into an agony of +tears. He cried all night and when morning came he was still crying, +although he had no tears left, and his sobs and lamentations were so +acute and heart-breaking that they aroused the echoes in the surrounding +hills. + +And as he wept he said: + +"Oh, little Fairy, why did you die? Why did I not die instead of you, I +who am so wicked, whilst you were so good? And my papa? Where can he be? +Oh, little Fairy, tell me where I can find him, for I want to remain +with him always and never leave him again, never again! Oh, little +Fairy, tell me that it is not true that you are dead! If you really love +your little brother, come to life again. Does it not grieve you to see +me alone and abandoned by everybody? If assassins come they will hang me +again to the branch of a tree, and then I should die indeed. What do you +imagine that I can do here alone in the world? Now that I have lost you +and my papa, who will give me food? Where shall I go to sleep at night? +Who will make me a new jacket? Oh, it would be better, a hundred times +better, for me to die also! Yes, I want to die--oh! oh! oh!" + +[Illustration: An Immense Serpent Stretched Across the Road] + +And in his despair he tried to tear his hair, but his hair was made +of wood so he could not even have the satisfaction of sticking his +fingers into it. + +Just then a large Pigeon flew over his head and, stopping with distended +wings, called down to him from a great height: + +"Tell me, child, what are you doing there?" + +"Don't you see? I am crying!" said Pinocchio, raising his head towards +the voice and rubbing his eyes with his jacket. + +"Tell me," continued the Pigeon, "amongst your companions, do you happen +to know a puppet who is called Pinocchio?" + +"Pinocchio? Did you say Pinocchio?" repeated the puppet, jumping quickly +to his feet. "I am Pinocchio!" + +At this answer the Pigeon descended rapidly to the ground. He was larger +than a turkey. + +"Do you also know Geppetto?" he asked. + +"Do I know him! He is my poor papa! Has he perhaps spoken to you of me? +Will you take me to him? Is he still alive? Answer me, for pity's sake: +is he still alive?" + +"I left him three days ago on the seashore." + +"What was he doing?" + +"He was building a little boat for himself, to cross the ocean. For more +than three months that poor man has been going all round the world +looking for you. Not having succeeded in finding you, he has now taken +it into his head to go to the distant countries of the New World in +search of you." + +"How far is it from here to the shore?" asked Pinocchio breathlessly. + +"More than six hundred miles." + +"Six hundred miles? Oh, beautiful Pigeon, what a fine thing it would be +to have your wings!" + +"If you wish to go, I will carry you there." + +"How?" + +"On my back. Do you weigh much?" + +"I weigh next to nothing. I am as light as a feather." + +And without waiting for more Pinocchio jumped at once on the Pigeon's +back and, putting a leg on each side of him as men do on horseback, he +exclaimed joyfully: + +"Gallop, gallop, my little horse, for I am anxious to arrive quickly!" + +The Pigeon took flight and in a few minutes had soared so high that they +almost touched the clouds. Finding himself at such an immense height the +puppet had the curiosity to turn and look down; but his head spun round +and he became so frightened to save himself from the danger of falling +he wound his arms tightly round the neck of his feathered steed. + +They flew all day. Towards evening the Pigeon said: + +"I am very thirsty!" + +"And I am very hungry!" rejoined Pinocchio. + +"Let us stop at that dovecote for a few minutes and then we will +continue our journey, so that we may reach the seashore by dawn +tomorrow." + +They went into a deserted dovecote, where they found nothing but a basin +full of water and a basket full of vetch. + +The puppet had never in his life been able to eat vetch: according to +him it made him sick. That evening, however, he ate to repletion, and +when he had nearly emptied the basket he turned to the Pigeon and said +to him: + +"I never could have believed that vetch was so good!" + +"Be assured, my boy," replied the Pigeon, "that when hunger is real, and +there is nothing else to eat, even vetch becomes delicious. Hunger +knows neither caprice nor greediness." + +Having quickly finished their little meal they recommenced their journey +and flew away. The following morning they reached the seashore. + +The Pigeon placed Pinocchio on the ground and, not wishing to be +troubled with thanks for having done a good action, flew quickly away +and disappeared. + +The shore was crowded with people who were looking out to sea, shouting +and gesticulating. + +"What has happened?" asked Pinocchio of an old woman. + +"A poor father who has lost his son has gone away in a boat to search +for him on the other side of the water, and today the sea is tempestuous +and the little boat is in danger of sinking." + +"Where is the little boat?" + +"It is out there in a line with my finger," said the old woman, pointing +to a little boat which, seen at that distance, looked like a nutshell +with a very little man in it. + +Pinocchio fixed his eyes on it and after looking attentively he gave a +piercing scream, crying: + +"It is my papa! It is my papa!" + +The boat, meanwhile, beaten by the fury of the waves, at one moment +disappeared in the trough of the sea, and the next came again to the +surface. Pinocchio, standing on the top of a high rock, kept calling to +his father by name, and making every kind of signal to him with his +hands, his handkerchief, and his cap. + +And, although he was so far off, Geppetto appeared to recognize his son, +for he also took off his cap and waved it, and tried by gestures to +make him understand that he would have returned if it had been possible, +but that the sea was so tempestuous that he could not use his oars or +approach the shore. + +Suddenly a tremendous wave rose and the boat disappeared. They waited, +hoping it would come again to the surface, but it was seen no more. + +"Poor man!" said the fishermen who were assembled on the shore; +murmuring a prayer, they turned to go home. + +Just then they heard a desperate cry and, looking back, they saw a +little boy who exclaimed, as he jumped from a rock into the sea: + +"I will save my papa!" + +Pinocchio, being made of wood, floated easily and he swam like a fish. +At one moment they saw him disappear under the water, carried down by +the fury of the waves, and next he reappeared struggling with a leg or +an arm. At last they lost sight of him and he was seen no more. + + + + +[Illustration] + +CHAPTER XXIV + +PINOCCHIO FINDS THE FAIRY AGAIN + + +Pinocchio, hoping to be in time to help his father, swam the whole +night. + +And what a horrible night it was! The rain came down in torrents, it +hailed, the thunder was frightful, and the flashes of lightning made it +as light as day. + +Towards morning he saw a long strip of land not far off. It was an +island in the midst of the sea. + +He tried his utmost to reach the shore, but it was all in vain. The +waves, racing and tumbling over each other, knocked him about as if he +had been a stick or a wisp of straw. At last, fortunately for him, a +billow rolled up with such fury and impetuosity that he was lifted up +and thrown far on to the sands. + +He fell with such force that, as he struck the ground, his ribs and all +his joints cracked, but he comforted himself, saying: + +"This time also I have made a wonderful escape!" + +Little by little the sky cleared, the sun shone out in all his splendor, +and the sea became as quiet and as smooth as oil. + +The puppet put his clothes in the sun to dry and began to look in every +direction in hopes of seeing on the vast expanse of water a little boat +with a little man in it. But, although he looked and looked, he could +see nothing but the sky, and the sea, and the sail of some ship, but so +far away that it seemed no bigger than a fly. + +"If I only knew what this island was called!" he said to himself. "If I +only knew whether it was inhabited by civilized people--I mean, by +people who have not the bad habit of hanging boys to the branches of the +trees. But whom can I ask? Whom, if there is nobody?" + +This idea of finding himself alone, alone, all alone, in the midst of +this great uninhabited country, made him so melancholy that he was just +beginning to cry. But at that moment, at a short distance from the +shore, he saw a big fish swimming by; it was going quietly on its own +business with its head out of the water. + +Not knowing its name, the puppet called to it in a loud voice to make +himself heard: + +"Eh, Sir Fish, will you permit me a word with you?" + +"Two if you like," answered the fish, who was a Dolphin, and so polite +that few similar are to be found in any sea in the world. + +"Will you be kind enough to tell me if there are villages in this island +where it would be possible to obtain something to eat, without running +the danger of being eaten?" + +"Certainly there are," replied the Dolphin. "Indeed, you will find one +at a short distance from here." + +"And what road must I take to go there?" + +"You must take that path to your left and follow your nose. You cannot +make a mistake." + +"Will you tell me another thing? You who swim about the sea all day and +all night, have you by chance met a little boat with my papa in it?" + +"And who is your papa?" + +"He is the best papa in the world, whilst it would be difficult to find +a worse son than I am." + +"During the terrible storm last night," answered the Dolphin, "the +little boat must have gone to the bottom." + +"And my papa?" + +"He must have been swallowed by the terrible Dog-Fish, who for some days +past has been spreading devastation and ruin in our waters." + +"Is this Dog-Fish very big?" asked Pinocchio, who was already beginning +to quake with fear. + +"Big!" replied the Dolphin. "That you may form some idea of his size, I +need only tell you that he is bigger than a five-storied house, and that +his mouth is so enormous and so deep that a railway train with its +smoking engine could pass down his throat." + +"Mercy upon us!" exclaimed the terrified puppet; and, putting on his +clothes with the greatest haste, he said to the Dolphin: + +"Good-bye, Sir Fish; excuse the trouble I have given you, and many +thanks for your politeness." + +He then took the path that had been pointed out to him and began to +walk fast--so fast, indeed, that he was almost running. And at the +slightest noise he turned to look behind him, fearing that he might see +the terrible Dog-Fish with a railway train in its mouth following him. + +After a walk of half an hour he reached a little village called "The +Village of the Industrious Bees." The road was alive with people running +here and there to attend to their business; all were at work, all had +something to do. You could not have found an idler or a vagabond, not +even if you had searched for him with a lighted lamp. + +"Ah!" said that lazy Pinocchio at once, "I see that this village will +never suit me! I wasn't born to work!" + +In the meanwhile he was tormented by hunger, for he had eaten nothing +for twenty-four hours--not even vetch. What was he to do? + +There were only two ways by which he could obtain food--either by asking +for a little work, or by begging for a nickel or for a mouthful of +bread. + +He was ashamed to beg, for his father had always preached to him that no +one had a right to beg except the aged and the infirm. The really poor +in this world, deserving of compassion and assistance, are only those +who from age or sickness are no longer able to earn their own bread with +the labor of their hands. It is the duty of every one else to work; and +if they will not work, so much the worse for them if they suffer from +hunger. + +At that moment a man came down the road, tired and panting for breath. +He was dragging, alone, with fatigue and difficulty, two carts full of +charcoal. + +Pinocchio, judging by his face that he was a kind man, approached him +and, casting down his eyes with shame, he said to him in a low voice: + +"Would you have the charity to give me a nickel, for I am dying of +hunger?" + +"You shall have not only a nickel," said the man, "but I will give you a +quarter, provided that you help me to drag home these two carts of +charcoal." + +"I am surprised at you!" answered the puppet in a tone of offense. "Let +me tell you that I am not accustomed to do the work of a donkey: I have +never drawn a cart!" + +"So much the better for you," answered the man. "Then, my boy, if you +are really dying of hunger, eat two fine slices of your pride, and be +careful not to get indigestion." + +A few minutes afterwards a mason passed down the road carrying on his +shoulders a basket of lime. + +"Would you have the charity, good man, to give a nickel to a poor boy +who is yawning for want of food?" + +"Willingly," answered the man. "Come with me and carry the lime, and +instead of a nickel I will give you a quarter." + +"But the lime is heavy," objected Pinocchio, "and I don't want to tire +myself." + +"If you don't want to tire yourself, then, my boy, amuse yourself with +yawning, and much good may it do you." + +In less than half an hour twenty other people went by, and Pinocchio +asked charity of them all, but they all answered: + +"Are you not ashamed to beg? Instead of idling about the roads, go and +look for a little work and learn to earn your bread." + +At last a nice little woman carrying two cans of water came by. + +"Will you let me drink a little water out of your can?" asked Pinocchio, +who was burning with thirst. + +"Drink, my boy, if you wish it!" said the little woman, setting down the +two cans. + +Pinocchio drank like a fish, and as he dried his mouth he mumbled: + +"I have quenched my thirst. If I could only appease my hunger!" + +The good woman, hearing these words, said at once: + +"If you will help me to carry home these two cans of water I will give +you a fine piece of bread." + +Pinocchio looked at the can and answered neither yes nor no. + +"And besides the bread you shall have a nice dish of cauliflower dressed +with oil and vinegar," added the good woman. + +Pinocchio gave another look at the can and answered neither yes nor no. + +"And after the cauliflower I will give you a beautiful bonbon full of +syrup." + +The temptation of this last dainty was so great that Pinocchio could +resist no longer and with an air of decision he said: + +"I must have patience! I will carry the can to your house." + +The can was heavy and the puppet, not being strong enough to carry it in +his hand, had to resign himself to carry it on his head. + +When they reached the house the good little woman made Pinocchio sit +down at a small table already laid and she placed before him the bread, +the cauliflower and the bonbon. + +Pinocchio did not eat, he devoured. His stomach was like an apartment +that had been left empty and uninhabited for five months. + +When his ravenous hunger was somewhat appeased he raised his head to +thank his benefactress, but he had no sooner looked at her than he gave +a prolonged "Oh-h!" of astonishment and continued staring at her with +wide open eyes, his fork in the air, and his mouth full of bread and +cauliflower, as if he had been bewitched. + +"What has surprised you so much?" asked the good woman, laughing. + +"It is--" answered the puppet, "it is--it is--that you are like--that +you remind me--yes, yes, yes, the same voice--the same eyes--the same +hair--yes, yes, yes--you also have blue hair--as she had--Oh, little +Fairy! tell me that it is you, really you! Do not make me cry any more! +If you knew--I have cried so much, I have suffered so much." + +And, throwing himself at her feet on the floor, Pinocchio embraced the +knees of the mysterious little woman and began to cry bitterly. + + + + +[Illustration] + +CHAPTER XXV + +PINOCCHIO PROMISES THE FAIRY TO BE GOOD + + +At first the good little woman maintained that she was not the little +Fairy with blue hair, but, seeing that she was found out and not wishing +to continue the comedy any longer, she ended by making herself known, +and she said to Pinocchio: + +"You little rogue! how did you ever discover who I was?" + +"It was my great affection for you that told me." + +"Do you remember? You left me a child, and now that you have found me +again I am a woman--a woman almost old enough to be your mamma." + +"I am delighted at that, for now, instead of calling you little sister, +I will call you mamma. I have wished for such a long time to have a +mamma like other boys! But how did you manage to grow so fast?" + +"That is a secret." + +"Teach it to me, for I should also like to grow. Don't you see? I always +remain no bigger than a ninepin." + +"But you cannot grow," replied the Fairy. + +"Why?" + +"Because puppets never grow. They are born puppets, live puppets, and +die puppets." + +"Oh, I am sick of being a puppet!" cried Pinocchio, giving himself a +slap. "It is time that I became a man." + +"And you will become one, if you know how to deserve it." + +"Not really? And what can I do to deserve it?" + +"A very easy thing: by learning to be a good boy." + +"And you think I am not?" + +"You are quite the contrary. Good boys are obedient, and you--" + +"And I never obey." + +"Good boys like to learn and to work, and you--" + +"And I instead lead an idle, vagabond life the year through." + +"Good boys always speak the truth." + +"And I always tell lies." + +"Good boys go willingly to school." + +"And school gives me pain all over the body. But from today I will +change my life." + +"Do you promise me?" + +"I promise you. I will become a good little boy, and I will be the +consolation of my papa. Where is my poor papa at this moment?" + +"I do not know." + +"Shall I ever have the happiness of seeing him again and kissing him?" + +"I think so; indeed, I am sure of it." + +At this answer Pinocchio was so delighted that he took the Fairy's hands +and began to kiss them with such fervor that he seemed beside himself. +Then, raising his face and looking at her lovingly, he asked: + +"Tell me, little mamma: then it was not true that you were dead?" + +"It seems not," said the Fairy, smiling. + +"If you only knew the sorrow I felt and the tightening of my throat when +I read, 'Here lies--'" + +"I know it, and it is on that account that I have forgiven you. I saw +from the sincerity of your grief that you had a good heart; and when +boys have good hearts, even if they are scamps and have got bad habits, +there is always something to hope for; that is, there is always hope +that they will turn to better ways. That is why I came to look for you +here. I will be your mamma." + +"Oh, how delightful!" shouted Pinocchio, jumping for joy. + +"You must obey me and do everything that I bid you." + +"Willingly, willingly, willingly!" + +"Tomorrow," rejoined the Fairy, "you will begin to go to school." + +Pinocchio became at once a little less joyful. + +"Then you must choose an art, or a trade, according to your own wishes." + +Pinocchio became very grave. + +"What are you muttering between your teeth?" asked the Fairy in an +angry voice. + +"I was saying," moaned the puppet in a low voice, "that it seemed to me +too late for me to go to school now." + +"No, sir. Keep it in mind that it is never too late to learn and to +instruct ourselves." + +"But I do not wish to follow either an art or a trade." + +"Why?" + +"Because it tires me to work." + +"My boy," said the Fairy, "those who talk in that way end almost always +either in prison or in the hospital. Let me tell you that every man, +whether he is born rich or poor, is obliged to do something in this +world--to occupy himself, to work. Woe to those who lead slothful lives. +Sloth is a dreadful illness and must be cured at once, in childhood. If +not, when we are old it can never be cured." + +Pinocchio was touched by these words and, lifting his head quickly, he +said to the Fairy: + +"I will study, I will work, I will do all that you tell me, for indeed I +have become weary of being a puppet, and I wish at any price to become a +boy. You promised me that I should, did you not?" + +"I did promise you, and it now depends upon yourself." + + + + +[Illustration] + +CHAPTER XXVI + +THE TERRIBLE DOG-FISH + + +The following day Pinocchio went to the government school. Imagine the +delight of all the little rogues, when they saw a puppet walk into their +school! They set up a roar of laughter that never ended. They played him +all sorts of tricks. One boy carried off his cap, another pulled his +jacket behind; one tried to give him a pair of inky mustachios just +under his nose, and another attempted to tie strings to his feet and +hands to make him dance. + +For a short time Pinocchio pretended not to care and got on as well as +he could; but at last, losing all patience, he turned to those who were +teasing him most and making game of him, and said to them, looking very +angry: + +"Beware, boys! I have not come here to be your buffoon. I respect +others, and I intend to be respected." + +[Illustration: "Oh, I Am Sick of Being a Puppet!" Cried Pinocchio] + +"Well said, boaster! You have spoken like a book!" howled the young +rascals, convulsed with mad laughter, and one of them, more impertinent +than the others, stretched out his hand, intending to seize the puppet +by the end of his nose. + +But he was not in time, for Pinocchio stuck his leg out from under the +table and gave him a great kick on his shins. + +"Oh, what hard feet!" roared the boy, rubbing the bruise that the puppet +had given him. + +"And what elbows! even harder than his feet!" said another, who for his +rude tricks had received a blow in the stomach. + +But, nevertheless, the kick and the blow acquired at once for Pinocchio +the sympathy and the esteem of all the boys in the school. They all made +friends with him and liked him heartily. + +And even the master praised him, for he found him attentive, studious +and intelligent--always the first to come to school, and the last to +leave when school was over. + +But he had one fault: he made too many friends, and amongst them were +several young rascals well known for their dislike to study and love of +mischief. + +The master warned him every day, and even the good Fairy never failed to +tell him and to repeat constantly: + +"Take care, Pinocchio! Those bad school-fellows of yours will end sooner +or later by making you lose all love of study, and perhaps they may even +bring upon you some great misfortune." + +"There is no fear of that!" answered the puppet, shrugging his shoulders +and touching his forehead as much as to say: "There is so much sense +here!" + +Now it happened that one fine day, as he was on his way to school, he +met several of his usual companions who, coming up to him, asked: + +"Have you heard the great news?" + +"No." + +"In the sea near here a Dog-Fish has appeared as big as a mountain." + +"Not really? Can it be the same Dog-Fish that was there when my papa was +drowned?" + +"We are going to the shore to see him. Will you come with us?" + +"No; I am going to school." + +"What matters school? We can go to school tomorrow. Whether we have a +lesson more or a lesson less, we shall always remain the same donkeys." + +"But what will the master say?" + +"The master may say what he likes. He is paid on purpose to grumble all +day." + +"And my mamma?" + +"Mammas know nothing," answered those bad little boys. + +"Do you know what I will do?" said Pinocchio. "I have reasons for +wishing to see the Dog-Fish, but I will go and see him when school is +over." + +"Poor donkey!" exclaimed one of the number. "Do you suppose that a fish +of that size will wait your convenience? As soon as he is tired of being +here he will start for another place, and then it will be too late." + +"How long does it take to go from here to the shore?" asked the puppet. + +"We can be there and back in an hour." + +"Then away!" shouted Pinocchio, "and he who runs fastest is the best!" + +Having thus given the signal to start, the boys, with their books and +copy-books under their arms, rushed off across the fields, and Pinocchio +was always the first--he seemed to have wings to his feet. + +From time to time he turned to jeer at his companions, who were some +distance behind, and, seeing them panting for breath, covered with dust, +and their tongues hanging out of their mouths, he laughed heartily. The +unfortunate boy little knew what terrors and horrible disasters he was +going to meet with! + + + + +[Illustration] + +CHAPTER XXVII + +PINOCCHIO IS ARRESTED BY THE GENDARMES + + +When he arrived on the shore Pinocchio looked out to sea, but he saw no +Dog-Fish. The sea was as smooth as a great crystal mirror. + +"Where is the Dog-Fish?" he asked, turning to his companions. + +"He must have gone to have his breakfast," said one of them, laughing. + +"Or he has thrown himself on to his bed to have a little nap," added +another, laughing still louder. + +From their absurd answers and silly laughter Pinocchio perceived that +his companions had been making a fool of him, in inducing him to believe +a tale with no truth in it. Taking it very badly, he said to them +angrily: + +"And now, may I ask what fun you could find in deceiving me with the +story of the Dog-Fish?" + +"Oh, it was great fun!" answered the little rascals in chorus. + +"And in what did it consist?" + +"In making you miss school and persuading you to come with us. Are you +not ashamed of being always so punctual and so diligent with your +lessons? Are you not ashamed of studying so hard?" + +"And if I study hard, what concern is it of yours?" + +"It concerns us excessively, because it makes us appear in a bad light +to the master." + +"Why?" + +"Because boys who study make those who, like us, have no wish to learn, +seem worse by comparison. And that is too bad. We, too, have our pride!" + +"Then what must I do to please you?" + +"You must follow our example and hate school, lessons, and the +master--our three greatest enemies." + +"And if I wish to continue my studies?" + +"In that case we will have nothing more to do with you, and at the first +opportunity we will make you pay for it." + +"Really," said the puppet, shaking his head, "you make me inclined to +laugh." + +"Eh, Pinocchio" shouted the biggest of the boys, confronting him. "None +of your superior airs: don't come here to crow over us, for if you are +not afraid of us, we are not afraid of you. Remember that you are one +against seven of us." + +"Seven, like the seven deadly sins," said Pinocchio, with a shout of +laughter. + +"Listen to him! He has insulted us all! He called us the seven deadly +sins!" + +"Take that to begin with and keep it for your supper tonight," said one +of the boys. + +And, so saying, he gave him a blow on the head with his fist. + +But it was give and take; for the puppet, as was to be expected, +immediately returned the blow, and the fight in a moment became general +and desperate. + +Pinocchio, although he was one alone, defended himself like a hero. He +used his feet, which were of the hardest wood, to such purpose that he +kept his enemies at a respectful distance. Wherever they touched they +left a bruise by way of reminder. + +The boys, becoming furious at not being able to measure themselves hand +to hand with the puppet, had recourse to other weapons. Loosening their +satchels, they commenced throwing their school-books at him--grammars, +dictionaries, spelling-books, geography books, and other scholastic +works. But Pinocchio was quick and had sharp eyes, and always managed to +duck in time, so that the books passed over his head and all fell into +the sea. + +Imagine the astonishment of the fish! Thinking that the books were +something to eat they all arrived in shoals, but, having tasted a page +or two, or a frontispiece, they spat it quickly out and made a wry face +that seemed to say: "It isn't food for us; we are accustomed to +something much better!" + +The battle meantime had become fiercer than ever, when a big crab, who +had come out of the water and had climbed slowly up on the shore, called +out in a hoarse voice that sounded like a trumpet with a bad cold: + +[Illustration: FOUR RABBITS AS BLACK AS INK ENTERED CARRYING A LITTLE +BIER] + +"Have done with that, you young ruffians, for you are nothing else! +These hand-to-hand fights between boys seldom finish well. Some disaster +is sure to happen!" + +Poor crab! He might as well have preached to the wind. Even that young +rascal, Pinocchio, turning around, looked at him mockingly and said +rudely: + +"Hold your tongue, you tiresome crab! You had better suck some liquorice +lozenges to cure that cold in your throat." + +Just then the boys, who had no more books of their own to throw, spied +at a little distance the satchel that belonged to Pinocchio, and took +possession of it. + +Amongst the books there was one bound in strong cardboard with the back +and points of parchment. It was a Treatise on Arithmetic. + +One of the boys seized this volume and, aiming at Pinocchio's head, +threw it at him with all the force he could muster. But instead of +hitting the puppet it struck one of his companions on the temple, who, +turning as white as a sheet, said only: + +"Oh, mother! help, I am dying!" and fell his whole length on the sand. +Thinking he was dead, the terrified boys ran off as hard as their legs +could carry them and in a few minutes they were out of sight. + +But Pinocchio remained. Although from grief and fright he was more dead +than alive, nevertheless he ran and soaked his handkerchief in the sea +and began to bathe the temples of his poor school-fellow. Crying +bitterly in his despair, he kept calling him by name and saying to him: + +"Eugene! my poor Eugene! Open your eyes and look at me! Why do you not +answer? I did not do it; indeed it was not I that hurt you so! believe +me, it was not! Open your eyes, Eugene. If you keep your eyes shut I +shall die, too. Oh! what shall I do? how shall I ever return home? How +can I ever have the courage to go back to my good mamma? What will +become of me? Where can I fly to? Oh! how much better it would have +been, a thousand times better, if I had only gone to school! Why did I +listen to my companions? they have been my ruin. The master said to me, +and my mamma repeated it often: 'Beware of bad companions!' Oh, dear! +what will become of me, what will become of me, what will become of me?" + +And Pinocchio began to cry and sob, and to strike his head with his +fists, and to call poor Eugene by his name. Suddenly he heard the sound +of approaching footsteps. + +He turned and saw two soldiers. + +"What are you doing there, lying on the ground?" they asked Pinocchio. + +"I am helping my school-fellow." + +"Has he been hurt?" + +"So it seems." + +"Hurt indeed!" said one of them, stooping down and examining Eugene +closely. + +"This boy has been wounded in the temple. Who wounded him?" + +"Not I," stammered the puppet breathlessly. + +"If it was not you, who then did it?" + +"Not I," repeated Pinocchio. + +"And with what was he wounded?" + +"With this book." And the puppet picked up from the ground the Treatise +on Arithmetic, bound in cardboard and parchment, and showed it to the +soldier. + +"And to whom does this belong?" + +"To me." + +"That is enough, nothing more is wanted. Get up and come with us at +once." + +"But I--" + +"Come along with us!" + +"But I am innocent." + +"Come along with us!" + +Before they left, the soldiers called some fishermen who were passing at +that moment near the shore in their boat, and said to them: + +"We give this boy who has been wounded in the head in your charge. Carry +him to your house and nurse him. Tomorrow we will come and see him." + +They then turned to Pinocchio and, having placed him between them, they +said to him in a commanding voice: + +"Forward! and walk quickly, or it will be the worse for you." + +Without requiring it to be repeated, the puppet set out along the road +leading to the village. But the poor little devil hardly knew where he +was. He thought he must be dreaming, and what a dreadful dream! He was +beside himself. He saw double; his legs shook; his tongue clung to the +roof of his mouth, and he could not utter a word. And yet, in the midst +of his stupefaction and apathy, his heart was pierced by a cruel +thorn--the thought that he would pass under the windows of the good +Fairy's house between the soldiers. He would rather have died. + +They had already reached the village when a gust of wind blew +Pinocchio's cap off his head and carried it ten yards off. + +"Will you permit me," said the puppet to the soldiers, "to go and get +my cap?" + +"Go, then; but be quick about it." + +The puppet went and picked up his cap, but instead of putting it on his +head he took it between his teeth and began to run as hard as he could +towards the seashore. + +The soldiers, thinking it would be difficult to overtake him, sent after +him a large mastiff who had won the first prizes at all the dog races. +Pinocchio ran, but the dog ran faster. The people came to their windows +and crowded into the street in their anxiety to see the end of the +desperate race. + + + + +[Illustration] + +CHAPTER XXVIII + +PINOCCHIO ESCAPES BEING FRIED LIKE A FISH + + +There came a moment in this desperate race--a terrible moment--when +Pinocchio thought himself lost: for Alidoro, the mastiff, had run so +swiftly that he had nearly come up with him. + +The puppet could hear the panting of the dreadful beast close behind +him; there was not a hand's breadth between them, he could even feel the +dog's hot breath. + +Fortunately the shore was close and the sea but a few steps off. + +As soon as he reached the sands the puppet made a wonderful leap--a frog +could have done no better--and plunged into the water. + +Alidoro, on the contrary, wished to stop himself, but, carried away by +the impetus of the race, he also went into the sea. The unfortunate dog +could not swim, but he made great efforts to keep himself afloat with +his paws; but the more he struggled the farther he sank head downwards +under the water. + +When he rose to the surface again his eyes were rolling with terror, and +he barked out: + +"I am drowning! I am drowning!" + +"Drown!" shouted Pinocchio from a distance, seeing himself safe from all +danger. + +"Help me, dear Pinocchio! Save me from death!" + +At that agonizing cry the puppet, who had in reality an excellent heart, +was moved with compassion, and, turning to the dog, he said: + +"But if I save your life, will you promise to give me no further +annoyance, and not to run after me?" + +"I promise! I promise! Be quick, for pity's sake, for if you delay +another half-minute I shall be dead." + +Pinocchio hesitated; but, remembering that his father had often told him +that a good action is never lost, he swam to Alidoro, and, taking hold +of his tail with both hands, brought him safe and sound on to the dry +sand of the beach. + +The poor dog could not stand. He had drunk so much salt water that he +was like a balloon. The puppet, however, not wishing to trust him too +far, thought it more prudent to jump again into the water. When he had +swum some distance from the shore he called out to the friend he had +rescued: + +"Good-bye, Alidoro; a good journey to you, and take my compliments to +all at home." + +"Good-bye, Pinocchio," answered the dog; "a thousand thanks for having +saved my life. You have done me a great service, and in this world what +is given is returned. If an occasion offers I shall not forget it." + +Pinocchio swam on, keeping always near the land. At last he thought that +he had reached a safe place. Giving a look along the shore, he saw +amongst the rocks a kind of cave from which a cloud of smoke was +ascending. + +"In that cave," he said to himself, "there must be a fire. So much the +better. I will go and dry and warm myself, and then? and then we shall +see." + +Having taken the resolution he approached the rocks, but, as he was +going to climb up, he felt something under the water that rose higher +and higher and carried him into the air. He tried to escape, but it was +too late, for, to his extreme surprise, he found himself enclosed in a +great net, together with a swarm of fish of every size and shape, who +were flapping and struggling like so many despairing souls. + +At the same moment a fisherman came out of the cave; he was so ugly, so +horribly ugly, that he looked like a sea monster. Instead of hair his +head was covered with a thick bush of green grass, his skin was green, +his eyes were green, his long beard that came down to the ground was +also green. He had the appearance of an immense lizard standing on its +hind-paws. + +When the fisherman had drawn his net out of the sea, he exclaimed with +great satisfaction: + +"Thank Heaven! Again today I shall have a splendid feast of fish!" + +"What a mercy that I am not a fish!" said Pinocchio to himself, +regaining a little courage. + +The netful of fish was carried into the cave, which was dark and smoky. +In the middle of the cave a large frying-pan full of oil was frying and +sending out a smell of mushrooms that was suffocating. + +"Now we will see what fish we have taken!" said the green fisherman, +and, putting into the net an enormous hand, so out of all proportion +that it looked like a baker's shovel, he pulled out a handful of fish. + +"These fish are good!" he said, looking at them and smelling them +complacently. And after he had smelled them he threw them into a pan +without water. + +He repeated the same operation many times, and as he drew out the fish +his mouth watered and he said, chuckling to himself: + +"What good whiting!" + +"What exquisite sardines!" + +"These soles are delicious!" + +"And these crabs excellent!" + +"What dear little anchovies!" + +The last to remain in the net was Pinocchio. + +No sooner had the fisherman taken him out than he opened his big green +eyes with astonishment and cried, half frightened: + +"What species of fish is this? Fish of this kind I never remember to +have eaten." + +And he looked at him again attentively and, having examined him well all +over, he ended by saying: + +"I know: he must be a craw-fish." + +Pinocchio, mortified at being mistaken for a craw-fish, said in an angry +voice: + +"A craw-fish indeed! Do you take me for a craw-fish? what treatment! Let +me tell you that I am a puppet." + +"A puppet?" replied the fisherman. "To tell the truth, a puppet is +quite a new fish for me. All the better! I shall eat you with greater +pleasure." + +"Eat me! but will you understand that I am not a fish? Do you hear that +I talk and reason as you do?" + +"That is quite true," said the fisherman; "and as I see that you are a +fish possessed of the talent of talking and reasoning as I do, I will +treat you with all the attention that is your due." + +"And this attention?" + +"In token of my friendship and particular regard, I will leave you the +choice of how you would like to be cooked. Would you like to be fried in +the frying-pan, or would you prefer to be stewed with tomato sauce?" + +"To tell the truth," answered Pinocchio, "if I am to choose, I should +prefer to be set at liberty and to return home." + +"You are joking! Do you imagine that I would lose the opportunity of +tasting such a rare fish? It is not every day, I assure you, that a +puppet fish is caught in these waters. Leave it to me. I will fry you in +the frying-pan with the other fish, and you will be quite satisfied. It +is always consolation to be fried in company." + +At this speech the unhappy Pinocchio began to cry and scream and to +implore for mercy, and he said, sobbing: "How much better it would have +been if I had gone to school! I would listen to my companions and now I +am paying for it." + +And he wriggled like an eel and made indescribable efforts to slip out +of the clutches of the green fisherman. But it was useless: the +fisherman took a long strip of rush and, having bound his hands and feet +as if he had been a sausage, he threw him into the pan with the other +fish. + +He then fetched a wooden bowl full of flour and began to flour them +each in turn, and as soon as they were ready he threw them into the +frying-pan. + +The first to dance in the boiling oil were the poor whitings; the crabs +followed, then the sardines, then the soles, then the anchovies, and at +last it was Pinocchio's turn. Seeing himself so near death, and such a +horrible death, he was so frightened, and trembled so violently, that he +had neither voice nor breath left for further entreaties. + +But the poor boy implored with his eyes! The green fisherman, however, +without caring in the least, plunged him five or six times in the flour, +until he was white from head to foot and looked like a puppet made of +plaster. + + + + +[Illustration] + +CHAPTER XXIX + +HE RETURNS TO THE FAIRY'S HOUSE + + +Just as the fisherman was on the point of throwing Pinocchio into the +frying-pan a large dog entered the cave, enticed there by the strong and +savory odor of fried fish. + +"Get out!" shouted the fisherman, threateningly, holding the floured +puppet in his hand. + +But the poor dog, who was as hungry as a wolf, whined and wagged his +tail as much as to say: + +"Give me a mouthful of fish and I will leave you in peace." + +"Get out, I tell you!" repeated the fisherman and he stretched out his +leg to give him a kick. + +But the dog, who, when he was really hungry, would not stand trifling, +turned upon him, growling and showing his terrible tusks. + +At that moment a little feeble voice was heard in the cave, saying +entreatingly: + +"Save me, Alidoro! If you do not save me I shall be fried!" + +The dog recognized Pinocchio's voice and, to his extreme surprise, +perceived that it proceeded from the floured bundle that the fisherman +held in his hand. + +So what do you think he did? He made a spring, seized the bundle in his +mouth, and, holding it gently between his teeth, he rushed out of the +cave and was gone like a flash of lightning. + +The fisherman, furious at seeing a fish he was so anxious to eat +snatched from him, ran after the dog, but he had not gone many steps +when he was taken with a fit of coughing and had to give it up. + +Alidoro, when he had reached the path that led to the village, stopped +and put his friend Pinocchio gently on the ground. + +"How much I have to thank you for!" said the puppet. + +"There is no necessity," replied the dog. "You saved me and I have now +returned it. You know that we must all help each other in this world." + +"But how came you to come to the cave?" + +"I was lying on the shore more dead than alive when the wind brought to +me the smell of fried fish. The smell excited my appetite and I followed +it up. If I had arrived a second later--" + +"Do not mention it!" groaned Pinocchio, who was still trembling with +fright. "Do not mention it! If you had arrived a second later I should +by this time have been fried, eaten and digested. Brrr! It makes me +shudder only to think of it!" + +Alidoro, laughing, extended his right paw to the puppet, who shook it +heartily in token of great friendship, and they then separated. + +The dog took the road home, and Pinocchio, left alone, went to a cottage +not far off and said to a little old man who was warming himself in the +sun: + +"Tell me, good man, do you know anything of a poor boy called Eugene who +was wounded in the head?" + +"The boy was brought by some fishermen to this cottage, and now--" + +"And now he is dead!" interrupted Pinocchio with great sorrow. + +"No, he is alive and has returned to his home." + +"Not really? not really?" cried the puppet, dancing with delight. "Then +the wound was not serious?" + +"It might have been very serious and even fatal," answered the little +old man, "for they threw a thick book bound in cardboard at his head." + +"And who threw it at him?" + +"One of his school-fellows, a certain Pinocchio." + +"And who is this Pinocchio?" asked the puppet, pretending ignorance. + +"They say that he is a bad boy, a vagabond, a regular good-for-nothing." + +"Calumnies! all calumnies!" + +"Do you know this Pinocchio?" + +"By sight!" answered the puppet. + +"And what is your opinion of him?" asked the little man. + +"He seems to me to be a very good boy, anxious to learn, and obedient +and affectionate to his father and family." + +Whilst the puppet was firing off all these lies, he touched his nose and +perceived that it had lengthened more than a hand. Very much alarmed he +began to cry out: + +"Don't believe, good man, what I have been telling you. I know Pinocchio +very well and I can assure you that he is a very bad boy, disobedient +and idle, who, instead of going to school, runs off with his companions +to amuse himself." + +He had hardly finished speaking when his nose became shorter and +returned to the same size that it was before. + +"And why are you all covered with white?" asked the old man suddenly. + +"I will tell you. Without observing it I rubbed myself against a wall +which had been freshly whitewashed," answered the puppet, ashamed to +confess that he had been floured like a fish prepared for the +frying-pan. + +"And what have you done with your jacket, your trousers, and your cap?" + +"I met with robbers, who took them from me. Tell me, good old man, could +you perhaps give me some clothes to return home in?" + +"My boy, as to clothes, I have nothing but a little sack in which I keep +beans. If you wish for it, take it; there it is." + +Pinocchio did not wait to be told twice. He took the sack at once and +with a pair of scissors he cut a hole at the end and at each side, and +put it on like a shirt. And with this slight clothing he set off for the +village. + +But as he went he did not feel at all comfortable--so little so, indeed, +that for a step forward he took another backwards, and he said, talking +to himself: + +"How shall I ever present myself to my good little Fairy? What will she +say when she sees me? Will she forgive me this second escapade? Oh, I am +sure that she will not forgive me! And it serves me right, for I am a +rascal. I am always promising to correct myself and I never keep my +word!" + +When he reached the village it was night and very dark. A storm had come +on and as the rain was coming down in torrents he went straight to the +Fairy's house, resolved to knock at the door. + +But when he was there his courage failed him and instead of knocking he +ran away some twenty paces. He returned to the door a second time and +laid hold of the knocker, and, trembling, gave a little knock. + +He waited and waited. At last, after half an hour had passed, a window +on the top floor was opened--the house was four stories high--and +Pinocchio saw a big Snail with a lighted candle on her head looking out. +She called to him: + +"Who is there at this hour?" + +"Is the Fairy at home?" asked the puppet. + +"The Fairy is asleep and must not be awakened; but who are you?" + +"It is I." + +"Who is I?" + +"Pinocchio." + +"And who is Pinocchio?" + +"The puppet who lives in the Fairy's house." + +"Ah, I understand!" said the Snail. "Wait for me there. I will come down +and open the door directly." + +"Be quick, for pity's sake, for I am dying of cold." + +"My boy, I am a snail, and snails are never in a hurry." + +An hour passed, and then two, and the door was not opened. Pinocchio, +who was wet through and through, and trembling from cold and fear, at +last took courage and knocked again, and this time he knocked louder. + +At this second knock a window on the lower story opened and the same +Snail appeared at it. + +"Beautiful little Snail," cried Pinocchio from the street, "I have been +waiting for two hours! And two hours on such a bad night seem longer +than two years. Be quick, for pity's sake." + +"My boy," answered the calm little animal--"my boy, I am a snail, and +snails are never in a hurry." + +And the window was shut again. + +Shortly afterwards midnight struck; then one o'clock, then two o'clock, +and the door remained still closed. + +Pinocchio at last, losing all patience, seized the knocker in a rage, +intending to give a blow that would resound through the house. But the +knocker, which was iron, turned suddenly into an eel and, slipping out +of his hands, disappeared in the stream of water that ran down the +middle of the street. + +"Ah! is that it?" shouted Pinocchio, blind with rage. "Since the knocker +has disappeared, I will kick instead with all my might." + +And, drawing a little back, he gave a tremendous kick against the house +door. The blow was indeed so violent that his foot went through the wood +and stuck; and when he tried to draw it back again it was trouble thrown +away, for it remained fixed like a nail that has been hammered down. + +Think of poor Pinocchio! He was obliged to spend the remainder of the +night with one foot on the ground and the other in the air. + +The following morning at daybreak the door was at last opened. The +clever little Snail had taken only nine hours to come down from the +fourth story to the house-door. It is evident that her exertions must +have been great. + +"What are you doing with your foot stuck in the door?" she asked the +puppet. + +"It was an accident. Do try, beautiful little Snail, if you cannot +release me from this torture." + +"My boy, that is the work of a carpenter, and I have never been a +carpenter." + +"Beg the Fairy from me!" + +"The Fairy is asleep and must not be awakened." + +"But what do you suppose that I can do all day nailed to this door?" + +"Amuse yourself by counting the ants that pass down the street." + +"Bring me at least something to eat, for I am quite exhausted." + +"At once," said the Snail. + +In fact, after three hours and a half she returned to Pinocchio carrying +a silver tray on her head. The tray contained a loaf of bread, a roast +chicken, and four ripe apricots. + +"Here is the breakfast that the Fairy has sent you," said the Snail. + +The puppet felt very much comforted at the sight of these good things. +But when he began to eat them, what was his disgust at making the +discovery that the bread was plaster, the chicken cardboard, and the +four apricots painted alabaster. + +He wanted to cry. In his desperation he tried to throw away the tray and +all that was on it; but instead, either from grief or exhaustion, he +fainted away. + +When he came to himself he found that he was lying on a sofa, and the +Fairy was beside him. + +"I will pardon you once more," the Fairy said, "but woe to you if you +behave badly a third time!" + +Pinocchio promised and swore that he would study, and that for the +future he would always conduct himself well. + +And he kept his word for the remainder of the year. Indeed, at the +examinations before the holidays, he had the honor of being the first in +the school, and his behavior in general was so satisfactory and +praiseworthy that the Fairy was very much pleased, and said to him: + +"Tomorrow your wish shall be gratified." + +"And that is?" + +"Tomorrow you shall cease to be a wooden puppet and you shall become a +boy." + +No one who had not witnessed it could ever imagine Pinocchio's joy at +this long-sighed-for good fortune. All his school-fellows were to be +invited for the following day to a grand breakfast at the Fairy's house, +that they might celebrate together the great event. The Fairy had +prepared two hundred cups of coffee and milk, and four hundred rolls cut +and buttered on each side. The day promised to be most happy and +delightful, but-- + +Unfortunately in the lives of puppets there is always a "but" that +spoils everything. + + + + +[Illustration] + +CHAPTER XXX + +THE "LAND OF BOOBIES" + + +Pinocchio, as was natural, asked the Fairy's permission to go round the +town to give out the invitations, and the Fairy said to him: + +"Go, if you like, and invite your companions for the breakfast tomorrow, +but remember to return home before dark. Have you understood?" + +"I promise to be back in an hour," answered the puppet. + +"Take care, Pinocchio! Boys are always very ready to promise, but +generally they are little given to keep their word." + +"But I am not like other boys. When I say a thing, I do it." + +"We shall see. If you are disobedient, so much the worse for you." + +"Why?" + +"Because boys who do not listen to the advice of those who know more +than they do always meet with some misfortune or other." + +"I have experienced that," said Pinocchio, "but I shall never make that +mistake again." + +"We shall see if that is true." + +Without saying more the puppet took leave of his good Fairy, who was +like a mamma to him, and went out of the house singing and dancing. + +In less than an hour all his friends were invited. Some accepted at once +heartily; others at first required pressing; but when they heard that +the rolls to be eaten with the coffee were to be buttered on both sides +they ended by saying: + +"We will come also, to do you a pleasure." + +Now I must tell you that amongst Pinocchio's friends and school-fellows +there was one that he greatly preferred and was very fond of. This boy's +name was Romeo, but he always went by the nickname of Candlewick, +because he was so thin, straight and bright, like the new wick of a +little nightlight. + +Candlewick was the laziest and the naughtiest boy in the school, but +Pinocchio was devoted to him. He had indeed gone at once to his house to +invite him to the breakfast, but he had not found him. He returned a +second time, but Candlewick was not there. He went a third time, but it +was in vain. Where could he search for him? He looked here, there, and +everywhere, and at last he saw him hiding on the porch of a peasant's +cottage. + +"What are you doing there?" asked Pinocchio, coming up to him. + +"I am waiting for midnight, to start away." + +"And where are you going?" + +"I am going to live in a country--the most delightful country in the +world: a real land of sweetmeats!" + +"And what is it called?" + +"It is called the 'Land of Boobies.' Why do you not come, too?" + +"I? No, never!" + +"You are wrong, Pinocchio. If you do not come you will repent it. Where +could you find a better country for us boys? There are no schools there; +there are no masters; there are no books. In that delightful land nobody +ever studies. On Saturday there is never school, and every week consists +of six Saturdays and one Sunday. Only think, the autumn holidays begin +on the first of January and finish on the last day of December. That is +the country for me! That is what all civilized countries should be +like!" + +"But how are the days spent in the 'Land of Boobies'?" + +They are spent in play and amusement from morning till night. When night +comes you go to bed, and recommence the same life in the morning. What +do you think of it?" + +"Hum!" said Pinocchio, and he shook his head slightly, as much as to +say, "That is a life that I also would willingly lead." + +"Well, will you go with me? Yes or no? Resolve quickly." + +"No, no, no, and again no. I promised my good Fairy to become a well +conducted boy, and I will keep my word. And as I see that the sun is +setting I must leave you at once and run away. Good-bye, and a pleasant +journey to you." + +"Where are you rushing off to in such a hurry?" + +"Home. My good Fairy wishes me to be back before dark." + +"Wait another two minutes." + +"It will make me too late." + +"Only two minutes." + +"And if the Fairy scolds me?" + +"Let her scold. When she has scolded well she will hold her tongue," +said that rascal Candlewick. + +"And what are you going to do? Are you going alone or with companions?" + +"Alone? Indeed not, there will be more than a hundred boys." + +"And do you make the journey on foot?" + +"A coach will pass by shortly which is to take me to that happy +country." + +"What would I not give for the coach to pass by now!" + +"Why?" + +"That I might see you all start together." + +"Stay here a little longer and you will see us." + +"No, no, I must go home." + +"Wait another two minutes." + +"I have already delayed too long. The Fairy will be anxious about me." + +"Poor Fairy! Is she afraid that the bats will eat you?" + +"But now," continued Pinocchio, "are you really certain that there are +no schools in that country?" + +"Not even the shadow of one." + +"And no masters either?" + +"Not one." + +"And no one is ever made to study?" + +"Never, never, never!" + +"What a delightful country!" said Pinocchio, his mouth watering. "What a +delightful country! I have never been there, but I can quite imagine +it." + +"Why will you not come also?" + +"It is useless to tempt me. I promised my good Fairy to become a +sensible boy, and I will not break my word." + +"Good-bye, then, and give my compliments to all the boys at school, if +you meet them in the street." + +"Good-bye, Candlewick; a pleasant journey to you; amuse yourself, and +think sometimes of your friends." + +Thus saying, the puppet made two steps to go, but then stopped, and, +turning to his friend, he inquired: + +"But are you quite certain that in that country all the weeks consist of +six Saturdays and one Sunday?" + +"Most certainly." + +"But do you know for certain that the holidays begin on the first of +January and finish on the last day of December?" + +"Assuredly." + +"What a delightful country!" repeated Pinocchio, looking enchanted. +Then, with a resolute air, he added in a great hurry: + +"This time really good-bye, and a pleasant journey to you." + +"Good-bye." + +"When do you start?" + +"Shortly." + +"What a pity! If really it wanted only an hour to the time of your +start, I should almost be tempted to wait." + +"And the Fairy?" + +"It is already late. If I return home an hour sooner or later it will +be all the same." + +"Poor Pinocchio! And if the Fairy scolds you?" + +"I must have patience! I will let her scold. When she has scolded well +she will hold her tongue." + +In the meantime night had come on and it was quite dark. Suddenly they +saw in the distance a small light moving and they heard a noise of +talking, and the sound of a trumpet, but so small and feeble that it +resembled the hum of a mosquito. + +"Here it is!" shouted Candlewick, jumping to his feet. + +"What is it?" asked Pinocchio in a whisper. + +"It is the coach coming to take me. Now will you come, yes or no?" + +"But is it really true," asked the puppet, "that in that country boys +are never obliged to study?" + +"Never, never, never!" + +"What a delightful country! What a delightful country! What a delightful +country!" + +[Illustration: THEY THOUGHT IT WOULD BE MORE COMFORTABLE TO GET ON THE +TUNNY'S BACK] + + + + +[Illustration] + +CHAPTER XXXI + +PINOCCHIO ENJOYS FIVE MONTHS OF HAPPINESS + + +At last the coach arrived, and it arrived without making the slightest +noise, for its wheels were bound round with flax and rags. + +It was drawn by twelve pairs of donkeys, all the same size but of +different colors. + +Some were gray, some white, some brindled like pepper and salt, and +others had large stripes of yellow and blue. + +But the most extraordinary thing was this: the twelve pairs, that is, +the twenty-four donkeys, instead of being shod like other beasts of +burden, had on their feet men's boots made of white kid. + +And the coachman? + +Picture to yourself a little man broader than he was long, flabby and +greasy like a lump of butter, with a small round face like an orange, a +little mouth that was always laughing, and a soft, caressing voice like +a cat when she is trying to insinuate herself into the good graces of +the mistress of the house. + +All the boys vied with each other in taking places in his coach, to be +conducted to the "Land of Boobies." + +The coach was, in fact, quite full of boys between eight and fourteen +years old, heaped one upon another like herrings in a barrel. They were +uncomfortable, packed closely together and could hardly breathe; but +nobody said "Oh!"--nobody grumbled. The consolation of knowing that in a +few hours they would reach a country where there were no books, no +schools, and no masters, made them so happy and resigned that they felt +neither fatigue nor inconvenience, neither hunger, nor thirst, nor want +of sleep. + +As soon as the coach had drawn up the little man turned to Candlewick +and with a thousand smirks and grimaces said to him, smiling: + +"Tell me, my fine boy, would you also like to go to that fortunate +country?" + +"I certainly wish to go." + +"But I must warn you, my dear child, that there is not a place left in +the coach. You can see for yourself that it is quite full." + +"No matter," replied Candlewick, "if there is no place inside, I will +manage to sit on the springs." + +And, giving a leap, he seated himself astride on the springs. + +"And you, my love!" said the little man, turning in a flattering manner +to Pinocchio, "what do you intend to do? Are you coming with us or are +you going to remain behind?" + +"I remain behind," answered Pinocchio. "I am going home. I intend to +study, as all well conducted boys do." + +"Much good may it do you!" + +"Pinocchio!" called out Candlewick, "listen to me: come with us and we +shall have such fun." + +"No, no, no!" + +"Come with us and we shall have such fun," shouted in chorus a hundred +voices from the inside of the coach. + +"But if I come with you, what will my good Fairy say?" said the puppet, +who was beginning to yield. + +"Do not trouble your head with melancholy thoughts. Consider only that +we are going to a country where we shall be at liberty to run riot from +morning till night." + +Pinocchio did not answer, but he sighed; he sighed again; he sighed for +the third time, and he said finally: + +"Make a little room for me, for I am coming, too." + +"The places are all full," replied the little man; "but, to show you how +welcome you are, you shall have my seat on the box." + +"And you?" + +"Oh, I will go on foot." + +"No, indeed, I could not allow that. I would rather mount one of these +donkeys," cried Pinocchio. + +Approaching the right-hand donkey of the first pair, he attempted to +mount him, but the animal turned on him and, giving him a great blow in +the stomach, rolled him over with his legs in the air. + +You can imagine the impertinent and immoderate laughter of all the boys +who witnessed this scene. + +But the little man did not laugh. He approached the rebellious donkey +and, pretending to give him a kiss, bit off half of his ear. + +Pinocchio in the meantime had gotten up from the ground in a fury and, +with a spring, he seated himself on the poor animal's back. And he +sprang so well that the boys stopped laughing and began to shout: +"Hurrah, Pinocchio!" and they clapped their hands and applauded him as +if they would never finish. + +Now that Pinocchio was mounted, the coach started. Whilst the donkeys +were galloping and the coach was rattling over the stones of the high +road, the puppet thought that he heard a low voice that was scarcely +audible saying to him: + +"Poor fool! you would follow your own way, but you will repent it!" + +Pinocchio, feeling almost frightened, looked from side to side to try +and discover where these words could come from, but he saw nobody. The +donkeys galloped, the coach rattled, the boys inside slept, Candlewick +snored like a dormouse, and the little man seated on the box sang +between his teeth: + + "During the night all sleep, + But I sleep never." + +After they had gone another mile, Pinocchio heard the same little low +voice saying to him: + +"Bear it in mind, simpleton! Boys who refuse to study and turn their +backs upon books, schools and masters, to pass their time in play and +amusement, sooner or later come to a bad end. I know it by experience, +and I can tell you. A day will come when you will weep as I am weeping +now, but then it will be too late!" + +On hearing these words whispered very softly, the puppet, more +frightened than ever, sprang down from the back of his donkey and went +and took hold of his mouth. + +Imagine his surprise when he found that the donkey was crying--crying +like a boy! + +"Eh! Sir Coachman," cried Pinocchio to the little man, "here is an +extraordinary thing! This donkey is crying." + +"Let him cry; he will laugh when he is a bridegroom." + +"But have you by chance taught him to talk?" + +"No; but he spent three years in a company of learned dogs, and he +learned to mutter a few words." + +"Poor beast!" + +"Come, come," said the little man, "don't let us waste time in seeing a +donkey cry. Mount him and let us go on: the night is cold and the road +is long." + +Pinocchio obeyed without another word. In the morning about daybreak +they arrived safely in the "Land of Boobies." + +It was a country unlike any other country in the world. The population +was composed entirely of boys. The oldest were fourteen, and the +youngest scarcely eight years old. In the streets there was such +merriment, noise and shouting that it was enough to turn anybody's head. +There were troops of boys everywhere. Some were playing with nuts, some +with battledores, some with balls. Some rode velocipedes, others wooden +horses. A party were playing at hide and seek, a few were chasing each +other. Some were reciting, some singing, some leaping. Some were amusing +themselves with walking on their hands with their feet in the air; +others were trundling hoops or strutting about dressed as generals, +wearing leaf helmets and commanding a squadron of cardboard soldiers. +Some were laughing, some shouting, some were calling out; others clapped +their hands, or whistled, or clucked like a hen who has just laid an +egg. + +In every square, canvas theaters had been erected and they were crowded +with boys from morning till evening. On the walls of the houses there +were inscriptions written in charcoal: "Long live playthings, we will +have no more schools; down with arithmetic," and similar other fine +sentiments, all in bad spelling. + +Pinocchio, Candlewick and the other boys who had made the journey with +the little man, had scarcely set foot in the town before they were in +the thick of the tumult, and I need not tell you that in a few minutes +they had made acquaintance with everybody. Where could happier or more +contented boys be found? + +In the midst of continual games and every variety of amusement, the +hours, the days and the weeks passed like lightning. + +"Oh, what a delightful life!" said Pinocchio, whenever by chance he met +Candlewick. + +"See, then, if I was not right?" replied the other. "And to think that +you did not want to come! To think that you had taken it into your head +to return home to your Fairy, and to lose your time in studying! If you +are this moment free from the bother of books and school, you must +acknowledge that you owe it to me, to my advice, and to my persuasions. +It is only friends who know how to render such great services." + +"It is true, Candlewick! If I am now a really happy boy, it is all your +doing. But do you know what the master used to say when he talked to me +of you? He always said to me: 'Do not associate with that rascal +Candlewick, for he is a bad companion, and will only lead you into +mischief!'" + +"Poor master!" replied the other, shaking his head. "I know only too +well that he disliked me, and amused himself by calumniating me; but I +am generous and I forgive him!" + +"Noble soul!" said Pinocchio, embracing his friend affectionately and +kissing him between the eyes. + +This delightful life had gone on for five months. The days had been +entirely spent in play and amusement, without a thought of books or +school, when one morning Pinocchio awoke to a most disagreeable surprise +that put him into a very bad humor. + + + + +[Illustration] + +CHAPTER XXXII + +PINOCCHIO TURNS INTO A DONKEY + + +The surprise was that Pinocchio, when he awoke, scratched his head, and +in scratching his head he discovered, to his great astonishment, that +his ears had grown more than a hand. + +You know that the puppet from his birth had always had very small +ears--so small that they were not visible to the naked eye. You can +imagine then what he felt when he found that during the night his ears +had become so long that they seemed like two brooms. + +He went at once in search of a glass that he might look at himself, but, +not being able to find one, he filled the basin of his washing-stand +with water, and he saw reflected what he certainly would never have +wished to see. He saw his head embellished with a magnificent pair of +donkey's ears! + +Only think of poor Pinocchio's sorrow, shame and despair! + +He began to cry and roar, and he beat his head against the wall, but the +more he cried the longer his ears grew; they grew, and grew, and became +hairy towards the points. + +At the sound of his loud outcries a beautiful little Marmot that lived +on the first floor came into the room. Seeing the puppet in such grief +she asked earnestly: + +"What has happened to you, my dear fellow-lodger?" + +"I am ill, my dear little Marmot, very ill, and my illness frightens me. +Do you understand counting a pulse?" + +"A little." + +"Then feel and see if by chance I have got fever." + +The little Marmot raised her right fore-paw, and, after having felt +Pinocchio's pulse, she said to him, sighing: + +"My friend, I am grieved to be obliged to give you bad news!" + +"What is it?" + +"You have got a very bad fever!" + +"What fever is it?" + +"It is donkey fever." + +"That is a fever that I do not understand," said the puppet, but he +understood it only too well. + +"Then I will explain it to you," said the Marmot. "You must know that in +two or three hours you will be no longer a puppet, or a boy." + +"Then what shall I be?" + +"In two or three hours you will become really and truly a little donkey, +like those that draw carts and carry cabbages and salad to market." + +"Oh, unfortunate that I am! unfortunate that I am!" cried Pinocchio, +seizing his two ears with his hands and pulling them and tearing them +furiously as if they had been some one else's ears. + +"My dear boy," said the Marmot, by way of consoling him, "you can do +nothing. It is destiny. It is written in the decrees of wisdom that all +boys who are lazy, and who take a dislike to books, to schools, and to +masters, and who pass their time in amusement, games, and diversions, +must end sooner or later by becoming transformed into so many little +donkeys." + +"But is it really so?" asked the puppet, sobbing. + +"It is indeed only too true! And tears are now useless. You should have +thought of it sooner!" + +"But it was not my fault; believe me, little Marmot, the fault was all +Candlewick's!" + +"And who is this Candlewick?" + +"One of my school-fellows. I wanted to return home; I wanted to be +obedient. I wished to study, but Candlewick said to me: 'Why should you +bother yourself by studying? Why should you go to school? Come with us +instead to the "Land of Boobies"; there we shall none of us have to +learn; there we shall amuse ourselves from morning to night, and we +shall always be merry'." + +"And why did you follow the advice of that false friend? of that bad +companion?" + +"Why? Because, my dear little Marmot, I am a puppet with no sense, and +with no heart. Ah! if I had had the least heart I should never have left +that good Fairy who loved me like a mamma, and who had done so much for +me! And I would be no longer a puppet, for I would by this time have +become a little boy like so many others: But if I meet Candlewick, woe +to him! He shall hear what I think of him!" + +And he turned to go out. But when he reached the door he remembered his +donkey's ears, and, feeling ashamed to show them in public, what do you +think he did? He took a big cotton cap and, putting it on his head, he +pulled it well down over the point of his nose. + +He then set out and went everywhere in search of Candlewick. He looked +for him in the streets, in the squares, in the little theaters, in every +possible place, but he could not find him. He inquired for him of +everybody he met, but no one had seen him. + +He then went to seek him at his house and, having reached the door, he +knocked. + +"Who is there?" asked Candlewick from within. + +"It is I!" answered the puppet. + +"Wait a moment and I will let you in." + +After half an hour the door was opened and imagine Pinocchio's feelings +when, upon going into the room, he saw his friend Candlewick with a big +cotton cap on his head which came down over his nose. + +At the sight of the cap Pinocchio felt almost consoled and thought to +himself: + +"Has my friend got the same illness that I have? Is he also suffering +from donkey fever?" + +And, pretending to have observed nothing, he asked him, smiling: + +"How are you, my dear Candlewick?" + +"Very well; as well as a mouse in a Parmesan cheese." + +"Are you saying that seriously?" + +"Why should I tell you a lie?" + +"Excuse me; but why, then, do you keep that cotton cap on your head +which covers up your ears?" + +"The doctor ordered me to wear it because I have hurt this knee. And +you, dear puppet, why have you got on that cotton cap pulled down over +your nose?" + +"The doctor prescribed it because I have grazed my foot." + +"Oh, poor Pinocchio!" + +"Oh, poor Candlewick!" + +After these words a long silence followed, during which the two friends +did nothing but look mockingly at each other. + +At last the puppet said in a soft voice to his companion: + +"Satisfy my curiosity, my dear Candlewick: have you ever suffered from +disease of the ears?" + +"Never! And you?" + +"Never. Only since this morning one of my ears aches." + +"Mine is also paining me." + +"You also? And which of your ears hurts you?" + +"Both of them. And you?" + +"Both of them. Can we have got the same illness?" + +"I fear so." + +"Will you do me a kindness, Candlewick?" + +"Willingly! With all my heart." + +"Will you let me see your ears?" + +"Why not? But first, my dear Pinocchio, I should like to see yours." + +"No: you must be first." + +"No, dear. First you and then I!" + +"Well," said the puppet, "let us come to an agreement like good +friends." + +"Let us hear it." + +"We will both take off our caps at the same moment. Do you agree?" + +"I agree." + +"Then, attention!" + +And Pinocchio began to count in a loud voice: + +"One, two, three!" + +At the word "Three!" the two boys took off their caps and threw them +into the air. + +And then a scene followed that would seem incredible if it were not +true. That is, that when Pinocchio and Candlewick discovered that they +were both struck with the same misfortune, instead of feeling full of +mortification and grief, they began to prick their ungainly ears and to +make a thousand antics, and they ended by going into bursts of laughter. + +And they laughed, and laughed, and laughed, until they had to hold +themselves together. But in the midst of their merriment Candlewick +suddenly stopped, staggered, and, changing color, said to his friend: + +"Help, help, Pinocchio!" + +"What is the matter with you?" + +"Alas, I cannot any longer stand upright." + +"Neither can I," exclaimed Pinocchio, tottering and beginning to cry. + +And whilst they were talking, they both doubled up and began to run +round the room on their hands and feet. And as they ran, their hands +became hoofs, their faces lengthened into muzzles, and their backs +became covered with a light gray hairy coat sprinkled with black. + +But do you know what was the worst moment for these two wretched boys? +The worst and the most humiliating moment was when their tails grew. +Vanquished by shame and sorrow, they wept and lamented their fate. + +Oh, if they had but been wiser! But instead of sighs and lamentations +they could only bray like asses; and they brayed loudly and said in +chorus: "Hee-haw!" + +Whilst this was going on some one knocked at the door and a voice on the +outside said: + +"Open the door! I am the little man, I am the coachman who brought you +to this country. Open at once, or it will be the worse for you!" + + + + +[Illustration] + +CHAPTER XXXIII + +PINOCCHIO IS TRAINED FOR THE CIRCUS + + +Finding that the door remained shut the little man burst it open with a +violent kick and, coming into the room, he said to Pinocchio and +Candlewick with his usual little laugh: + +"Well done, boys! You brayed well, and I recognized you by your voices. +That is why I am here." + +At these words the two little donkeys were quite stupefied and stood +with their heads down, their ears lowered, and their tails between their +legs. + +At first the little man stroked and caressed them; then, taking out a +currycomb, he currycombed them well. And when by this process he had +polished them till they shone like two mirrors, he put a halter round +their necks and led them to the market-place, in hopes of selling them +and making a good profit. + +And indeed buyers were not wanting. Candlewick was bought by a peasant +whose donkey had died the previous day. Pinocchio was sold to the +director of a company of buffoons and tight-rope dancers, who bought him +that he might teach him to leap and to dance with the other animals +belonging to the company. + +And now, my little readers, you will have understood the fine trade that +little man pursued. The wicked little monster, who had a face all milk +and honey, made frequent journeys round the world with his coach. As he +went along he collected, with promises and flattery, all the idle boys +who had taken a dislike to books and school. As soon as his coach was +full he conducted them to the "Land of Boobies," that they might pass +their time in games, in uproar, and in amusement. When these poor, +deluded boys, from continual play and no study, had become so many +little donkeys, he took possession of them with great delight and +satisfaction, and carried them off to the fairs and markets to be sold. +And in this way he had in a few years made heaps of money and had become +a millionaire. + +What became of Candlewick I do not know, but I do know that Pinocchio +from the very first day had to endure a very hard, laborious life. + +When he was put into his stall his master filled the manger with straw; +but Pinocchio, having tried a mouthful, spat it out again. + +Then his master, grumbling, filled the manger with hay; but neither did +the hay please him. + +"Ah!" exclaimed his master in a passion. "Does not hay please you +either? Leave it to me, my fine donkey; if you are so full of caprices I +will find a way to cure you!" + +And by way of correcting him he struck his legs with his whip. + +Pinocchio began to cry and to bray with pain, and he said, braying: + +"Hee-haw! I cannot digest straw!" + +"Then eat hay!" said his master, who understood perfectly the asinine +dialect. + +"Hee-haw! hay gives me a pain in my stomach." + +"Do you mean to pretend that a little donkey like you must be kept on +breasts of chickens, and capons in jelly?" asked his master, getting +more and more angry, and whipping him again. + +At this second whipping Pinocchio prudently held his tongue and said +nothing more. + +The stable was then shut and Pinocchio was left alone. He had not eaten +for many hours and he began to yawn from hunger. And when he yawned he +opened a mouth that seemed as wide as an oven. + +At last, finding nothing else in the manger, he resigned himself and +chewed a little hay; and after he had chewed it well, he shut his eyes +and swallowed it. + +"This hay is not bad," he said to himself; "but how much better it would +have been if I had gone on with my studies! Instead of hay I might now +be eating a hunch of new bread and a fine slice of sausage. But I must +have patience!" + +The next morning when he woke he looked in the manger for a little more +hay; but he found none, for he had eaten it all during the night. + +Then he took a mouthful of chopped straw, but whilst he was chewing it +he had to acknowledge that the taste of chopped straw did not in the +least resemble a savory dish of macaroni or pie. + +"But I must have patience!" he repeated as he went on chewing. "May my +example serve at least as a warning to all disobedient boys who do not +want to study. Patience!" + +"Patience indeed!" shouted his master, coming at that moment into the +stable. "Do you think, my little donkey, that I bought you only to give +you food and drink? I bought you to make you work, and that you might +earn money for me. Up, then, at once! you must come with me into the +circus, and there I will teach you to jump through hoops, to go through +frames of paper head foremost, to dance waltzes and polkas, and to stand +upright on your hind legs." + +Poor Pinocchio, either by love or by force, had to learn all these fine +things. But it took him three months before he had learned them, and he +got many a whipping that nearly took off his skin. + +At last a day came when his master was able to announce that he would +give a really extraordinary representation. The many colored placards +stuck on the street corners were thus worded: + + + GREAT FULL DRESS REPRESENTATION + + TONIGHT + WILL TAKE PLACE THE USUAL FEATS AND SURPRISING + PERFORMANCES EXECUTED BY ALL THE ARTISTS + AND BY ALL THE HORSES OF THE COMPANY + AND MOREOVER + THE FAMOUS + LITTLE DONKEY PINOCCHIO + CALLED + THE STAR OF THE DANCE + WILL MAKE HIS FIRST APPEARANCE + + THE THEATER WILL BE BRILLIANTLY ILLUMINATED + +[Illustration: In Less Than an Hour All His Friends Were Invited] + +On that evening, as you may imagine, an hour before the play was to +begin the theater was crammed. + +There was not a place to be had either in the pit or the stalls, or in +the boxes even, by paying its weight in gold. + +The benches round the circus were crowded with children and with boys of +all ages, who were in a fever of impatience to see the famous little +donkey Pinocchio dance. + +When the first part of the performance was over, the director of the +company, dressed in a black coat, white breeches, and big leather boots +that came above his knees, presented himself to the public, and, after +making a profound bow, he began with much solemnity the following +ridiculous speech: + +"Respectable public, ladies and gentlemen! The humble undersigned being +a passer-by in this illustrious city, I have wished to procure for +myself the honor, not to say the pleasure, of presenting to this +intelligent and distinguished audience a celebrated little donkey, who +has already had the honor of dancing in the presence of His Majesty the +Emperor of all the principal courts of Europe. + +"And, thanking you, I beg of you to help us with your inspiring presence +and to be indulgent to us." + +This speech was received with much laughter and applause, but the +applause redoubled and became tumultuous when the little donkey +Pinocchio made his appearance in the middle of the circus. He was decked +out for the occasion. He had a new bridle of polished leather with brass +buckles and studs, and two white camelias in his ears. His mane was +divided and curled, and each curl was tied with bows of colored ribbon. +He had a girth of gold and silver round his body, and his tail was +plaited with amaranth and blue velvet ribbons. He was, in fact, a little +donkey to fall in love with! + +The director, in presenting him to the public, added these few words: + +"My respectable auditors! I am not here to tell you falsehoods of the +great difficulties that I have overcome in understanding and subjugating +this mammifer, whilst he was grazing at liberty amongst the mountains in +the plains of the torrid zone. I beg you will observe the wild rolling +of his eyes. Every means having been tried in vain to tame him, and to +accustom him to the life of domestic quadrupeds, I was often forced to +have recourse to the convincing argument of the whip. But all my +goodness to him, instead of gaining his affections, has, on the +contrary, increased his viciousness. However, following the system of +Gall, I discovered in his cranium a bony cartilage that the Faculty of +Medicine of Paris has itself recognized as the regenerating bulb of the +hair, and of dance. For this reason I have not only taught him to dance, +but also to jump through hoops and through frames covered with paper. +Admire him, and then pass your opinion on him! But before taking my +leave of you, permit me, ladies and gentlemen, to invite you to the +daily performance that will take place tomorrow evening; but in case the +weather should threaten rain, the performance will be postponed till +tomorrow morning at 11 ante-meridian of post-meridian." + +Here the director made another profound bow, and, then turning to +Pinocchio, he said: + +"Courage, Pinocchio! before you begin your feats make your bow to this +distinguished audience--ladies, gentlemen, and children." + +Pinocchio obeyed, and bent both his knees till they touched the ground, +and remained kneeling until the director, cracking his whip, shouted to +him: + +"At a foot's pace!" + +Then the little donkey raised himself on his four legs and began to walk +round the theater, keeping at a foot's pace. + +After a little the director cried: + +"Trot!" and Pinocchio, obeying the order, changed to a trot. + +"Gallop!" and Pinocchio broke into a gallop. + +"Full gallop!" and Pinocchio went full gallop. But whilst he was going +full speed like a race horse the director, raising his arm in the air, +fired off a pistol. + +At the shot the little donkey, pretending to be wounded, fell his whole +length in the circus, as if he were really dying. + +As he got up from the ground amidst an outburst of applause, shouts and +clapping of hands, he naturally raised his head and looked up, and he +saw in one of the boxes a beautiful lady who wore round her neck a thick +gold chain from which hung a medallion. On the medallion was painted the +portrait of a puppet. + +"That is my portrait! That lady is the Fairy!" said Pinocchio to +himself, recognizing her immediately; and, overcome with delight, he +tried to cry: + +"Oh, my little Fairy! Oh, my little Fairy!" + +But instead of these words a bray came from his throat, so sonorous and +so prolonged that all the spectators laughed, and more especially all +the children who were in the theater. + +Then the director, to give him a lesson, and to make him understand that +it is not good manners to bray before the public, gave him a blow on his +nose with the handle of his whip. + +The poor little donkey put his tongue out an inch and licked his nose +for at least five minutes, thinking perhaps that it would ease the pain +he felt. + +But what was his despair when, looking up a second time, he saw that the +box was empty and that the Fairy had disappeared! + +He thought he was going to die; his eyes filled with tears and he began +to weep. Nobody, however, noticed it, and least of all the director who, +cracking his whip, shouted: + +"Courage, Pinocchio! Now let the audience see how gracefully you can +jump through the hoops." + +Pinocchio tried two or three times, but each time that he came in front +of the hoop, instead of going through it, he found it easier to go under +it. At last he made a leap and went through it, but his right leg +unfortunately caught in the hoop, and that caused him to fall to the +ground doubled up in a heap on the other side. + +When he got up he was lame and it was only with great difficulty that he +managed to return to the stable. + +"Bring out Pinocchio! We want the little donkey! Bring out the little +donkey!" shouted all the boys in the theater, touched and sorry for the +sad accident. + +But the little donkey was seen no more that evening. + +The following morning the veterinary, that is, the doctor of animals, +paid him a visit, and declared that he would remain lame for life. + +The director then said to the stable-boy: + +"What do you suppose I can do with a lame donkey? He would eat food +without earning it. Take him to the market and sell him." + +When they reached the market a purchaser was found at once. He asked the +stable-boy: + +"How much do you want for that lame donkey?" + +"Twenty dollars." + +"I will give you two dollars. Don't suppose that I am buying him to make +use of; I am buying him solely for his skin. I see that his skin is very +hard and I intend to make a drum with it for the band of my village." + +Imagine poor Pinocchio's feelings when he heard that he was destined to +become a drum! + +As soon as the purchaser had paid his two dollars he conducted the +little donkey to the seashore. He then put a stone round his neck and, +tying a rope, the end of which he held in his hand, round his leg, he +gave him a sudden push and threw him into the water. + +Pinocchio, weighted down by the stone, went at once to the bottom, and +his owner, keeping tight hold of the cord, sat down quietly on a piece +of rock to wait until the little donkey was drowned, intending then to +skin him. + + + + +[Illustration] + +CHAPTER XXXIV + +PINOCCHIO IS SWALLOWED BY THE DOG-FISH + + +After Pinocchio had been fifty minutes under the water, his purchaser +said aloud to himself: + +"My poor little lame donkey must by this time be quite drowned. I will +therefore pull him out of the water, and I will make a fine drum of his +skin." + +And he began to haul in the rope that he had tied to the donkey's leg, +and he hauled, and hauled, and hauled, until at last--what do you think +appeared above the water? Instead of a little dead donkey he saw a live +puppet, who was wriggling like an eel. + +Seeing this wooden puppet, the poor man thought he was dreaming, and, +struck dumb with astonishment, he remained with his mouth open and his +eyes starting out of his head. + +Having somewhat recovered from his first stupefaction, he asked in a +quavering voice: + +"And the little donkey that I threw into the sea? What has become of +him?" + +"I am the little donkey!" said Pinocchio, laughing. + +"You?" + +"I." + +"Ah, you young scamp!! Do you dare to make game of me?" + +"To make game of you? Quite the contrary, my dear master? I am speaking +seriously." + +"But how can you, who but a short time ago were a little donkey, have +become a wooden puppet, only from having been left in the water?" + +"It must have been the effect of sea water. The sea makes extraordinary +changes." + +"Beware, puppet, beware! Don't imagine that you can amuse yourself at my +expense. Woe to you if I lose patience!" + +"Well, master, do you wish to know the true story? If you will set my +leg free I will tell it you." + +The good man, who was curious to hear the true story, immediately untied +the knot that kept him bound; and Pinocchio, finding himself free as a +bird in the air, commenced as follows: + +"You must know that I was once a puppet as I am now, and I was on the +point of becoming a boy like the many who are in the world. But instead, +induced by my dislike for study and the advice of bad companions, I ran +away from home. One fine day when I awoke I found myself changed into a +donkey with long ears, and a long tail. What a disgrace it was to +me!--a disgrace, dear master, that even your worst enemy would not +inflict upon you! Taken to the market to be sold I was bought by the +director of an equestrian company, who took it into his head to make a +famous dancer of me, and a famous leaper through hoops. But one night +during a performance I had a bad fall in the circus and lamed both my +legs. Then the director, not knowing what to do with a lame donkey, sent +me to be sold, and you were the purchaser!" + +"Only too true. And I paid two dollars for you. And now, who will give +me back my good money?" + +"And why did you buy me? You bought me to make a drum of my skin!" + +"Only too true! And now, where shall I find another skin?" + +"Don't despair, master. There are such a number of little donkeys in the +world!" + +"Tell me, you impertinent rascal, does your story end here?" + +"No," answered the puppet; "I have another two words to say and then I +shall have finished. After you had bought me you brought me to this +place to kill me; but then, yielding to a feeling of compassion, you +preferred to tie a stone round my neck and to throw me into the sea. +This humane feeling does you great honor and I shall always be grateful +to you for it. But, nevertheless, dear master, this time you made your +calculations without considering the Fairy!" + +"And who is the Fairy?" + +"She is my mamma and she resembles all other good mammas who care for +their children, and who never lose sight of them, but help them +lovingly, even when, on account of their foolishness and evil conduct, +they deserve to be abandoned and left to themselves. Well, then, the +good Fairy, as soon as she saw that I was in danger of drowning, sent +immediately an immense shoal of fish, who, believing me really to be a +little dead donkey, began to eat me. And what mouthfuls they took; I +should never have thought that fish were greedier than boys! Some ate my +ears, some my muzzle, others my neck and mane, some the skin of my legs, +some my coat. Amongst them there was a little fish so polite that he +even condescended to eat my tail." + +"From this time forth," said his purchaser, horrified, "I swear that I +will never touch fish. It would be too dreadful to open a mullet, or a +fried whiting, and to find inside a donkey's tail!" + +"I agree with you," said the puppet, laughing. "However, I must tell you +that when the fish had finished eating the donkey's hide that covered me +from head to foot, they naturally reached the bone, or rather the wood, +for, as you see, I am made of the hardest wood. But after giving a few +bites they soon discovered that I was not a morsel for their teeth, and, +disgusted with such indigestible food, they went off, some in one +direction and some in another, without so much as saying 'Thank you' to +me. And now, at last, I have told you how it was that when you pulled up +the rope you found a live puppet instead of a dead donkey." + +"I laugh at your story," cried the man in a rage. "I know only that I +spent two dollars to buy you, and I will have my money back. Shall I +tell you what I will do? I will take you back to the market and I will +sell you by weight as seasoned wood for lighting fires." + +"Sell me if you like; I am content," said Pinocchio. + +But as he said it he made a spring and plunged into the water. Swimming +gaily away from the shore, he called to his poor owner: + +"Good-bye, master; if you should be in want of a skin to make a drum, +remember me." + +And he laughed and went on swimming, and after a while he turned again +and shouted louder: + +"Good-bye, master; if you should be in want of a little well seasoned +wood for lighting the fire, remember me." + +In the twinkling of an eye he had swum so far off that he was scarcely +visible. All that could be seen of him was a little black speck on the +surface of the sea that from time to time lifted its legs out of the +water and leaped and capered like a dolphin enjoying himself. + +Whilst Pinocchio was swimming, he knew not whither, he saw in the midst +of the sea a rock that seemed to be made of white marble, and on the +summit there stood a beautiful little goat who bleated lovingly and made +signs to him to approach. + +But the most singular thing was this. The little goat's hair, instead of +being white or black, or a mixture of two colors as is usual with other +goats, was blue, and a very vivid blue, greatly resembling the hair of +the beautiful Child. + +I leave you to imagine how rapidly poor Pinocchio's heart began to beat. +He swam with redoubled strength and energy towards the white rock; and +he was already half-way there when he saw, rising up out of the water +and coming to meet him, the horrible head of a sea-monster. His +wide-open, cavernous mouth and his three rows of enormous teeth would +have been terrifying to look at even in a picture. + +And do you know what this sea-monster was? + +This sea-monster was neither more nor less than that gigantic Dog-Fish, +who has been mentioned many times in this story, and who, for his +slaughter and for his insatiable voracity, had been named the "Attila of +Fish and Fishermen." + +Only to think of poor Pinocchio's terror at the sight of the monster. He +tried to avoid it, to change his direction; he tried to escape, but that +immense, wide-open mouth came towards him with the velocity of an arrow. + +"Be quick, Pinocchio, for pity's sake!" cried the beautiful little goat, +bleating. + +And Pinocchio swam desperately with his arms, his chest, his legs, and +his feet. + +"Quick, Pinocchio, the monster is close upon you!" + +And Pinocchio swam quicker than ever, and flew on with the rapidity of a +ball from a gun. He had nearly reached the rock, and the little goat, +leaning over towards the sea, had stretched out her fore-legs to help +him out of the water! + +But it was too late! The monster had overtaken him and, drawing in his +breath, he sucked in the poor puppet as he would have sucked a hen's +egg; and he swallowed him with such violence and avidity that Pinocchio, +in falling into the Dog-Fish's stomach, received such a blow that he +remained unconscious for a quarter of an hour afterwards. + +When he came to himself again after the shock he could not in the least +imagine in what world he was. All around him it was quite dark, and the +darkness was so black and so profound that it seemed to him that he had +fallen head downwards into an inkstand full of ink. He listened, but he +could hear no noise; only from time to time great gusts of wind blew in +his face. At first he could not understand where the wind came from, but +at last he discovered that it came out of the monster's lungs. For you +must know that the Dog-Fish suffered very much from asthma, and when he +breathed it was exactly as if a north wind was blowing. + +Pinocchio at first tried to keep up his courage, but when he had one +proof after another that he was really shut up in the body of this +sea-monster he began to cry and scream, and to sob out: + +"Help! help! Oh, how unfortunate I am! Will nobody come to save me?" + +"Who do you think could save you, unhappy wretch?" said a voice in the +dark that sounded like a guitar out of tune. + +"Who is speaking?" asked Pinocchio, frozen with terror. + +"It is I! I am a poor Tunny who was swallowed by the Dog-Fish at the +same time that you were. And what fish are you?" + +"I have nothing in common with fish. I am a puppet." + +"Then, if you are not a fish, why did you let yourself be swallowed by +the monster?" + +"I didn't let myself be swallowed; it was the monster swallowed me! And +now, what are we to do here in the dark?" + +"Resign ourselves and wait until the Dog-Fish has digested us both." + +"But I do not want to be digested!" howled Pinocchio, beginning to cry +again. + +"Neither do I want to be digested," added the Tunny; "but I am enough of +a philosopher to console myself by thinking that when one is born a +Tunny it is more dignified to die in the water than in oil." + +"That is all nonsense!" cried Pinocchio. + +"It is my opinion," replied the Tunny, "and opinions, so say the +political Tunnies, ought to be respected." + +"To sum it all up, I want to get away from here. I want to escape." + +"Escape, if you are able!" + +"Is this Dog-Fish who has swallowed us very big?" asked the puppet. + +"Big! Why, only imagine, his body is two miles long without counting his +tail." + +Whilst they were holding this conversation in the dark, Pinocchio +thought that he saw a light a long way off. + +"What is that little light I see in the distance?" he asked. + +"It is most likely some companion in misfortune who is waiting, like us, +to be digested." + +"I will go and find him. Do you not think that it may by chance be some +old fish who perhaps could show us how to escape?" + +"I hope it may be so, with all my heart, dear puppet." + +"Good-bye, Tunny." + +"Good-bye, puppet, and good fortune attend you." + +"Where shall we meet again?" + +"Who can say? It is better not even to think of it!" + + + + +[Illustration] + +CHAPTER XXXV + +A HAPPY SURPRISE FOR PINOCCHIO + + +Pinocchio, having taken leave of his friend the Tunny, began to grope +his way in the dark through the body of the Dog-Fish, taking a step at a +time in the direction of the light that he saw shining dimly at a great +distance. + +The farther he advanced the brighter became the light; and he walked and +walked until at last he reached it; and when he reached it--what did he +find? I will give you a thousand guesses. He found a little table spread +out and on it a lighted candle stuck into a green glass bottle, and, +seated at the table, was a little old man. He was eating some live fish, +and they were so very much alive that whilst he was eating them they +sometimes even jumped out of his mouth. + +At this sight Pinocchio was filled with such great and unexpected joy +that he became almost delirious. He wanted to laugh, he wanted to cry, +he wanted to say a thousand things, and instead he could only stammer +out a few confused and broken words. At last he succeeded in uttering a +cry of joy, and, opening his arms, he threw them around the little old +man's neck, and began to shout: + +"Oh, my dear papa! I have found you at last! I will never leave you +more, never more, never more!" + +"Then my eyes tell me true?" said the little old man, rubbing his eyes; +"then you are really my dear Pinocchio?" + +"Yes, yes, I am Pinocchio, really Pinocchio! And you have quite forgiven +me, have you not? Oh, my dear papa, how good you are! And to think that +I, on the contrary--Oh! but if you only knew what misfortunes have been +poured on my head, and all that has befallen me! Only imagine, the day +that you, poor, dear papa, sold your coat to buy me a spelling-book, +that I might go to school, I escaped to see the puppet show, and the +showman wanted to put me on the fire, that I might roast his mutton, and +he was the same that afterwards gave me five gold pieces to take them to +you, but I met the Fox and the Cat, who took me to the inn of The Red +Craw-Fish, where they ate like wolves, and I left by myself in the +middle of the night, and I encountered assassins who ran after me, and I +ran away, and they followed, and I ran, and they always followed me, and +I ran, until they hung me to a branch of a Big Oak, and the beautiful +Child with blue hair sent a little carriage to fetch me, and the doctors +when they saw me said immediately, 'If he is not dead, it is a proof +that he is still alive'--and then by chance I told a lie, and my nose +began to grow until I could no longer get through the door of the room, +for which reason I went with the Fox and the Cat to bury the four gold +pieces, for one I had spent at the inn, and the Parrot began to laugh, +and instead of two thousand gold pieces I found none left, for which +reason the judge when he heard that I had been robbed had me immediately +put in prison to content the robbers, and then when I was coming away I +saw a beautiful bunch of grapes in a field, and I was caught in a trap, +and the peasant, who was quite right, put a dog-collar round my neck +that I might guard the poultry-yard, and acknowledging my innocence let +me go, and the Serpent with the smoking tail began to laugh and broke a +blood-vessel in his chest, and so I returned to the house of the +beautiful Child, who was dead, and the Pigeon, seeing that I was crying, +said to me, 'I have seen your father who was building a little boat to +go in search of you,' and I said to him, 'Oh! if I also had wings,' and +he said to me, 'Do you want to go to your father?' and I said, 'Without +doubt! but who will take me to him?' and he said to me, 'I will take +you,' and I said to him, 'How?' and he said to me, 'Get on my back,' and +so we flew all night, and then in the morning all the fishermen who were +looking out to sea said to me, 'There is a poor man in a boat who is on +the point of being drowned,' and I recognized you at once, even at that +distance, for my heart told me, and I made signs to you to return to +land." + +"I also recognized you," said Geppetto, "and I would willingly have +returned to the shore, but what was I to do! The sea was tremendous and +a great wave upset my boat. Then a horrible Dog-Fish, who was near, as +soon as he saw me in the water, came towards me, and, putting out his +tongue, took hold of me and swallowed me as if I had been a little apple +tart." + +"And how long have you been shut up here?" asked Pinocchio. + +[Illustration: They Thought It Would Be More Comfortable to Get on the +Tunny's Back] + +"Since that day--it must be nearly two years ago; two years, my dear +Pinocchio, that have seemed like two centuries!" + +"And how have you managed to live? And where did you get the candle? And +the matches to light it? Who gave them to you?" + +"Stop, and I will tell you everything. You must know, then, that in the +same storm in which my boat was upset a merchant vessel foundered. The +sailors were all saved, but the vessel went to the bottom, and the +Dog-Fish, who had that day an excellent appetite, after he had swallowed +me, swallowed also the vessel." + +"How?" + +"He swallowed it in one mouthful, and the only thing that he spat out +was the mainmast, that had stuck between his teeth like a fish-bone. +Fortunately for me, the vessel was laden with preserved meat in tins, +biscuit, bottles of wine, dried raisins, cheese, coffee, sugar, candles, +and boxes of wax matches. With this providential supply I have been able +to live for two years. But I have arrived at the end of my resources; +there is nothing left in the larder, and this candle that you see +burning is the last that remains." + +"And after that?" + +"After that, dear boy, we shall both remain in the dark." + +"Then, dear little papa," said Pinocchio, "there is no time to lose. We +must think of escaping." + +"Of escaping? How?" + +"We must escape through the mouth of the Dog-Fish, throw ourselves into +the sea and swim away." + +"You talk well; but, dear Pinocchio, I don't know how to swim." + +"What does that matter? I am a good swimmer, and you can get on my +shoulders and I will carry you safely to shore." + +"All illusions, my boy!" replied Geppetto, shaking his head, with a +melancholy smile. "Do you suppose it possible that a puppet like you, +scarcely a yard high, could have the strength to swim with me on his +shoulders!" + +"Try it and you will see!" + +Without another word Pinocchio took the candle in his hand, and, going +in front to light the way, he said to his father: + +"Follow me, and don't be afraid." + +And they walked for some time and traversed the body and the stomach of +the Dog-Fish. But when they had arrived at the point where the monster's +big throat began, they thought it better to stop to give a good look +around and to choose the best moment for escaping. + +Now, I must tell you that the Dog-Fish, being very old, and suffering +from asthma and palpitation of the heart, was obliged to sleep with his +mouth open. Pinocchio, therefore, having approached the entrance to his +throat, and, looking up, could see beyond the enormous gaping mouth a +large piece of starry sky and beautiful moonlight. + +"This is the moment to escape," he whispered, turning to his father; +"the Dog-Fish is sleeping like a dormouse, the sea is calm, and it is as +light as day. Follow me, dear papa, and in a short time we shall be in +safety." + +They immediately climbed up the throat of the sea-monster, and, having +reached his immense mouth, they began to walk on tiptoe down his tongue. + +Before taking the final leap the puppet said to his father: + +"Get on my shoulders and put your arms tightly around my neck. I will +take care of the rest." + +As soon as Geppetto was firmly settled on his son's shoulders, +Pinocchio, feeling sure of himself, threw himself into the water and +began to swim. The sea was as smooth as oil, the moon shone brilliantly, +and the Dog-Fish was sleeping so profoundly that even a cannonade would +have failed to wake him. + + + + +[Illustration] + +CHAPTER XXXVI + +PINOCCHIO AT LAST CEASES TO BE A PUPPET AND BECOMES A BOY + + +Whilst Pinocchio was swimming quickly towards the shore he discovered +that his father, who was on his shoulders with his legs in the water, +was trembling as violently as if the poor man had an attack of ague +fever. + +Was he trembling from cold or from fear. Perhaps a little from both the +one and the other. But Pinocchio, thinking it was from fear, said, to +comfort him: + +"Courage, papa! In a few minutes we shall be safely on shore." + +"But where is this blessed shore?" asked the little old man, becoming +still more frightened, and screwing up his eyes as tailors do when they +wish to thread a needle. "I have been looking in every direction and I +see nothing but the sky and the sea." + +"But I see the shore as well," said the puppet. "You must know that I am +like a cat: I see better by night than by day." + +Poor Pinocchio was making a pretense of being in good spirits, but in +reality he was beginning to feel discouraged; his strength was failing, +he was gasping and panting for breath. He could do no more, and the +shore was still far off. + +He swam until he had no breath left; then he turned his head to Geppetto +and said in broken words? + +"Papa, help me, I am dying!" + +The father and son were on the point of drowning when they heard a voice +like a guitar out of tune saying: + +"Who is it that is dying?" + +"It is I, and my poor father!" + +"I know that voice! You are Pinocchio!" + +"Precisely; and you?" + +"I am the Tunny, your prison companion in the body of the Dog-Fish." + +"And how did you manage to escape?" + +"I followed your example. You showed me the road, and I escaped after +you." + +"Tunny, you have arrived at the right moment! I implore you to help us +or we are lost." + +"Willingly and with all my heart. You must, both of you, take hold of my +tail and leave it to me to guide you. I will take you on shore in four +minutes." + +Geppetto and Pinocchio, as I need not tell you, accepted the offer at +once; but, instead of holding on by his tail, they thought it would be +more comfortable to get on the Tunny's back. + +Having reached the shore, Pinocchio sprang first on land that he might +help his father to do the same. He then turned to the Tunny and said to +him in a voice full of emotion: + +"My friend, you have saved my papa's life. I can find no words with +which to thank you properly. Permit me at least to give you a kiss as a +sign of my eternal gratitude!" + +The Tunny put his head out of the water and Pinocchio, kneeling on the +ground, kissed him tenderly on the mouth. At this spontaneous proof of +warm affection, the poor Tunny, who was not accustomed to it, felt +extremely touched, and, ashamed to let himself be seen crying like a +child, he plunged under the water and disappeared. + +By this time the day had dawned. Pinocchio, then offering his arm to +Geppetto, who had scarcely breath to stand, said to him: + +"Lean on my arm, dear papa, and let us go. We will walk very slowly, +like the ants, and when we are tired we can rest by the wayside." + +"And where shall we go?" asked Geppetto. + +"In search of some house or cottage, where they will give us for charity +a mouthful of bread, and a little straw to serve as a bed." + +They had not gone a hundred yards when they saw by the roadside two +villainous-looking individuals begging. + +They were the Cat and the Fox, but they were scarcely recognizable. +Fancy! the Cat had so long feigned blindness that she had become blind +in reality; and the Fox, old, mangy, and with one side paralyzed, had +not even his tail left. That sneaking thief, having fallen into the most +squalid misery, one fine day had found himself obliged to sell his +beautiful tail to a traveling peddler, who bought it to drive away +flies. + +"Oh, Pinocchio!" cried the Fox, "give a little in charity to two poor, +infirm people." + +"Infirm people," repeated the Cat. + +"Begone, impostors!" answered the puppet. "You took me in once, but you +will never catch me again." + +"Believe me, Pinocchio, we are now poor and unfortunate indeed!" + +"If you are poor, you deserve it. Recollect the proverb: 'Stolen money +never fructifies.' Begone, impostors!" + +And, thus saying, Pinocchio and Geppetto went their way in peace. When +they had gone another hundred yards they saw, at the end of a path in +the middle of the fields, a nice little straw hut with a roof of tiles +and bricks. + +"That hut must be inhabited by some one," said Pinocchio. "Let us go and +knock at the door." + +They went and knocked. + +"We are a poor father and son without bread and without a roof," +answered the puppet. + +"Turn the key and the door will open," said the same little voice. + +Pinocchio turned the key and the door opened. They went in and looked +here, there, and everywhere, but could see no one. + +"Oh! where is the master of the house?" said Pinocchio, much surprised. + +"Here I am, up here!" + +The father and son looked immediately up to the ceiling, and there on a +beam they saw the Talking-Cricket. + +"Oh, my dear little Cricket!" said Pinocchio, bowing politely to him. + +"Ah! now you call me 'Your dear little Cricket.' But do you remember the +time when you threw the handle of a hammer at me, to drive me from your +house?" + +"You are right, Cricket! Drive me away also! Throw the handle of a +hammer at me, but have pity on my poor papa." + +"I will have pity on both father and son, but I wished to remind you of +the ill treatment I received from you, to teach you that in this world, +when it is possible, we should show courtesy to everybody, if we wish it +to be extended to us in our hour of need." + +"You are right. Cricket, you are right, and I will bear in mind the +lesson you have given me. But tell me how you managed to buy this +beautiful hut." + +"This hut was given to me yesterday by a goat whose wool was of a +beautiful blue color." + +"And where has the goat gone?" asked Pinocchio, with lively curiosity. + +"I do not know." + +"And when will it come back?" + +"It will never come back. It went away yesterday in great grief and, +bleating, it seemed to say: 'Poor Pinocchio! I shall never see him more, +for by this time the Dog-Fish must have devoured him!'" + +"Did it really say that? Then it was she! It was my dear little Fairy," +exclaimed Pinocchio, crying and sobbing. + +When he had cried for some time he dried his eyes and prepared a +comfortable bed of straw for Geppetto to lie down upon. Then he asked +the Cricket: + +"Tell me, little Cricket, where can I find a tumbler of milk for my poor +papa?" + +"Three fields off from here there lives a gardener called Giangio, who +keeps cows. Go to him and you will get the milk you are in want of." + +Pinocchio ran all the way to Giangio's house, and the gardener asked +him: + +"How much milk do you want?" + +"I want a tumblerful." + +"A tumbler of milk costs five cents. Begin by giving me the five cents." + +"I have not even one cent," replied Pinocchio, grieved and mortified. + +"That is bad, puppet," answered the gardener. "If you have not even one +cent, I have not even a drop of milk." + +"I must have patience!" said Pinocchio, and he turned to go. + +"Wait a little," said Giangio. "We can come to an arrangement together. +Will you undertake to turn the pumping machine?" + +"What is the pumping machine?" + +"It is a wooden pole which serves to draw up the water from the cistern +to water the vegetables." + +"You can try me." + +"Well, then, if you will draw a hundred buckets of water, I will give +you in compensation a tumbler of milk." + +"It is a bargain." + +Giangio then led Pinocchio to the kitchen garden and taught him how to +turn the pumping machine. Pinocchio immediately began to work; but +before he had drawn up the hundred buckets of water the perspiration was +pouring from his head to his feet. Never before had he undergone such +fatigue. + +"Up till now," said the gardener, "the labor of turning the pumping +machine was performed by my little donkey, but the poor animal is +dying." + +"Will you take me to see him?" said Pinocchio. + +"Willingly." + +When Pinocchio went into the stable he saw a beautiful little donkey +stretched on the straw, worn out from hunger and overwork. After looking +at him earnestly, he said to himself, much troubled: + +"I am sure I know this little donkey! His face is not new to me." + +And, bending over him, he asked him in asinine language: + +"Who are you?" + +At this question the little donkey opened his dying eyes, and answered +in broken words in the same language: + +"I am--Can--dle--wick." + +And, having again closed his eyes, he expired. + +"Oh, poor Candlewick!" said Pinocchio in a low voice; and, taking a +handful of straw, he dried a tear that was rolling down his face. + +"Do you grieve for a donkey that cost you nothing?" said the gardener. +"What must it be to me, who bought him for ready money?" + +"I must tell you--he was my friend!" + +"Your friend?" + +"One of my school-fellows!" + +"How?" shouted Giangio, laughing loudly. "How? had you donkeys for +school-fellows? I can imagine what wonderful studies you must have +made!" + +The puppet, who felt much mortified at these words, did not answer; but, +taking his tumbler of milk, still quite warm, he returned to the hut. + +And from that day for more than five months he continued to get up at +daybreak every morning to go and turn the pumping machine, to earn the +tumbler of milk that was of such benefit to his father in his bad state +of health. Nor was he satisfied with this; for, during the time that he +had over, he learned to make hampers and baskets of rushes, and with the +money he obtained by selling them he was able with great economy to +provide for all the daily expenses. Amongst other things he constructed +an elegant little wheel-chair, in which he could take his father out on +fine days to breathe a mouthful of fresh air. + +By his industry, ingenuity and his anxiety to work and to overcome +difficulties, he not only succeeded in maintaining his father, who +continued infirm, in comfort, but he also contrived to put aside five +dollars to buy himself a new coat. + +One morning he said to his father: + +"I am going to the neighboring market to buy myself a jacket, a cap, and +a pair of shoes. When I return," he added, laughing, "I shall be so well +dressed that you will take me for a fine gentleman." + +And, leaving the house, he began to run merrily and happily along. All +at once he heard himself called by name and, turning around, he saw a +big Snail crawling out from the hedge. + +"Do you not know me?" asked the Snail. + +"It seems to me--and yet I am not sure--" + +"Do you not remember the Snail who was lady's-maid to the Fairy with +blue hair? Do you not remember the time when I came downstairs to let +you in, and you were caught by your foot, which you had stuck through +the house-door?" + +"I remember it all" shouted Pinocchio. "Tell me quickly, my beautiful +little Snail, where have you left my good Fairy? What is she doing? Has +she forgiven me? Does she still remember me? Does she still wish me +well? Is she far from here? Can I go and see her?" + +To all these rapid, breathless questions the Snail replied in her usual +phlegmatic manner: + +"My dear Pinocchio, the poor Fairy is lying in bed at the hospital!" + +"At the hospital?" + +"It is only too true. Overtaken by a thousand misfortunes, she has +fallen seriously ill, and she has not even enough to buy herself a +mouthful of bread." + +"Is it really so? Oh, what sorrow you have given me! Oh, poor Fairy! +Poor Fairy! Poor Fairy! If I had a million I would run and carry it to +her, but I have only five dollars. Here they are--I was going to buy a +new coat. Take them, Snail, and carry them at once to my good Fairy." + +"And your new coat?" + +"What matters my new coat? I would sell even these rags that I have on +to be able to help her. Go, Snail, and be quick; and in two days return +to this place, for I hope I shall then be able to give you some more +money. Up to this time I have worked to maintain my papa; from today I +will work five hours more that I may also maintain my good mamma. +Good-bye, Snail, I shall expect you in two days." + +The Snail, contrary to her usual habits, began to run like a lizard in a +hot August sun. + +That evening Pinocchio, instead of going to bed at ten o'clock, sat up +till midnight had struck; and instead of making eight baskets of rushes +he made sixteen. + +Then he went to bed and fell asleep. And whilst he slept he thought that +he saw the Fairy, smiling and beautiful, who, after having kissed him, +said to him: + +"Well done, Pinocchio! To reward you for your good heart I will forgive +you for all that is past. Boys who minister tenderly to their parents +and assist them in their misery and infirmities, are deserving of great +praise and affection, even if they cannot be cited as examples of +obedience and good behavior. Try and do better in the future and you +will be happy." + +At this moment his dream ended and Pinocchio opened his eyes and awoke. + +But imagine his astonishment when upon awakening he discovered that he +was no longer a wooden puppet, but that he had become instead a boy, +like all other boys. He gave a glance round and saw that the straw walls +of the hut had disappeared, and that he was in a pretty little room +furnished and arranged with a simplicity that was almost elegance. +Jumping out of bed he found a new suit of clothes ready for him, a new +cap, and a pair of new boots, that fitted him beautifully. + +He was hardly dressed when he naturally put his hands in his pockets +and pulled out a little ivory purse on which these words were written: +"The Fairy with blue hair returns the five dollars to her dear +Pinocchio, and thanks him for his good heart." He opened the purse and +instead of five dollars he saw fifty shining gold pieces fresh from the +mint. + +He then went and looked at himself in the glass, and he thought he was +some one else. For he no longer saw the usual reflection of a wooden +puppet; he was greeted instead by the image of a bright, intelligent boy +with chestnut hair, blue eyes, and looking as happy and joyful as if it +were the Easter holidays. + +In the midst of all these wonders succeeding each other, Pinocchio felt +quite bewildered, and he could not tell if he was really awake or if he +was dreaming with his eyes open. + +"Where can my papa be?" he exclaimed suddenly, and, going into the next +room, he found old Geppetto quite well, lively, and in good humor, just +as he had been formerly. He had already resumed his trade of +wood-carving, and he was designing a rich and beautiful frame of leaves, +flowers and the heads of animals. + +"Satisfy my curiosity, dear papa," said Pinocchio, throwing his arms +around his neck and covering him with kisses; "how can this sudden +change be accounted for?" + +"This sudden change in our home is all your doing," answered Geppetto. + +"How my doing?" + +"Because when boys who have behaved badly turn over a new leaf and +become good, they have the power of bringing contentment and happiness +to their families." + +"And where has the old wooden Pinocchio hidden himself?" + +"There he is," answered Geppetto, and he pointed to a big puppet +leaning against a chair, with its head on one side, its arms dangling, +and its legs so crossed and bent that it was really a miracle that it +remained standing. + +Pinocchio turned and looked at it; and, after he had looked at it for a +short time, he said to himself with great complacency: + +"How ridiculous I was when I was a puppet! And how glad I am that I have +become a well-behaved little boy!" + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Pinocchio, by C. Collodi + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PINOCCHIO *** + +***** This file should be named 16865-8.txt or 16865-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/8/6/16865/ + +Produced by Mark C. Orton, Melissa Er-Raqabi and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net. + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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Collodi + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Pinocchio + The Tale of a Puppet + +Author: C. Collodi + +Illustrator: Alice Carsey + +Release Date: October 13, 2005 [EBook #16865] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PINOCCHIO *** + + + + +Produced by Mark C. Orton, Melissa Er-Raqabi and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net. + + + + + + +</pre> + + + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/illus-cover.jpg" +alt="Cover" title="Cover" /> +</div> + + + + + +<div class="figcenter"> +<p><a name="hi-illus-001" id="hi-illus-001"></a></p> +<img src="images/hi-illus-001.jpg" +alt=""HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO GO IN?"" title=""HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO GO IN?"" /> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/hi-illus-002.jpg" alt="Title Page" title="Title Page" /> +</div> + + + +<h1>PINOCCHIO</h1> +<h2>THE TALE OF A PUPPET</h2> + +<h2>By C COLLODI</h2> + +<h3>Illustrated By<br /> +ALICE CARSEY</h3> + + +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">Whitman Publishing Co.</span><br /> +RACINE, WISCONSIN +</p> + + + +<p class="center">COPYRIGHT 1916 BY<br /> +<span class="smcap">Whitman Publishing Co.</span><br /> +RACINE, WISCONSIN<br /> +PRINTED IN U.S.A. +</p> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h3>CONTENTS</h3> + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" summary="Contents"> +<tr><td align='right'><small>Chap.</small></td><td align='left'></td><td align='right'><small>Page</small></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>I</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_I">The Piece of Wood That Laughed and Cried Like a Child</a></span></td><td align='right'>9</td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>II</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_II">Master Cherry Gives the Wood Away</a></span></td><td align='right'>12</td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>III</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_III">Geppetto Names His Puppet Pinocchio</a></span></td><td align='right'>16</td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>IV</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_IV">The Talking-Cricket Scolds Pinocchio</a></span></td><td align='right'>23</td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>V</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_V">The Flying Egg</a></span></td><td align='right'>26</td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>VI</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_VI">Pinocchio's Feet Burn to Cinders</a></span></td><td align='right'>29</td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>VII</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_VII">Geppetto Gives His Own Breakfast to Pinocchio</a></span></td><td align='right'>31</td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>VIII</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_VIII">Geppetto Makes Pinocchio New Feet</a></span></td><td align='right'>35</td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>IX</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_IX">Pinocchio Goes To See a Puppet-Show</a></span></td><td align='right'>39</td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>X</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_X">The Puppets Recognize Their Brother Pinocchio</a></span></td><td align='right'>42</td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XI</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XI">Fire-Eater Sneezes and Pardons Pinocchio</a></span></td><td align='right'>45</td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XII</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XII">Pinocchio Receives a Present of Five Gold Pieces</a></span></td><td align='right'>49</td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XIII</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIII">The Inn of the Red Craw-Fish</a></span></td><td align='right'>57</td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XIV</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIV">Pinocchio Falls Among Assassins</a></span></td><td align='right'>61</td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XV</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XV">The Assassins Hang Pinocchio to the Big Oak</a></span></td><td align='right'>65</td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XVI</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVI">The Beautiful Child Rescues the Puppet</a></span></td><td align='right'>71</td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XVII</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVII">Pinocchio Will Not Take His Medicine</a></span></td><td align='right'>75</td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XVIII</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVIII">Pinocchio Again Meets the Fox and the Cat</a></span></td><td align='right'>81</td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XIX</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIX">Pinocchio Is Robbed of His Money</a></span></td><td align='right'>87</td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XX</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XX">Pinocchio Starts Back to the Fairy's House</a></span></td><td align='right'>91</td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XXI</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXI">Pinocchio Acts as Watch-dog</a></span></td><td align='right'>94</td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XXII</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXII">Pinocchio Discovers the Robbers</a></span></td><td align='right'>97</td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XXIII</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXIII">Pinocchio Flies to the Seashore</a></span></td><td align='right'>101</td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XXIV</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXIV">Pinocchio Finds the Fairy Again</a></span></td><td align='right'>109</td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XXV</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXV">Pinocchio Promises the Fairy To Be Good</a></span></td><td align='right'>116</td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XXVI</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXVI">The Terrible Dog-Fish</a></span></td><td align='right'>120</td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XXVII</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXVII">Pinocchio Is Arrested by the Gendarmes</a></span></td><td align='right'>126</td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XXVIII</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXVIII">Pinocchio Escapes Being Fried Like a Fish</a></span></td><td align='right'>133</td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XXIX</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXIX">He Returns to the Fairy's House</a></span></td><td align='right'>139</td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XXX</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXX">The "Land of Boobies"</a></span></td><td align='right'>147</td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XXXI</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXXI">Pinocchio Enjoys Five Months of Happiness</a></span></td><td align='right'>153</td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XXXII</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXXII">Pinocchio Turns Into a Donkey</a></span></td><td align='right'>160</td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XXXIII</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXXIII">Pinocchio Is Trained for the Circus</a></span></td><td align='right'>167</td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XXXIV</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXXIV">Pinocchio Is Swallowed by the Dog-Fish</a></span></td><td align='right'>178</td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XXXV</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXXV">A Happy Surprise for Pinocchio</a></span></td><td align='right'>186</td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XXXVI</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXXVI">Pinocchio at Last Ceases to Be a Puppet and Becomes a Boy</a></span></td><td align='right'>194</td></tr> +</table></div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h3>LINE ILLUSTRATIONS</h3> + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" summary="Line Illustrations"> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap"><a href="#hi-illus-001">Decorative Title Page</a></span></td><td align='right'>1</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap"><a href="#illus-008">The Runaway Puppet</a></span></td><td align='right'>9</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap"><a href="#illus-011">Geppetto Carried Off His Fine Piece Of Wood</a></span></td><td align='right'>12</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap"><a href="#illus-015">He Set to Work to Cut Out His Puppet</a></span></td><td align='right'>16</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap"><a href="#illus-017">A Little Chicken Popped Out</a></span></td><td align='right'>17</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap"><a href="#illus-022">Pinocchio Threw His Hammer at the Talking-Cricket</a></span></td><td align='right'>23</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap"><a href="#illus-025"><i>Untitled</i></a></span></td><td align='right'>26</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap"><a href="#illus-028">Poor Pinocchio's Feet Burn to Cinders</a></span></td><td align='right'>29</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap"><a href="#illus-034">Geppetto Makes His Puppet Some Clothes</a></span></td><td align='right'>35</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap"><a href="#illus-044">The Puppets Began to Dance Merrily</a></span></td><td align='right'>45</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap"><a href="#illus-048">Pinocchio Meets the Cat and the Fox</a></span></td><td align='right'>49</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap"><a href="#illus-051">Splash! Splash! They Fell Into the Ditch</a></span></td><td align='right'>52</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap"><a href="#illus-057">Dinner at The Red Craw-Fish Inn</a></span></td><td align='right'>57</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap"><a href="#illus-061">Pinocchio Escapes from his Assassins</a></span></td><td align='right'>61</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap"><a href="#illus-065">They Hung Pinocchio to the Big Oak Tree</a></span></td><td align='right'>65</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap"><a href="#illus-070">Four Rabbits as Black as Ink Entered</a></span></td><td align='right'>69</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap"><a href="#illus-071">The Falcon Saves Pinocchio</a></span></td><td align='right'>71</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap"><a href="#illus-075">Pinocchio Refuses to Take His Medicine</a></span></td><td align='right'>75</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap"><a href="#illus-082">Treacherous Companions</a></span></td><td align='right'>81</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap"><a href="#illus-088">The Judge Was a Big Ape</a></span></td><td align='right'>87</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap"><a href="#illus-095">Pinocchio Gets His Foot Caught in a Trap</a></span></td><td align='right'>94</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap"><a href="#illus-098">The New Watch-Dog</a></span></td><td align='right'>97</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap"><a href="#illus-102">Pinocchio's Wild Ride on the Pigeon's Back</a></span></td><td align='right'>101</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap"><a href="#illus-105">An Immense Serpent Stretched across the Road</a></span></td><td align='right'>104</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap"><a href="#illus-110">Pinocchio Braves the Sea to Save His Father</a></span></td><td align='right'>109</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap"><a href="#illus-117">"School Gives Me Pain All Over the Body"</a></span></td><td align='right'>116</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap"><a href="#illus-121">Pinocchio Starts Off Happily for School</a></span></td><td align='right'>120</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap"><a href="#illus-123">"Oh, I Am Sick of Being a Puppet!"</a></span></td><td align='right'>121</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap"><a href="#illus-127">The Boys Threw Their Books at Poor Pinocchio</a></span></td><td align='right'>126</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap"><a href="#illus-135">The Fisherman Put His Hand into the Net</a></span></td><td align='right'>133</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap"><a href="#illus-141">The Dog Seizes Pinocchio and Escapes</a></span></td><td align='right'>139</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap"><a href="#illus-149">"Here Is the Coach!" Shouted Candlewick</a></span></td><td align='right'>147</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap"><a href="#illus-156">They Arrive in the "Land of the Boobies"</a></span></td><td align='right'>153</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap"><a href="#illus-163">The Boys Are Turned into Donkeys</a></span></td><td align='right'>160</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap"><a href="#illus-170">The Little Donkeys Are Sold</a></span></td><td align='right'>167</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap"><a href="#illus-175">All His Friends Were Invited</a></span></td><td align='right'>172</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap"><a href="#illus-181">The Puppet Was Wriggling Like an Eel</a></span></td><td align='right'>178</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap"><a href="#illus-189">Swallowed by the Dog-Fish</a></span></td><td align='right'>186</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap"><a href="#illus-193">It Would Be More Comfortable on the Tunny's Back</a></span></td><td align='right'>189</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap"><a href="#illus-197">The Blind Cat and the Tailless Fox</a></span></td><td align='right'>194</td></tr> +</table></div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><a name="illus-008" id="illus-008"></a></p> +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/illus-008.png" alt="The Runaway Puppet" title="The Runaway Puppet" /> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h3><a name="CHAPTER_I" id="CHAPTER_I"></a>CHAPTER I</h3> + +<h2>THE PIECE OF WOOD THAT LAUGHED +AND CRIED LIKE A CHILD</h2> + + +<p>There was once upon a time a piece of wood in the +shop of an old carpenter named Master Antonio. Everybody, +however, called him Master Cherry, on account of the +end of his nose, which was always as red and polished as a +ripe cherry.</p> + +<p>No sooner had Master Cherry set eyes on the piece of +wood than his face beamed with delight, and, rubbing his +hands together with satisfaction, he said softly to himself:</p> + +<p>"This wood has come at the right moment; it will just +do to make the leg of a little table."</p> + +<p>He immediately took a sharp axe with which to remove +the bark and the rough surface, but just as he was going +to give the first stroke he heard a very small voice say +imploringly, "Do not strike me so hard!"</p> + +<p>He turned his terrified eyes all around the room to try +and discover where the little voice could possibly have come +from, but he saw nobody! He looked under the bench—nobody; +he looked into a cupboard that was always shut—nobody; +he looked into a basket of shavings and sawdust—nobody; +he even opened the door of the shop and gave a glance into +the street—and still nobody. Who, then, could it be?</p> + +<p>"I see how it is," he said, laughing and scratching his +wig, "evidently that little voice was all my imagination. Let +us set to work again."</p> + +<p>And, taking up the axe, he struck a tremendous blow on +the piece of wood.</p> + +<p>"Oh! oh! you have hurt me!" cried the same little voice +dolefully.</p> + +<p>This time Master Cherry was petrified. His eyes started +out of his head with fright, his mouth remained open, and +his tongue hung out almost to the end of his chin, like a +mask on a fountain. As soon as he had recovered the use +of his speech he began to say, stuttering and trembling +with fear:</p> + +<p>"But where on earth can that little voice have come +from that said 'Oh! oh!'? Is it possible that this piece of +wood can have learned to cry and to lament like a child? +I cannot believe it. This piece of wood is nothing but a log +for fuel like all the others, and thrown on the fire it would +about suffice to boil a saucepan of beans. How then? Can +anyone be hidden inside it? If anyone is hidden inside, so +much the worse for him. I will settle him at once."</p> + +<p>So saying, he seized the poor piece of wood and commenced +beating it without mercy against the walls of the room.</p> + +<p>Then he stopped to listen if he could hear any little +voice lamenting. He waited two minutes—nothing; five minutes—nothing; +ten minutes—still nothing!</p> + +<p>"I see how it is," he then said, forcing himself to laugh, +and pushing up his wig; "evidently the little voice that said +'Oh! oh!' was all my imagination! Let us set to work again."</p> + +<p>Putting the axe aside, he took his plane, to plane and +polish the bit of wood; but whilst he was running it up and +down he heard the same little voice say, laughing:</p> + +<p>"Stop! you are tickling me all over!"</p> + +<p>This time poor Master Cherry fell down as if he had +been struck by lightning. When he at last opened his eyes +he found himself seated on the floor.</p> + +<p>His face was changed, even the end of his nose, instead +of being crimson, as it was nearly always, had become blue +from fright.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><a name="illus-011" id="illus-011"></a></p> +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/illus-011.png" +alt="Geppetto Carried Off His Fine Piece of Wood" title="Geppetto Carried Off His Fine Piece of Wood" /> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h3><a name="CHAPTER_II" id="CHAPTER_II"></a>CHAPTER II</h3> + +<h2>MASTER CHERRY GIVES THE WOOD AWAY</h2> + + +<p>At that moment some one knocked at the door.</p> + +<p>"Come in," said the carpenter, without having the +strength to rise to his feet.</p> + +<p>A lively little old man immediately walked into the shop. +His name was Geppetto, but when the boys of the neighborhood +wished to make him angry they called him Pudding, +because his yellow wig greatly resembled a pudding made of +Indian corn.</p> + +<p>Geppetto was very fiery. Woe to him who called him +Pudding! He became furious and there was no holding him.</p> + +<p>"Good-day, Master Antonio," said Geppetto; "what are +you doing there on the floor?"</p> + +<p>"I am teaching the alphabet to the ants."</p> + +<p>"Much good may that do you."</p> + +<p>"What has brought you to me, neighbor Geppetto?"</p> + +<p>"My legs. But to tell the truth. Master Antonio, I came +to ask a favor of you."</p> + +<p>"Here I am, ready to serve you," replied the carpenter, +getting on his knees.</p> + +<p>"This morning an idea came into my head."</p> + +<p>"Let us hear it."</p> + +<p>"I thought I would make a beautiful wooden puppet; +one that could dance, fence, and leap like an acrobat. With +this puppet I would travel about the world to earn a piece +of bread and a glass of wine. What do you think of it?"</p> + +<p>"Bravo, Pudding!" exclaimed the same little voice, and +it was impossible to say where it came from.</p> + +<p>Hearing himself called Pudding, Geppetto became as red +as a turkey-cock from rage and, turning to the carpenter, he +said in a fury:</p> + +<p>"Why do you insult me?"</p> + +<p>"Who insults you?"</p> + +<p>"You called me Pudding!"</p> + +<p>"It was not I!"</p> + +<p>"Do you think I called myself Pudding? It was you, +I say!"</p> + +<p>"No!"</p> + +<p>"Yes!"</p> + +<p>"No!"</p> + +<p>"Yes!"</p> + +<p>And, becoming more and more angry, from words they +came to blows, and, flying at each other, they bit and fought, +and scratched.</p> + +<p>When the fight was over Master Antonio was in possession +of Geppetto's yellow wig, and Geppetto discovered that +the grey wig belonging to the carpenter remained between +his teeth.</p> + +<p>"Give me back my wig," screamed Master Antonio.</p> + +<p>"And you, return me mine, and let us be friends again."</p> + +<p>The two old men having each recovered his own wig, +shook hands and swore that they would remain friends to the +end of their lives.</p> + +<p>"Well, then, neighbor Geppetto," said the carpenter, to +prove that peace was made, "what is the favor that you wish +of me?"</p> + +<p>"I want a little wood to make my puppet; will you give +me some?"</p> + +<p>Master Antonio was delighted, and he immediately went +to the bench and fetched the piece of wood that had caused +him so much fear. But just as he was going to give it to +his friend the piece of wood gave a shake and, wriggling +violently out of his hands, struck with all of its force against +the dried-up shins of poor Geppetto.</p> + +<p>"Ah! is that the courteous way in which you make your +presents, Master Antonio? You have almost lamed me!"</p> + +<p>"I swear to you that it was not I!"</p> + +<p>"Then you would have it that it was I?"</p> + +<p>"The wood is entirely to blame!"</p> + +<p>"I know that it was the wood; but it was you that hit +my legs with it!"</p> + +<p>"I did not hit you with it!"</p> + +<p>"Liar!"</p> + +<p>"Geppetto, don't insult me or I will call you Pudding!"</p> + +<p>"Knave!"</p> + +<p>"Pudding!"</p> + +<p>"Donkey!"</p> + +<p>"Pudding!"</p> + +<p>"Baboon!"</p> + +<p>"Pudding!"</p> + +<p>On hearing himself called Pudding for the third time +Geppetto, mad with rage, fell upon the carpenter and they +fought desperately.</p> + +<p>When the battle was over, Master Antonio had two more +scratches on his nose, and his adversary had lost two buttons +off his waistcoat. Their accounts being thus squared, they +shook hands and swore to remain good friends for the rest +of their lives.</p> + +<p>Geppetto carried off his fine piece of wood and, thanking +Master Antonio, returned limping to his house.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><a name="illus-015" id="illus-015"></a></p> +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/illus-015.png" alt="He Set to Work to Cut Out His Puppet" title="He Set to Work to Cut Out His Puppet" /> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h3><a name="CHAPTER_III" id="CHAPTER_III"></a>CHAPTER III</h3> + +<h2>GEPPETTO NAMES HIS PUPPET PINOCCHIO</h2> + + +<p>Geppetto lived in a small ground-floor room that was +only lighted from the staircase. The furniture could not +have been simpler—a rickety chair, a poor bed, and a broken-down +table. At the end of the room there was a fireplace +with a lighted fire; but the fire was painted, and by the fire +was a painted saucepan that was boiling cheerfully and sending +out a cloud of smoke that looked exactly like real smoke.</p> + +<p>As soon as he reached home Geppetto took his tools and +set to work to cut out and model his puppet.</p> + +<p>"What name shall I give him?" he said to himself; "I +think I will call him Pinocchio. It is a name that will bring +him luck. I once knew a whole family so called. There was +Pinocchio the father, Pinocchia the mother, and Pinocchi the +children, and all of them did well. The richest of them was +a beggar."</p> + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="A Little Chicken Popped Out"> +<tr><td align='center'><big><b>A Little Chicken Popped Out,<br /> +Very Gay and Polite</b></big></td> +<td align='center'><a name="illus-017" id="illus-017"></a> +<img src="images/illus-017.png" +alt="A Little Chicken Popped Out" title="A Little Chicken Popped Out" /></td></tr> +</table></div> + + +<p>Having found a name for his puppet he began to work +in good earnest, and he first made his hair, then his forehead, +and then his eyes.</p> + +<p>The eyes being finished, imagine his astonishment when +he perceived that they moved and looked fixedly at him.</p> + +<p>Geppetto, seeing himself stared at by those two wooden +eyes, said in an angry voice:</p> + +<p>"Wicked wooden eyes, why do you look at me?"</p> + +<p>No one answered.</p> + +<p>He then proceeded to carve the nose, but no sooner had +he made it than it began to grow. And it grew, and grew, +and grew, until in a few minutes it had become an immense +nose that seemed as if it would never end.</p> + +<p>Poor Geppetto tired himself out with cutting it off, but +the more he cut and shortened it, the longer did that impertinent +nose become!</p> + +<p>The mouth was not even completed when it began to laugh +and deride him.</p> + +<p>"Stop laughing!" said Geppetto, provoked; but he might +as well have spoken to the wall.</p> + +<p>"Stop laughing, I say!" he roared in a threatening tone.</p> + +<p>The mouth then ceased laughing, but put out its tongue +as far as it would go.</p> + +<p>Geppetto, not to spoil his handiwork, pretended not to +see and continued his labors. After the mouth he fashioned +the chin, then the throat, then the shoulders, the stomach, +the arms and the hands.</p> + +<p>The hands were scarcely finished when Geppetto felt his +wig snatched from his head. He turned round, and what +did he see? He saw his yellow wig in the puppet's hand.</p> + +<p>"Pinocchio! Give me back my wig instantly!"</p> + +<p>But Pinocchio, instead of returning it, put it on his own +head and was in consequence nearly smothered.</p> + +<p>Geppetto at this insolent and derisive behavior felt sadder +and more melancholy than he had ever been in his life before; +and, turning to Pinocchio, he said to him:</p> + +<p>"You young rascal! You are not yet completed and you +are already beginning to show want of respect to your father! +That is bad, my boy, very bad!"</p> + +<p>And he dried a tear.</p> + +<p>The legs and the feet remained to be done.</p> + +<p>When Geppetto had finished the feet he received a kick +on the point of his nose.</p> + +<p>"I deserve it!" he said to himself; "I should have thought +of it sooner! Now it is too late!"</p> + +<p>He then took the puppet under the arms and placed +him on the floor to teach him to walk.</p> + +<p>Pinocchio's legs were stiff and he could not move, but +Geppetto led him by the hand and showed him how to put +one foot before the other.</p> + +<p>When his legs became limber Pinocchio began to walk +by himself and to run about the room, until, having gone out +of the house door, he jumped into the street and escaped.</p> + +<p>Poor Geppetto rushed after him but was not able to overtake +him, for that rascal Pinocchio leaped in front of him +like a hare and knocking his wooden feet together against the +pavement made as much clatter as twenty pairs of peasants' +clogs.</p> + +<p>"Stop him! stop him!" shouted Geppetto; but the people +in the street, seeing a wooden puppet running like a race-horse, +stood still in astonishment to look at it, and laughed +and laughed.</p> + +<p>At last, as good luck would have it, a soldier arrived who, +hearing the uproar, imagined that a colt had escaped from +his master. Planting himself courageously with his legs apart +in the middle of the road, he waited with the determined purpose +of stopping him and thus preventing the chance of worse +disasters.</p> + +<p>When Pinocchio, still at some distance, saw the soldier +barricading the whole street, he endeavored to take him by +surprise and to pass between his legs. But he failed entirely.</p> + +<p>The soldier without disturbing himself in the least caught +him cleverly by the nose and gave him to Geppetto. Wishing +to punish him, Geppetto intended to pull his ears at once. +But imagine his feelings when he could not succeed in finding +them. And do you know the reason? In his hurry to model +him he had forgotten to make any ears.</p> + +<p>He then took him by the collar and as he was leading +him away he said to him, shaking his head threateningly:</p> + +<p>"We will go home at once, and as soon as we arrive +we will settle our accounts, never doubt it."</p> + +<p>At this information Pinocchio threw himself on the ground +and would not take another step. In the meanwhile a crowd +of idlers and inquisitive people began to assemble and to make +a ring around them.</p> + +<p>Some of them said one thing, some another.</p> + +<p>"Poor puppet!" said several, "he is right not to wish +to return home! Who knows how Geppetto, that bad old +man, will beat him!"</p> + +<p>And the others added maliciously:</p> + +<p>"Geppetto seems a good man! but with boys he is a +regular tyrant! If that poor puppet is left in his hands he +is quite capable of tearing him in pieces!"</p> + +<p>It ended in so much being said and done that the soldier +at last set Pinocchio at liberty and led Geppetto to prison. +The poor man, not being ready with words to defend himself, +cried like a calf and as he was being led away to prison +sobbed out:</p> + +<p>"Wretched boy! And to think how I labored to make +him a well-conducted puppet! But it serves me right! I should +have thought of it sooner!"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><a name="illus-022" id="illus-022"></a></p> +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/illus-022.png" +alt="Pinocchio Threw His Hammer at the Talking-Cricket" title="Pinocchio Threw His Hammer at the Talking-Cricket" /> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h3><a name="CHAPTER_IV" id="CHAPTER_IV"></a>CHAPTER IV</h3> + +<h2>THE TALKING-CRICKET SCOLDS PINOCCHIO</h2> + + +<p>While poor Geppetto was being taken to prison for no +fault of his, that imp Pinocchio, finding himself free +from the clutches of the soldier, ran off as fast as his legs +could carry him. That he might reach home the quicker he +rushed across the fields, and in his mad hurry he jumped +high banks, thorn hedges and ditches full of water.</p> + +<p>Arriving at the house he found the street door ajar. He +pushed it open, went in, and having fastened the latch, threw +himself on the floor and gave a great sigh of satisfaction.</p> + +<p>But soon he heard some one in the room who was saying:</p> + +<p>"Cri-cri-cri!"</p> + +<p>"Who calls me?" said Pinocchio in a fright.</p> + +<p>"It is I!"</p> + +<p>Pinocchio turned round and saw a big cricket crawling +slowly up the wall.</p> + +<p>"Tell me, Cricket, who may you be?"</p> + +<p>"I am the Talking-Cricket, and I have lived in this room +a hundred years or more."</p> + +<p>"Now, however, this room is mine," said the puppet, "and +if you would do me a pleasure go away at once, without even +turning round."</p> + +<p>"I will not go," answered the Cricket, "until I have told +you a great truth."</p> + +<p>"Tell it me, then, and be quick about it."</p> + +<p>"Woe to those boys who rebel against their parents and +run away from home. They will never come to any good +in the world, and sooner or later they will repent bitterly."</p> + +<p>"Sing away, Cricket, as you please, and as long as you +please. For me, I have made up my mind to run away +tomorrow at daybreak, because if I remain I shall not escape +the fate of all other boys; I shall be sent to school and shall +be made to study either by love or by force. To tell you in +confidence, I have no wish to learn; it is much more amusing +to run after butterflies, or to climb trees and to take the young +birds out of their nests."</p> + +<p>"Poor little goose! But do you not know that in that +way you will grow up a perfect donkey, and that every one +will make fun of you?"</p> + +<p>"Hold your tongue, you wicked, ill-omened croaker!" +shouted Pinocchio.</p> + +<p>But the Cricket, who was patient and philosophical, instead +of becoming angry at this impertinence, continued in +the same tone:</p> + +<p>"But if you do not wish to go to school why not at least +learn a trade, if only to enable you to earn honestly a piece +of bread!"</p> + +<p>"Do you want me to tell you?" replied Pinocchio, who +was beginning to lose patience. "Amongst all the trades in +the world there is only one that really takes my fancy."</p> + +<p>"And that trade—what is it?"</p> + +<p>"It is to eat, drink, sleep and amuse myself, and to lead +a vagabond life from morning to night."</p> + +<p>"As a rule," said the Talking-Cricket, "all those who follow +that trade end almost always either in a hospital or in +prison."</p> + +<p>"Take care, you wicked, ill-omened croaker! Woe to you +if I fly into a passion!"</p> + +<p>"Poor Pinocchio! I really pity you!"</p> + +<p>"Why do you pity me?"</p> + +<p>"Because you are a puppet and, what is worse, because +you have a wooden head."</p> + +<p>At these last words Pinocchio jumped up in a rage and, +snatching a wooden hammer from the bench, he threw it at +the Talking-Cricket.</p> + +<p>Perhaps he never meant to hit him, but unfortunately it +struck him exactly on the head, so that the poor Cricket had +scarcely breath to cry "Cri-cri-cri!" and then he remained +dried up and flattened against the wall.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><a name="illus-025" id="illus-025"></a></p> +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/illus-025.png" alt="Untitled" title="Untitled" /> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h3><a name="CHAPTER_V" id="CHAPTER_V"></a>CHAPTER V</h3> + +<h2>THE FLYING EGG</h2> + + +<p>Night was coming on and Pinocchio, remembering that +he had eaten nothing all day, began to feel a gnawing +in his stomach that very much resembled appetite.</p> + +<p>After a few minutes his appetite had become hunger +and in no time his hunger became ravenous.</p> + +<p>Poor Pinocchio ran quickly to the fireplace, where a saucepan +was boiling, and was going to take off the lid to see +what was in it, but the saucepan was only painted on the +wall. You can imagine his feelings. His nose, which was +already long, became longer by at least three inches.</p> + +<p>He then began to run about the room, searching in the +drawers and in every imaginable place, in hopes of finding a +bit of bread. If it was only a bit of dry bread, a crust, a +bone left by a dog, a little moldy pudding of Indian corn, +a fish bone, a cherry stone—in fact, anything that he could +gnaw. But he could find nothing, nothing at all, absolutely +nothing.</p> + +<p>And in the meanwhile his hunger grew and grew. Poor +Pinocchio had no other relief than yawning, and his yawns +were so tremendous that sometimes his mouth almost reached +his ears. And after he had yawned he spluttered and felt +as if he were going to faint.</p> + +<p>Then he began to cry desperately, and he said:</p> + +<p>"The Talking-Cricket was right. I did wrong to rebel +against my papa and to run away from home. If my papa +were here I should not now be dying of yawning! Oh! what +a dreadful illness hunger is!"</p> + +<p>Just then he thought he saw something in the dust-heap—something +round and white that looked like a hen's egg. To +give a spring and seize hold of it was the affair of a moment. +It was indeed an egg.</p> + +<p>Pinocchio's joy was beyond description. Almost believing +it must be a dream he kept turning the egg over in his hands, +feeling it and kissing it. And as he kissed it he said:</p> + +<p>"And now, how shall I cook it? Shall I make an omelet? +No, it would be better to cook it in a saucer! Or would it +not be more savory to fry it in the frying-pan? Or shall I +simply boil it? No, the quickest way of all is to cook it in +a saucer: I am in such a hurry to eat it!"</p> + +<p>Without loss of time he placed an earthenware saucer on +a brazier full of red-hot embers. Into the saucer instead of +oil or butter he poured a little water; and when the water +began to smoke, tac! he broke the egg-shell over it and let +the contents drop in. But, instead of the white and the yolk +a little chicken popped out very gay and polite. Making a +beautiful courtesy it said to him:</p> + +<p>"A thousand thanks, Master Pinocchio, for saving me the +trouble of breaking the shell. Adieu until we meet again. +Keep well, and my best compliments to all at home!"</p> + +<p>Thus saying, it spread its wings, darted through the open +window and, flying away, was lost to sight.</p> + +<p>The poor puppet stood as if he had been bewitched, with +his eyes fixed, his mouth open, and the egg-shell in his hand. +Recovering, however, from his first stupefaction, he began to +cry and scream, and to stamp his feet on the floor in desperation, +and amidst his sobs he said:</p> + +<p>"Ah, indeed, the Talking-Cricket was right. If I had not +run away from home, and if my papa were here, I should +not now be dying of hunger! Oh! what a dreadful illness +hunger is!"</p> + +<p>And, as his stomach cried out more than ever and he did +not know how to quiet it, he thought he would leave the house +and make an excursion in the neighborhood in hopes of finding +some charitable person who would give him a piece of bread.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><a name="illus-028" id="illus-028"></a></p> +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/illus-028.png" +alt="Poor Pinocchio's Feet Burn to Cinders" title="Poor Pinocchio's Feet Burn to Cinders" /> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h3><a name="CHAPTER_VI" id="CHAPTER_VI"></a>CHAPTER VI</h3> + +<h2>PINOCCHIO'S FEET BURN TO CINDERS</h2> + + +<p>It was a wild and stormy night. The thunder was tremendous +and the lightning so vivid that the sky seemed +on fire.</p> + +<p>Pinocchio had a great fear of thunder, but hunger was +stronger than fear. He therefore closed the house door and +made a rush for the village, which he reached in a hundred +bounds, with his tongue hanging out and panting for breath +like a dog after game.</p> + +<p>But he found it all dark and deserted. The shops were +closed, the windows shut, and there was not so much as a +dog in the street. It seemed the land of the dead.</p> + +<p>Pinocchio, urged by desperation and hunger, took hold +of the bell of a house and began to ring it with all his might, +saying to himself:</p> + +<p>"That will bring somebody."</p> + +<p>And so it did. A little old man appeared at a window +with a night-cap on his head and called to him angrily:</p> + +<p>"What do you want at such an hour?"</p> + +<p>"Would you be kind enough to give me a little bread?"</p> + +<p>"Wait there, I will be back directly," said the little old +man, thinking it was one of those rascally boys who amuse +themselves at night by ringing the house-bells to rouse respectable +people who are sleeping quietly.</p> + +<p>After half a minute the window was again opened and the +voice of the same little old man shouted to Pinocchio:</p> + +<p>"Come underneath and hold out your cap."</p> + +<p>Pinocchio pulled off his cap; but, just as he held it out, +an enormous basin of water was poured down on him, soaking +him from head to foot as if he had been a pot of dried-up +geraniums.</p> + +<p>He returned home like a wet chicken, quite exhausted +with fatigue and hunger; and, having no longer strength to +stand, he sat down and rested his damp and muddy feet on +a brazier full of burning embers.</p> + +<p>And then he fell asleep, and whilst he slept his feet, which +were wooden, took fire, and little by little they burnt away +and became cinders.</p> + +<p>Pinocchio continued to sleep and to snore as if his feet +belonged to some one else. At last about daybreak he awoke +because some one was knocking at the door.</p> + +<p>"Who is there?" he asked, yawning and rubbing his eyes.</p> + +<p>"It is I!" answered a voice.</p> + +<p>And Pinocchio recognized Geppetto's voice.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h3><a name="CHAPTER_VII" id="CHAPTER_VII"></a>CHAPTER VII</h3> + +<h2>GEPPETTO GIVES HIS OWN BREAKFAST +TO PINOCCHIO</h2> + + +<p>Poor Pinocchio, whose eyes were still half shut from sleep, +had not as yet discovered that his feet were burnt off. +The moment, therefore, that he heard his father's voice he +slipped off his stool to run and open the door; but, after +stumbling two or three times, he fell his whole length on +the floor.</p> + +<p>And the noise he made in falling was as if a sack of +wooden ladles had been thrown from a fifth story.</p> + +<p>"Open the door!" shouted Geppetto from the street.</p> + +<p>"Dear papa, I cannot," answered the puppet, crying +and rolling about on the ground.</p> + +<p>"Why can't you?"</p> + +<p>"Because my feet have been eaten."</p> + +<p>"And who has eaten your feet?"</p> + +<p>"The cat," said Pinocchio, seeing the cat, who was amusing +herself by making some shavings dance with her forepaws.</p> + +<p>"Open the door, I tell you!" repeated Geppetto. "If +you don't, when I get into the house you shall have the cat +from me!"</p> + +<p>"I cannot stand up, believe me. Oh, poor me! poor me! +I shall have to walk on my knees for the rest of my life!"</p> + +<p>Geppetto, believing that all this lamentation was only +another of the puppet's tricks, thought of a means of putting +an end to it, and, climbing up the wall, he got in at the window.</p> + +<p>He was very angry and at first he did nothing but scold; +but when he saw his Pinocchio lying on the ground and really +without feet he was quite overcome. He took him in his arms +and began to kiss and caress him, and to say a thousand +endearing things to him, and as the big tears ran down his +cheeks he said, sobbing:</p> + +<p>"My little Pinocchio! how did you manage to burn your +feet?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know, papa, but it has been such a dreadful night +that I shall remember it as long as I live. It thundered +and lightened, and I was very hungry, and then the Talking-Cricket +said to me: 'It serves you right; you have been +wicked and you deserve it,' and I said to him: 'Take care, +Cricket!' and he said: 'You are a puppet and you have a +wooden head,' and I threw the handle of a hammer at him, +and he died, but the fault was his, for I didn't wish to kill +him, and the proof of it is that I put an earthenware saucer +on a brazier of burning embers, but a chicken flew out and +said: 'Adieu until we meet again, and many compliments to +all at home': and I got still more hungry, for which reason +that little old man in a night-cap, opening the window, said +to me: 'Come underneath and hold out your hat,' and poured +a basinful of water on my head, because asking for a little +bread isn't a disgrace, is it? and I returned home at once, and +because I was always very hungry I put my feet on the +brazier to dry them, and then you returned, and I found they +were burnt off, and I am always hungry, but I have no longer +any feet! Oh! oh! oh! oh!" And poor Pinocchio began to +cry and to roar so loudly that he was heard five miles off.</p> + +<p>Geppetto, who from all this jumbled account had only +understood one thing, which was that the puppet was dying +of hunger, drew from his pocket three pears and, giving them +to him, said:</p> + +<p>"These three pears were intended for my breakfast, but +I will give them to you willingly. Eat them, and I hope +they will do you good."</p> + +<p>"If you wish me to eat them, be kind enough to peel +them for me."</p> + +<p>"Peel them?" said Geppetto, astonished. "I should never +have thought, my boy, that you were so dainty and fastidious. +That is bad! In this world we should accustom ourselves +from childhood to like and to eat everything, for there is no +saying to what we may be brought. There are so many +chances!"</p> + +<p>"You are no doubt right," interrupted Pinocchio, "but I +will never eat fruit that has not been peeled. I cannot bear +rind."</p> + +<p>So good Geppetto peeled the three pears and put the rind +on a corner of the table.</p> + +<p>Having eaten the first pear in two mouthfuls, Pinocchio +was about to throw away the core, but Geppetto caught hold +of his arm and said to him:</p> + +<p>"Do not throw it away; in this world everything may +be of use."</p> + +<p>"But core I am determined I will not eat," shouted the +puppet, turning upon him like a viper.</p> + +<p>"Who knows! there are so many chances!" repeated Geppetto, +without losing his temper.</p> + +<p>And so the three cores, instead of being thrown out of +the window, were placed on the corner of the table, together +with the three rinds.</p> + +<p>Having eaten, or rather having devoured the three pears, +Pinocchio yawned tremendously, and then said in a fretful tone:</p> + +<p>"I am as hungry as ever!"</p> + +<p>"But, my boy, I have nothing more to give you!"</p> + +<p>"Nothing, really nothing?"</p> + +<p>"I have only the rind and the cores of the three pears."</p> + +<p>"One must have patience!" said Pinocchio; "if there is +nothing else I will eat a rind."</p> + +<p>And he began to chew it. At first he made a wry face, +but then one after another he quickly disposed of the rinds: +and after the rinds even the cores, and when he had eaten +up everything he clapped his hands on his sides in his satisfaction +and said joyfully:</p> + +<p>"Ah! now I feel comfortable."</p> + +<p>"You see, now," observed Geppetto, "that I was right +when I said to you that it did not do to accustom ourselves +to be too particular or too dainty in our tastes. We can +never know, my dear boy, what may happen to us. There +are so many chances!"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><a name="illus-034" id="illus-034"></a></p> +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/illus-034.png" +alt="Geppetto Makes His Puppet Some Clothes" title="Geppetto Makes His Puppet Some Clothes" /> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h3><a name="CHAPTER_VIII" id="CHAPTER_VIII"></a>CHAPTER VIII</h3> + +<h2>GEPPETTO MAKES PINOCCHIO NEW FEET</h2> + + +<p>No sooner had the puppet satisfied his hunger than he began +to cry and to grumble because he wanted a pair of +new feet.</p> + +<p>But Geppetto, to punish him for his naughtiness, allowed +him to cry and to despair for half the day. He then said +to him:</p> + +<p>"Why should I make you new feet? To enable you, +perhaps, to escape again from home?"</p> + +<p>"I promise you," said the puppet, sobbing, "that for the +future I will be good."</p> + +<p>"All boys," replied Geppetto, "when they are bent upon +obtaining something, say the same thing."</p> + +<p>"I promise you that I will go to school and that I will +study and bring home a good report."</p> + +<p>"All boys, when they are bent on obtaining something, +repeat the same story."</p> + +<p>"But I am not like other boys! I am better than all of +them and I always speak the truth. I promise you, papa, +that I will learn a trade and that I will be the consolation +and the staff of your old age."</p> + +<p>Geppetto's eyes filled with tears and his heart was sad at +seeing his poor Pinocchio in such a pitiable state. He did +not say another word, but, taking his tools and two small +pieces of well-seasoned wood, he set to work with great diligence.</p> + +<p>In less than an hour the feet were finished: two little +feet—swift, well-knit and nervous. They might have been +modelled by an artist of genius.</p> + +<p>Geppetto then said to the puppet:</p> + +<p>"Shut your eyes and go to sleep!"</p> + +<p>And Pinocchio shut his eyes and pretended to be asleep.</p> + +<p>And whilst he pretended to sleep, Geppetto, with a little +glue which he had melted in an egg-shell, fastened his feet +in their place, and it was so well done that not even a trace +could be seen of where they were joined.</p> + +<p>No sooner had the puppet discovered that he had feet +than he jumped down from the table on which he was lying +and began to spring and to cut a thousand capers about the +room, as if he had gone mad with the greatness of his delight.</p> + +<p>"To reward you for what you have done for me," said +Pinocchio to his father, "I will go to school at once."</p> + +<p>"Good boy."</p> + +<p>"But to go to school I shall want some clothes."</p> + +<p>Geppetto, who was poor and who had not so much as a +penny in his pocket, then made him a little dress of flowered +paper, a pair of shoes from the bark of a tree, and a cap +of the crumb of bread.</p> + +<p>Pinocchio ran immediately to look at himself in a crock +of water, and he was so pleased with his appearance that he +said, strutting about like a peacock:</p> + +<p>"I look quite like a gentleman!"</p> + +<p>"Yes, indeed," answered Geppetto, "for bear in mind +that it is not fine clothes that make the gentleman, but rather +clean clothes."</p> + +<p>"By the bye," added the puppet, "to go to school I am +still in want—indeed, I am without the best thing, and the +most important."</p> + +<p>"And what is it?"</p> + +<p>"I have no spelling-book."</p> + +<p>"You are right: but what shall we do to get one?"</p> + +<p>"It is quite easy. We have only to go to the bookseller's +and buy it."</p> + +<p>"And the money?"</p> + +<p>"I have got none."</p> + +<p>"Neither have I," added the good old man, very sadly.</p> + +<p>And Pinocchio, although he was a very merry boy, became +sad also, because poverty, when it is real poverty, is +understood by everybody—even by boys.</p> + +<p>"Well, patience!" exclaimed Geppetto, all at once rising +to his feet, and putting on his old corduroy coat, all patched +and darned, he ran out of the house.</p> + +<p>He returned shortly, holding in his hand a spelling-book +for Pinocchio, but the old coat was gone. The poor man was +in his shirt-sleeves and out of doors it was snowing.</p> + +<p>"And the coat, papa?"</p> + +<p>"I have sold it."</p> + +<p>"Why did you sell it?"</p> + +<p>"Because I found it too hot."</p> + +<p>Pinocchio understood this answer in an instant, and unable +to restrain the impulse of his good heart he sprang up and, +throwing his arms around Geppetto's neck, he began kissing +him again and again.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h3><a name="CHAPTER_IX" id="CHAPTER_IX"></a>CHAPTER IX</h3> + +<h2>PINOCCHIO GOES TO SEE A PUPPET-SHOW</h2> + + +<p>As soon as it stopped snowing Pinocchio set out for school +with his fine spelling-book under his arm. As he went +along he began to imagine a thousand things in his little brain +and to build a thousand castles in the air, one more beautiful +than the other.</p> + +<p>And, talking to himself, he said:</p> + +<p>"Today at school I will learn to read at once; then tomorrow +I will begin to write, and the day after tomorrow +to figure. Then, with my acquirements, I will earn a great +deal of money, and with the first money I have in my pocket +I will immediately buy for my papa a beautiful new cloth +coat. But what am I saying? Cloth, indeed! It shall be +all made of gold and silver, and it shall have diamond buttons. +That poor man really deserves it, for to buy me books and +have me taught he has remained in his shirt-sleeves. And in +this cold! It is only fathers who are capable of such sacrifices!"</p> + +<p>Whilst he was saying this with great emotion, he thought +that he heard music in the distance that sounded like fifes +and the beating of a big drum: Fi-fie-fi, fi-fi-fi; zum, zum, zum.</p> + +<p>He stopped and listened. The sounds came from the end +of a cross street that led to a little village on the seashore.</p> + +<p>"What can that music be? What a pity that I have to +go to school, or else—"</p> + +<p>And he remained irresolute. It was, however, necessary +to come to a decision. Should he go to school? or should he +go after the fifes?</p> + +<p>"Today I will go and hear the fifes, and tomorrow I +will go to school," finally decided the young scapegrace, shrugging +his shoulders.</p> + +<p>The more he ran the nearer came the sounds of the +fifes and the beating of the big drum: Fi-fi-fi; zum, zum, +zum, zum.</p> + +<p>At last he found himself in the middle of a square quite +full of people, who were all crowded round a building made +of wood and canvas, and painted a thousand colors.</p> + +<p>"What is that building?" asked Pinocchio, turning to a +little boy who belonged to the place.</p> + +<p>"Read the placard—it is all written—and then you will +know."</p> + +<p>"I would read it willingly, but it so happens that today +I don't know how to read."</p> + +<p>"Bravo, blockhead! Then I will read it to you. The writing +on that placard in those letters red as fire is:</p> + +<p class="placard">"<span class="smcap">The Great Puppet Theater</span>."</p> + +<p>"Has the play begun long?"</p> + +<p>"It is beginning now."</p> + +<p>"How much does it cost to go in?"</p> + +<p>"A dime."</p> + +<p>Pinocchio, who was in a fever of curiosity, lost all control +of himself, and without any shame he said to the little boy +to whom he was talking:</p> + +<p>"Would you lend me a dime until tomorrow?"</p> + +<p>"I would lend it to you willingly," said the other, "but +it so happens that today I cannot give it to you."</p> + +<p>"I will sell you my jacket for a dime," the puppet then +said to him.</p> + +<p>"What do you think that I could do with a jacket of +flowered paper? If there were rain and it got wet, it would +be impossible to get it off my back."</p> + +<p>"Will you buy my shoes?"</p> + +<p>"They would only be of use to light the fire."</p> + +<p>"How much will you give me for my cap?"</p> + +<p>"That would be a wonderful acquisition indeed! A cap +of bread crumb! There would be a risk of the mice coming +to eat it whilst it was on my head."</p> + +<p>Pinocchio was on thorns. He was on the point of making +another offer, but he had not the courage. He hesitated, felt +irresolute and remorseful. At last he said:</p> + +<p>"Will you give me a dime for this new spelling-book?"</p> + +<p>"I am a boy and I don't buy from boys," replied his little +interlocutor, who had much more sense than he had.</p> + +<p>"I will buy the spelling-book for a dime," called out a +hawker of old clothes, who had been listening to the conversation.</p> + +<p>And the book was sold there and then. And to think +that poor Geppetto had remained at home trembling with cold +in his shirt-sleeves in order that his son should have a spelling-book.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h3><a name="CHAPTER_X" id="CHAPTER_X"></a>CHAPTER X</h3> + +<h2>THE PUPPETS RECOGNIZE THEIR BROTHER PINOCCHIO</h2> + + +<p>When Pinocchio came into the little puppet theater, an +incident occurred that almost produced a revolution.</p> + +<p>The curtain had gone up and the play had already begun.</p> + +<p>On the stage Harlequin and Punch were as usual quarrelling +with each other and threatening every moment to come +to blows.</p> + +<p>All at once Harlequin stopped short and, turning to the +public, he pointed with his hand to some one far down in +the pit and exclaimed in a dramatic tone:</p> + +<p>"Gods of the firmament! Do I dream or am I awake? +But surely that is Pinocchio!"</p> + +<p>"It is indeed Pinocchio!" cried Punch.</p> + +<p>"It is indeed himself!" screamed Miss Rose, peeping from +behind the scenes.</p> + +<p>"It is Pinocchio! it is Pinocchio!" shouted all the puppets +in chorus, leaping from all sides on to the stage. "It is +Pinocchio! It is our brother Pinocchio! Long live Pinocchio!"</p> + +<p>"Pinocchio, come up here to me," cried Harlequin, "and +throw yourself into the arms of your wooden brothers!"</p> + +<p>At this affectionate invitation Pinocchio made a leap from +the end of the pit into the reserved seats; another leap landed +him on the head of the leader of the orchestra, and he then +sprang upon the stage.</p> + +<p>The embraces, the friendly pinches, and the demonstrations +of warm brotherly affection that Pinocchio received from +the excited crowd of actors and actresses of the puppet dramatic +company are beyond description.</p> + +<p>The sight was doubtless a moving one, but the public in +the pit, finding that the play was stopped, became impatient +and began to shout: "We will have the play—go on with +the play!"</p> + +<p>It was all breath thrown away. The puppets, instead of +continuing the recital, redoubled their noise and outcries, and, +putting Pinocchio on their shoulders, they carried him in triumph +before the footlights.</p> + +<p>At that moment out came the showman. He was very +big, and so ugly that the sight of him was enough to frighten +anyone. His beard was as black as ink, and so long that it +reached from his chin to the ground. I need only say that +he trod upon it when he walked. His mouth was as big as +an oven, and his eyes were like two lanterns of red glass with +lights burning inside them. He carried a large whip made of +snakes and foxes' tails twisted together, which he cracked +constantly.</p> + +<p>At his unexpected appearance there was a profound silence: +no one dared to breathe. A fly might have been heard in the +stillness. The poor puppets of both sexes trembled like so +many leaves.</p> + +<p>"Why have you come to raise a disturbance in my theater?" +asked the showman of Pinocchio, in the gruff voice of a hobgoblin +suffering from a severe cold in the head.</p> + +<p>"Believe me, honored sir, it was not my fault!"</p> + +<p>"That is enough! Tonight we will settle our accounts."</p> + +<p>As soon as the play was over the showman went into the +kitchen, where a fine sheep, preparing for his supper, was turning +slowly on the spit in front of the fire. As there was not +enough wood to finish roasting and browning it, he called +Harlequin and Punch, and said to them:</p> + +<p>"Bring that puppet here: you will find him hanging on +a nail. It seems to me that he is made of very dry wood and +I am sure that if he were thrown on the fire he would make +a beautiful blaze for the roast."</p> + +<p>At first Harlequin and Punch hesitated; but, appalled by +a severe glance from their master, they obeyed. In a short +time they returned to the kitchen carrying poor Pinocchio, who +was wriggling like an eel taken out of water and screaming +desperately: "Papa! papa! save me! I will not die, I will +not die!"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><a name="illus-044" id="illus-044"></a></p> +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/illus-044.png" +alt="The Puppets Began to Dance Merrily" title="The Puppets Began to Dance Merrily" /> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h3><a name="CHAPTER_XI" id="CHAPTER_XI"></a>CHAPTER XI</h3> + +<h2>FIRE-EATER SNEEZES AND PARDONS PINOCCHIO</h2> + + +<p>The showman, Fire-Eater—for that was his name—looked +like a wicked man, especially with his black beard that +covered his chest and legs like an apron. On the whole, however, +he had not a bad heart. In proof of this, when he saw +poor Pinocchio brought before him, struggling and screaming +"I will not die, I will not die!" he was quite moved and felt +very sorry for him. He tried to hold out, but after a little +he could stand it no longer and he sneezed violently. When +he heard the sneeze, Harlequin, who up to that moment had +been in the deepest affliction and bowed down like a weeping +willow, became quite cheerful and, leaning towards Pinocchio, +he whispered to him softly:</p> + +<p>"Good news, brother. The showman has sneezed and that +is a sign that he pities you, and consequently you are saved."</p> + +<p>Most men, when they feel compassion for somebody, either +weep or at least pretend to dry their eyes. Fire-Eater, on +the contrary, whenever he was really overcome, had the habit +of sneezing.</p> + +<p>After he had sneezed, the showman, still acting the ruffian, +shouted to Pinocchio:</p> + +<p>"Have done crying! Your lamentations have given me +a pain in my stomach. I feel a spasm that almost—Etchoo! +etchoo!" and he sneezed again twice.</p> + +<p>"Bless you!" said Pinocchio.</p> + +<p>"Thank you! And your papa and your mamma, are they +still alive?" asked Fire-Eater.</p> + +<p>"Papa, yes; my mamma I have never known."</p> + +<p>"Who can say what a sorrow it would be for your poor +old father if I were to have you thrown amongst those burning +coals! Poor old man! I pity him! Etchoo! etchoo! +etchoo!" and he sneezed again three times.</p> + +<p>"Bless you" said Pinocchio.</p> + +<p>"Thank you! All the same, some compassion is due to +me, for as you see I have no more wood with which to finish +roasting my mutton, and, to tell you the truth, under the circumstances +you would have been of great use to me! However, +I have had pity on you, so I must have patience. Instead +of you I will burn under the spit one of the puppets belonging +to my company. Ho there, gendarmes!"</p> + +<p>At this call two wooden gendarmes immediately appeared. +They were very long and very thin, and had on cocked hats, +and held unsheathed swords in their hands.</p> + +<p>The showman said to them in a hoarse voice:</p> + +<p>"Take Harlequin, bind him securely, and then throw him +on the fire to burn. I am determined that my mutton shall +be well roasted."</p> + +<p>Only imagine that poor Harlequin! His terror was so +great that his legs bent under him, and he fell with his face +on the ground.</p> + +<p>At this agonizing sight Pinocchio, weeping bitterly, threw +himself at the showman's feet and, bathing his long beard with +his tears, he began to say, in a supplicating voice:</p> + +<p>"Have pity, Sir Fire-Eater!"</p> + +<p>"Here there are no sirs," the showman answered severely.</p> + +<p>"Have pity, Sir Knight!"</p> + +<p>"Here there are no knights!"</p> + +<p>"Have pity, Commander!"</p> + +<p>"Here there are no commanders!"</p> + +<p>"Have pity, Excellence!"</p> + +<p>Upon hearing himself called Excellence the showman +began to smile and became at once kinder and more tractable. +Turning to Pinocchio, he asked:</p> + +<p>"Well, what do you want from me?"</p> + +<p>"I implore you to pardon poor Harlequin."</p> + +<p>"For him there can be no pardon. As I have spared you +he must be put on the fire, for I am determined that my +mutton shall be well roasted."</p> + +<p>"In that case," cried Pinocchio proudly, rising and throwing +away his cap of bread crumb—"in that case I know my +duty. Come on, gendarmes! Bind me and throw me amongst +the flames. No, it is not just that poor Harlequin, my true +friend, should die for me!"</p> + +<p>These words, pronounced in a loud, heroic voice, made all +the puppets who were present cry. Even the gendarmes, +although they were made of wood, wept like two newly born +lambs.</p> + +<p>Fire-Eater at first remained as hard and unmoved as ice, +but little by little he began to melt and to sneeze. And, +having sneezed four or five times, he opened his arms affectionately +and said to Pinocchio:</p> + +<p>"You are a good, brave boy! Come here and give me +a kiss."</p> + +<p>Pinocchio ran at once and, climbing like a squirrel up the +showman's beard, he deposited a hearty kiss on the point of +his nose.</p> + +<p>"Then the pardon is granted?" asked poor Harlequin in +a faint voice that was scarcely audible.</p> + +<p>"The pardon is granted!" answered Fire-Eater; he then +added, sighing and shaking his head:</p> + +<p>"I must have patience! Tonight I shall have to resign +myself to eat the mutton half raw; but another time, woe to +him who displeases me!"</p> + +<p>At the news of the pardon the puppets all ran to the +stage and, having lighted the lamps and chandeliers as if for +a full-dress performance, they began to leap and to dance +merrily. At dawn they were still dancing.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><a name="illus-048" id="illus-048"></a></p> +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/illus-048.png" +alt="Pinocchio Meets the Cat and the Fox" title="Pinocchio Meets the Cat and the Fox" /> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h3><a name="CHAPTER_XII" id="CHAPTER_XII"></a>CHAPTER XII</h3> + +<h2>PINOCCHIO RECEIVES A PRESENT OF FIVE GOLD PIECES</h2> + + +<p>The following day Fire-Eater called Pinocchio to one side +and asked him:</p> + +<p>"What is your father's name?"</p> + +<p>"Geppetto."</p> + +<p>"And what trade does he follow?"</p> + +<p>"He is a beggar."</p> + +<p>"Does he gain much?"</p> + +<p>"Gain much? Why, he has never a penny in his pocket. +Only think, in order to buy a spelling-book so that I could +go to school he was obliged to sell the only coat he had to +wear—a coat that, between patches and darns, was not fit to +be seen."</p> + +<p>"Poor devil! I feel almost sorry for him! Here are five +gold pieces. Go at once and take them to him with my compliments."</p> + +<p>Pinocchio was overjoyed and thanked the showman a thousand +times. He embraced all the puppets of the company one +by one, even to the gendarmes, and set out to return home.</p> + +<p>But he had not gone far when he met on the road a +Fox lame of one foot, and a Cat blind of both eyes, and they +were going along helping each other like good companions in +misfortune. The Fox, who was lame, walked leaning on the +Cat; and the Cat, who was blind, was guided by the Fox.</p> + +<p>"Good-day, Pinocchio," said the Fox, greeting him politely.</p> + +<p>"How do you come to know my name?" asked the puppet.</p> + +<p>"I know your father well."</p> + +<p>"Where did you see him?"</p> + +<p>"I saw him yesterday at the door of his house."</p> + +<p>"And what was he doing?"</p> + +<p>"He was in his shirt-sleeves and shivering with cold."</p> + +<p>"Poor papa! But that is over; for the future he shall +shiver no more!"</p> + +<p>"Why?"</p> + +<p>"Because I have become a gentleman."</p> + +<p>"A gentleman—you!" said the Fox, and he began to laugh +rudely and scornfully. The Cat also began to laugh, but to +conceal it she combed her whiskers with her forepaws.</p> + + +<p>"There is little to laugh at," cried Pinocchio angrily. "I +am really sorry to make your mouth water, but if you know +anything about it, you can see that these are five gold pieces."</p> + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="Splash! Splash! They Fell Into the Ditch"> +<tr><td align='center'><big><b>Splash! Splash! They fell Into the<br /> +Very Middle of the Ditch</b></big></td> +<td align='center'><a name="illus-051" id="illus-051"></a> +<img src="images/illus-051.png" +alt="Splash! Splash! They Fell Into the Ditch" title="Splash! Splash! They Fell Into the Ditch" /></td></tr> +</table></div> + + + +<p>And he pulled out the money that Fire-Eater had given him.</p> + +<p>At the jingling of the money the Fox, with an involuntary +movement, stretched out the paw that seemed crippled, +and the Cat opened wide two eyes that looked like two green +lanterns. It is true that she shut them again, and so quickly +that Pinocchio observed nothing.</p> + +<p>"And now," asked the Fox, "what are you going to do +with all that money?"</p> + +<p>"First of all," answered the puppet, "I intend to buy a +new coat for my papa, made of gold and silver, and with +diamond buttons; and then I will buy a spelling-book for +myself."</p> + +<p>"For yourself?"</p> + +<p>"Yes indeed, for I wish to go to school to study in earnest."</p> + +<p>"Look at me!" said the Fox. "Through my foolish passion +for study I have lost a leg."</p> + +<p>"Look at me!" said the Cat. "Through my foolish passion +for study I have lost the sight of both my eyes."</p> + +<p>At that moment a white Blackbird, that was perched on +the hedge by the road, began his usual song, and said:</p> + +<p>"Pinocchio, don't listen to the advice of bad companions; +if you do you will repent it!"</p> + +<p>Poor Blackbird! If only he had not spoken! The Cat, +with a great leap, sprang upon him, and without even giving +him time to say "Oh!" ate him in a mouthful, feathers and all.</p> + +<p>Having eaten him and cleaned her mouth she shut her +eyes again and feigned blindness as before.</p> + +<p>"Poor Blackbird!" said Pinocchio to the Cat, "why did +you treat him so badly?"</p> + +<p>"I did it to give him a lesson. He will learn another +time not to meddle in other people's conversation."</p> + +<p>They had gone almost half-way when the Fox, halting +suddenly, said to the puppet:</p> + +<p>"Would you like to double your money?"</p> + +<p>"In what way?"</p> + +<p>"Would you like to make out of your five miserable sovereigns, +a hundred, a thousand, two thousand?"</p> + +<p>"I should think so! but in what way?"</p> + +<p>"The way is easy enough. Instead of returning home +you must go with us."</p> + +<p>"And where do you wish to take me?"</p> + +<p>"To the land of the Owls."</p> + +<p>Pinocchio reflected a moment, and then he said resolutely:</p> + +<p>"No, I will not go. I am already close to the house, and +I will return home to my papa, who is waiting for me. Who +can tell how often the poor old man must have sighed yesterday +when I did not come back! I have indeed been a bad +son, and the Talking-Cricket was right when he said: 'Disobedient +boys never come to any good in the world.' I have +found it to be true, for many misfortunes have happened to +me. Even yesterday in Fire-Eater's house I ran the risk—Oh! +it makes me shudder only to think of it!"</p> + +<p>"Well, then," said the Fox, "you are quite decided to go +home? Go, then, and so much the worse for you."</p> + +<p>"So much the worse for you!" repeated the Cat.</p> + +<p>"Think well of it, Pinocchio, for you are giving a kick +to fortune."</p> + +<p>"To fortune!" repeated the Cat.</p> + +<p>"Between today and tomorrow your five sovereigns would +have become two thousand."</p> + +<p>"Two thousand!" repeated the Cat.</p> + +<p>"But how is it possible that they could become so many?" +asked Pinocchio, remaining with his mouth open from astonishment.</p> + +<p>"I will explain it to you at once," said the Fox. "You +must know that in the land of the Owls there is a sacred +field called by everybody the Field of Miracles. In this field +you must dig a little hole, and you put into it, we will say, +one gold sovereign. You then cover up the hole with a little +earth; you must water it with two pails of water from the +fountain, then sprinkle it with two pinches of salt, and when +night comes you can go quietly to bed. In the meanwhile, +during the night, the gold piece will grow and flower, and +in the morning when you get up and return to the field, what +do you find? You find a beautiful tree laden with as many +gold sovereigns as a fine ear of corn has grains in the month +of June."</p> + +<p>"So that," said Pinocchio, more and more bewildered, "supposing +I buried my five sovereigns in that field, how many +should I find there the following morning?"</p> + +<p>"That is an exceedingly easy calculation," replied the Fox, +"a calculation that you can make on the ends of your fingers. +Every sovereign will give you an increase of five hundred; +multiply five hundred by five, and the following morning will +find you with two thousand five hundred shining gold pieces +in your pocket."</p> + +<p>"Oh! how delightful!" cried Pinocchio, dancing for joy. +"As soon as ever I have obtained those sovereigns, I will keep +two thousand for myself and the other five hundred I will +make a present of to you two."</p> + +<p>"A present to us?" cried the Fox with indignation and +appearing much offended. "What are you dreaming of?"</p> + +<p>"What are you dreaming of?" repeated the Cat.</p> + +<p>"We do not work," said the Fox, "for interest: we work +solely to enrich others."</p> + +<p>"Others!" repeated the Cat.</p> + +<p>"What good people!" thought Pinocchio to himself, and, +forgetting there and then his papa, the new coat, the spelling-book, +and all his good resolutions, he said to the Fox and +the Cat:</p> + +<p>"Let us be off at once. I will go with you."</p> + + + +<p><a name="hi-illus-056" id="hi-illus-056"></a></p> +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/hi-illus-056.jpg" +alt="A LITTLE CHICKEN POPPED OUT, VERY GAY AND POLITE" +title="A LITTLE CHICKEN POPPED OUT, VERY GAY AND POLITE" /> +</div> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><a name="illus-057" id="illus-057"></a></p> +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/illus-057.png" +alt="Dinner at The Red Craw-Fish Inn" title="Dinner at The Red Craw-Fish Inn" /> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h3><a name="CHAPTER_XIII" id="CHAPTER_XIII"></a>CHAPTER XIII</h3> + +<h2>THE INN OF THE RED CRAW-FISH</h2> + + +<p>They walked, and walked, and walked, until at last, towards +evening, they arrived, all tired out, at the inn of The +Red Craw-Fish.</p> + +<p>"Let us stop here a little," said the Fox, "that we may +have something to eat, and rest ourselves for an hour or two. +We will start again at midnight, so as to arrive at the Field +of Miracles by dawn tomorrow morning."</p> + +<p>Having gone into the inn they all three sat down to table, +but none of them had any appetite.</p> + +<p>The Cat, who was suffering from indigestion and feeling +seriously indisposed, could only eat thirty-five fish with tomato +sauce and four portions of tripe with Parmesan cheese; and +because she thought the tripe was not seasoned enough, she +asked three times for the butter and grated cheese!</p> + +<p>The Fox would also willingly have picked a little, but as +his doctor had ordered him a strict diet, he was forced to content +himself simply with a hare dressed with a sweet and sour +sauce, and garnished lightly with fat chickens and early pullets. +After the hare he sent for a made dish of partridges, rabbits, +frogs, lizards and other delicacies; he could not touch anything +else. He cared so little for food, he said, that he could put +nothing to his lips.</p> + +<p>The one who ate the least was Pinocchio. He asked for +some walnuts and a hunch of bread, and left everything on +his plate. The poor boy's thoughts were continually fixed on +the Field of Miracles.</p> + +<p>When they had supped, the Fox said to the host:</p> + +<p>"Give us two good rooms, one for Mr. Pinocchio, and +the other for me and my companion. We will snatch a little +sleep before we leave. Remember, however, that at midnight +we wish to be called to continue our journey."</p> + +<p>"Yes, gentlemen," answered the host, and he winked at +the Fox and the Cat, as much as to say: "I know what you +are up to. We understand one another!"</p> + +<p>No sooner had Pinocchio got into bed than he fell asleep +at once and began to dream. And he dreamed that he was +in the middle of a field, and the field was full of shrubs covered +with clusters of gold sovereigns, and as they swung in the wind +they went zin, zin, zin, almost as if they would say: "Let +who will, come and take us." But just as Pinocchio was +stretching out his hand to pick handfuls of those beautiful +gold pieces and to put them in his pocket, he was suddenly +awakened by three violent blows on the door of his room.</p> + +<p>It was the host who had come to tell him that midnight +had struck.</p> + +<p>"Are my companions ready?" asked the puppet.</p> + +<p>"Ready! Why, they left two hours ago."</p> + +<p>"Why were they in such a hurry?"</p> + +<p>"Because the Cat had received a message to say that her +eldest kitten was ill with chilblains on his feet and was in +danger of death."</p> + +<p>"Did they pay for the supper?"</p> + +<p>"What are you thinking of? They are too well educated +to dream of offering such an insult to a gentleman like you."</p> + +<p>"What a pity! It is an insult that would have given me +so much pleasure!" said Pinocchio, scratching his head. He +then asked:</p> + +<p>"And where did my good friends say they would wait +for me?"</p> + +<p>"At the Field of Miracles, tomorrow morning at daybreak."</p> + +<p>Pinocchio paid a sovereign for his supper and that of his +companions, and then left.</p> + +<p>Outside the inn it was so pitch dark that he had almost +to grope his way, for it was impossible to see a hand's breadth +in front of him. Some night-birds flying across the road from +one hedge to the other brushed Pinocchio's nose with their +wings as they passed, which caused him so much terror that, +springing back, he shouted: "Who goes there?" and the echo +in the surrounding hills repeated in the distance: "Who goes +there? Who goes there?"</p> + +<p>As he was walking along he saw a little insect shining +dimly on the trunk of a tree, like a night-light in a lamp of +transparent china.</p> + +<p>"Who are you?" asked Pinocchio.</p> + +<p>"I am the ghost of the Talking-Cricket," answered the +insect in a low voice, so weak and faint that it seemed to come +from the other world.</p> + +<p>"What do you want with me?" said the puppet.</p> + +<p>"I want to give you some advice. Go back and take the +four sovereigns that you have left to your poor father, who +is weeping and in despair because you have not returned to him."</p> + +<p>"By tomorrow my papa will be a gentleman, for these +four sovereigns will have become two thousand."</p> + +<p>"Don't trust to those who promise to make you rich in +a day. Usually they are either mad or rogues! Give ear +to me, and go back, my boy."</p> + +<p>"On the contrary, I am determined to go on."</p> + +<p>"The hour is late!"</p> + +<p>"I am determined to go on."</p> + +<p>"The night is dark!"</p> + +<p>"I am determined to go on."</p> + +<p>"The road is dangerous!"</p> + +<p>"I am determined to go on."</p> + +<p>"Remember that boys who are bent on following their +caprices, and will have their own way, sooner or later repent it."</p> + +<p>"Always the same stories. Good-night, Cricket."</p> + +<p>"Good-night, Pinocchio, and may Heaven preserve you +from dangers and from assassins."</p> + +<p>No sooner had he said these words than the Talking-Cricket +vanished suddenly like a light that has been blown +out, and the road became darker than ever.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><a name="illus-061" id="illus-061"></a></p> +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/illus-061.png" +alt="Pinocchio Escapes from his Assassins" title="Pinocchio Escapes from his Assassins" /> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h3><a name="CHAPTER_XIV" id="CHAPTER_XIV"></a>CHAPTER XIV</h3> + +<h2>PINOCCHIO FALLS AMONGST ASSASSINS</h2> + + +<p>"Really," said the puppet to himself, as he resumed his +journey, "how unfortunate we poor boys are. Everybody +scolds us and gives us good advice. See now; because I don't +choose to listen to that tiresome Cricket, who knows, according +to him, how many misfortunes are to happen to me! I am +even to meet with assassins! That is, however, of little consequence, +for I don't believe in assassins—I have never believed +in them. For me, I think that assassins have been invented +purposely by papas to frighten boys who want to go out at +night. Besides, supposing I was to come across them here in +the road, do you imagine they would frighten me? Not the +least in the world. I should go to meet them and cry: 'Gentlemen +assassins, what do you want with me? Remember that +with me there is no joking. Therefore go about your business +and be quiet!' At this speech they would run away like the +wind. If, however, they were so badly educated as not to run +away, why, then I would run away myself and there would +be an end of it."</p> + +<p>But Pinocchio had not time to finish his reasoning, for at +that moment he thought that he heard a slight rustle of leaves +behind him.</p> + +<p>He turned to look and saw in the gloom two evil-looking +black figures completely enveloped in charcoal sacks. They +were running after him on tiptoe and making great leaps like +two phantoms.</p> + +<p>"Here they are in reality!" he said to himself and, not +knowing where to hide his gold pieces, he put them in his +mouth precisely under his tongue.</p> + +<p>Then he tried to escape. But he had not gone a step +when he felt himself seized by the arm and heard two horrid, +sepulchral voices saying to him:</p> + +<p>"Your money or your life!"</p> + +<p>Pinocchio, not being able to answer in words, owing to +the money that was in his mouth, made a thousand low bows +and a thousand pantomimes. He tried thus to make the two +muffled figures, whose eyes were only visible through the holes +in their sacks, understand that he was a poor puppet, and that +he had not as much as a counterfeit nickel in his pocket.</p> + +<p>"Come, now! Less nonsense and out with the money!" +cried the two brigands threateningly.</p> + +<p>And the puppet made a gesture with his hands to signify: +"I have none."</p> + +<p>"Deliver up your money or you are dead," said the tallest +of the brigands.</p> + +<p>"Dead!" repeated the other.</p> + +<p>"And after we have killed you, we will also kill your +father!"</p> + +<p>"Also your father!"</p> + +<p>"No, no, no, not my poor papa!" cried Pinocchio in a +despairing voice, and as he said it the sovereigns clinked in +his mouth.</p> + +<p>"Ah! you rascal! Then you have hidden your money under +your tongue! Spit it out at once!"</p> + +<p>Pinocchio was obstinate.</p> + +<p>"Ah! you pretend to be deaf, do you? Wait a moment, +leave it to us to find a means to make you give it up."</p> + +<p>And one of them seized the puppet by the end of his +nose, and the other took him by the chin, and began to pull +them brutally, the one up and the other down, to force him +to open his mouth. But it was all to no purpose. Pinocchio's +mouth seemed to be nailed and riveted together.</p> + +<p>Then the shorter assassin drew out an ugly knife and tried +to put it between his lips like a lever or chisel. But Pinocchio, +as quick as lightning, caught his hand with his teeth, and with +one bite bit it clear off and spat it out. Imagine his astonishment +when instead of a hand he perceived that a cat's paw +lay on the ground.</p> + +<p>Encouraged by this first victory he used his nails to such +purpose that he succeeded in liberating himself from his assailants, +and, jumping the hedge by the roadside, he began to fly +across the country. The assassins ran after him like two dogs +chasing a hare, and the one who had lost a paw ran on one +leg, and no one ever knew how he managed it.</p> + +<p>After a race of some miles Pinocchio could go no more. +Giving himself up for lost, he climbed the trunk of a very +high pine tree and seated himself in the topmost branches. The +assassins attempted to climb after him, but when they had +reached half-way up they slid down again and arrived on +the ground with the skin grazed from their hands and knees.</p> + +<p>But they were not to be beaten by so little; collecting a +quantity of dry wood, they piled it beneath the pine and set +fire to it. In less time than it takes to tell, the pine began +to burn and to flame like a candle blown by the wind. Pinocchio, +seeing that the flames were mounting higher every instant, +and not wishing to end his life like a roasted pigeon, made +a stupendous leap from the top of the tree and started afresh +across the fields and vineyards. The assassins followed him, +and kept behind him without once giving up.</p> + +<p>The day began to break and they were still pursuing him. +Suddenly Pinocchio found his way barred by a wide, deep +ditch full of stagnant water the color of coffee. What was he +to do? "One! two! three!" cried the puppet, and, making a +rush, he sprang to the other side. The assassins also jumped, +but not having measured the distance properly—splash! splash! +they fell into the very middle of the ditch. Pinocchio, who +heard the plunge and the splashing of the water, shouted out, +laughing, and without stopping:</p> + +<p>"A fine bath to you, gentleman assassins."</p> + +<p>And he felt convinced that they were drowned, when, +turning to look, he perceived that, on the contrary, they were +both running after him, still enveloped in their sacks, with +the water dripping from them as if they had been two hollow +baskets.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><a name="illus-065" id="illus-065"></a></p> +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/illus-065.png" +alt="They Hung Pinocchio to the Big Oak Tree" title="They Hung Pinocchio to the Big Oak Tree" /> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h3><a name="CHAPTER_XV" id="CHAPTER_XV"></a>CHAPTER XV</h3> + +<h2>THE ASSASSINS HANG PINOCCHIO TO THE BIG OAK</h2> + + +<p>At this sight the puppet's courage failed him and he was +on the point of throwing himself on the ground and giving +himself over for lost. Turning, however, his eyes in every +direction, he saw, at some distance, a small house as white +as snow.</p> + +<p>"If only I had breath to reach that house," he said to +himself, "perhaps I should be saved."</p> + +<p>And, without delaying an instant, he recommenced running +for his life through the wood, and the assassins after him.</p> + +<p>At last, after a desperate race of nearly two hours, he +arrived quite breathless at the door of the house, and knocked.</p> + +<p>No one answered.</p> + +<p>He knocked again with great violence, for he heard the +sound of steps approaching him and the heavy panting of his +persecutors. The same silence.</p> + +<p>Seeing that knocking was useless, he began in desperation +to kick and pommel the door with all his might. The window +then opened and a beautiful Child appeared at it. She had +blue hair and a face as white as a waxen image; her eyes were +closed and her hands were crossed on her breast. Without +moving her lips in the least, she said, in a voice that seemed +to come from the other world:</p> + +<p>"In this house there is no one. They are all dead."</p> + +<p>"Then at least open the door for me yourself," shouted +Pinocchio, crying and imploring.</p> + +<p>"I am dead also."</p> + +<p>"Dead? Then what are you doing there at the window?"</p> + +<p>"I am waiting for the bier to come to carry me away."</p> + +<p>Having said this she immediately disappeared and the +window was closed again without the slightest noise.</p> + +<p>"Oh! beautiful Child with blue hair," cried Pinocchio, +"open the door, for pity's sake! Have compassion on a poor +boy pursued by assas—"</p> + +<p>But he could not finish the word, for he felt himself +seized by the collar and the same two horrible voices said to +him threateningly:</p> + +<p>"You shall not escape from us again!"</p> + +<p>The puppet, seeing death staring him in the face, was +taken with such a violent fit of trembling that the joints of +his wooden legs began to creak, and the sovereigns hidden +under his tongue to clink.</p> + +<p>"Now, then," demanded the assassins, "will you open your +mouth—yes or no? Ah! no answer? Leave it to us: this +time we will force you to open it!"</p> + +<p>And, drawing out two long, horrid knives as sharp as +razors, clash!—they attempted to stab him twice.</p> + +<p>But the puppet, luckily for him, was made of very hard +wood; the knives therefore broke into a thousand pieces and +the assassins were left with the handles in their hands, staring +at each other.</p> + +<p>"I see what we must do," said one of them. "He must +be hung! let us hang him!"</p> + +<p>"Let us hang him!" repeated the other.</p> + +<p>Without loss of time they tied his arms behind him, passed +a running noose round his throat, and hung him to the branch +of a tree called the Big Oak.</p> + +<p>They then sat down on the grass and waited for his last +struggle. But at the end of three hours the puppet's eyes +were still open, his mouth closed, and he was kicking more +than ever.</p> + +<p>Losing patience, they turned to Pinocchio and said in a +bantering tone:</p> + +<p>"Good-bye till tomorrow. Let us hope that when we return +you will be polite enough to allow yourself to be found quite +dead, and with your mouth wide open."</p> + +<p>And they walked off.</p> + +<p>In the meantime a tempestuous northerly wind began to +blow and roar angrily, and it beat the poor puppet from +side to side, making him swing violently, like the clatter of +a bell ringing for a wedding. And the swinging gave him +atrocious spasms, and the running noose, becoming still tighter +round his throat, took away his breath.</p> + +<p>Little by little his eyes began to grow dim, but although +he felt that death was near he still continued to hope that +some charitable person would come to his assistance before it +was too late. But when, after waiting and waiting, he found +that no one came, absolutely no one, then he remembered his +poor father, and, thinking he was dying, he stammered out:</p> + +<p>"Oh, papa! papa! if only you were here!"</p> + +<p>His breath failed him and he could say no more. He +shut his eyes, opened his mouth, stretched his legs, gave a long +shudder, and hung stiff and insensible.</p> + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="Four Rabbits as Black as Ink Entered"> +<tr><td align='center'><big><b>Four Rabbits as Black as Ink Entered<br /> +Carrying a Little Bier</b></big></td> +<td align='center'><a name="illus-070" id="illus-070"></a> +<img src="images/illus-070.png" +alt="Four Rabbits as Black as Ink Entered" title="Four Rabbits as Black as Ink Entered" /></td></tr> +</table></div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><a name="illus-071" id="illus-071"></a></p> +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/illus-071.png" +alt="The Falcon Saves Pinocchio" title="The Falcon Saves Pinocchio" /> +</div> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h3><a name="CHAPTER_XVI" id="CHAPTER_XVI"></a>CHAPTER XVI</h3> + +<h2>THE BEAUTIFUL CHILD RESCUES THE PUPPET</h2> + + +<p>While poor Pinocchio, suspended to a branch of the Big +Oak, was apparently more dead than alive, the beautiful +Child with blue hair came again to the window. When she +saw the unhappy puppet hanging by his throat, and dancing +up and down in the gusts of the north wind, she was moved +by compassion. Striking her hands together, she gave three +little claps.</p> + +<p>At this signal there came a sound of the sweep of wings +flying rapidly and a large Falcon flew on to the window-sill.</p> + +<p>"What are your orders, gracious Fairy?" he asked, inclining +his beak in sign of reverence.</p> + +<p>"Do you see that puppet dangling from a branch of the +Big Oak?"</p> + +<p>"I see him."</p> + +<p>"Very well. Fly there at once: with your strong beak +break the knot that keeps him suspended in the air, and lay +him gently on the grass at the foot of the tree."</p> + +<p>The Falcon flew away and after two minutes he returned, +saying:</p> + +<p>"I have done as you commanded."</p> + +<p>"And how did you find him?"</p> + +<p>"To see him he appeared dead, but he cannot really be +quite dead, for I had no sooner loosened the running noose +that tightened his throat than, giving a sigh, he muttered in +a faint voice: 'Now I feel better!'"</p> + +<p>The Fairy then struck her hands together twice and a +magnificent Poodle appeared, walking upright on his hind +legs exactly as if he had been a man.</p> + +<p>He was in the full-dress livery of a coachman. On his +head he had a three-cornered cap braided with gold, his curly +white wig came down on to his shoulders, he had a chocolate-colored +waistcoat with diamond buttons, and two large pockets +to contain the bones that his mistress gave him at dinner. +He had, besides, a pair of short crimson velvet breeches, silk +stockings, cut-down shoes, and hanging behind him a species +of umbrella case made of blue satin, to put his tail into when +the weather was rainy.</p> + +<p>"Be quick, Medoro, like a good dog!" said the Fairy to +the Poodle. "Have the most beautiful carriage in my coach-house +harnessed, and take the road to the wood. When you +come to the Big Oak you will find a poor puppet stretched +on the grass half dead. Pick him up gently and lay him flat +on the cushions of the carriage and bring him here to me. Do +you understand?"</p> + +<p>The Poodle, to show that he had understood, shook the +case of blue satin three or four times and ran off like a race-horse.</p> + +<p>Shortly afterwards a beautiful little carriage came out of +the coach-house. The cushions were stuffed with canary feathers +and it was lined on the inside with whipped cream, custard +and vanilla wafers. The little carriage was drawn by a hundred +pairs of white mice, and the Poodle, seated on the coach-box, +cracked his whip from side to side like a driver when +he is afraid that he is behind time.</p> + +<p>Scarcely had a quarter of an hour passed, when the carriage +returned. The Fairy, who was waiting at the door of +the house, took the poor puppet in her arms and carried him +into a little room that was wainscoted with mother-of-pearl. +She sent at once to summon the most famous doctors in the +neighborhood.</p> + +<p>They came immediately, one after the other: namely, a +Crow, an Owl, and a Talking-Cricket.</p> + +<p>"I wish to know from you, gentlemen," said the Fairy, +"if this unfortunate puppet is alive or dead!"</p> + +<p>At this request the Crow, advancing first, felt Pinocchio's +pulse; he then felt his nose and then the little toe of his foot: +and, having done this carefully, he pronounced solemnly the +following words:</p> + +<p>"To my belief the puppet is already quite dead; but, if +unfortunately he should not be dead, then it would be a sign +that he is still alive!"</p> + +<p>"I regret," said the Owl, "to be obliged to contradict the +Crow, my illustrious friend and colleague; but, in my opinion +the puppet is still alive; but, if unfortunately he should not +be alive, then it would be a sign that he is dead indeed!"</p> + +<p>"And you—have you nothing to say?" asked the Fairy +of the Talking-Cricket.</p> + +<p>"In my opinion, the wisest thing a prudent doctor can do, +when he does not know what he is talking about, is to be +silent. For the rest, that puppet there has a face that is +not new to me. I have known him for some time!"</p> + +<p>Pinocchio, who up to that moment had lain immovable, +like a real piece of wood, was seized with a fit of convulsive +trembling that shook the whole bed.</p> + +<p>"That puppet there," continued the Talking-Cricket, "is +a confirmed rogue."</p> + +<p>Pinocchio opened his eyes, but shut them again immediately.</p> + +<p>"He is a ragamuffin, a do-nothing, a vagabond."</p> + +<p>Pinocchio hid his face beneath the clothes.</p> + +<p>"That puppet there is a disobedient son who will make +his poor father die of a broken heart!"</p> + +<p>At that instant a suffocated sound of sobs and crying +was heard in the room. Imagine everybody's astonishment +when, having raised the sheets a little, it was discovered that +the sounds came from Pinocchio.</p> + +<p>"When a dead person cries, it is a sign that he is on +the road to get well," said the Crow solemnly.</p> + +<p>"I grieve to contradict my illustrious friend and colleague," +added the Owl; "but for me, when the dead person cries, it +is a sign that he is sorry to die."</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div class="figcenter"> +<p><a name="illus-075" id="illus-075"></a></p> +<img src="images/illus-075.png" +alt="Pinocchio Refuses to Take His Medicine" title="Pinocchio Refuses to Take His Medicine" /> +</div> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h3><a name="CHAPTER_XVII" id="CHAPTER_XVII"></a>CHAPTER XVII</h3> + +<h2>PINOCCHIO WILL NOT TAKE HIS MEDICINE</h2> + + +<p>As soon as the three doctors had left the room the Fairy +approached Pinocchio and, having touched his forehead, +she perceived that he was in a high fever.</p> + +<p>She therefore dissolved a certain white powder in half a +tumbler of water and, offering it to the puppet, she said to +him lovingly:</p> + +<p>"Drink it and in a few days you will be cured."</p> + +<p>Pinocchio looked at the tumbler, made a wry face, and +then asked in a plaintive voice:</p> + +<p>"Is it sweet or bitter?"</p> + +<p>"It is bitter, but it will do you good."</p> + +<p>"If it is bitter, I will not take it."</p> + +<p>"Listen to me: drink it."</p> + +<p>"I don't like anything bitter."</p> + +<p>"Drink it, and when you have drunk it I will give you +a lump of sugar to take away the taste."</p> + +<p>"Where is the lump of sugar?"</p> + +<p>"Here it is," said the Fairy, taking a piece from a gold +sugar-basin.</p> + +<p>"Give me first the lump of sugar and then I will drink +that bad bitter water."</p> + +<p>"Do you promise me?"</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>The Fairy gave him the sugar and Pinocchio, having +crunched it up and swallowed it in a second, said, licking +his lips:</p> + +<p>"It would be a fine thing if sugar were medicine! I +would take it every day."</p> + +<p>"Now keep your promise and drink these few drops of +water, which will restore you to health."</p> + +<p>Pinocchio took the tumbler unwillingly in his hand and +put the point of his nose to it: he then approached it to his +lips: he then again put his nose to it, and at last said:</p> + +<p>"It is too bitter! too bitter! I cannot drink it."</p> + +<p>"How can you tell that, when you have not even tasted it?"</p> + +<p>"I can imagine it! I know it from the smell. I want +first another lump of sugar and then I will drink it!"</p> + +<p>The Fairy then, with all the patience of a good mamma, +put another lump of sugar in his mouth, and again presented +the tumbler to him.</p> + +<p>"I cannot drink it so!" said the puppet, making a thousand +grimaces.</p> + +<p>"Why?"</p> + +<p>"Because that pillow that is down there on my feet +bothers me."</p> + +<p>The Fairy removed the pillow.</p> + +<p>"It is useless. Even so I cannot drink it."</p> + +<p>"What is the matter now?"</p> + +<p>"The door of the room, which is half open, bothers me."</p> + +<p>The Fairy went and closed the door.</p> + +<p>"In short," cried Pinocchio, bursting into tears, "I will +not drink that bitter water—no, no, no!"</p> + +<p>"My boy, you will repent it."</p> + +<p>"I don't care."</p> + +<p>"Your illness is serious."</p> + +<p>"I don't care."</p> + +<p>"The fever in a few hours will carry you into the other +world."</p> + +<p>"I don't care."</p> + +<p>"Are you not afraid of death?"</p> + +<p>"I am not in the least afraid! I would rather die than +drink that bitter medicine."</p> + +<p>At that moment the door of the room flew open and +four rabbits as black as ink entered carrying on their shoulders +a little bier.</p> + +<p>"What do you want with me?" cried Pinocchio, sitting +up in bed in a great fright.</p> + +<p>"We have come to take you," said the biggest rabbit.</p> + +<p>"To take me? But I am not yet dead!"</p> + +<p>"No, not yet? but you have only a few minutes to live, +as you have refused the medicine that would have cured you +of the fever."</p> + +<p>"Oh, Fairy, Fairy!" the puppet then began to scream, +"give me the tumbler at once; be quick, for pity's sake, for +I will not die—no, I will not die."</p> + +<p>And, taking the tumbler in both hands, he emptied it +at a gulp.</p> + +<p>"We must have patience!" said the rabbits; "this time +we have made our journey in vain." And, taking the little +bier again on their shoulders, they left the room, grumbling +and murmuring between their teeth.</p> + +<p>In fact, a few minutes afterwards, Pinocchio jumped down +from the bed quite well, because wooden puppets have the +privilege of being seldom ill and of being cured very quickly.</p> + +<p>The Fairy, seeing him running and rushing about the room +as gay and as lively as a young cock, said to him:</p> + +<p>"Then my medicine has really done you good?"</p> + +<p>"Good? I should think so! It has restored me to life!"</p> + +<p>"Then why on earth did you require so much persuasion +to take it?"</p> + +<p>"Because you see that we boys are all like that! We +are more afraid of medicine than of the illness."</p> + +<p>"Disgraceful! Boys ought to know that a good remedy +taken in time may save them from a serious illness, and perhaps +even from death."</p> + +<p>"Oh! but another time I shall not require so much persuasion. +I shall remember those black rabbits with the bier +on their shoulders and then I shall immediately take the +tumbler in my hand, and down it will go!"</p> + +<p>"Now, come here to me and tell me how it came about +that you fell into the hands of those assassins."</p> + +<p>"You see, the showman, Fire-Eater, gave me some gold +pieces and said to me: 'Go, and take them to your father!' +and instead I met on the road a Fox and a Cat, who said +to me: 'Would you like those pieces of gold to become a +thousand or two? Come with us and we will take you to +the Field of Miracles,' and I said: 'Let us go.' And they +said: 'Let us stop at the inn of The Red Craw-Fish,' and after +midnight they left. And when I awoke I found that they +were no longer there, because they had gone away. Then I +began to travel by night, for you cannot imagine how dark +it was; and on that account I met on the road two assassins +in charcoal sacks who said to me: 'Out with your money,' and +I said to them: 'I have got none,' because I had hidden the +four gold pieces in my mouth, and one of the assassins tried +to put his hand in my mouth, and I bit his hand off and spat +it out, but instead of a hand it was a cat's paw. And the +assassins ran after me, and I ran, and ran, until at last they +caught me and tied me by the neck to a tree in this wood, and +said to me: 'Tomorrow we shall return here and then you +will be dead with your mouth open and we shall be able to +carry off the pieces of gold that you have hidden under your +tongue."</p> + +<p>"And the four pieces—where have you put them?" asked +the Fairy.</p> + +<p>"I have lost them!" said Pinocchio, but he was telling a +lie, for he had them in his pocket.</p> + +<p>He had scarcely told the lie when his nose, which was +already long, grew at once two inches longer.</p> + +<p>"And where did you lose them?"</p> + +<p>"In the wood near here."</p> + +<p>At this second lie his nose went on growing.</p> + +<p>"If you have lost them in the wood near here," said the +Fairy, "we will look for them and we shall find them: because +everything that is lost in that wood is always found."</p> + +<p>"Ah! now I remember all about it," replied the puppet, +getting quite confused; "I didn't lose the four gold pieces, I +swallowed them whilst I was drinking your medicine."</p> + +<p>At this lie his nose grew to such an extraordinary length +that poor Pinocchio could not move in any direction. If he +turned to one side he struck his nose against the bed or the +window-panes, if he turned to the other he struck it against +the walls or the door, if he raised his head a little he ran the +risk of sticking it into one of the Fairy's eyes.</p> + +<p>And the Fairy looked at him and laughed.</p> + +<p>"What are you laughing at?" asked the puppet, very +confused and anxious at finding his nose growing so prodigiously.</p> + +<p>"I am laughing at the lie you have told."</p> + +<p>"And how can you possibly know that I have told a lie?"</p> + +<p>"Lies, my dear boy, are found out immediately, because +they are of two sorts. There are lies that have short legs, +and lies that have long noses. Your lie, as it happens, is one +of those that have a long nose."</p> + +<p>Pinocchio, not knowing where to hide himself for shame, +tried to run out of the room; but he did not succeed, for his +nose had increased so much that it could no longer pass through +the door.</p> + + + +<div class='center'> +<p><a name="hi-illus-081" id="hi-illus-081"></a></p> +<img src="images/hi-illus-081.jpg" +alt="SPLASH! SPLASH! THEY FELL INTO THE VERY MIDDLE OF THE DITCH" +title="SPLASH! SPLASH! THEY FELL INTO THE VERY MIDDLE OF THE DITCH" /> +</div> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><a name="illus-082" id="illus-082"></a></p> +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/illus-082.png" +alt="Treacherous Companions" title="Treacherous Companions" /> +</div> + + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h3><a name="CHAPTER_XVIII" id="CHAPTER_XVIII"></a>CHAPTER XVIII</h3> + +<h2>PINOCCHIO AGAIN MEETS THE FOX AND THE CAT</h2> + + +<p>The Fairy allowed the puppet to cry for a good half-hour +over his nose, which could no longer pass through the +door of the room. This she did to give him a severe lesson, +and to correct him of the disgraceful fault of telling lies—the +most disgraceful fault that a boy can have. But when +she saw him quite disfigured and his eyes swollen out of his +head from weeping, she felt full of compassion for him. She +therefore beat her hands together and at that signal a thousand +large birds called Woodpeckers flew in at the window. +They immediately perched on Pinocchio's nose and began to +peck at it with such zeal that in a few minutes his enormous +and ridiculous nose was reduced to its usual dimensions.</p> + +<p>"What a good Fairy you are," said the puppet, drying +his eyes, "and how much I love you!"</p> + +<p>"I love you also," answered the Fairy; "and if you will +remain with me you shall be my little brother and I will be +your good little sister."</p> + +<p>"I would remain willingly if it were not for my poor papa."</p> + +<p>"I have thought of everything. I have already let your +father know, and he will be here tonight."</p> + +<p>"Really?" shouted Pinocchio, jumping for joy. "Then, +little Fairy, if you consent, I should like to go and meet +him. I am so anxious to give a kiss to that poor old man, +who has suffered so much on my account, that I am counting +the minutes."</p> + +<p>"Go, then, but be careful not to lose yourself. Take the +road through the wood and I am sure that you will meet him."</p> + +<p>Pinocchio set out, and as soon as he was in the wood he +began to run like a kid. But when he had reached a certain +spot, almost in front of the Big Oak, he stopped, because he +thought he heard people amongst the bushes. In fact, two +persons came out on to the road. Can you guess who they +were? His two traveling companions, the Fox and the Cat, +with whom he had supped at the inn of The Red Craw-Fish.</p> + +<p>"Why, here is our dear Pinocchio!" cried the Fox, kissing +and embracing him. "How came you to be here?"</p> + +<p>"How come you to be here?" repeated the Cat.</p> + +<p>"It is a long story," answered the puppet, "which I will +tell you when I have time. But do you know that the other +night, when you left me alone at the inn, I met with assassins +on the road?"</p> + +<p>"Assassins! Oh, poor Pinocchio! And what did they want?"</p> + +<p>"They wanted to rob me of my gold pieces."</p> + +<p>"Villains!" said the Fox.</p> + +<p>"Infamous villains!" repeated the Cat.</p> + +<p>"But I ran away from them," continued the puppet, "and +they followed me, and at last they overtook me and hung +me to a branch of that oak tree."</p> + +<p>And Pinocchio pointed to the Big Oak, which was two +steps from them.</p> + +<p>"Is it possible to hear of anything more dreadful?" said +the Fox. "In what a world we are condemned to live! Where +can respectable people like us find a safe refuge?"</p> + +<p>Whilst they were thus talking Pinocchio observed that +the Cat was lame of her front right leg, for in fact she had +lost her paw with all its claws. He therefore asked her:</p> + +<p>"What have you done with your paw?"</p> + +<p>The Cat tried to answer, but became confused. Therefore +the Fox said immediately:</p> + +<p>"My friend is too modest, and that is why she doesn't +speak. I will answer for her. I must tell you that an hour +ago we met an old wolf on the road, almost fainting from +want of food, who asked alms of us. Not having so much as +a fish-bone to give him, what did my friend, who has really +the heart of a Cæsar, do? She bit off one of her fore paws +and threw it to that poor beast that he might appease his +hunger."</p> + +<p>And the Fox, in relating this, dried a tear.</p> + +<p>Pinocchio was also touched and, approaching the Cat, he +whispered into her ear:</p> + +<p>"If all cats resembled you, how fortunate the mice would +be!"</p> + +<p>"And now, what are you doing here?" asked the Fox of +the puppet.</p> + +<p>"I am waiting for my papa, whom I expect to arrive every +moment."</p> + +<p>"And your gold pieces?"</p> + +<p>"I have got them in my pocket, all but one that I spent +at the inn of The Red Craw-Fish."</p> + +<p>"And to think that, instead of four pieces, by tomorrow +they might become one or two thousand! Why do you not +listen to my advice? Why will you not go and bury them in +the Field of Miracles?"</p> + +<p>"Today it is impossible; I will go another day."</p> + +<p>"Another day it will be too late!" said the Fox.</p> + +<p>"Why?"</p> + +<p>"Because the field has been bought by a gentleman and +after tomorrow no one will be allowed to bury money there."</p> + +<p>"How far off is the Field of Miracles?"</p> + +<p>"Not two miles. Will you come with us? In half an +hour you will be there. You can bury your money at once, +and in a few minutes you will collect two thousand, and this +evening you will return with your pockets full. Will you +come with us?"</p> + +<p>Pinocchio thought of the good Fairy, old Geppetto, and +the warnings of the Talking-Cricket, and he hesitated a little +before answering. He ended, however, by doing as all boys +do who have not a grain of sense and who have no heart—he +ended by giving his head a little shake and saying to the +Fox and the Cat:</p> + +<p>"Let us go: I will come with you."</p> + +<p>And they went.</p> + +<p>After having walked half the day they reached a town +that was called "Trap for Blockheads." As soon as Pinocchio +entered this town he saw that the streets were crowded with +dogs who were yawning from hunger, shorn sheep trembling +with cold, cocks without combs begging for a grain of Indian +corn, large butterflies that could no longer fly because they +had sold their beautiful colored wings, peacocks which had no +tails and were ashamed to be seen, and pheasants that went +scratching about in a subdued fashion, mourning for their brilliant +gold and silver feathers gone forever.</p> + +<p>In the midst of this crowd of beggars and shamefaced +creatures some lordly carriage passed from time to time containing +a Fox, or a thieving Magpie, or some other ravenous +bird of prey.</p> + +<p>"And where is the Field of Miracles?" asked Pinocchio.</p> + +<p>"It is here, not two steps from us."</p> + +<p>They crossed the town and, having gone beyond the walls, +they came to a solitary field.</p> + +<p>"Here we are," said the Fox to the puppet. "Now stoop +down and dig with your hands a little hole in the ground and +put your gold pieces into it."</p> + +<p>Pinocchio obeyed. He dug a hole, put into it the four +gold pieces that he had left, and then filled up the hole with +a little earth.</p> + +<p>"Now, then," said the Fox, "go to that canal close to us, +fetch a can of water, and water the ground where you have +sowed them."</p> + +<p>Pinocchio went to the canal, and, as he had no can, he +took off one of his old shoes and filling it with water he watered +the ground over the hole.</p> + +<p>He then asked:</p> + +<p>"Is there anything else to be done?"</p> + +<p>"Nothing else," answered the Fox. "We can now go +away. You can return in about twenty minutes and you will +find a shrub already pushing through the ground, with its +branches quite loaded with money."</p> + +<p>The poor puppet, beside himself with joy, thanked the +Fox and the Cat a thousand times, and promised them a beautiful +present.</p> + +<p>"We wish for no presents," answered the two rascals. "It +is enough for us to have taught you the way to enrich yourself +without undergoing hard work, and we are as happy as people +out for a holiday."</p> + +<p>Thus saying, they took leave of Pinocchio, and, wishing +him a good harvest, went about their business.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><a name="illus-088" id="illus-088"></a></p> +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/illus-088.png" alt="The Judge Was a Big Ape" title="The Judge Was a Big Ape" /> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h3><a name="CHAPTER_XIX" id="CHAPTER_XIX"></a>CHAPTER XIX</h3> + +<h2>PINOCCHIO IS ROBBED OF HIS MONEY</h2> + + +<p>The puppet returned to the town and began to count the +minutes one by one, and when he thought that it must +be time he took the road leading to the Field of Miracles.</p> + +<p>And as he walked along with hurried steps his heart beat +fast—tic, tac, tic, tac—like a drawing-room clock when it is +really going well. Meanwhile he was thinking to himself:</p> + +<p>"And if, instead of a thousand gold pieces, I were to find +on the branches of the tree two thousand? And instead of +two thousand, supposing I found five thousand? and instead +of five thousand, that I found a hundred thousand? Oh! what +a fine gentleman I should then become! I would have a beautiful +palace, a thousand little wooden horses and a thousand +stables to amuse myself with, a cellar full of currant wine and +sweet syrups, and a library quite full of candies, tarts, plum-cakes, +macaroons, and biscuits with cream."</p> + +<p>Whilst he was building these castles in the air he had +arrived in the neighborhood of the field, and he stopped to look +about for a tree with its branches laden with money, but he +saw nothing. He advanced another hundred steps—nothing; +he entered the field and went right up to the little hole where +he had buried his sovereigns—and nothing. He then became +very thoughtful and, forgetting the rules of society and good +manners, he took his hands out of his pocket and gave his head +a long scratch.</p> + +<p>At that moment he heard an explosion of laughter close +to him and, looking up, he saw a large Parrot perched on a +tree, who was pruning the few feathers he had left.</p> + +<p>"Why are you laughing?" asked Pinocchio in an angry +voice.</p> + +<p>"I am laughing because in pruning my feathers I tickled +myself under my wings."</p> + +<p>The puppet did not answer, but went to the canal and, +filling the same old shoe full of water, he proceeded to water +the earth afresh that covered his gold pieces.</p> + +<p>While he was thus occupied another laugh, still more impertinent +than the first, rang out in the silence of that solitary +place.</p> + +<p>"Once for all," shouted Pinocchio in a rage, "may I know, +you ill-educated Parrot, what you are laughing at?"</p> + +<p>"I am laughing at those simpletons who believe in all the +foolish things that are told them, and who allow themselves +to be entrapped by those who are more cunning than they are."</p> + +<p>"Are you perhaps speaking of me?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, I am speaking of you, poor Pinocchio—of you who +are simple enough to believe that money can be sown and +gathered in fields in the same way as beans and gourds. I +also believed it once and today I am suffering for it. Today—but +it is too late—I have at last learned that to put a few +pennies honestly together it is necessary to know how to earn +them, either by the work of our own hands or by the cleverness +of our own brains."</p> + +<p>"I don't understand you," said the puppet, who was +already trembling with fear.</p> + +<p>"Have patience! I will explain myself better," rejoined +the Parrot. "You must know, then, that while you were in +the town the Fox and the Cat returned to the field; they took +the buried money and then fled like the wind. And now he +that catches them will be clever."</p> + +<p>Pinocchio remained with his mouth open and, not choosing +to believe the Parrot's words, he began with his hands and +nails to dig up the earth that he had watered. And he dug, +and dug, and dug, and made such a deep hole that a rick of +straw might have stood upright in it, but the money was no +longer there.</p> + +<p>He rushed back to the town in a state of desperation and +went at once to the Courts of Justice to denounce the two +knaves who had robbed him to the judge.</p> + +<p>The judge was a big ape of the gorilla tribe, an old ape +respectable for his age, his white beard, but especially for his +gold spectacles without glasses that he was always obliged to +wear, on account of an inflammation of the eyes that had +tormented him for many years.</p> + +<p>Pinocchio related in the presence of the judge all the +particulars of the infamous fraud of which he had been the +victim. He gave the names, the surnames, and other details, +of the two rascals, and ended by demanding justice.</p> + +<p>The judge listened with great benignity; took a lively +interest in the story; was much touched and moved; and when +the puppet had nothing further to say he stretched out his +hand and rang a bell.</p> + +<p>At this summons two mastiffs immediately appeared dressed +as gendarmes. The judge then, pointing to Pinocchio, said +to them:</p> + +<p>"That poor devil has been robbed of four gold pieces; take +him away and put him immediately into prison."</p> + +<p>The puppet was petrified on hearing this unexpected sentence +and tried to protest; but the gendarmes, to avoid losing +time, stopped his mouth and carried him off to the lockup.</p> + +<p>And there he remained for four months—four long months—and +he would have remained longer still if a fortunate chance +had not released him. The young Emperor who reigned over +the town of "Trap for Blockheads," having won a splendid +victory over his enemies, ordered great public rejoicings. There +were illuminations, fireworks, horse races and velocipede races, +and as a further sign of triumph he commanded that the prisons +should be opened and all the prisoners freed.</p> + +<p>"If the others are to be let out of prison, I will go also," +said Pinocchio to the jailor.</p> + +<p>"No, not you," said the jailor, "because you do not belong +to the fortunate class."</p> + +<p>"I beg your pardon," replied Pinocchio, "I am also a +criminal."</p> + +<p>"In that case you are perfectly right," said the jailor, and, +taking off his hat and bowing to him respectfully, he opened +the prison doors and let him escape.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h3><a name="CHAPTER_XX" id="CHAPTER_XX"></a>CHAPTER XX</h3> + +<h2>PINOCCHIO STARTS BACK TO THE FAIRY'S HOUSE</h2> + + +<p>You can imagine Pinocchio's joy when he found himself +free. Without stopping to take breath he immediately +left the town and took the road that led to the Fairy's house.</p> + +<p>On account of the rainy weather the road had become a +marsh into which he sank knee-deep. But the puppet would +not give in. Tormented by the desire of seeing his father and +his little sister with blue hair again, he ran on like a greyhound, +and as he ran he was splashed with mud from head to +foot. And he said to himself as he went along: "How many +misfortunes have happened to me. But I deserved them, for +I am an obstinate, passionate puppet. I am always bent upon +having my own way, without listening to those who wish me +well, and who have a thousand times more sense than I have! +But from this time forth I am determined to change and to +become orderly and obedient. For at last I have seen that +disobedient boys come to no good and gain nothing. And +has my papa waited for me? Shall I find him at the Fairy's +house? Poor man, it is so long since I last saw him: I am +dying to embrace him and to cover him with kisses! And will +the Fairy forgive me my bad conduct to her? To think of +all the kindness and loving care I received from her, to think +that if I am now alive I owe it to her! Would it be possible +to find a more ungrateful boy, or one with less heart than +I have?"</p> + +<p>Whilst he was saying this he stopped suddenly, frightened +to death, and made four steps backwards.</p> + +<p>What had he seen?</p> + +<p>He had seen an immense Serpent stretched across the +road. Its skin was green, it had red eyes, and a pointed tail +that was smoking like a chimney.</p> + +<p>It would be impossible to imagine the puppet's terror. He +walked away to a safe distance and, sitting down on a heap +of stones, waited until the Serpent should have gone about its +business and left the road clear.</p> + +<p>He waited an hour; two hours; three hours; but the Serpent +was always there, and even from a distance he could see +the red light of his fiery eyes and the column of smoke that +ascended from the end of his tail.</p> + +<p>At last Pinocchio, trying to feel courageous, approached +to within a few steps, and said to the Serpent in a little soft, +insinuating voice:</p> + +<p>"Excuse me. Sir Serpent, but would you be so good as +to move a little to one side—just enough to allow me to pass?"</p> + +<p>He might as well have spoken to the wall. Nobody moved.</p> + +<p>He began again in the same soft voice:</p> + +<p>"You must know. Sir Serpent, that I am on my way +home, where my father is waiting for me, and it is such a +long time since I saw him last! Will you, therefore, allow +me to continue my road?"</p> + +<p>He waited for a sign in answer to this request, but there +was none; in fact, the Serpent, who up to that moment had +been sprightly and full of life, became motionless and almost +rigid. He shut his eyes and his tail ceased smoking.</p> + +<p>"Can he really be dead?" said Pinocchio, rubbing his hands +with delight. He determined to jump over him and reach the +other side of the road. But, just as he was going to leap, the +Serpent raised himself suddenly on end, like a spring set in +motion; and the puppet, drawing back, in his terror caught his +feet and fell to the ground.</p> + +<p>And he fell so awkwardly that his head stuck in the mud +and his legs went into the air.</p> + +<p>At the sight of the puppet kicking violently with his head +in the mud, the Serpent went into convulsions of laughter, and +laughed, and laughed, until he broke a blood-vessel in his chest +and died. And that time he was really dead.</p> + +<p>Pinocchio then set off running, in hopes that he should +reach the Fairy's house before dark. But before long he began +to suffer so dreadfully from hunger that he could not bear +it, and he jumped into a field by the wayside, intending to +pick some bunches of Muscatel grapes. Oh, that he had never +done it!</p> + +<p>He had scarcely reached the vines when crack—his legs +were caught between two cutting iron bars and he became so +giddy with pain that stars of every color danced before his eyes.</p> + +<p>The poor puppet had been taken in a trap put there to +capture some big polecats which were the scourge of the poultry-yards +in the neighborhood.</p> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><a name="illus-095" id="illus-095"></a></p> +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/illus-095.png" +alt="Pinocchio Gets His Foot Caught in a Trap" title="Pinocchio Gets His Foot Caught in a Trap" /> +</div> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h3><a name="CHAPTER_XXI" id="CHAPTER_XXI"></a>CHAPTER XXI</h3> + +<h2>PINOCCHIO ACTS AS WATCH-DOG</h2> + + +<p>Pinocchio began to cry and scream, but his tears and +groans were useless, for there was not a house to be seen, +and not a living soul passed down the road.</p> + +<p>At last night came on.</p> + +<p>Partly from the pain of the trap, that cut his legs, and +a little from fear at finding himself alone in the dark in the +midst of the fields, the puppet was on the point of fainting. +Just at that moment he saw a Firefly flitting over his head. +He called to it and said:</p> + +<p>"Oh, little Firefly, will you have pity on me and liberate +me from this torture?"</p> + +<p>"Poor boy!" said the Firefly, stopping and looking at +him with compassion; "but how could your legs have been +caught by those sharp irons?"</p> + +<p>"I came into the field to pick two bunches of these Muscatel +grapes, and—"</p> + +<p>"But were the grapes yours?"</p> + +<p>"No."</p> + +<p>"Then who taught you to carry off other people's property?"</p> + +<p>"I was so hungry."</p> + +<p>"Hunger, my boy, is not a good reason for appropriating +what does not belong to us."</p> + +<p>"That is true, that is true!" said Pinocchio, crying. "I +will never do it again."</p> + +<p>At this moment their conversation was interrupted by a +slight sound of approaching footsteps. It was the owner of +the field coming on tiptoe to see if one of the polecats that +ate his chickens during the night had been caught in his trap.</p> + +<p>His astonishment was great when, having brought out his +lantern from under his coat, he perceived that instead of a +polecat a boy had been taken.</p> + +<p>"Ah, little thief," said the angry peasant, "then it is you +who carries off my chickens?"</p> + +<p>"No, it is not I; indeed it is not!" cried Pinocchio, sobbing. +"I only came into the field to take two bunches of +grapes!"</p> + +<p>"He who steals grapes is quite capable of stealing chickens. +Leave it to me, I will give you a lesson that you will not +forget in a hurry."</p> + +<p>Opening the trap, he seized the puppet by the collar and +carried him to his house as if he had been a young lamb.</p> + +<p>When he reached the yard in front of the house he threw +him roughly on the ground and, putting his foot on his neck, +he said to him:</p> + +<p>"It is late and I want to go to bed; we will settle our +accounts tomorrow. In the meanwhile, as the dog who kept +guard at night died today, you shall take his place at once. +You shall be my watch-dog."</p> + +<p>And, taking a great collar covered with brass knobs, he +strapped it so tightly round his throat that he was not able +to draw his head out of it. A heavy chain attached to the +collar was fastened to the wall.</p> + +<p>"If it should rain tonight," he then said to him, "you can +go and lie down in the kennel; the straw that has served as a +bed for my poor dog for the last four years is still there. If +unfortunately robbers should come, remember to keep your +ears pricked and to bark."</p> + +<p>After giving him this last injunction the man went into +the house, shut the door, and put up the chain.</p> + +<p>Poor Pinocchio remained lying on the ground more dead +than alive from the effects of cold, hunger and fear. From +time to time he put his hands angrily to the collar that tightened +his throat and said, crying:</p> + +<p>"It serves me right! Decidedly, it serves me right! I +was determined to be a vagabond and a good-for-nothing. I +would listen to bad companions, and that is why I always meet +with misfortunes. If I had been a good little boy, as so many +are; if I had remained at home with my poor papa, I should +not now be in the midst of the fields and obliged to be the +watch-dog to a peasant's house. Oh, if I could be born again! +But now it is too late and I must have patience!"</p> + +<p>Relieved by this little outburst, which came straight from +his heart, he went into the dog-kennel and fell asleep.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<p><a name="illus-098" id="illus-098"></a></p> +<img src="images/illus-098.png" +alt="The New Watch-Dog" title="The New Watch-Dog" /> +</div> + +<h3><a name="CHAPTER_XXII" id="CHAPTER_XXII"></a>CHAPTER XXII</h3> + +<h2>PINOCCHIO DISCOVERS THE ROBBERS</h2> + + +<p>He had been sleeping heavily for about two hours when, +towards midnight, he was aroused by a whispering of +strange voices that seemed to come from the courtyard. Putting +the point of his nose out of the kennel, he saw four little +beasts with dark fur, that looked like cats, standing consulting +together. But they were not cats; they were polecats—carnivorous +little animals, especially greedy for eggs and young +chickens. One of the polecats, leaving his companions, came +to the opening of the kennel and said in a low voice:</p> + +<p>"Good evening, Melampo."</p> + +<p>"My name is not Melampo," answered the puppet.</p> + +<p>"Oh! then who are you?"</p> + +<p>"I am Pinocchio."</p> + +<p>"And what are you doing here?"</p> + +<p>"I am acting as watch-dog."</p> + +<p>"Then where is Melampo? Where is the old dog who +lived in this kennel?"</p> + +<p>"He died this morning."</p> + +<p>"Is he dead? Poor beast! He was so good. But, judging +you by your face, I should say that you were also a +good dog."</p> + +<p>"I beg your pardon, I am not a dog."</p> + +<p>"Not a dog? Then what are you?"</p> + +<p>"I am a puppet."</p> + +<p>"And you are acting as watch-dog?"</p> + +<p>"That is only too true—as a punishment."</p> + +<p>"Well, then, I will offer you the same conditions that +we made with the deceased Melampo, and I am sure you will +be satisfied with them."</p> + +<p>"What are these conditions?"</p> + +<p>"One night in every week you are to permit us to visit +this poultry-yard as we have hitherto done, and to carry off +eight chickens. Of these chickens seven are to be eaten by +us, and one we will give to you, on the express understanding, +however, that you pretend to be asleep, and that it never +enters your head to bark and to waken the peasant."</p> + +<p>"Did Melampo act in this manner?" asked Pinocchio.</p> + +<p>"Certainly, and we were always on the best terms with +him. Sleep quietly, and rest assured that before we go we +will leave by the kennel a beautiful chicken ready plucked for +your breakfast tomorrow. Have we understood each other +clearly?"</p> + +<p>"Only too clearly!" answered Pinocchio, and he shook his +head threateningly, as much as to say: "You shall hear of +this shortly!"</p> + +<p>The four polecats, thinking themselves safe, repaired to +the poultry-yard, which was close to the kennel, and, having +opened the wooden gate with their teeth and claws, they slipped +in one by one. But they had only just passed through when +they heard the gate shut behind them with great violence.</p> + +<p>It was Pinocchio who had shut it, and for greater security +he put a large stone against it to keep it closed.</p> + +<p>He then began to bark, and he barked exactly like a +watch-dog: "Bow-wow, bow-wow."</p> + +<p>Hearing the barking, the peasant jumped out of bed and, +taking his gun, he came to the window and asked:</p> + +<p>"What is the matter?"</p> + +<p>"There are robbers!" answered Pinocchio.</p> + +<p>"Where are they?"</p> + +<p>"In the poultry-yard."</p> + +<p>"I will come down directly."</p> + +<p>In fact, in less time than it takes to say "Amen!" the +peasant came down. He rushed into the poultry-yard, caught +the polecats, and, having put them into a sack, he said to +them in a tone of great satisfaction:</p> + +<p>"At last you have fallen into my hands! I might punish +you, but I am not so cruel. I will content myself instead by +carrying you in the morning to the innkeeper of the neighboring +village, who will skin and cook you as hares with a sweet +and sour sauce. It is an honor that you don't deserve, but +generous people like me don't consider such trifles!"</p> + +<p>He then approached Pinocchio and began to caress him, +and amongst other things he asked him:</p> + +<p>"How did you manage to discover the four thieves? To +think that Melampo, my faithful Melampo, never found out +anything!"</p> + +<p>The puppet might then have told him the whole story; +he might have informed him of the disgraceful conditions that +had been made between the dog and the polecats; but he remembered +that the dog was dead and he thought to himself:</p> + +<p>"What is the good of accusing the dead? The dead are +dead, and the best thing to be done is to leave them in peace!"</p> + +<p>"When the thieves got into the yard, were you asleep or +awake?" the peasant went on to ask him.</p> + +<p>"I was asleep," answered Pinocchio, "but the polecats woke +me with their chatter and one of them came to the kennel and +said to me: 'If you promise not to bark, and not to wake the +master, we will make you a present of a fine chicken ready +plucked!' To think that they should have had the audacity +to make such a proposal to me! For, although I am a puppet, +possessing perhaps nearly all the faults in the world, there is +one that I certainly will never be guilty of, that of making +terms with, and sharing the gains of, dishonest people!"</p> + +<p>"Well said, my boy!" cried the peasant, slapping him on +the shoulder. "Such sentiments do you honor; and as a proof +of my gratitude I will at once set you at liberty, and you may +return home."</p> + +<p>And he removed the dog-collar.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><a name="illus-102" id="illus-102"></a></p> +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/illus-102.png" +alt="Pinocchio's Wild Ride on the Pigeon's Back" title="Pinocchio's Wild Ride on the Pigeon's Back" /> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h3><a name="CHAPTER_XXIII" id="CHAPTER_XXIII"></a>CHAPTER XXIII</h3> + +<h2>PINOCCHIO FLIES TO THE SEASHORE</h2> + + +<p>As soon as Pinocchio was released from the heavy and humiliating +weight of the dog-collar he started off across the +fields and never stopped until he had reached the high road +that led to the Fairy's house. He could see amongst the trees +the top of the Big Oak to which he had been hung, but, although +he looked in every direction, the little house belonging to the +beautiful Child with the blue hair was nowhere visible.</p> + +<p>Seized with a sad presentiment, he began to run with all +the strength he had left and in a few minutes he reached the +field where the little white house had once stood. But it was +no longer there. Instead of the house he saw a marble stone, +on which were engraved these sad words:</p> + +<p class="center"> HERE LIES<br /> +THE CHILD WITH THE BLUE HAIR<br /> + WHO DIED FROM SORROW<br /> +BECAUSE SHE WAS ABANDONED BY HER<br /> + LITTLE BROTHER PINOCCHIO</p> + +<p>I leave you to imagine the puppet's feelings when he had +with difficulty spelled out this epitaph. He fell with his face +on the ground and, covering the tombstone with a thousand +kisses, burst into an agony of tears. He cried all night and +when morning came he was still crying, although he had no +tears left, and his sobs and lamentations were so acute and +heart-breaking that they aroused the echoes in the surrounding +hills.</p> + +<p>And as he wept he said:</p> + +<p>"Oh, little Fairy, why did you die? Why did I not die +instead of you, I who am so wicked, whilst you were so good? +And my papa? Where can he be? Oh, little Fairy, tell me +where I can find him, for I want to remain with him always +and never leave him again, never again! Oh, little Fairy, tell +me that it is not true that you are dead! If you really love +your little brother, come to life again. Does it not grieve +you to see me alone and abandoned by everybody? If assassins +come they will hang me again to the branch of a tree, and +then I should die indeed. What do you imagine that I can +do here alone in the world? Now that I have lost you and +my papa, who will give me food? Where shall I go to sleep +at night? Who will make me a new jacket? Oh, it would +be better, a hundred times better, for me to die also! Yes, +I want to die—oh! oh! oh!"</p> + +<p>And in his despair he tried to tear his hair, but his hair +was made of wood so he could not even have the satisfaction +of sticking his fingers into it.</p> + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="An Immense Serpent Stretched across the Road"> +<tr><td align='center'><big><b>An Immense Serpent Stretched<br /> +Across the Road</b></big></td> +<td align='center'><a name="illus-105" id="illus-105"></a> +<img src="images/illus-105.png" +alt="An Immense Serpent Stretched across the Road" title="An Immense Serpent Stretched across the Road" /></td></tr> +</table></div> + + + +<p>Just then a large Pigeon flew over his head and, stopping +with distended wings, called down to him from a great height:</p> + +<p>"Tell me, child, what are you doing there?"</p> + +<p>"Don't you see? I am crying!" said Pinocchio, raising +his head towards the voice and rubbing his eyes with his jacket.</p> + +<p>"Tell me," continued the Pigeon, "amongst your companions, +do you happen to know a puppet who is called Pinocchio?"</p> + +<p>"Pinocchio? Did you say Pinocchio?" repeated the puppet, +jumping quickly to his feet. "I am Pinocchio!"</p> + +<p>At this answer the Pigeon descended rapidly to the ground. +He was larger than a turkey.</p> + +<p>"Do you also know Geppetto?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"Do I know him! He is my poor papa! Has he perhaps +spoken to you of me? Will you take me to him? Is he still +alive? Answer me, for pity's sake: is he still alive?"</p> + +<p>"I left him three days ago on the seashore."</p> + +<p>"What was he doing?"</p> + +<p>"He was building a little boat for himself, to cross the +ocean. For more than three months that poor man has been +going all round the world looking for you. Not having succeeded +in finding you, he has now taken it into his head to go +to the distant countries of the New World in search of you."</p> + +<p>"How far is it from here to the shore?" asked Pinocchio +breathlessly.</p> + +<p>"More than six hundred miles."</p> + +<p>"Six hundred miles? Oh, beautiful Pigeon, what a fine +thing it would be to have your wings!"</p> + +<p>"If you wish to go, I will carry you there."</p> + +<p>"How?"</p> + +<p>"On my back. Do you weigh much?"</p> + +<p>"I weigh next to nothing. I am as light as a feather."</p> + +<p>And without waiting for more Pinocchio jumped at once +on the Pigeon's back and, putting a leg on each side of him +as men do on horseback, he exclaimed joyfully:</p> + +<p>"Gallop, gallop, my little horse, for I am anxious to arrive +quickly!"</p> + +<p>The Pigeon took flight and in a few minutes had soared +so high that they almost touched the clouds. Finding himself +at such an immense height the puppet had the curiosity to turn +and look down; but his head spun round and he became so +frightened to save himself from the danger of falling he wound +his arms tightly round the neck of his feathered steed.</p> + +<p>They flew all day. Towards evening the Pigeon said:</p> + +<p>"I am very thirsty!"</p> + +<p>"And I am very hungry!" rejoined Pinocchio.</p> + +<p>"Let us stop at that dovecote for a few minutes and then +we will continue our journey, so that we may reach the seashore +by dawn tomorrow."</p> + +<p>They went into a deserted dovecote, where they found +nothing but a basin full of water and a basket full of vetch.</p> + +<p>The puppet had never in his life been able to eat vetch: +according to him it made him sick. That evening, however, +he ate to repletion, and when he had nearly emptied the basket +he turned to the Pigeon and said to him:</p> + +<p>"I never could have believed that vetch was so good!"</p> + +<p>"Be assured, my boy," replied the Pigeon, "that when +hunger is real, and there is nothing else to eat, even vetch +becomes delicious. Hunger knows neither caprice nor greediness."</p> + +<p>Having quickly finished their little meal they recommenced +their journey and flew away. The following morning they +reached the seashore.</p> + +<p>The Pigeon placed Pinocchio on the ground and, not wishing +to be troubled with thanks for having done a good action, +flew quickly away and disappeared.</p> + +<p>The shore was crowded with people who were looking +out to sea, shouting and gesticulating.</p> + +<p>"What has happened?" asked Pinocchio of an old woman.</p> + +<p>"A poor father who has lost his son has gone away in a +boat to search for him on the other side of the water, and +today the sea is tempestuous and the little boat is in danger +of sinking."</p> + +<p>"Where is the little boat?"</p> + +<p>"It is out there in a line with my finger," said the old +woman, pointing to a little boat which, seen at that distance, +looked like a nutshell with a very little man in it.</p> + +<p>Pinocchio fixed his eyes on it and after looking attentively +he gave a piercing scream, crying:</p> + +<p>"It is my papa! It is my papa!"</p> + +<p>The boat, meanwhile, beaten by the fury of the waves, at +one moment disappeared in the trough of the sea, and the next +came again to the surface. Pinocchio, standing on the top of +a high rock, kept calling to his father by name, and making +every kind of signal to him with his hands, his handkerchief, +and his cap.</p> + +<p>And, although he was so far off, Geppetto appeared to +recognize his son, for he also took off his cap and waved it, +and tried by gestures to make him understand that he would +have returned if it had been possible, but that the sea was so +tempestuous that he could not use his oars or approach the shore.</p> + +<p>Suddenly a tremendous wave rose and the boat disappeared. +They waited, hoping it would come again to the surface, +but it was seen no more.</p> + +<p>"Poor man!" said the fishermen who were assembled on +the shore; murmuring a prayer, they turned to go home.</p> + +<p>Just then they heard a desperate cry and, looking back, +they saw a little boy who exclaimed, as he jumped from a rock +into the sea:</p> + +<p>"I will save my papa!"</p> + +<p>Pinocchio, being made of wood, floated easily and he swam +like a fish. At one moment they saw him disappear under the +water, carried down by the fury of the waves, and next he +reappeared struggling with a leg or an arm. At last they lost +sight of him and he was seen no more.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><a name="illus-110" id="illus-110"></a></p> +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/illus-110.png" +alt="Pinocchio Braves the Sea to Save His Father" title="Pinocchio Braves the Sea to Save His Father" /> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h3><a name="CHAPTER_XXIV" id="CHAPTER_XXIV"></a>CHAPTER XXIV</h3> + +<h2>PINOCCHIO FINDS THE FAIRY AGAIN</h2> + + +<p>Pinocchio, hoping to be in time to help his father, swam +the whole night.</p> + +<p>And what a horrible night it was! The rain came down +in torrents, it hailed, the thunder was frightful, and the flashes +of lightning made it as light as day.</p> + +<p>Towards morning he saw a long strip of land not far off. +It was an island in the midst of the sea.</p> + +<p>He tried his utmost to reach the shore, but it was all in +vain. The waves, racing and tumbling over each other, knocked +him about as if he had been a stick or a wisp of straw. At +last, fortunately for him, a billow rolled up with such fury +and impetuosity that he was lifted up and thrown far on to +the sands.</p> + +<p>He fell with such force that, as he struck the ground, his +ribs and all his joints cracked, but he comforted himself, saying:</p> + +<p>"This time also I have made a wonderful escape!"</p> + +<p>Little by little the sky cleared, the sun shone out in all +his splendor, and the sea became as quiet and as smooth as oil.</p> + +<p>The puppet put his clothes in the sun to dry and began +to look in every direction in hopes of seeing on the vast expanse +of water a little boat with a little man in it. But, although +he looked and looked, he could see nothing but the sky, and +the sea, and the sail of some ship, but so far away that it seemed +no bigger than a fly.</p> + +<p>"If I only knew what this island was called!" he said to +himself. "If I only knew whether it was inhabited by civilized +people—I mean, by people who have not the bad habit +of hanging boys to the branches of the trees. But whom can +I ask? Whom, if there is nobody?"</p> + +<p>This idea of finding himself alone, alone, all alone, in the +midst of this great uninhabited country, made him so melancholy +that he was just beginning to cry. But at that moment, +at a short distance from the shore, he saw a big fish swimming +by; it was going quietly on its own business with its head out +of the water.</p> + +<p>Not knowing its name, the puppet called to it in a loud +voice to make himself heard:</p> + +<p>"Eh, Sir Fish, will you permit me a word with you?"</p> + +<p>"Two if you like," answered the fish, who was a Dolphin, +and so polite that few similar are to be found in any sea in +the world.</p> + +<p>"Will you be kind enough to tell me if there are villages +in this island where it would be possible to obtain something +to eat, without running the danger of being eaten?"</p> + +<p>"Certainly there are," replied the Dolphin. "Indeed, you +will find one at a short distance from here."</p> + +<p>"And what road must I take to go there?"</p> + +<p>"You must take that path to your left and follow your +nose. You cannot make a mistake."</p> + +<p>"Will you tell me another thing? You who swim about +the sea all day and all night, have you by chance met a little +boat with my papa in it?"</p> + +<p>"And who is your papa?"</p> + +<p>"He is the best papa in the world, whilst it would be +difficult to find a worse son than I am."</p> + +<p>"During the terrible storm last night," answered the Dolphin, +"the little boat must have gone to the bottom."</p> + +<p>"And my papa?"</p> + +<p>"He must have been swallowed by the terrible Dog-Fish, +who for some days past has been spreading devastation and +ruin in our waters."</p> + +<p>"Is this Dog-Fish very big?" asked Pinocchio, who was +already beginning to quake with fear.</p> + +<p>"Big!" replied the Dolphin. "That you may form some +idea of his size, I need only tell you that he is bigger than a +five-storied house, and that his mouth is so enormous and so +deep that a railway train with its smoking engine could pass +down his throat."</p> + +<p>"Mercy upon us!" exclaimed the terrified puppet; and, +putting on his clothes with the greatest haste, he said to the +Dolphin:</p> + +<p>"Good-bye, Sir Fish; excuse the trouble I have given you, +and many thanks for your politeness."</p> + +<p>He then took the path that had been pointed out to him +and began to walk fast—so fast, indeed, that he was almost +running. And at the slightest noise he turned to look behind +him, fearing that he might see the terrible Dog-Fish with a +railway train in its mouth following him.</p> + +<p>After a walk of half an hour he reached a little village +called "The Village of the Industrious Bees." The road was +alive with people running here and there to attend to their +business; all were at work, all had something to do. You +could not have found an idler or a vagabond, not even if you +had searched for him with a lighted lamp.</p> + +<p>"Ah!" said that lazy Pinocchio at once, "I see that this +village will never suit me! I wasn't born to work!"</p> + +<p>In the meanwhile he was tormented by hunger, for he had +eaten nothing for twenty-four hours—not even vetch. What +was he to do?</p> + +<p>There were only two ways by which he could obtain food—either +by asking for a little work, or by begging for a nickel +or for a mouthful of bread.</p> + +<p>He was ashamed to beg, for his father had always preached +to him that no one had a right to beg except the aged and +the infirm. The really poor in this world, deserving of compassion +and assistance, are only those who from age or sickness +are no longer able to earn their own bread with the labor of +their hands. It is the duty of every one else to work; and if +they will not work, so much the worse for them if they suffer +from hunger.</p> + +<p>At that moment a man came down the road, tired and +panting for breath. He was dragging, alone, with fatigue and +difficulty, two carts full of charcoal.</p> + +<p>Pinocchio, judging by his face that he was a kind man, +approached him and, casting down his eyes with shame, he +said to him in a low voice:</p> + +<p>"Would you have the charity to give me a nickel, for I +am dying of hunger?"</p> + +<p>"You shall have not only a nickel," said the man, "but I +will give you a quarter, provided that you help me to drag +home these two carts of charcoal."</p> + +<p>"I am surprised at you!" answered the puppet in a tone +of offense. "Let me tell you that I am not accustomed to do +the work of a donkey: I have never drawn a cart!"</p> + +<p>"So much the better for you," answered the man. "Then, +my boy, if you are really dying of hunger, eat two fine slices +of your pride, and be careful not to get indigestion."</p> + +<p>A few minutes afterwards a mason passed down the road +carrying on his shoulders a basket of lime.</p> + +<p>"Would you have the charity, good man, to give a nickel +to a poor boy who is yawning for want of food?"</p> + +<p>"Willingly," answered the man. "Come with me and +carry the lime, and instead of a nickel I will give you a +quarter."</p> + +<p>"But the lime is heavy," objected Pinocchio, "and I don't +want to tire myself."</p> + +<p>"If you don't want to tire yourself, then, my boy, amuse +yourself with yawning, and much good may it do you."</p> + +<p>In less than half an hour twenty other people went by, +and Pinocchio asked charity of them all, but they all answered:</p> + +<p>"Are you not ashamed to beg? Instead of idling about +the roads, go and look for a little work and learn to earn +your bread."</p> + +<p>At last a nice little woman carrying two cans of water +came by.</p> + +<p>"Will you let me drink a little water out of your can?" +asked Pinocchio, who was burning with thirst.</p> + +<p>"Drink, my boy, if you wish it!" said the little woman, +setting down the two cans.</p> + +<p>Pinocchio drank like a fish, and as he dried his mouth +he mumbled:</p> + +<p>"I have quenched my thirst. If I could only appease +my hunger!"</p> + +<p>The good woman, hearing these words, said at once:</p> + +<p>"If you will help me to carry home these two cans of water +I will give you a fine piece of bread."</p> + +<p>Pinocchio looked at the can and answered neither yes +nor no.</p> + +<p>"And besides the bread you shall have a nice dish of cauliflower +dressed with oil and vinegar," added the good woman.</p> + +<p>Pinocchio gave another look at the can and answered +neither yes nor no.</p> + +<p>"And after the cauliflower I will give you a beautiful +bonbon full of syrup."</p> + +<p>The temptation of this last dainty was so great that Pinocchio +could resist no longer and with an air of decision he said:</p> + +<p>"I must have patience! I will carry the can to your house."</p> + +<p>The can was heavy and the puppet, not being strong +enough to carry it in his hand, had to resign himself to carry +it on his head.</p> + +<p>When they reached the house the good little woman made +Pinocchio sit down at a small table already laid and she placed +before him the bread, the cauliflower and the bonbon.</p> + +<p>Pinocchio did not eat, he devoured. His stomach was like +an apartment that had been left empty and uninhabited for +five months.</p> + +<p>When his ravenous hunger was somewhat appeased he +raised his head to thank his benefactress, but he had no sooner +looked at her than he gave a prolonged "Oh-h!" of astonishment +and continued staring at her with wide open eyes, his +fork in the air, and his mouth full of bread and cauliflower, +as if he had been bewitched.</p> + +<p>"What has surprised you so much?" asked the good woman, +laughing.</p> + +<p>"It is—" answered the puppet, "it is—it is—that you +are like—that you remind me—yes, yes, yes, the same voice—the +same eyes—the same hair—yes, yes, yes—you also have blue +hair—as she had—Oh, little Fairy! tell me that it is you, really +you! Do not make me cry any more! If you knew—I have +cried so much, I have suffered so much."</p> + +<p>And, throwing himself at her feet on the floor, Pinocchio +embraced the knees of the mysterious little woman and began +to cry bitterly.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><a name="illus-117" id="illus-117"></a></p> +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/illus-117.png" +alt=""School Gives Me Pain All Over the Body"" title=""School Gives Me Pain All Over the Body"" /> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h3><a name="CHAPTER_XXV" id="CHAPTER_XXV"></a>CHAPTER XXV</h3> + +<h2>PINOCCHIO PROMISES THE FAIRY TO BE GOOD</h2> + + +<p>At first the good little woman maintained that she was not +the little Fairy with blue hair, but, seeing that she was +found out and not wishing to continue the comedy any longer, +she ended by making herself known, and she said to Pinocchio:</p> + +<p>"You little rogue! how did you ever discover who I was?"</p> + +<p>"It was my great affection for you that told me."</p> + +<p>"Do you remember? You left me a child, and now that +you have found me again I am a woman—a woman almost old +enough to be your mamma."</p> + +<p>"I am delighted at that, for now, instead of calling you +little sister, I will call you mamma. I have wished for such a +long time to have a mamma like other boys! But how did you +manage to grow so fast?"</p> + +<p>"That is a secret."</p> + +<p>"Teach it to me, for I should also like to grow. Don't +you see? I always remain no bigger than a ninepin."</p> + +<p>"But you cannot grow," replied the Fairy.</p> + +<p>"Why?"</p> + +<p>"Because puppets never grow. They are born puppets, +live puppets, and die puppets."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I am sick of being a puppet!" cried Pinocchio, giving +himself a slap. "It is time that I became a man."</p> + +<p>"And you will become one, if you know how to deserve it."</p> + +<p>"Not really? And what can I do to deserve it?"</p> + +<p>"A very easy thing: by learning to be a good boy."</p> + +<p>"And you think I am not?"</p> + +<p>"You are quite the contrary. Good boys are obedient, +and you—"</p> + +<p>"And I never obey."</p> + +<p>"Good boys like to learn and to work, and you—"</p> + +<p>"And I instead lead an idle, vagabond life the year +through."</p> + +<p>"Good boys always speak the truth."</p> + +<p>"And I always tell lies."</p> + +<p>"Good boys go willingly to school."</p> + +<p>"And school gives me pain all over the body. But from +today I will change my life."</p> + +<p>"Do you promise me?"</p> + +<p>"I promise you. I will become a good little boy, and I +will be the consolation of my papa. Where is my poor papa +at this moment?"</p> + +<p>"I do not know."</p> + +<p>"Shall I ever have the happiness of seeing him again and +kissing him?"</p> + +<p>"I think so; indeed, I am sure of it."</p> + +<p>At this answer Pinocchio was so delighted that he took +the Fairy's hands and began to kiss them with such fervor +that he seemed beside himself. Then, raising his face and looking +at her lovingly, he asked:</p> + +<p>"Tell me, little mamma: then it was not true that you +were dead?"</p> + +<p>"It seems not," said the Fairy, smiling.</p> + +<p>"If you only knew the sorrow I felt and the tightening +of my throat when I read, 'Here lies—'"</p> + +<p>"I know it, and it is on that account that I have forgiven +you. I saw from the sincerity of your grief that you had a +good heart; and when boys have good hearts, even if they are +scamps and have got bad habits, there is always something +to hope for; that is, there is always hope that they will turn +to better ways. That is why I came to look for you here. I +will be your mamma."</p> + +<p>"Oh, how delightful!" shouted Pinocchio, jumping for joy.</p> + +<p>"You must obey me and do everything that I bid you."</p> + +<p>"Willingly, willingly, willingly!"</p> + +<p>"Tomorrow," rejoined the Fairy, "you will begin to go +to school."</p> + +<p>Pinocchio became at once a little less joyful.</p> + +<p>"Then you must choose an art, or a trade, according to +your own wishes."</p> + +<p>Pinocchio became very grave.</p> + +<p>"What are you muttering between your teeth?" asked the +Fairy in an angry voice.</p> + +<p>"I was saying," moaned the puppet in a low voice, "that +it seemed to me too late for me to go to school now."</p> + +<p>"No, sir. Keep it in mind that it is never too late to +learn and to instruct ourselves."</p> + +<p>"But I do not wish to follow either an art or a trade."</p> + +<p>"Why?"</p> + +<p>"Because it tires me to work."</p> + +<p>"My boy," said the Fairy, "those who talk in that way +end almost always either in prison or in the hospital. Let me +tell you that every man, whether he is born rich or poor, is +obliged to do something in this world—to occupy himself, to +work. Woe to those who lead slothful lives. Sloth is a dreadful +illness and must be cured at once, in childhood. If not, +when we are old it can never be cured."</p> + +<p>Pinocchio was touched by these words and, lifting his head +quickly, he said to the Fairy:</p> + +<p>"I will study, I will work, I will do all that you tell me, +for indeed I have become weary of being a puppet, and I wish +at any price to become a boy. You promised me that I should, +did you not?"</p> + +<p>"I did promise you, and it now depends upon yourself."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><a name="illus-121" id="illus-121"></a></p> +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/illus-121.png" +alt="Pinocchio Starts Off Happily for School" title="Pinocchio Starts Off Happily for School" /> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h3><a name="CHAPTER_XXVI" id="CHAPTER_XXVI"></a>CHAPTER XXVI</h3> + +<h2>THE TERRIBLE DOG-FISH</h2> + + +<p>The following day Pinocchio went to the government school. +Imagine the delight of all the little rogues, when they +saw a puppet walk into their school! They set up a roar of +laughter that never ended. They played him all sorts of tricks. +One boy carried off his cap, another pulled his jacket behind; +one tried to give him a pair of inky mustachios just under his +nose, and another attempted to tie strings to his feet and hands +to make him dance.</p> + +<p>For a short time Pinocchio pretended not to care and got +on as well as he could; but at last, losing all patience, he turned +to those who were teasing him most and making game of him, +and said to them, looking very angry:</p> + +<p>"Beware, boys! I have not come here to be your buffoon. +I respect others, and I intend to be respected."</p> + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary=""Oh, I Am Sick of Being a Puppet!""> +<tr><td align='center'><big><b>"Oh, I Am Sick of Being a Puppet!<br /> +Cried Pinocchio</b></big></td> +<td align='center'><a name="illus-123" id="illus-123"></a> +<img src="images/illus-123.png" +alt=""Oh, I Am Sick of Being a Puppet!"" title=""Oh, I Am Sick of Being a Puppet!"" /></td></tr> +</table></div> + + +<p>"Well said, boaster! You have spoken like a book!" +howled the young rascals, convulsed with mad laughter, and +one of them, more impertinent than the others, stretched out +his hand, intending to seize the puppet by the end of his nose.</p> + +<p>But he was not in time, for Pinocchio stuck his leg out +from under the table and gave him a great kick on his shins.</p> + +<p>"Oh, what hard feet!" roared the boy, rubbing the bruise +that the puppet had given him.</p> + +<p>"And what elbows! even harder than his feet!" said another, +who for his rude tricks had received a blow in the stomach.</p> + +<p>But, nevertheless, the kick and the blow acquired at once +for Pinocchio the sympathy and the esteem of all the boys in +the school. They all made friends with him and liked him +heartily.</p> + +<p>And even the master praised him, for he found him attentive, +studious and intelligent—always the first to come to school, +and the last to leave when school was over.</p> + +<p>But he had one fault: he made too many friends, and +amongst them were several young rascals well known for their +dislike to study and love of mischief.</p> + +<p>The master warned him every day, and even the good +Fairy never failed to tell him and to repeat constantly:</p> + +<p>"Take care, Pinocchio! Those bad school-fellows of yours +will end sooner or later by making you lose all love of study, +and perhaps they may even bring upon you some great misfortune."</p> + +<p>"There is no fear of that!" answered the puppet, shrugging +his shoulders and touching his forehead as much as to say: +"There is so much sense here!"</p> + +<p>Now it happened that one fine day, as he was on his way +to school, he met several of his usual companions who, coming +up to him, asked:</p> + +<p>"Have you heard the great news?"</p> + +<p>"No."</p> + +<p>"In the sea near here a Dog-Fish has appeared as big +as a mountain."</p> + +<p>"Not really? Can it be the same Dog-Fish that was there +when my papa was drowned?"</p> + +<p>"We are going to the shore to see him. Will you come +with us?"</p> + +<p>"No; I am going to school."</p> + +<p>"What matters school? We can go to school tomorrow. +Whether we have a lesson more or a lesson less, we shall always +remain the same donkeys."</p> + +<p>"But what will the master say?"</p> + +<p>"The master may say what he likes. He is paid on purpose +to grumble all day."</p> + +<p>"And my mamma?"</p> + +<p>"Mammas know nothing," answered those bad little boys.</p> + +<p>"Do you know what I will do?" said Pinocchio. "I have +reasons for wishing to see the Dog-Fish, but I will go and +see him when school is over."</p> + +<p>"Poor donkey!" exclaimed one of the number. "Do you +suppose that a fish of that size will wait your convenience? +As soon as he is tired of being here he will start for another +place, and then it will be too late."</p> + +<p>"How long does it take to go from here to the shore?" +asked the puppet.</p> + +<p>"We can be there and back in an hour."</p> + +<p>"Then away!" shouted Pinocchio, "and he who runs fastest +is the best!"</p> + +<p>Having thus given the signal to start, the boys, with their +books and copy-books under their arms, rushed off across the +fields, and Pinocchio was always the first—he seemed to have +wings to his feet.</p> + +<p>From time to time he turned to jeer at his companions, +who were some distance behind, and, seeing them panting for +breath, covered with dust, and their tongues hanging out of +their mouths, he laughed heartily. The unfortunate boy little +knew what terrors and horrible disasters he was going to +meet with!</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><a name="illus-127" id="illus-127"></a></p> +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/illus-127.png" +alt="The Boys Threw Their Books at Poor Pinocchio" title="The Boys Threw Their Books at Poor Pinocchio" /> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h3><a name="CHAPTER_XXVII" id="CHAPTER_XXVII"></a>CHAPTER XXVII</h3> + +<h2>PINOCCHIO IS ARRESTED BY THE GENDARMES</h2> + + +<p>When he arrived on the shore Pinocchio looked out to +sea, but he saw no Dog-Fish. The sea was as smooth +as a great crystal mirror.</p> + +<p>"Where is the Dog-Fish?" he asked, turning to his companions.</p> + +<p>"He must have gone to have his breakfast," said one of +them, laughing.</p> + +<p>"Or he has thrown himself on to his bed to have a little +nap," added another, laughing still louder.</p> + +<p>From their absurd answers and silly laughter Pinocchio +perceived that his companions had been making a fool of him, +in inducing him to believe a tale with no truth in it. Taking +it very badly, he said to them angrily:</p> + +<p>"And now, may I ask what fun you could find in deceiving +me with the story of the Dog-Fish?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, it was great fun!" answered the little rascals in chorus.</p> + +<p>"And in what did it consist?"</p> + +<p>"In making you miss school and persuading you to come +with us. Are you not ashamed of being always so punctual +and so diligent with your lessons? Are you not ashamed of +studying so hard?"</p> + +<p>"And if I study hard, what concern is it of yours?"</p> + +<p>"It concerns us excessively, because it makes us appear in +a bad light to the master."</p> + +<p>"Why?"</p> + +<p>"Because boys who study make those who, like us, have +no wish to learn, seem worse by comparison. And that is too +bad. We, too, have our pride!"</p> + +<p>"Then what must I do to please you?"</p> + +<p>"You must follow our example and hate school, lessons, +and the master—our three greatest enemies."</p> + +<p>"And if I wish to continue my studies?"</p> + +<p>"In that case we will have nothing more to do with you, +and at the first opportunity we will make you pay for it."</p> + +<p>"Really," said the puppet, shaking his head, "you make +me inclined to laugh."</p> + +<p>"Eh, Pinocchio" shouted the biggest of the boys, confronting +him. "None of your superior airs: don't come here +to crow over us, for if you are not afraid of us, we are not +afraid of you. Remember that you are one against seven of us."</p> + +<p>"Seven, like the seven deadly sins," said Pinocchio, with +a shout of laughter.</p> + +<p>"Listen to him! He has insulted us all! He called us +the seven deadly sins!"</p> + +<p>"Take that to begin with and keep it for your supper +tonight," said one of the boys.</p> + +<p>And, so saying, he gave him a blow on the head with his fist.</p> + +<p>But it was give and take; for the puppet, as was to be +expected, immediately returned the blow, and the fight in a +moment became general and desperate.</p> + +<p>Pinocchio, although he was one alone, defended himself +like a hero. He used his feet, which were of the hardest wood, +to such purpose that he kept his enemies at a respectful distance. +Wherever they touched they left a bruise by way of +reminder.</p> + +<p>The boys, becoming furious at not being able to measure +themselves hand to hand with the puppet, had recourse to other +weapons. Loosening their satchels, they commenced throwing +their school-books at him—grammars, dictionaries, spelling-books, +geography books, and other scholastic works. But +Pinocchio was quick and had sharp eyes, and always managed +to duck in time, so that the books passed over his head and +all fell into the sea.</p> + +<p>Imagine the astonishment of the fish! Thinking that the +books were something to eat they all arrived in shoals, but, +having tasted a page or two, or a frontispiece, they spat it +quickly out and made a wry face that seemed to say: "It +isn't food for us; we are accustomed to something much better!"</p> + +<p>The battle meantime had become fiercer than ever, when a +big crab, who had come out of the water and had climbed +slowly up on the shore, called out in a hoarse voice that sounded +like a trumpet with a bad cold:</p> + +<p>"Have done with that, you young ruffians, for you are +nothing else! These hand-to-hand fights between boys seldom +finish well. Some disaster is sure to happen!"</p> + + + +<div class='center'> +<p><a name="hi-illus-130" id="hi-illus-130"></a></p> +<img src="images/hi-illus-130.jpg" +alt="FOUR RABBITS AS BLACK AS INK ENTERED CARRYING A LITTLE BIER" +title="FOUR RABBITS AS BLACK AS INK ENTERED CARRYING A LITTLE BIER" /> +</div> + + + +<p>Poor crab! He might as well have preached to the wind. +Even that young rascal, Pinocchio, turning around, looked at +him mockingly and said rudely:</p> + +<p>"Hold your tongue, you tiresome crab! You had better +suck some liquorice lozenges to cure that cold in your throat."</p> + +<p>Just then the boys, who had no more books of their own +to throw, spied at a little distance the satchel that belonged to +Pinocchio, and took possession of it.</p> + +<p>Amongst the books there was one bound in strong cardboard +with the back and points of parchment. It was a Treatise +on Arithmetic.</p> + +<p>One of the boys seized this volume and, aiming at Pinocchio's +head, threw it at him with all the force he could muster. +But instead of hitting the puppet it struck one of his +companions on the temple, who, turning as white as a sheet, +said only:</p> + +<p>"Oh, mother! help, I am dying!" and fell his whole length +on the sand. Thinking he was dead, the terrified boys ran off +as hard as their legs could carry them and in a few minutes +they were out of sight.</p> + +<p>But Pinocchio remained. Although from grief and fright +he was more dead than alive, nevertheless he ran and soaked +his handkerchief in the sea and began to bathe the temples of +his poor school-fellow. Crying bitterly in his despair, he kept +calling him by name and saying to him:</p> + +<p>"Eugene! my poor Eugene! Open your eyes and look at +me! Why do you not answer? I did not do it; indeed it was +not I that hurt you so! believe me, it was not! Open your eyes, +Eugene. If you keep your eyes shut I shall die, too. Oh! +what shall I do? how shall I ever return home? How can I +ever have the courage to go back to my good mamma? What +will become of me? Where can I fly to? Oh! how much better +it would have been, a thousand times better, if I had only +gone to school! Why did I listen to my companions? they +have been my ruin. The master said to me, and my mamma +repeated it often: 'Beware of bad companions!' Oh, dear! +what will become of me, what will become of me, what will +become of me?"</p> + +<p>And Pinocchio began to cry and sob, and to strike his head +with his fists, and to call poor Eugene by his name. Suddenly +he heard the sound of approaching footsteps.</p> + +<p>He turned and saw two soldiers.</p> + +<p>"What are you doing there, lying on the ground?" they +asked Pinocchio.</p> + +<p>"I am helping my school-fellow."</p> + +<p>"Has he been hurt?"</p> + +<p>"So it seems."</p> + +<p>"Hurt indeed!" said one of them, stooping down and +examining Eugene closely.</p> + +<p>"This boy has been wounded in the temple. Who wounded +him?"</p> + +<p>"Not I," stammered the puppet breathlessly.</p> + +<p>"If it was not you, who then did it?"</p> + +<p>"Not I," repeated Pinocchio.</p> + +<p>"And with what was he wounded?"</p> + +<p>"With this book." And the puppet picked up from the +ground the Treatise on Arithmetic, bound in cardboard and +parchment, and showed it to the soldier.</p> + +<p>"And to whom does this belong?"</p> + +<p>"To me."</p> + +<p>"That is enough, nothing more is wanted. Get up and +come with us at once."</p> + +<p>"But I—"</p> + +<p>"Come along with us!"</p> + +<p>"But I am innocent."</p> + +<p>"Come along with us!"</p> + +<p>Before they left, the soldiers called some fishermen who +were passing at that moment near the shore in their boat, and +said to them:</p> + +<p>"We give this boy who has been wounded in the head in +your charge. Carry him to your house and nurse him. Tomorrow +we will come and see him."</p> + +<p>They then turned to Pinocchio and, having placed him +between them, they said to him in a commanding voice:</p> + +<p>"Forward! and walk quickly, or it will be the worse +for you."</p> + +<p>Without requiring it to be repeated, the puppet set out +along the road leading to the village. But the poor little devil +hardly knew where he was. He thought he must be dreaming, +and what a dreadful dream! He was beside himself. He saw +double; his legs shook; his tongue clung to the roof of his +mouth, and he could not utter a word. And yet, in the midst +of his stupefaction and apathy, his heart was pierced by a cruel +thorn—the thought that he would pass under the windows of +the good Fairy's house between the soldiers. He would rather +have died.</p> + +<p>They had already reached the village when a gust of wind +blew Pinocchio's cap off his head and carried it ten yards off.</p> + +<p>"Will you permit me," said the puppet to the soldiers, +"to go and get my cap?"</p> + +<p>"Go, then; but be quick about it."</p> + +<p>The puppet went and picked up his cap, but instead of +putting it on his head he took it between his teeth and began +to run as hard as he could towards the seashore.</p> + +<p>The soldiers, thinking it would be difficult to overtake him, +sent after him a large mastiff who had won the first prizes at +all the dog races. Pinocchio ran, but the dog ran faster. The +people came to their windows and crowded into the street in +their anxiety to see the end of the desperate race.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><a name="illus-135" id="illus-135"></a></p> +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/illus-135.png" +alt="The Fisherman Put His Hand into the Net" title="The Fisherman Put His Hand into the Net" /> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h3><a name="CHAPTER_XXVIII" id="CHAPTER_XXVIII"></a>CHAPTER XXVIII</h3> + +<h2>PINOCCHIO ESCAPES BEING FRIED LIKE A FISH</h2> + + +<p>There came a moment in this desperate race—a terrible +moment—when Pinocchio thought himself lost: for Alidoro, +the mastiff, had run so swiftly that he had nearly come up +with him.</p> + +<p>The puppet could hear the panting of the dreadful beast +close behind him; there was not a hand's breadth between them, +he could even feel the dog's hot breath.</p> + +<p>Fortunately the shore was close and the sea but a few +steps off.</p> + +<p>As soon as he reached the sands the puppet made a wonderful +leap—a frog could have done no better—and plunged +into the water.</p> + +<p>Alidoro, on the contrary, wished to stop himself, but, carried +away by the impetus of the race, he also went into the +sea. The unfortunate dog could not swim, but he made great +efforts to keep himself afloat with his paws; but the more he +struggled the farther he sank head downwards under the water.</p> + +<p>When he rose to the surface again his eyes were rolling +with terror, and he barked out:</p> + +<p>"I am drowning! I am drowning!"</p> + +<p>"Drown!" shouted Pinocchio from a distance, seeing himself +safe from all danger.</p> + +<p>"Help me, dear Pinocchio! Save me from death!"</p> + +<p>At that agonizing cry the puppet, who had in reality an +excellent heart, was moved with compassion, and, turning to +the dog, he said:</p> + +<p>"But if I save your life, will you promise to give me no +further annoyance, and not to run after me?"</p> + +<p>"I promise! I promise! Be quick, for pity's sake, for if +you delay another half-minute I shall be dead."</p> + +<p>Pinocchio hesitated; but, remembering that his father had +often told him that a good action is never lost, he swam to +Alidoro, and, taking hold of his tail with both hands, brought +him safe and sound on to the dry sand of the beach.</p> + +<p>The poor dog could not stand. He had drunk so much +salt water that he was like a balloon. The puppet, however, +not wishing to trust him too far, thought it more prudent to +jump again into the water. When he had swum some distance +from the shore he called out to the friend he had rescued:</p> + +<p>"Good-bye, Alidoro; a good journey to you, and take +my compliments to all at home."</p> + +<p>"Good-bye, Pinocchio," answered the dog; "a thousand +thanks for having saved my life. You have done me a great +service, and in this world what is given is returned. If an +occasion offers I shall not forget it."</p> + +<p>Pinocchio swam on, keeping always near the land. At last +he thought that he had reached a safe place. Giving a look +along the shore, he saw amongst the rocks a kind of cave from +which a cloud of smoke was ascending.</p> + +<p>"In that cave," he said to himself, "there must be a fire. +So much the better. I will go and dry and warm myself, and +then? and then we shall see."</p> + +<p>Having taken the resolution he approached the rocks, +but, as he was going to climb up, he felt something under the +water that rose higher and higher and carried him into the air. +He tried to escape, but it was too late, for, to his extreme surprise, +he found himself enclosed in a great net, together with +a swarm of fish of every size and shape, who were flapping +and struggling like so many despairing souls.</p> + +<p>At the same moment a fisherman came out of the cave; +he was so ugly, so horribly ugly, that he looked like a sea +monster. Instead of hair his head was covered with a thick +bush of green grass, his skin was green, his eyes were green, +his long beard that came down to the ground was also green. +He had the appearance of an immense lizard standing on its +hind-paws.</p> + +<p>When the fisherman had drawn his net out of the sea, +he exclaimed with great satisfaction:</p> + +<p>"Thank Heaven! Again today I shall have a splendid +feast of fish!"</p> + +<p>"What a mercy that I am not a fish!" said Pinocchio to +himself, regaining a little courage.</p> + +<p>The netful of fish was carried into the cave, which was +dark and smoky. In the middle of the cave a large frying-pan +full of oil was frying and sending out a smell of mushrooms +that was suffocating.</p> + +<p>"Now we will see what fish we have taken!" said the +green fisherman, and, putting into the net an enormous hand, +so out of all proportion that it looked like a baker's shovel, +he pulled out a handful of fish.</p> + +<p>"These fish are good!" he said, looking at them and smelling +them complacently. And after he had smelled them he +threw them into a pan without water.</p> + +<p>He repeated the same operation many times, and as he +drew out the fish his mouth watered and he said, chuckling +to himself:</p> + +<p>"What good whiting!"</p> + +<p>"What exquisite sardines!"</p> + +<p>"These soles are delicious!"</p> + +<p>"And these crabs excellent!"</p> + +<p>"What dear little anchovies!"</p> + +<p>The last to remain in the net was Pinocchio.</p> + +<p>No sooner had the fisherman taken him out than he opened +his big green eyes with astonishment and cried, half frightened:</p> + +<p>"What species of fish is this? Fish of this kind I never +remember to have eaten."</p> + +<p>And he looked at him again attentively and, having examined +him well all over, he ended by saying:</p> + +<p>"I know: he must be a craw-fish."</p> + +<p>Pinocchio, mortified at being mistaken for a craw-fish, said +in an angry voice:</p> + +<p>"A craw-fish indeed! Do you take me for a craw-fish? +what treatment! Let me tell you that I am a puppet."</p> + +<p>"A puppet?" replied the fisherman. "To tell the truth, a +puppet is quite a new fish for me. All the better! I shall +eat you with greater pleasure."</p> + +<p>"Eat me! but will you understand that I am not a fish? +Do you hear that I talk and reason as you do?"</p> + +<p>"That is quite true," said the fisherman; "and as I see +that you are a fish possessed of the talent of talking and +reasoning as I do, I will treat you with all the attention that +is your due."</p> + +<p>"And this attention?"</p> + +<p>"In token of my friendship and particular regard, I will +leave you the choice of how you would like to be cooked. +Would you like to be fried in the frying-pan, or would you +prefer to be stewed with tomato sauce?"</p> + +<p>"To tell the truth," answered Pinocchio, "if I am to choose, +I should prefer to be set at liberty and to return home."</p> + +<p>"You are joking! Do you imagine that I would lose the +opportunity of tasting such a rare fish? It is not every day, +I assure you, that a puppet fish is caught in these waters. +Leave it to me. I will fry you in the frying-pan with the +other fish, and you will be quite satisfied. It is always consolation +to be fried in company."</p> + +<p>At this speech the unhappy Pinocchio began to cry and +scream and to implore for mercy, and he said, sobbing: "How +much better it would have been if I had gone to school! I +would listen to my companions and now I am paying for it."</p> + +<p>And he wriggled like an eel and made indescribable efforts +to slip out of the clutches of the green fisherman. But it was +useless: the fisherman took a long strip of rush and, having +bound his hands and feet as if he had been a sausage, he +threw him into the pan with the other fish.</p> + +<p>He then fetched a wooden bowl full of flour and began +to flour them each in turn, and as soon as they were ready he +threw them into the frying-pan.</p> + +<p>The first to dance in the boiling oil were the poor whitings; +the crabs followed, then the sardines, then the soles, then the +anchovies, and at last it was Pinocchio's turn. Seeing himself +so near death, and such a horrible death, he was so frightened, +and trembled so violently, that he had neither voice nor breath +left for further entreaties.</p> + +<p>But the poor boy implored with his eyes! The green fisherman, +however, without caring in the least, plunged him five +or six times in the flour, until he was white from head to foot +and looked like a puppet made of plaster.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><a name="illus-141" id="illus-141"></a></p> +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/illus-141.png" +alt="The Dog Seizes Pinocchio and Escapes" title="The Dog Seizes Pinocchio and Escapes" /> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h3><a name="CHAPTER_XXIX" id="CHAPTER_XXIX"></a>CHAPTER XXIX</h3> + +<h2>HE RETURNS TO THE FAIRY'S HOUSE</h2> + + +<p>Just as the fisherman was on the point of throwing Pinocchio +into the frying-pan a large dog entered the cave, enticed +there by the strong and savory odor of fried fish.</p> + +<p>"Get out!" shouted the fisherman, threateningly, holding +the floured puppet in his hand.</p> + +<p>But the poor dog, who was as hungry as a wolf, whined +and wagged his tail as much as to say:</p> + +<p>"Give me a mouthful of fish and I will leave you in peace."</p> + +<p>"Get out, I tell you!" repeated the fisherman and he +stretched out his leg to give him a kick.</p> + +<p>But the dog, who, when he was really hungry, would not +stand trifling, turned upon him, growling and showing his terrible +tusks.</p> + +<p>At that moment a little feeble voice was heard in the cave, +saying entreatingly:</p> + +<p>"Save me, Alidoro! If you do not save me I shall be +fried!"</p> + +<p>The dog recognized Pinocchio's voice and, to his extreme +surprise, perceived that it proceeded from the floured bundle +that the fisherman held in his hand.</p> + +<p>So what do you think he did? He made a spring, seized +the bundle in his mouth, and, holding it gently between his +teeth, he rushed out of the cave and was gone like a flash of +lightning.</p> + +<p>The fisherman, furious at seeing a fish he was so anxious +to eat snatched from him, ran after the dog, but he had not gone +many steps when he was taken with a fit of coughing and had +to give it up.</p> + +<p>Alidoro, when he had reached the path that led to the village, +stopped and put his friend Pinocchio gently on the ground.</p> + +<p>"How much I have to thank you for!" said the puppet.</p> + +<p>"There is no necessity," replied the dog. "You saved me +and I have now returned it. You know that we must all help +each other in this world."</p> + +<p>"But how came you to come to the cave?"</p> + +<p>"I was lying on the shore more dead than alive when the +wind brought to me the smell of fried fish. The smell excited +my appetite and I followed it up. If I had arrived a second +later—"</p> + +<p>"Do not mention it!" groaned Pinocchio, who was still trembling +with fright. "Do not mention it! If you had arrived +a second later I should by this time have been fried, eaten and +digested. Brrr! It makes me shudder only to think of it!"</p> + +<p>Alidoro, laughing, extended his right paw to the puppet, +who shook it heartily in token of great friendship, and they +then separated.</p> + +<p>The dog took the road home, and Pinocchio, left alone, went +to a cottage not far off and said to a little old man who was +warming himself in the sun:</p> + +<p>"Tell me, good man, do you know anything of a poor boy +called Eugene who was wounded in the head?"</p> + +<p>"The boy was brought by some fishermen to this cottage, +and now—"</p> + +<p>"And now he is dead!" interrupted Pinocchio with great +sorrow.</p> + +<p>"No, he is alive and has returned to his home."</p> + +<p>"Not really? not really?" cried the puppet, dancing with +delight. "Then the wound was not serious?"</p> + +<p>"It might have been very serious and even fatal," answered +the little old man, "for they threw a thick book bound in cardboard +at his head."</p> + +<p>"And who threw it at him?"</p> + +<p>"One of his school-fellows, a certain Pinocchio."</p> + +<p>"And who is this Pinocchio?" asked the puppet, pretending +ignorance.</p> + +<p>"They say that he is a bad boy, a vagabond, a regular +good-for-nothing."</p> + +<p>"Calumnies! all calumnies!"</p> + +<p>"Do you know this Pinocchio?"</p> + +<p>"By sight!" answered the puppet.</p> + +<p>"And what is your opinion of him?" asked the little man.</p> + +<p>"He seems to me to be a very good boy, anxious to learn, +and obedient and affectionate to his father and family."</p> + +<p>Whilst the puppet was firing off all these lies, he touched +his nose and perceived that it had lengthened more than a hand. +Very much alarmed he began to cry out:</p> + +<p>"Don't believe, good man, what I have been telling you. +I know Pinocchio very well and I can assure you that he is +a very bad boy, disobedient and idle, who, instead of going to +school, runs off with his companions to amuse himself."</p> + +<p>He had hardly finished speaking when his nose became +shorter and returned to the same size that it was before.</p> + +<p>"And why are you all covered with white?" asked the old +man suddenly.</p> + +<p>"I will tell you. Without observing it I rubbed myself +against a wall which had been freshly whitewashed," answered +the puppet, ashamed to confess that he had been floured like +a fish prepared for the frying-pan.</p> + +<p>"And what have you done with your jacket, your trousers, +and your cap?"</p> + +<p>"I met with robbers, who took them from me. Tell me, +good old man, could you perhaps give me some clothes to return +home in?"</p> + +<p>"My boy, as to clothes, I have nothing but a little sack in +which I keep beans. If you wish for it, take it; there it is."</p> + +<p>Pinocchio did not wait to be told twice. He took the sack +at once and with a pair of scissors he cut a hole at the end +and at each side, and put it on like a shirt. And with this slight +clothing he set off for the village.</p> + +<p>But as he went he did not feel at all comfortable—so little +so, indeed, that for a step forward he took another backwards, +and he said, talking to himself:</p> + +<p>"How shall I ever present myself to my good little Fairy? +What will she say when she sees me? Will she forgive me this +second escapade? Oh, I am sure that she will not forgive me! +And it serves me right, for I am a rascal. I am always promising +to correct myself and I never keep my word!"</p> + +<p>When he reached the village it was night and very dark. +A storm had come on and as the rain was coming down in +torrents he went straight to the Fairy's house, resolved to knock +at the door.</p> + +<p>But when he was there his courage failed him and instead +of knocking he ran away some twenty paces. He returned to +the door a second time and laid hold of the knocker, and, trembling, +gave a little knock.</p> + +<p>He waited and waited. At last, after half an hour had +passed, a window on the top floor was opened—the house was +four stories high—and Pinocchio saw a big Snail with a lighted +candle on her head looking out. She called to him:</p> + +<p>"Who is there at this hour?"</p> + +<p>"Is the Fairy at home?" asked the puppet.</p> + +<p>"The Fairy is asleep and must not be awakened; but who +are you?"</p> + +<p>"It is I."</p> + +<p>"Who is I?"</p> + +<p>"Pinocchio."</p> + +<p>"And who is Pinocchio?"</p> + +<p>"The puppet who lives in the Fairy's house."</p> + +<p>"Ah, I understand!" said the Snail. "Wait for me there. +I will come down and open the door directly."</p> + +<p>"Be quick, for pity's sake, for I am dying of cold."</p> + +<p>"My boy, I am a snail, and snails are never in a hurry."</p> + +<p>An hour passed, and then two, and the door was not opened. +Pinocchio, who was wet through and through, and trembling +from cold and fear, at last took courage and knocked again, +and this time he knocked louder.</p> + +<p>At this second knock a window on the lower story opened +and the same Snail appeared at it.</p> + +<p>"Beautiful little Snail," cried Pinocchio from the street, +"I have been waiting for two hours! And two hours on such +a bad night seem longer than two years. Be quick, for pity's +sake."</p> + +<p>"My boy," answered the calm little animal—"my boy, I +am a snail, and snails are never in a hurry."</p> + +<p>And the window was shut again.</p> + +<p>Shortly afterwards midnight struck; then one o'clock, then +two o'clock, and the door remained still closed.</p> + +<p>Pinocchio at last, losing all patience, seized the knocker +in a rage, intending to give a blow that would resound through +the house. But the knocker, which was iron, turned suddenly +into an eel and, slipping out of his hands, disappeared in +the stream of water that ran down the middle of the street.</p> + +<p>"Ah! is that it?" shouted Pinocchio, blind with rage. +"Since the knocker has disappeared, I will kick instead with +all my might."</p> + +<p>And, drawing a little back, he gave a tremendous kick +against the house door. The blow was indeed so violent that +his foot went through the wood and stuck; and when he tried +to draw it back again it was trouble thrown away, for it +remained fixed like a nail that has been hammered down.</p> + +<p>Think of poor Pinocchio! He was obliged to spend the +remainder of the night with one foot on the ground and the +other in the air.</p> + +<p>The following morning at daybreak the door was at last +opened. The clever little Snail had taken only nine hours +to come down from the fourth story to the house-door. It +is evident that her exertions must have been great.</p> + +<p>"What are you doing with your foot stuck in the door?" +she asked the puppet.</p> + +<p>"It was an accident. Do try, beautiful little Snail, if +you cannot release me from this torture."</p> + +<p>"My boy, that is the work of a carpenter, and I have +never been a carpenter."</p> + +<p>"Beg the Fairy from me!"</p> + +<p>"The Fairy is asleep and must not be awakened."</p> + +<p>"But what do you suppose that I can do all day nailed +to this door?"</p> + +<p>"Amuse yourself by counting the ants that pass down +the street."</p> + +<p>"Bring me at least something to eat, for I am quite +exhausted."</p> + +<p>"At once," said the Snail.</p> + +<p>In fact, after three hours and a half she returned to +Pinocchio carrying a silver tray on her head. The tray contained +a loaf of bread, a roast chicken, and four ripe apricots.</p> + +<p>"Here is the breakfast that the Fairy has sent you," said +the Snail.</p> + +<p>The puppet felt very much comforted at the sight of +these good things. But when he began to eat them, what +was his disgust at making the discovery that the bread was +plaster, the chicken cardboard, and the four apricots painted +alabaster.</p> + +<p>He wanted to cry. In his desperation he tried to throw +away the tray and all that was on it; but instead, either from +grief or exhaustion, he fainted away.</p> + +<p>When he came to himself he found that he was lying on +a sofa, and the Fairy was beside him.</p> + +<p>"I will pardon you once more," the Fairy said, "but woe +to you if you behave badly a third time!"</p> + +<p>Pinocchio promised and swore that he would study, and +that for the future he would always conduct himself well.</p> + +<p>And he kept his word for the remainder of the year. +Indeed, at the examinations before the holidays, he had the +honor of being the first in the school, and his behavior in +general was so satisfactory and praiseworthy that the Fairy +was very much pleased, and said to him:</p> + +<p>"Tomorrow your wish shall be gratified."</p> + +<p>"And that is?"</p> + +<p>"Tomorrow you shall cease to be a wooden puppet and +you shall become a boy."</p> + +<p>No one who had not witnessed it could ever imagine +Pinocchio's joy at this long-sighed-for good fortune. All his +school-fellows were to be invited for the following day to a +grand breakfast at the Fairy's house, that they might celebrate +together the great event. The Fairy had prepared two +hundred cups of coffee and milk, and four hundred rolls cut +and buttered on each side. The day promised to be most +happy and delightful, but—</p> + +<p>Unfortunately in the lives of puppets there is always a +"but" that spoils everything.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><a name="illus-149" id="illus-149"></a></p> +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/illus-149.png" +alt=""Here Is the Coach!" Shouted Candlewick" title=""Here Is the Coach!" Shouted Candlewick" /> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h3><a name="CHAPTER_XXX" id="CHAPTER_XXX"></a>CHAPTER XXX</h3> + +<h2>THE "LAND OF BOOBIES"</h2> + + +<p>Pinocchio, as was natural, asked the Fairy's permission +to go round the town to give out the invitations, and the +Fairy said to him:</p> + +<p>"Go, if you like, and invite your companions for the +breakfast tomorrow, but remember to return home before dark. +Have you understood?"</p> + +<p>"I promise to be back in an hour," answered the puppet.</p> + +<p>"Take care, Pinocchio! Boys are always very ready to +promise, but generally they are little given to keep their word."</p> + +<p>"But I am not like other boys. When I say a thing, +I do it."</p> + +<p>"We shall see. If you are disobedient, so much the worse +for you."</p> + +<p>"Why?"</p> + +<p>"Because boys who do not listen to the advice of those +who know more than they do always meet with some misfortune or other."</p> + +<p>"I have experienced that," said Pinocchio, "but I shall +never make that mistake again."</p> + +<p>"We shall see if that is true."</p> + +<p>Without saying more the puppet took leave of his good +Fairy, who was like a mamma to him, and went out of the +house singing and dancing.</p> + +<p>In less than an hour all his friends were invited. Some +accepted at once heartily; others at first required pressing; but +when they heard that the rolls to be eaten with the coffee were +to be buttered on both sides they ended by saying:</p> + +<p>"We will come also, to do you a pleasure."</p> + +<p>Now I must tell you that amongst Pinocchio's friends +and school-fellows there was one that he greatly preferred and +was very fond of. This boy's name was Romeo, but he always +went by the nickname of Candlewick, because he was so thin, +straight and bright, like the new wick of a little nightlight.</p> + +<p>Candlewick was the laziest and the naughtiest boy in the +school, but Pinocchio was devoted to him. He had indeed +gone at once to his house to invite him to the breakfast, but +he had not found him. He returned a second time, but Candlewick +was not there. He went a third time, but it was in +vain. Where could he search for him? He looked here, there, +and everywhere, and at last he saw him hiding on the porch +of a peasant's cottage.</p> + +<p>"What are you doing there?" asked Pinocchio, coming +up to him.</p> + +<p>"I am waiting for midnight, to start away."</p> + +<p>"And where are you going?"</p> + +<p>"I am going to live in a country—the most delightful +country in the world: a real land of sweetmeats!"</p> + +<p>"And what is it called?"</p> + +<p>"It is called the 'Land of Boobies.' Why do you not +come, too?"</p> + +<p>"I? No, never!"</p> + +<p>"You are wrong, Pinocchio. If you do not come you +will repent it. Where could you find a better country for us +boys? There are no schools there; there are no masters; there +are no books. In that delightful land nobody ever studies. +On Saturday there is never school, and every week consists +of six Saturdays and one Sunday. Only think, the autumn +holidays begin on the first of January and finish on the last +day of December. That is the country for me! That is what +all civilized countries should be like!"</p> + +<p>"But how are the days spent in the 'Land of Boobies'?"</p> + +<p>They are spent in play and amusement from morning till +night. When night comes you go to bed, and recommence +the same life in the morning. What do you think of it?"</p> + +<p>"Hum!" said Pinocchio, and he shook his head slightly, +as much as to say, "That is a life that I also would willingly +lead."</p> + +<p>"Well, will you go with me? Yes or no? Resolve quickly."</p> + +<p>"No, no, no, and again no. I promised my good Fairy +to become a well conducted boy, and I will keep my word. +And as I see that the sun is setting I must leave you at once +and run away. Good-bye, and a pleasant journey to you."</p> + +<p>"Where are you rushing off to in such a hurry?"</p> + +<p>"Home. My good Fairy wishes me to be back before +dark."</p> + +<p>"Wait another two minutes."</p> + +<p>"It will make me too late."</p> + +<p>"Only two minutes."</p> + +<p>"And if the Fairy scolds me?"</p> + +<p>"Let her scold. When she has scolded well she will hold +her tongue," said that rascal Candlewick.</p> + +<p>"And what are you going to do? Are you going alone +or with companions?"</p> + +<p>"Alone? Indeed not, there will be more than a hundred +boys."</p> + +<p>"And do you make the journey on foot?"</p> + +<p>"A coach will pass by shortly which is to take me to that +happy country."</p> + +<p>"What would I not give for the coach to pass by now!"</p> + +<p>"Why?"</p> + +<p>"That I might see you all start together."</p> + +<p>"Stay here a little longer and you will see us."</p> + +<p>"No, no, I must go home."</p> + +<p>"Wait another two minutes."</p> + +<p>"I have already delayed too long. The Fairy will be +anxious about me."</p> + +<p>"Poor Fairy! Is she afraid that the bats will eat you?"</p> + +<p>"But now," continued Pinocchio, "are you really certain +that there are no schools in that country?"</p> + +<p>"Not even the shadow of one."</p> + +<p>"And no masters either?"</p> + +<p>"Not one."</p> + +<p>"And no one is ever made to study?"</p> + +<p>"Never, never, never!"</p> + +<p>"What a delightful country!" said Pinocchio, his mouth +watering. "What a delightful country! I have never been +there, but I can quite imagine it."</p> + +<p>"Why will you not come also?"</p> + +<p>"It is useless to tempt me. I promised my good Fairy +to become a sensible boy, and I will not break my word."</p> + +<p>"Good-bye, then, and give my compliments to all the +boys at school, if you meet them in the street."</p> + +<p>"Good-bye, Candlewick; a pleasant journey to you; amuse +yourself, and think sometimes of your friends."</p> + +<p>Thus saying, the puppet made two steps to go, but then +stopped, and, turning to his friend, he inquired:</p> + +<p>"But are you quite certain that in that country all the +weeks consist of six Saturdays and one Sunday?"</p> + +<p>"Most certainly."</p> + +<p>"But do you know for certain that the holidays begin on +the first of January and finish on the last day of December?"</p> + +<p>"Assuredly."</p> + +<p>"What a delightful country!" repeated Pinocchio, looking +enchanted. Then, with a resolute air, he added in a great +hurry:</p> + +<p>"This time really good-bye, and a pleasant journey to you."</p> + +<p>"Good-bye."</p> + +<p>"When do you start?"</p> + +<p>"Shortly."</p> + +<p>"What a pity! If really it wanted only an hour to the +time of your start, I should almost be tempted to wait."</p> + +<p>"And the Fairy?"</p> + +<p>"It is already late. If I return home an hour sooner or +later it will be all the same."</p> + +<p>"Poor Pinocchio! And if the Fairy scolds you?"</p> + +<p>"I must have patience! I will let her scold. When she +has scolded well she will hold her tongue."</p> + +<p>In the meantime night had come on and it was quite dark. +Suddenly they saw in the distance a small light moving and +they heard a noise of talking, and the sound of a trumpet, +but so small and feeble that it resembled the hum of a mosquito.</p> + +<p>"Here it is!" shouted Candlewick, jumping to his feet.</p> + +<p>"What is it?" asked Pinocchio in a whisper.</p> + +<p>"It is the coach coming to take me. Now will you come, +yes or no?"</p> + +<p>"But is it really true," asked the puppet, "that in that +country boys are never obliged to study?"</p> + +<p>"Never, never, never!"</p> + +<p>"What a delightful country! What a delightful country! +What a delightful country!"</p> + + +<div class='center'> +<p><a name="hi-illus-155" id="hi-illus-15"></a></p> +<img src="images/hi-illus-155.jpg" +alt="IT WOULD BE MORE COMFORTABLE ON THE TUNNY'S BACK" +title="IT WOULD BE MORE COMFORTABLE ON THE TUNNY'S BACK" /> +</div> + + + + + +<div class="figcenter"> +<p><a name="illus-156" id="illus-156"></a></p> +<img src="images/illus-156.png" +alt="They Arrive in the "Land of the Boobies"" title="They Arrive in the "Land of the Boobies"" /> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h3><a name="CHAPTER_XXXI" id="CHAPTER_XXXI"></a>CHAPTER XXXI</h3> + +<h2>PINOCCHIO ENJOYS FIVE MONTHS OF HAPPINESS</h2> + + +<p>At last the coach arrived, and it arrived without making +the slightest noise, for its wheels were bound round with +flax and rags.</p> + +<p>It was drawn by twelve pairs of donkeys, all the same +size but of different colors.</p> + +<p>Some were gray, some white, some brindled like pepper +and salt, and others had large stripes of yellow and blue.</p> + +<p>But the most extraordinary thing was this: the twelve +pairs, that is, the twenty-four donkeys, instead of being shod +like other beasts of burden, had on their feet men's boots +made of white kid.</p> + +<p>And the coachman?</p> + +<p>Picture to yourself a little man broader than he was long, +flabby and greasy like a lump of butter, with a small round +face like an orange, a little mouth that was always laughing, +and a soft, caressing voice like a cat when she is trying to +insinuate herself into the good graces of the mistress of the +house.</p> + +<p>All the boys vied with each other in taking places in his +coach, to be conducted to the "Land of Boobies."</p> + +<p>The coach was, in fact, quite full of boys between eight +and fourteen years old, heaped one upon another like herrings +in a barrel. They were uncomfortable, packed closely together +and could hardly breathe; but nobody said "Oh!"—nobody +grumbled. The consolation of knowing that in a few hours +they would reach a country where there were no books, no +schools, and no masters, made them so happy and resigned +that they felt neither fatigue nor inconvenience, neither hunger, +nor thirst, nor want of sleep.</p> + +<p>As soon as the coach had drawn up the little man turned +to Candlewick and with a thousand smirks and grimaces said +to him, smiling:</p> + +<p>"Tell me, my fine boy, would you also like to go to that +fortunate country?"</p> + +<p>"I certainly wish to go."</p> + +<p>"But I must warn you, my dear child, that there is not +a place left in the coach. You can see for yourself that it is +quite full."</p> + +<p>"No matter," replied Candlewick, "if there is no place +inside, I will manage to sit on the springs."</p> + +<p>And, giving a leap, he seated himself astride on the +springs.</p> + +<p>"And you, my love!" said the little man, turning in a +flattering manner to Pinocchio, "what do you intend to do? +Are you coming with us or are you going to remain behind?"</p> + +<p>"I remain behind," answered Pinocchio. "I am going +home. I intend to study, as all well conducted boys do."</p> + +<p>"Much good may it do you!"</p> + +<p>"Pinocchio!" called out Candlewick, "listen to me: come +with us and we shall have such fun."</p> + +<p>"No, no, no!"</p> + +<p>"Come with us and we shall have such fun," shouted in +chorus a hundred voices from the inside of the coach.</p> + +<p>"But if I come with you, what will my good Fairy say?" +said the puppet, who was beginning to yield.</p> + +<p>"Do not trouble your head with melancholy thoughts. +Consider only that we are going to a country where we shall +be at liberty to run riot from morning till night."</p> + +<p>Pinocchio did not answer, but he sighed; he sighed again; +he sighed for the third time, and he said finally:</p> + +<p>"Make a little room for me, for I am coming, too."</p> + +<p>"The places are all full," replied the little man; "but, to +show you how welcome you are, you shall have my seat on +the box."</p> + +<p>"And you?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, I will go on foot."</p> + +<p>"No, indeed, I could not allow that. I would rather +mount one of these donkeys," cried Pinocchio.</p> + +<p>Approaching the right-hand donkey of the first pair, he +attempted to mount him, but the animal turned on him and, +giving him a great blow in the stomach, rolled him over with +his legs in the air.</p> + +<p>You can imagine the impertinent and immoderate laughter +of all the boys who witnessed this scene.</p> + +<p>But the little man did not laugh. He approached the +rebellious donkey and, pretending to give him a kiss, bit off +half of his ear.</p> + +<p>Pinocchio in the meantime had gotten up from the ground +in a fury and, with a spring, he seated himself on the poor +animal's back. And he sprang so well that the boys stopped +laughing and began to shout: "Hurrah, Pinocchio!" and they +clapped their hands and applauded him as if they would never +finish.</p> + +<p>Now that Pinocchio was mounted, the coach started. +Whilst the donkeys were galloping and the coach was rattling +over the stones of the high road, the puppet thought that he +heard a low voice that was scarcely audible saying to him:</p> + +<p>"Poor fool! you would follow your own way, but you will +repent it!"</p> + +<p>Pinocchio, feeling almost frightened, looked from side to +side to try and discover where these words could come from, +but he saw nobody. The donkeys galloped, the coach rattled, +the boys inside slept, Candlewick snored like a dormouse, and +the little man seated on the box sang between his teeth:</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"During the night all sleep,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">But I sleep never."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>After they had gone another mile, Pinocchio heard the +same little low voice saying to him:</p> + +<p>"Bear it in mind, simpleton! Boys who refuse to study +and turn their backs upon books, schools and masters, to pass +their time in play and amusement, sooner or later come to a +bad end. I know it by experience, and I can tell you. A +day will come when you will weep as I am weeping now, but +then it will be too late!"</p> + +<p>On hearing these words whispered very softly, the puppet, +more frightened than ever, sprang down from the back of +his donkey and went and took hold of his mouth.</p> + +<p>Imagine his surprise when he found that the donkey was +crying—crying like a boy!</p> + +<p>"Eh! Sir Coachman," cried Pinocchio to the little man, +"here is an extraordinary thing! This donkey is crying."</p> + +<p>"Let him cry; he will laugh when he is a bridegroom."</p> + +<p>"But have you by chance taught him to talk?"</p> + +<p>"No; but he spent three years in a company of learned +dogs, and he learned to mutter a few words."</p> + +<p>"Poor beast!"</p> + +<p>"Come, come," said the little man, "don't let us waste +time in seeing a donkey cry. Mount him and let us go on: +the night is cold and the road is long."</p> + +<p>Pinocchio obeyed without another word. In the morning +about daybreak they arrived safely in the "Land of Boobies."</p> + +<p>It was a country unlike any other country in the world. +The population was composed entirely of boys. The oldest +were fourteen, and the youngest scarcely eight years old. In +the streets there was such merriment, noise and shouting that +it was enough to turn anybody's head. There were troops of +boys everywhere. Some were playing with nuts, some with +battledores, some with balls. Some rode velocipedes, others +wooden horses. A party were playing at hide and seek, a +few were chasing each other. Some were reciting, some singing, +some leaping. Some were amusing themselves with walking +on their hands with their feet in the air; others were +trundling hoops or strutting about dressed as generals, wearing +leaf helmets and commanding a squadron of cardboard soldiers. +Some were laughing, some shouting, some were calling +out; others clapped their hands, or whistled, or clucked like +a hen who has just laid an egg.</p> + +<p>In every square, canvas theaters had been erected and +they were crowded with boys from morning till evening. On +the walls of the houses there were inscriptions written in charcoal: +"Long live playthings, we will have no more schools; +down with arithmetic," and similar other fine sentiments, all +in bad spelling.</p> + +<p>Pinocchio, Candlewick and the other boys who had made +the journey with the little man, had scarcely set foot in the +town before they were in the thick of the tumult, and I need +not tell you that in a few minutes they had made acquaintance +with everybody. Where could happier or more contented boys +be found?</p> + +<p>In the midst of continual games and every variety of +amusement, the hours, the days and the weeks passed like +lightning.</p> + +<p>"Oh, what a delightful life!" said Pinocchio, whenever +by chance he met Candlewick.</p> + +<p>"See, then, if I was not right?" replied the other. "And +to think that you did not want to come! To think that you +had taken it into your head to return home to your Fairy, +and to lose your time in studying! If you are this moment +free from the bother of books and school, you must acknowledge +that you owe it to me, to my advice, and to my persuasions. +It is only friends who know how to render such +great services."</p> + +<p>"It is true, Candlewick! If I am now a really happy +boy, it is all your doing. But do you know what the master +used to say when he talked to me of you? He always said +to me: 'Do not associate with that rascal Candlewick, for he +is a bad companion, and will only lead you into mischief!'"</p> + +<p>"Poor master!" replied the other, shaking his head. "I +know only too well that he disliked me, and amused himself +by calumniating me; but I am generous and I forgive him!"</p> + +<p>"Noble soul!" said Pinocchio, embracing his friend affectionately +and kissing him between the eyes.</p> + +<p>This delightful life had gone on for five months. The +days had been entirely spent in play and amusement, without +a thought of books or school, when one morning Pinocchio +awoke to a most disagreeable surprise that put him into a +very bad humor.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><a name="illus-163" id="illus-163"></a></p> +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/illus-163.png" alt="The Boys Are Turned into Donkeys" title="The Boys Are Turned into Donkeys" /> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h3><a name="CHAPTER_XXXII" id="CHAPTER_XXXII"></a>CHAPTER XXXII</h3> + +<h2>PINOCCHIO TURNS INTO A DONKEY</h2> + + +<p>The surprise was that Pinocchio, when he awoke, scratched +his head, and in scratching his head he discovered, to his +great astonishment, that his ears had grown more than a hand.</p> + +<p>You know that the puppet from his birth had always +had very small ears—so small that they were not visible to +the naked eye. You can imagine then what he felt when he +found that during the night his ears had become so long that +they seemed like two brooms.</p> + +<p>He went at once in search of a glass that he might look +at himself, but, not being able to find one, he filled the basin +of his washing-stand with water, and he saw reflected what +he certainly would never have wished to see. He saw his +head embellished with a magnificent pair of donkey's ears!</p> + +<p>Only think of poor Pinocchio's sorrow, shame and despair!</p> + +<p>He began to cry and roar, and he beat his head against +the wall, but the more he cried the longer his ears grew; they +grew, and grew, and became hairy towards the points.</p> + +<p>At the sound of his loud outcries a beautiful little Marmot +that lived on the first floor came into the room. Seeing the +puppet in such grief she asked earnestly:</p> + +<p>"What has happened to you, my dear fellow-lodger?"</p> + +<p>"I am ill, my dear little Marmot, very ill, and my illness +frightens me. Do you understand counting a pulse?"</p> + +<p>"A little."</p> + +<p>"Then feel and see if by chance I have got fever."</p> + +<p>The little Marmot raised her right fore-paw, and, after +having felt Pinocchio's pulse, she said to him, sighing:</p> + +<p>"My friend, I am grieved to be obliged to give you bad +news!"</p> + +<p>"What is it?"</p> + +<p>"You have got a very bad fever!"</p> + +<p>"What fever is it?"</p> + +<p>"It is donkey fever."</p> + +<p>"That is a fever that I do not understand," said the puppet, +but he understood it only too well.</p> + +<p>"Then I will explain it to you," said the Marmot. "You +must know that in two or three hours you will be no longer +a puppet, or a boy."</p> + +<p>"Then what shall I be?"</p> + +<p>"In two or three hours you will become really and truly +a little donkey, like those that draw carts and carry cabbages +and salad to market."</p> + +<p>"Oh, unfortunate that I am! unfortunate that I am!" cried +Pinocchio, seizing his two ears with his hands and pulling them +and tearing them furiously as if they had been some one +else's ears.</p> + +<p>"My dear boy," said the Marmot, by way of consoling +him, "you can do nothing. It is destiny. It is written in the +decrees of wisdom that all boys who are lazy, and who take +a dislike to books, to schools, and to masters, and who pass +their time in amusement, games, and diversions, must end +sooner or later by becoming transformed into so many little +donkeys."</p> + +<p>"But is it really so?" asked the puppet, sobbing.</p> + +<p>"It is indeed only too true! And tears are now useless. +You should have thought of it sooner!"</p> + +<p>"But it was not my fault; believe me, little Marmot, the +fault was all Candlewick's!"</p> + +<p>"And who is this Candlewick?"</p> + +<p>"One of my school-fellows. I wanted to return home; I +wanted to be obedient. I wished to study, but Candlewick +said to me: 'Why should you bother yourself by studying? +Why should you go to school? Come with us instead to the +"Land of Boobies"; there we shall none of us have to learn; +there we shall amuse ourselves from morning to night, and +we shall always be merry'."</p> + +<p>"And why did you follow the advice of that false friend? +of that bad companion?"</p> + +<p>"Why? Because, my dear little Marmot, I am a puppet +with no sense, and with no heart. Ah! if I had had the least +heart I should never have left that good Fairy who loved me +like a mamma, and who had done so much for me! And I +would be no longer a puppet, for I would by this time have +become a little boy like so many others: But if I meet Candlewick, +woe to him! He shall hear what I think of him!"</p> + +<p>And he turned to go out. But when he reached the door +he remembered his donkey's ears, and, feeling ashamed to +show them in public, what do you think he did? He took a +big cotton cap and, putting it on his head, he pulled it well +down over the point of his nose.</p> + +<p>He then set out and went everywhere in search of Candlewick. +He looked for him in the streets, in the squares, in +the little theaters, in every possible place, but he could not +find him. He inquired for him of everybody he met, but no +one had seen him.</p> + +<p>He then went to seek him at his house and, having reached +the door, he knocked.</p> + +<p>"Who is there?" asked Candlewick from within.</p> + +<p>"It is I!" answered the puppet.</p> + +<p>"Wait a moment and I will let you in."</p> + +<p>After half an hour the door was opened and imagine +Pinocchio's feelings when, upon going into the room, he saw +his friend Candlewick with a big cotton cap on his head which +came down over his nose.</p> + +<p>At the sight of the cap Pinocchio felt almost consoled and +thought to himself:</p> + +<p>"Has my friend got the same illness that I have? Is he +also suffering from donkey fever?"</p> + +<p>And, pretending to have observed nothing, he asked him, +smiling:</p> + +<p>"How are you, my dear Candlewick?"</p> + +<p>"Very well; as well as a mouse in a Parmesan cheese."</p> + +<p>"Are you saying that seriously?"</p> + +<p>"Why should I tell you a lie?"</p> + +<p>"Excuse me; but why, then, do you keep that cotton cap +on your head which covers up your ears?"</p> + +<p>"The doctor ordered me to wear it because I have hurt +this knee. And you, dear puppet, why have you got on that +cotton cap pulled down over your nose?"</p> + +<p>"The doctor prescribed it because I have grazed my foot."</p> + +<p>"Oh, poor Pinocchio!"</p> + +<p>"Oh, poor Candlewick!"</p> + +<p>After these words a long silence followed, during which +the two friends did nothing but look mockingly at each other.</p> + +<p>At last the puppet said in a soft voice to his companion:</p> + +<p>"Satisfy my curiosity, my dear Candlewick: have you +ever suffered from disease of the ears?"</p> + +<p>"Never! And you?"</p> + +<p>"Never. Only since this morning one of my ears aches."</p> + +<p>"Mine is also paining me."</p> + +<p>"You also? And which of your ears hurts you?"</p> + +<p>"Both of them. And you?"</p> + +<p>"Both of them. Can we have got the same illness?"</p> + +<p>"I fear so."</p> + +<p>"Will you do me a kindness, Candlewick?"</p> + +<p>"Willingly! With all my heart."</p> + +<p>"Will you let me see your ears?"</p> + +<p>"Why not? But first, my dear Pinocchio, I should like +to see yours."</p> + +<p>"No: you must be first."</p> + +<p>"No, dear. First you and then I!"</p> + +<p>"Well," said the puppet, "let us come to an agreement +like good friends."</p> + +<p>"Let us hear it."</p> + +<p>"We will both take off our caps at the same moment. Do +you agree?"</p> + +<p>"I agree."</p> + +<p>"Then, attention!"</p> + +<p>And Pinocchio began to count in a loud voice:</p> + +<p>"One, two, three!"</p> + +<p>At the word "Three!" the two boys took off their caps +and threw them into the air.</p> + +<p>And then a scene followed that would seem incredible if +it were not true. That is, that when Pinocchio and Candlewick +discovered that they were both struck with the same +misfortune, instead of feeling full of mortification and grief, +they began to prick their ungainly ears and to make a thousand +antics, and they ended by going into bursts of laughter.</p> + +<p>And they laughed, and laughed, and laughed, until they +had to hold themselves together. But in the midst of their +merriment Candlewick suddenly stopped, staggered, and, +changing color, said to his friend:</p> + +<p>"Help, help, Pinocchio!"</p> + +<p>"What is the matter with you?"</p> + +<p>"Alas, I cannot any longer stand upright."</p> + +<p>"Neither can I," exclaimed Pinocchio, tottering and beginning +to cry.</p> + +<p>And whilst they were talking, they both doubled up and +began to run round the room on their hands and feet. And +as they ran, their hands became hoofs, their faces lengthened +into muzzles, and their backs became covered with a light gray +hairy coat sprinkled with black.</p> + +<p>But do you know what was the worst moment for these +two wretched boys? The worst and the most humiliating moment +was when their tails grew. Vanquished by shame and +sorrow, they wept and lamented their fate.</p> + +<p>Oh, if they had but been wiser! But instead of sighs and +lamentations they could only bray like asses; and they brayed +loudly and said in chorus: "Hee-haw!"</p> + +<p>Whilst this was going on some one knocked at the door +and a voice on the outside said:</p> + +<p>"Open the door! I am the little man, I am the coachman +who brought you to this country. Open at once, or it will +be the worse for you!"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><a name="illus-170" id="illus-170"></a></p> +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/illus-170.png" +alt="The Little Donkeys Are Sold" title="The Little Donkeys Are Sold" /> + +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h3><a name="CHAPTER_XXXIII" id="CHAPTER_XXXIII"></a>CHAPTER XXXIII</h3> + +<h2>PINOCCHIO IS TRAINED FOR THE CIRCUS</h2> + + +<p>Finding that the door remained shut the little man burst +it open with a violent kick and, coming into the room, he +said to Pinocchio and Candlewick with his usual little laugh:</p> + +<p>"Well done, boys! You brayed well, and I recognized +you by your voices. That is why I am here."</p> + +<p>At these words the two little donkeys were quite stupefied +and stood with their heads down, their ears lowered, and their +tails between their legs.</p> + +<p>At first the little man stroked and caressed them; then, +taking out a currycomb, he currycombed them well. And +when by this process he had polished them till they shone like +two mirrors, he put a halter round their necks and led them +to the market-place, in hopes of selling them and making a +good profit.</p> + +<p>And indeed buyers were not wanting. Candlewick was +bought by a peasant whose donkey had died the previous day. +Pinocchio was sold to the director of a company of buffoons +and tight-rope dancers, who bought him that he might teach +him to leap and to dance with the other animals belonging to +the company.</p> + +<p>And now, my little readers, you will have understood the +fine trade that little man pursued. The wicked little monster, +who had a face all milk and honey, made frequent journeys +round the world with his coach. As he went along he collected, +with promises and flattery, all the idle boys who had +taken a dislike to books and school. As soon as his coach was +full he conducted them to the "Land of Boobies," that they +might pass their time in games, in uproar, and in amusement. +When these poor, deluded boys, from continual play and no +study, had become so many little donkeys, he took possession +of them with great delight and satisfaction, and carried them +off to the fairs and markets to be sold. And in this way he +had in a few years made heaps of money and had become a +millionaire.</p> + +<p>What became of Candlewick I do not know, but I do +know that Pinocchio from the very first day had to endure a +very hard, laborious life.</p> + +<p>When he was put into his stall his master filled the +manger with straw; but Pinocchio, having tried a mouthful, +spat it out again.</p> + +<p>Then his master, grumbling, filled the manger with hay; +but neither did the hay please him.</p> + +<p>"Ah!" exclaimed his master in a passion. "Does not hay +please you either? Leave it to me, my fine donkey; if you +are so full of caprices I will find a way to cure you!"</p> + +<p>And by way of correcting him he struck his legs with +his whip.</p> + +<p>Pinocchio began to cry and to bray with pain, and he +said, braying:</p> + +<p>"Hee-haw! I cannot digest straw!"</p> + +<p>"Then eat hay!" said his master, who understood perfectly +the asinine dialect.</p> + +<p>"Hee-haw! hay gives me a pain in my stomach."</p> + +<p>"Do you mean to pretend that a little donkey like you +must be kept on breasts of chickens, and capons in jelly?" +asked his master, getting more and more angry, and whipping +him again.</p> + +<p>At this second whipping Pinocchio prudently held his +tongue and said nothing more.</p> + +<p>The stable was then shut and Pinocchio was left alone. +He had not eaten for many hours and he began to yawn from +hunger. And when he yawned he opened a mouth that seemed +as wide as an oven.</p> + +<p>At last, finding nothing else in the manger, he resigned +himself and chewed a little hay; and after he had chewed it +well, he shut his eyes and swallowed it.</p> + +<p>"This hay is not bad," he said to himself; "but how much +better it would have been if I had gone on with my studies! +Instead of hay I might now be eating a hunch of new bread +and a fine slice of sausage. But I must have patience!"</p> + +<p>The next morning when he woke he looked in the manger +for a little more hay; but he found none, for he had eaten +it all during the night.</p> + +<p>Then he took a mouthful of chopped straw, but whilst +he was chewing it he had to acknowledge that the taste of +chopped straw did not in the least resemble a savory dish +of macaroni or pie.</p> + +<p>"But I must have patience!" he repeated as he went on +chewing. "May my example serve at least as a warning to +all disobedient boys who do not want to study. Patience!"</p> + +<p>"Patience indeed!" shouted his master, coming at that +moment into the stable. "Do you think, my little donkey, that +I bought you only to give you food and drink? I bought you +to make you work, and that you might earn money for me. +Up, then, at once! you must come with me into the circus, and +there I will teach you to jump through hoops, to go through +frames of paper head foremost, to dance waltzes and polkas, +and to stand upright on your hind legs."</p> + +<p>Poor Pinocchio, either by love or by force, had to learn +all these fine things. But it took him three months before +he had learned them, and he got many a whipping that nearly +took off his skin.</p> + +<p>At last a day came when his master was able to announce +that he would give a really extraordinary representation. The +many colored placards stuck on the street corners were thus +worded:<br /><br /></p> + +<p class="center"> <span class="smcap">Great Full Dress Representation</span></p> + +<hr class="minor" /> + +<p class="center"> <big><b>TONIGHT</b></big><br /> + <span class="smcap">Will Take Place the Usual Feats and Surprising</span><br /> + <span class="smcap">Performances Executed by All the Artists</span><br /> + <span class="smcap">and by all the horses of the company</span><br /> + <span class="smcap">and moreover</span><br /> + <span class="smcap">The Famous</span><br /> + <big><b>LITTLE DONKEY PINOCCHIO</b></big><br /> + <span class="smcap">called</span><br /> + <big><b>THE STAR OF THE DANCE</b></big><br /> + <span class="smcap">Will Make His First Appearance</span></p> + +<hr class="minor" /> + +<p class="center"> <span class="smcap">the theater will be brilliantly illuminated</span> +<br /><br /></p> + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="All His Friends Were Invited"> +<tr><td align='center'><big><b>In Less Than an Hour All His Friends<br /> +Were Invited</b></big></td> +<td align='center'><a name="illus-175" id="illus-175"></a> +<img src="images/illus-175.png" +alt="All His Friends Were Invited" title="All His Friends Were Invited" /></td></tr> +</table></div> + + + + + +<p>On that evening, as you may imagine, an hour before +the play was to begin the theater was crammed.</p> + +<p>There was not a place to be had either in the pit or the +stalls, or in the boxes even, by paying its weight in gold.</p> + +<p>The benches round the circus were crowded with children +and with boys of all ages, who were in a fever of impatience +to see the famous little donkey Pinocchio dance.</p> + +<p>When the first part of the performance was over, the +director of the company, dressed in a black coat, white breeches, +and big leather boots that came above his knees, presented +himself to the public, and, after making a profound bow, he +began with much solemnity the following ridiculous speech:</p> + +<p>"Respectable public, ladies and gentlemen! The humble +undersigned being a passer-by in this illustrious city, I have +wished to procure for myself the honor, not to say the pleasure, +of presenting to this intelligent and distinguished audience a +celebrated little donkey, who has already had the honor of +dancing in the presence of His Majesty the Emperor of all +the principal courts of Europe.</p> + +<p>"And, thanking you, I beg of you to help us with your +inspiring presence and to be indulgent to us."</p> + +<p>This speech was received with much laughter and applause, +but the applause redoubled and became tumultuous when the +little donkey Pinocchio made his appearance in the middle of +the circus. He was decked out for the occasion. He had a +new bridle of polished leather with brass buckles and studs, +and two white camelias in his ears. His mane was divided and +curled, and each curl was tied with bows of colored ribbon. +He had a girth of gold and silver round his body, and his tail +was plaited with amaranth and blue velvet ribbons. He was, +in fact, a little donkey to fall in love with!</p> + +<p>The director, in presenting him to the public, added these +few words:</p> + +<p>"My respectable auditors! I am not here to tell you +falsehoods of the great difficulties that I have overcome in +understanding and subjugating this mammifer, whilst he was +grazing at liberty amongst the mountains in the plains of the +torrid zone. I beg you will observe the wild rolling of his +eyes. Every means having been tried in vain to tame him, +and to accustom him to the life of domestic quadrupeds, I +was often forced to have recourse to the convincing argument +of the whip. But all my goodness to him, instead of gaining +his affections, has, on the contrary, increased his viciousness. +However, following the system of Gall, I discovered in his +cranium a bony cartilage that the Faculty of Medicine of Paris +has itself recognized as the regenerating bulb of the hair, and +of dance. For this reason I have not only taught him to dance, +but also to jump through hoops and through frames covered +with paper. Admire him, and then pass your opinion on him! +But before taking my leave of you, permit me, ladies and +gentlemen, to invite you to the daily performance that will +take place tomorrow evening; but in case the weather should +threaten rain, the performance will be postponed till tomorrow +morning at 11 ante-meridian of post-meridian."</p> + +<p>Here the director made another profound bow, and, then +turning to Pinocchio, he said:</p> + +<p>"Courage, Pinocchio! before you begin your feats make +your bow to this distinguished audience—ladies, gentlemen, and +children."</p> + +<p>Pinocchio obeyed, and bent both his knees till they touched +the ground, and remained kneeling until the director, cracking +his whip, shouted to him:</p> + +<p>"At a foot's pace!"</p> + +<p>Then the little donkey raised himself on his four legs and +began to walk round the theater, keeping at a foot's pace.</p> + +<p>After a little the director cried:</p> + +<p>"Trot!" and Pinocchio, obeying the order, changed to +a trot.</p> + +<p>"Gallop!" and Pinocchio broke into a gallop.</p> + +<p>"Full gallop!" and Pinocchio went full gallop. But whilst +he was going full speed like a race horse the director, raising +his arm in the air, fired off a pistol.</p> + +<p>At the shot the little donkey, pretending to be wounded, +fell his whole length in the circus, as if he were really dying.</p> + +<p>As he got up from the ground amidst an outburst of +applause, shouts and clapping of hands, he naturally raised his +head and looked up, and he saw in one of the boxes a beautiful +lady who wore round her neck a thick gold chain from +which hung a medallion. On the medallion was painted the +portrait of a puppet.</p> + +<p>"That is my portrait! That lady is the Fairy!" said Pinocchio +to himself, recognizing her immediately; and, overcome +with delight, he tried to cry:</p> + +<p>"Oh, my little Fairy! Oh, my little Fairy!"</p> + +<p>But instead of these words a bray came from his throat, +so sonorous and so prolonged that all the spectators laughed, +and more especially all the children who were in the theater.</p> + +<p>Then the director, to give him a lesson, and to make him +understand that it is not good manners to bray before the +public, gave him a blow on his nose with the handle of his whip.</p> + +<p>The poor little donkey put his tongue out an inch and +licked his nose for at least five minutes, thinking perhaps that +it would ease the pain he felt.</p> + +<p>But what was his despair when, looking up a second time, +he saw that the box was empty and that the Fairy had disappeared!</p> + +<p>He thought he was going to die; his eyes filled with tears +and he began to weep. Nobody, however, noticed it, and +least of all the director who, cracking his whip, shouted:</p> + +<p>"Courage, Pinocchio! Now let the audience see how +gracefully you can jump through the hoops."</p> + +<p>Pinocchio tried two or three times, but each time that +he came in front of the hoop, instead of going through it, he +found it easier to go under it. At last he made a leap and +went through it, but his right leg unfortunately caught in the +hoop, and that caused him to fall to the ground doubled up +in a heap on the other side.</p> + +<p>When he got up he was lame and it was only with great +difficulty that he managed to return to the stable.</p> + +<p>"Bring out Pinocchio! We want the little donkey! Bring +out the little donkey!" shouted all the boys in the theater, +touched and sorry for the sad accident.</p> + +<p>But the little donkey was seen no more that evening.</p> + +<p>The following morning the veterinary, that is, the doctor +of animals, paid him a visit, and declared that he would +remain lame for life.</p> + +<p>The director then said to the stable-boy:</p> + +<p>"What do you suppose I can do with a lame donkey? +He would eat food without earning it. Take him to the +market and sell him."</p> + +<p>When they reached the market a purchaser was found +at once. He asked the stable-boy:</p> + +<p>"How much do you want for that lame donkey?"</p> + +<p>"Twenty dollars."</p> + +<p>"I will give you two dollars. Don't suppose that I am +buying him to make use of; I am buying him solely for his +skin. I see that his skin is very hard and I intend to make +a drum with it for the band of my village."</p> + +<p>Imagine poor Pinocchio's feelings when he heard that he +was destined to become a drum!</p> + +<p>As soon as the purchaser had paid his two dollars he +conducted the little donkey to the seashore. He then put a +stone round his neck and, tying a rope, the end of which he +held in his hand, round his leg, he gave him a sudden push +and threw him into the water.</p> + +<p>Pinocchio, weighted down by the stone, went at once to +the bottom, and his owner, keeping tight hold of the cord, +sat down quietly on a piece of rock to wait until the little +donkey was drowned, intending then to skin him.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><a name="illus-181" id="illus-181"></a></p> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 640px;"> +<img src="images/illus-181.png" width="640" height="380" +alt="The Puppet Was Wriggling Like an Eel" title="The Puppet Was Wriggling Like an Eel" /> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h3><a name="CHAPTER_XXXIV" id="CHAPTER_XXXIV"></a>CHAPTER XXXIV</h3> + +<h2>PINOCCHIO IS SWALLOWED BY THE DOG-FISH</h2> + + +<p>After Pinocchio had been fifty minutes under the water, +his purchaser said aloud to himself:</p> + +<p>"My poor little lame donkey must by this time be quite +drowned. I will therefore pull him out of the water, and I +will make a fine drum of his skin."</p> + +<p>And he began to haul in the rope that he had tied to +the donkey's leg, and he hauled, and hauled, and hauled, until +at last—what do you think appeared above the water? Instead +of a little dead donkey he saw a live puppet, who was wriggling +like an eel.</p> + +<p>Seeing this wooden puppet, the poor man thought he was +dreaming, and, struck dumb with astonishment, he remained +with his mouth open and his eyes starting out of his head.</p> + +<p>Having somewhat recovered from his first stupefaction, +he asked in a quavering voice:</p> + +<p>"And the little donkey that I threw into the sea? What +has become of him?"</p> + +<p>"I am the little donkey!" said Pinocchio, laughing.</p> + +<p>"You?"</p> + +<p>"I."</p> + +<p>"Ah, you young scamp!! Do you dare to make game +of me?"</p> + +<p>"To make game of you? Quite the contrary, my dear +master? I am speaking seriously."</p> + +<p>"But how can you, who but a short time ago were a little +donkey, have become a wooden puppet, only from having been +left in the water?"</p> + +<p>"It must have been the effect of sea water. The sea makes +extraordinary changes."</p> + +<p>"Beware, puppet, beware! Don't imagine that you can +amuse yourself at my expense. Woe to you if I lose patience!"</p> + +<p>"Well, master, do you wish to know the true story? +If you will set my leg free I will tell it you."</p> + +<p>The good man, who was curious to hear the true story, +immediately untied the knot that kept him bound; and Pinocchio, +finding himself free as a bird in the air, commenced as +follows:</p> + +<p>"You must know that I was once a puppet as I am now, +and I was on the point of becoming a boy like the many who +are in the world. But instead, induced by my dislike for study +and the advice of bad companions, I ran away from home. +One fine day when I awoke I found myself changed into a +donkey with long ears, and a long tail. What a disgrace it +was to me!—a disgrace, dear master, that even your worst +enemy would not inflict upon you! Taken to the market to +be sold I was bought by the director of an equestrian company, +who took it into his head to make a famous dancer of me, and +a famous leaper through hoops. But one night during a performance +I had a bad fall in the circus and lamed both my +legs. Then the director, not knowing what to do with a lame +donkey, sent me to be sold, and you were the purchaser!"</p> + +<p>"Only too true. And I paid two dollars for you. And +now, who will give me back my good money?"</p> + +<p>"And why did you buy me? You bought me to make a +drum of my skin!"</p> + +<p>"Only too true! And now, where shall I find another +skin?"</p> + +<p>"Don't despair, master. There are such a number of little +donkeys in the world!"</p> + +<p>"Tell me, you impertinent rascal, does your story end +here?"</p> + +<p>"No," answered the puppet; "I have another two words +to say and then I shall have finished. After you had bought +me you brought me to this place to kill me; but then, yielding +to a feeling of compassion, you preferred to tie a stone round +my neck and to throw me into the sea. This humane feeling +does you great honor and I shall always be grateful to you +for it. But, nevertheless, dear master, this time you made +your calculations without considering the Fairy!"</p> + +<p>"And who is the Fairy?"</p> + +<p>"She is my mamma and she resembles all other good +mammas who care for their children, and who never lose sight +of them, but help them lovingly, even when, on account of +their foolishness and evil conduct, they deserve to be abandoned +and left to themselves. Well, then, the good Fairy, as +soon as she saw that I was in danger of drowning, sent immediately +an immense shoal of fish, who, believing me really to +be a little dead donkey, began to eat me. And what mouthfuls +they took; I should never have thought that fish were +greedier than boys! Some ate my ears, some my muzzle, others +my neck and mane, some the skin of my legs, some my coat. +Amongst them there was a little fish so polite that he even +condescended to eat my tail."</p> + +<p>"From this time forth," said his purchaser, horrified, "I +swear that I will never touch fish. It would be too dreadful +to open a mullet, or a fried whiting, and to find inside a +donkey's tail!"</p> + +<p>"I agree with you," said the puppet, laughing. "However, +I must tell you that when the fish had finished eating the +donkey's hide that covered me from head to foot, they naturally +reached the bone, or rather the wood, for, as you see, I am +made of the hardest wood. But after giving a few bites they +soon discovered that I was not a morsel for their teeth, and, +disgusted with such indigestible food, they went off, some in +one direction and some in another, without so much as saying +'Thank you' to me. And now, at last, I have told you how +it was that when you pulled up the rope you found a live +puppet instead of a dead donkey."</p> + +<p>"I laugh at your story," cried the man in a rage. "I +know only that I spent two dollars to buy you, and I will +have my money back. Shall I tell you what I will do? I +will take you back to the market and I will sell you by weight +as seasoned wood for lighting fires."</p> + +<p>"Sell me if you like; I am content," said Pinocchio.</p> + +<p>But as he said it he made a spring and plunged into the +water. Swimming gaily away from the shore, he called to his +poor owner:</p> + +<p>"Good-bye, master; if you should be in want of a skin to +make a drum, remember me."</p> + +<p>And he laughed and went on swimming, and after a while +he turned again and shouted louder:</p> + +<p>"Good-bye, master; if you should be in want of a little +well seasoned wood for lighting the fire, remember me."</p> + +<p>In the twinkling of an eye he had swum so far off that he +was scarcely visible. All that could be seen of him was a little +black speck on the surface of the sea that from time to time +lifted its legs out of the water and leaped and capered like +a dolphin enjoying himself.</p> + +<p>Whilst Pinocchio was swimming, he knew not whither, he +saw in the midst of the sea a rock that seemed to be made +of white marble, and on the summit there stood a beautiful +little goat who bleated lovingly and made signs to him to +approach.</p> + +<p>But the most singular thing was this. The little goat's +hair, instead of being white or black, or a mixture of two colors +as is usual with other goats, was blue, and a very vivid blue, +greatly resembling the hair of the beautiful Child.</p> + +<p>I leave you to imagine how rapidly poor Pinocchio's heart +began to beat. He swam with redoubled strength and energy +towards the white rock; and he was already half-way there +when he saw, rising up out of the water and coming to meet +him, the horrible head of a sea-monster. His wide-open, cavernous +mouth and his three rows of enormous teeth would have +been terrifying to look at even in a picture.</p> + +<p>And do you know what this sea-monster was?</p> + +<p>This sea-monster was neither more nor less than that +gigantic Dog-Fish, who has been mentioned many times in this +story, and who, for his slaughter and for his insatiable voracity, +had been named the "Attila of Fish and Fishermen."</p> + +<p>Only to think of poor Pinocchio's terror at the sight of +the monster. He tried to avoid it, to change his direction; he +tried to escape, but that immense, wide-open mouth came +towards him with the velocity of an arrow.</p> + +<p>"Be quick, Pinocchio, for pity's sake!" cried the beautiful +little goat, bleating.</p> + +<p>And Pinocchio swam desperately with his arms, his chest, +his legs, and his feet.</p> + +<p>"Quick, Pinocchio, the monster is close upon you!"</p> + +<p>And Pinocchio swam quicker than ever, and flew on with +the rapidity of a ball from a gun. He had nearly reached the +rock, and the little goat, leaning over towards the sea, had +stretched out her fore-legs to help him out of the water!</p> + +<p>But it was too late! The monster had overtaken him and, +drawing in his breath, he sucked in the poor puppet as he +would have sucked a hen's egg; and he swallowed him with +such violence and avidity that Pinocchio, in falling into the +Dog-Fish's stomach, received such a blow that he remained +unconscious for a quarter of an hour afterwards.</p> + +<p>When he came to himself again after the shock he could +not in the least imagine in what world he was. All around +him it was quite dark, and the darkness was so black and so +profound that it seemed to him that he had fallen head downwards +into an inkstand full of ink. He listened, but he +could hear no noise; only from time to time great gusts of +wind blew in his face. At first he could not understand where +the wind came from, but at last he discovered that it came +out of the monster's lungs. For you must know that the +Dog-Fish suffered very much from asthma, and when he +breathed it was exactly as if a north wind was blowing.</p> + +<p>Pinocchio at first tried to keep up his courage, but when +he had one proof after another that he was really shut up in +the body of this sea-monster he began to cry and scream, and +to sob out:</p> + +<p>"Help! help! Oh, how unfortunate I am! Will nobody +come to save me?"</p> + +<p>"Who do you think could save you, unhappy wretch?" +said a voice in the dark that sounded like a guitar out of tune.</p> + +<p>"Who is speaking?" asked Pinocchio, frozen with terror.</p> + +<p>"It is I! I am a poor Tunny who was swallowed by the +Dog-Fish at the same time that you were. And what fish +are you?"</p> + +<p>"I have nothing in common with fish. I am a puppet."</p> + +<p>"Then, if you are not a fish, why did you let yourself +be swallowed by the monster?"</p> + +<p>"I didn't let myself be swallowed; it was the monster +swallowed me! And now, what are we to do here in the dark?"</p> + +<p>"Resign ourselves and wait until the Dog-Fish has digested +us both."</p> + +<p>"But I do not want to be digested!" howled Pinocchio, +beginning to cry again.</p> + +<p>"Neither do I want to be digested," added the Tunny; +"but I am enough of a philosopher to console myself by +thinking that when one is born a Tunny it is more dignified +to die in the water than in oil."</p> + +<p>"That is all nonsense!" cried Pinocchio.</p> + +<p>"It is my opinion," replied the Tunny, "and opinions, so +say the political Tunnies, ought to be respected."</p> + +<p>"To sum it all up, I want to get away from here. I +want to escape."</p> + +<p>"Escape, if you are able!"</p> + +<p>"Is this Dog-Fish who has swallowed us very big?" asked +the puppet.</p> + +<p>"Big! Why, only imagine, his body is two miles long +without counting his tail."</p> + +<p>Whilst they were holding this conversation in the dark, +Pinocchio thought that he saw a light a long way off.</p> + +<p>"What is that little light I see in the distance?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"It is most likely some companion in misfortune who is +waiting, like us, to be digested."</p> + +<p>"I will go and find him. Do you not think that it may +by chance be some old fish who perhaps could show us how +to escape?"</p> + +<p>"I hope it may be so, with all my heart, dear puppet."</p> + +<p>"Good-bye, Tunny."</p> + +<p>"Good-bye, puppet, and good fortune attend you."</p> + +<p>"Where shall we meet again?"</p> + +<p>"Who can say? It is better not even to think of it!"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><a name="illus-189" id="illus-189"></a></p> +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/illus-189.png" +alt="Swallowed by the Dog-Fish" title="Swallowed by the Dog-Fish" /> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h3><a name="CHAPTER_XXXV" id="CHAPTER_XXXV"></a>CHAPTER XXXV</h3> + +<h2>A HAPPY SURPRISE FOR PINOCCHIO</h2> + + +<p>Pinocchio, having taken leave of his friend the Tunny, +began to grope his way in the dark through the body of +the Dog-Fish, taking a step at a time in the direction of the +light that he saw shining dimly at a great distance.</p> + +<p>The farther he advanced the brighter became the light; +and he walked and walked until at last he reached it; and +when he reached it—what did he find? I will give you a +thousand guesses. He found a little table spread out and on +it a lighted candle stuck into a green glass bottle, and, seated +at the table, was a little old man. He was eating some live +fish, and they were so very much alive that whilst he was +eating them they sometimes even jumped out of his mouth.</p> + +<p>At this sight Pinocchio was filled with such great and +unexpected joy that he became almost delirious. He wanted +to laugh, he wanted to cry, he wanted to say a thousand things, +and instead he could only stammer out a few confused and +broken words. At last he succeeded in uttering a cry of joy, +and, opening his arms, he threw them around the little old +man's neck, and began to shout:</p> + +<p>"Oh, my dear papa! I have found you at last! I will +never leave you more, never more, never more!"</p> + +<p>"Then my eyes tell me true?" said the little old man, +rubbing his eyes; "then you are really my dear Pinocchio?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, yes, I am Pinocchio, really Pinocchio! And you +have quite forgiven me, have you not? Oh, my dear papa, +how good you are! And to think that I, on the contrary—Oh! +but if you only knew what misfortunes have been poured +on my head, and all that has befallen me! Only imagine, the +day that you, poor, dear papa, sold your coat to buy me a +spelling-book, that I might go to school, I escaped to see the +puppet show, and the showman wanted to put me on the fire, +that I might roast his mutton, and he was the same that afterwards +gave me five gold pieces to take them to you, but I +met the Fox and the Cat, who took me to the inn of The +Red Craw-Fish, where they ate like wolves, and I left by +myself in the middle of the night, and I encountered assassins +who ran after me, and I ran away, and they followed, +and I ran, and they always followed me, and I ran, until they +hung me to a branch of a Big Oak, and the beautiful Child +with blue hair sent a little carriage to fetch me, and the doctors +when they saw me said immediately, 'If he is not dead, it is +a proof that he is still alive'—and then by chance I told a lie, +and my nose began to grow until I could no longer get through +the door of the room, for which reason I went with the Fox +and the Cat to bury the four gold pieces, for one I had spent +at the inn, and the Parrot began to laugh, and instead of two +thousand gold pieces I found none left, for which reason the +judge when he heard that I had been robbed had me immediately +put in prison to content the robbers, and then when I +was coming away I saw a beautiful bunch of grapes in a field, +and I was caught in a trap, and the peasant, who was quite +right, put a dog-collar round my neck that I might guard the +poultry-yard, and acknowledging my innocence let me go, and +the Serpent with the smoking tail began to laugh and broke a +blood-vessel in his chest, and so I returned to the house of +the beautiful Child, who was dead, and the Pigeon, seeing that +I was crying, said to me, 'I have seen your father who was +building a little boat to go in search of you,' and I said to +him, 'Oh! if I also had wings,' and he said to me, 'Do you +want to go to your father?' and I said, 'Without doubt! but +who will take me to him?' and he said to me, 'I will take you,' +and I said to him, 'How?' and he said to me, 'Get on my +back,' and so we flew all night, and then in the morning all +the fishermen who were looking out to sea said to me, 'There +is a poor man in a boat who is on the point of being drowned,' +and I recognized you at once, even at that distance, for my +heart told me, and I made signs to you to return to land."</p> + +<p>"I also recognized you," said Geppetto, "and I would +willingly have returned to the shore, but what was I to do! +The sea was tremendous and a great wave upset my boat. +Then a horrible Dog-Fish, who was near, as soon as he saw +me in the water, came towards me, and, putting out his tongue, +took hold of me and swallowed me as if I had been a little +apple tart."</p> + +<p>"And how long have you been shut up here?" asked +Pinocchio.</p> + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="It Would Be More Comfortable on the Tunny's Back"> +<tr><td align='center'><big><b>They Thought It Would Be More<br /> +Comfortable to Get on the Tunny's<br /> +Back</b></big></td> +<td align='center'><a name="illus-193" id="illus-193"></a> +<img src="images/illus-193.png" +alt="It Would Be More Comfortable on the Tunny's Back" title="It Would Be More Comfortable on the Tunny's Back" /></td></tr> +</table></div> + + + + + + +<p>"Since that day—it must be nearly two years ago; two +years, my dear Pinocchio, that have seemed like two centuries!"</p> + +<p>"And how have you managed to live? And where did +you get the candle? And the matches to light it? Who gave +them to you?"</p> + +<p>"Stop, and I will tell you everything. You must know, +then, that in the same storm in which my boat was upset a +merchant vessel foundered. The sailors were all saved, but +the vessel went to the bottom, and the Dog-Fish, who had that +day an excellent appetite, after he had swallowed me, swallowed +also the vessel."</p> + +<p>"How?"</p> + +<p>"He swallowed it in one mouthful, and the only thing +that he spat out was the mainmast, that had stuck between +his teeth like a fish-bone. Fortunately for me, the vessel was +laden with preserved meat in tins, biscuit, bottles of wine, +dried raisins, cheese, coffee, sugar, candles, and boxes of wax +matches. With this providential supply I have been able to +live for two years. But I have arrived at the end of my +resources; there is nothing left in the larder, and this candle +that you see burning is the last that remains."</p> + +<p>"And after that?"</p> + +<p>"After that, dear boy, we shall both remain in the dark."</p> + +<p>"Then, dear little papa," said Pinocchio, "there is no time +to lose. We must think of escaping."</p> + +<p>"Of escaping? How?"</p> + +<p>"We must escape through the mouth of the Dog-Fish, +throw ourselves into the sea and swim away."</p> + +<p>"You talk well; but, dear Pinocchio, I don't know how +to swim."</p> + +<p>"What does that matter? I am a good swimmer, and +you can get on my shoulders and I will carry you safely +to shore."</p> + +<p>"All illusions, my boy!" replied Geppetto, shaking his +head, with a melancholy smile. "Do you suppose it possible +that a puppet like you, scarcely a yard high, could have the +strength to swim with me on his shoulders!"</p> + +<p>"Try it and you will see!"</p> + +<p>Without another word Pinocchio took the candle in his +hand, and, going in front to light the way, he said to his father:</p> + +<p>"Follow me, and don't be afraid."</p> + +<p>And they walked for some time and traversed the body +and the stomach of the Dog-Fish. But when they had arrived +at the point where the monster's big throat began, they thought +it better to stop to give a good look around and to choose the +best moment for escaping.</p> + +<p>Now, I must tell you that the Dog-Fish, being very old, +and suffering from asthma and palpitation of the heart, was +obliged to sleep with his mouth open. Pinocchio, therefore, +having approached the entrance to his throat, and, looking up, +could see beyond the enormous gaping mouth a large piece of +starry sky and beautiful moonlight.</p> + +<p>"This is the moment to escape," he whispered, turning to +his father; "the Dog-Fish is sleeping like a dormouse, the sea +is calm, and it is as light as day. Follow me, dear papa, and +in a short time we shall be in safety."</p> + +<p>They immediately climbed up the throat of the sea-monster, +and, having reached his immense mouth, they began to +walk on tiptoe down his tongue.</p> + +<p>Before taking the final leap the puppet said to his father:</p> + +<p>"Get on my shoulders and put your arms tightly around +my neck. I will take care of the rest."</p> + +<p>As soon as Geppetto was firmly settled on his son's shoulders, +Pinocchio, feeling sure of himself, threw himself into the +water and began to swim. The sea was as smooth as oil, the +moon shone brilliantly, and the Dog-Fish was sleeping so +profoundly that even a cannonade would have failed to wake +him.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><a name="illus-197" id="illus-197"></a></p> +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/illus-197.png" +alt="The Blind Cat and the Tailless Fox" title="The Blind Cat and the Tailless Fox" /> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h3><a name="CHAPTER_XXXVI" id="CHAPTER_XXXVI"></a>CHAPTER XXXVI</h3> + +<h2>PINOCCHIO AT LAST CEASES TO BE A PUPPET +AND BECOMES A BOY</h2> + + +<p>Whilst Pinocchio was swimming quickly towards the +shore he discovered that his father, who was on his +shoulders with his legs in the water, was trembling as violently +as if the poor man had an attack of ague fever.</p> + +<p>Was he trembling from cold or from fear. Perhaps a +little from both the one and the other. But Pinocchio, thinking +it was from fear, said, to comfort him:</p> + +<p>"Courage, papa! In a few minutes we shall be safely +on shore."</p> + +<p>"But where is this blessed shore?" asked the little old man, +becoming still more frightened, and screwing up his eyes as +tailors do when they wish to thread a needle. "I have been +looking in every direction and I see nothing but the sky and +the sea."</p> + +<p>"But I see the shore as well," said the puppet. "You must +know that I am like a cat: I see better by night than by day."</p> + +<p>Poor Pinocchio was making a pretense of being in good +spirits, but in reality he was beginning to feel discouraged; +his strength was failing, he was gasping and panting for breath. +He could do no more, and the shore was still far off.</p> + +<p>He swam until he had no breath left; then he turned his +head to Geppetto and said in broken words?</p> + +<p>"Papa, help me, I am dying!"</p> + +<p>The father and son were on the point of drowning when +they heard a voice like a guitar out of tune saying:</p> + +<p>"Who is it that is dying?"</p> + +<p>"It is I, and my poor father!"</p> + +<p>"I know that voice! You are Pinocchio!"</p> + +<p>"Precisely; and you?"</p> + +<p>"I am the Tunny, your prison companion in the body of +the Dog-Fish."</p> + +<p>"And how did you manage to escape?"</p> + +<p>"I followed your example. You showed me the road, and +I escaped after you."</p> + +<p>"Tunny, you have arrived at the right moment! I implore +you to help us or we are lost."</p> + +<p>"Willingly and with all my heart. You must, both of you, +take hold of my tail and leave it to me to guide you. I will take +you on shore in four minutes."</p> + +<p>Geppetto and Pinocchio, as I need not tell you, accepted +the offer at once; but, instead of holding on by his tail, they +thought it would be more comfortable to get on the Tunny's +back.</p> + +<p>Having reached the shore, Pinocchio sprang first on land +that he might help his father to do the same. He then turned +to the Tunny and said to him in a voice full of emotion:</p> + +<p>"My friend, you have saved my papa's life. I can find +no words with which to thank you properly. Permit me at least +to give you a kiss as a sign of my eternal gratitude!"</p> + +<p>The Tunny put his head out of the water and Pinocchio, +kneeling on the ground, kissed him tenderly on the mouth. At +this spontaneous proof of warm affection, the poor Tunny, +who was not accustomed to it, felt extremely touched, and, +ashamed to let himself be seen crying like a child, he plunged +under the water and disappeared.</p> + +<p>By this time the day had dawned. Pinocchio, then offering +his arm to Geppetto, who had scarcely breath to stand, +said to him:</p> + +<p>"Lean on my arm, dear papa, and let us go. We will +walk very slowly, like the ants, and when we are tired we can +rest by the wayside."</p> + +<p>"And where shall we go?" asked Geppetto.</p> + +<p>"In search of some house or cottage, where they will give +us for charity a mouthful of bread, and a little straw to serve +as a bed."</p> + +<p>They had not gone a hundred yards when they saw by +the roadside two villainous-looking individuals begging.</p> + +<p>They were the Cat and the Fox, but they were scarcely +recognizable. Fancy! the Cat had so long feigned blindness +that she had become blind in reality; and the Fox, old, mangy, +and with one side paralyzed, had not even his tail left. That +sneaking thief, having fallen into the most squalid misery, one +fine day had found himself obliged to sell his beautiful tail to +a traveling peddler, who bought it to drive away flies.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Pinocchio!" cried the Fox, "give a little in charity +to two poor, infirm people."</p> + +<p>"Infirm people," repeated the Cat.</p> + +<p>"Begone, impostors!" answered the puppet. "You took +me in once, but you will never catch me again."</p> + +<p>"Believe me, Pinocchio, we are now poor and unfortunate +indeed!"</p> + +<p>"If you are poor, you deserve it. Recollect the proverb: +'Stolen money never fructifies.' Begone, impostors!"</p> + +<p>And, thus saying, Pinocchio and Geppetto went their way +in peace. When they had gone another hundred yards they +saw, at the end of a path in the middle of the fields, a nice +little straw hut with a roof of tiles and bricks.</p> + +<p>"That hut must be inhabited by some one," said Pinocchio. +"Let us go and knock at the door."</p> + +<p>They went and knocked.</p> + +<p>"We are a poor father and son without bread and without +a roof," answered the puppet.</p> + +<p>"Turn the key and the door will open," said the same +little voice.</p> + +<p>Pinocchio turned the key and the door opened. They +went in and looked here, there, and everywhere, but could see +no one.</p> + +<p>"Oh! where is the master of the house?" said Pinocchio, +much surprised.</p> + +<p>"Here I am, up here!"</p> + +<p>The father and son looked immediately up to the ceiling, +and there on a beam they saw the Talking-Cricket.</p> + +<p>"Oh, my dear little Cricket!" said Pinocchio, bowing politely +to him.</p> + +<p>"Ah! now you call me 'Your dear little Cricket.' But +do you remember the time when you threw the handle of a +hammer at me, to drive me from your house?"</p> + +<p>"You are right, Cricket! Drive me away also! Throw +the handle of a hammer at me, but have pity on my poor papa."</p> + +<p>"I will have pity on both father and son, but I wished +to remind you of the ill treatment I received from you, to +teach you that in this world, when it is possible, we should +show courtesy to everybody, if we wish it to be extended to +us in our hour of need."</p> + +<p>"You are right. Cricket, you are right, and I will bear +in mind the lesson you have given me. But tell me how you +managed to buy this beautiful hut."</p> + +<p>"This hut was given to me yesterday by a goat whose +wool was of a beautiful blue color."</p> + +<p>"And where has the goat gone?" asked Pinocchio, with +lively curiosity.</p> + +<p>"I do not know."</p> + +<p>"And when will it come back?"</p> + +<p>"It will never come back. It went away yesterday in +great grief and, bleating, it seemed to say: 'Poor Pinocchio! +I shall never see him more, for by this time the Dog-Fish +must have devoured him!'"</p> + +<p>"Did it really say that? Then it was she! It was my +dear little Fairy," exclaimed Pinocchio, crying and sobbing.</p> + +<p>When he had cried for some time he dried his eyes and +prepared a comfortable bed of straw for Geppetto to lie down +upon. Then he asked the Cricket:</p> + +<p>"Tell me, little Cricket, where can I find a tumbler of +milk for my poor papa?"</p> + +<p>"Three fields off from here there lives a gardener called +Giangio, who keeps cows. Go to him and you will get the +milk you are in want of."</p> + +<p>Pinocchio ran all the way to Giangio's house, and the +gardener asked him:</p> + +<p>"How much milk do you want?"</p> + +<p>"I want a tumblerful."</p> + +<p>"A tumbler of milk costs five cents. Begin by giving +me the five cents."</p> + +<p>"I have not even one cent," replied Pinocchio, grieved and +mortified.</p> + +<p>"That is bad, puppet," answered the gardener. "If you +have not even one cent, I have not even a drop of milk."</p> + +<p>"I must have patience!" said Pinocchio, and he turned +to go.</p> + +<p>"Wait a little," said Giangio. "We can come to an arrangement +together. Will you undertake to turn the pumping +machine?"</p> + +<p>"What is the pumping machine?"</p> + +<p>"It is a wooden pole which serves to draw up the water +from the cistern to water the vegetables."</p> + +<p>"You can try me."</p> + +<p>"Well, then, if you will draw a hundred buckets of water, +I will give you in compensation a tumbler of milk."</p> + +<p>"It is a bargain."</p> + +<p>Giangio then led Pinocchio to the kitchen garden and +taught him how to turn the pumping machine. Pinocchio +immediately began to work; but before he had drawn up the +hundred buckets of water the perspiration was pouring from +his head to his feet. Never before had he undergone such +fatigue.</p> + +<p>"Up till now," said the gardener, "the labor of turning +the pumping machine was performed by my little donkey, but +the poor animal is dying."</p> + +<p>"Will you take me to see him?" said Pinocchio.</p> + +<p>"Willingly."</p> + +<p>When Pinocchio went into the stable he saw a beautiful +little donkey stretched on the straw, worn out from hunger +and overwork. After looking at him earnestly, he said to +himself, much troubled:</p> + +<p>"I am sure I know this little donkey! His face is not +new to me."</p> + +<p>And, bending over him, he asked him in asinine language:</p> + +<p>"Who are you?"</p> + +<p>At this question the little donkey opened his dying eyes, +and answered in broken words in the same language:</p> + +<p>"I am—Can—dle—wick."</p> + +<p>And, having again closed his eyes, he expired.</p> + +<p>"Oh, poor Candlewick!" said Pinocchio in a low voice; +and, taking a handful of straw, he dried a tear that was rolling +down his face.</p> + +<p>"Do you grieve for a donkey that cost you nothing?" said +the gardener. "What must it be to me, who bought him for +ready money?"</p> + +<p>"I must tell you—he was my friend!"</p> + +<p>"Your friend?"</p> + +<p>"One of my school-fellows!"</p> + +<p>"How?" shouted Giangio, laughing loudly. "How? had +you donkeys for school-fellows? I can imagine what wonderful +studies you must have made!"</p> + +<p>The puppet, who felt much mortified at these words, did +not answer; but, taking his tumbler of milk, still quite warm, +he returned to the hut.</p> + +<p>And from that day for more than five months he continued +to get up at daybreak every morning to go and turn the +pumping machine, to earn the tumbler of milk that was of +such benefit to his father in his bad state of health. Nor was +he satisfied with this; for, during the time that he had over, +he learned to make hampers and baskets of rushes, and with +the money he obtained by selling them he was able with great +economy to provide for all the daily expenses. Amongst other +things he constructed an elegant little wheel-chair, in which +he could take his father out on fine days to breathe a mouthful +of fresh air.</p> + +<p>By his industry, ingenuity and his anxiety to work and +to overcome difficulties, he not only succeeded in maintaining +his father, who continued infirm, in comfort, but he also contrived +to put aside five dollars to buy himself a new coat.</p> + +<p>One morning he said to his father:</p> + +<p>"I am going to the neighboring market to buy myself a +jacket, a cap, and a pair of shoes. When I return," he added, +laughing, "I shall be so well dressed that you will take me +for a fine gentleman."</p> + +<p>And, leaving the house, he began to run merrily and +happily along. All at once he heard himself called by name +and, turning around, he saw a big Snail crawling out from +the hedge.</p> + +<p>"Do you not know me?" asked the Snail.</p> + +<p>"It seems to me—and yet I am not sure—"</p> + +<p>"Do you not remember the Snail who was lady's-maid to +the Fairy with blue hair? Do you not remember the time +when I came downstairs to let you in, and you were caught +by your foot, which you had stuck through the house-door?"</p> + +<p>"I remember it all" shouted Pinocchio. "Tell me quickly, +my beautiful little Snail, where have you left my good Fairy? +What is she doing? Has she forgiven me? Does she still remember +me? Does she still wish me well? Is she far from here? Can +I go and see her?"</p> + +<p>To all these rapid, breathless questions the Snail replied in +her usual phlegmatic manner:</p> + +<p>"My dear Pinocchio, the poor Fairy is lying in bed at the +hospital!"</p> + +<p>"At the hospital?"</p> + +<p>"It is only too true. Overtaken by a thousand misfortunes, +she has fallen seriously ill, and she has not even enough +to buy herself a mouthful of bread."</p> + +<p>"Is it really so? Oh, what sorrow you have given me! +Oh, poor Fairy! Poor Fairy! Poor Fairy! If I had a million +I would run and carry it to her, but I have only five dollars. +Here they are—I was going to buy a new coat. Take them, +Snail, and carry them at once to my good Fairy."</p> + +<p>"And your new coat?"</p> + +<p>"What matters my new coat? I would sell even these +rags that I have on to be able to help her. Go, Snail, and +be quick; and in two days return to this place, for I hope I +shall then be able to give you some more money. Up to this +time I have worked to maintain my papa; from today I will +work five hours more that I may also maintain my good +mamma. Good-bye, Snail, I shall expect you in two days."</p> + +<p>The Snail, contrary to her usual habits, began to run like +a lizard in a hot August sun.</p> + +<p>That evening Pinocchio, instead of going to bed at ten +o'clock, sat up till midnight had struck; and instead of making +eight baskets of rushes he made sixteen.</p> + +<p>Then he went to bed and fell asleep. And whilst he +slept he thought that he saw the Fairy, smiling and beautiful, +who, after having kissed him, said to him:</p> + +<p>"Well done, Pinocchio! To reward you for your good +heart I will forgive you for all that is past. Boys who minister +tenderly to their parents and assist them in their misery and +infirmities, are deserving of great praise and affection, even if +they cannot be cited as examples of obedience and good behavior. +Try and do better in the future and you will be happy."</p> + +<p>At this moment his dream ended and Pinocchio opened +his eyes and awoke.</p> + +<p>But imagine his astonishment when upon awakening he +discovered that he was no longer a wooden puppet, but that +he had become instead a boy, like all other boys. He gave a +glance round and saw that the straw walls of the hut had +disappeared, and that he was in a pretty little room furnished +and arranged with a simplicity that was almost elegance. Jumping +out of bed he found a new suit of clothes ready for him, +a new cap, and a pair of new boots, that fitted him beautifully.</p> + +<p>He was hardly dressed when he naturally put his hands +in his pockets and pulled out a little ivory purse on which +these words were written: "The Fairy with blue hair returns +the five dollars to her dear Pinocchio, and thanks him for his +good heart." He opened the purse and instead of five dollars +he saw fifty shining gold pieces fresh from the mint.</p> + +<p>He then went and looked at himself in the glass, and he +thought he was some one else. For he no longer saw the +usual reflection of a wooden puppet; he was greeted instead +by the image of a bright, intelligent boy with chestnut hair, +blue eyes, and looking as happy and joyful as if it were the +Easter holidays.</p> + +<p>In the midst of all these wonders succeeding each other, +Pinocchio felt quite bewildered, and he could not tell if he +was really awake or if he was dreaming with his eyes open.</p> + +<p>"Where can my papa be?" he exclaimed suddenly, and, +going into the next room, he found old Geppetto quite well, +lively, and in good humor, just as he had been formerly. He +had already resumed his trade of wood-carving, and he was +designing a rich and beautiful frame of leaves, flowers and +the heads of animals.</p> + +<p>"Satisfy my curiosity, dear papa," said Pinocchio, throwing +his arms around his neck and covering him with kisses; +"how can this sudden change be accounted for?"</p> + +<p>"This sudden change in our home is all your doing," answered +Geppetto.</p> + +<p>"How my doing?"</p> + +<p>"Because when boys who have behaved badly turn over +a new leaf and become good, they have the power of bringing +contentment and happiness to their families."</p> + +<p>"And where has the old wooden Pinocchio hidden himself?"</p> + +<p>"There he is," answered Geppetto, and he pointed to a +big puppet leaning against a chair, with its head on one side, +its arms dangling, and its legs so crossed and bent that it was +really a miracle that it remained standing.</p> + +<p>Pinocchio turned and looked at it; and, after he had +looked at it for a short time, he said to himself with great +complacency:</p> + +<p>"How ridiculous I was when I was a puppet! And how +glad I am that I have become a well-behaved little boy!"</p> +<hr style="width: 95%;" /> + +<h4>Transcriber's Note:</h4> + +<p class="tnote">The untitled illustration on page 26 was not listed in the List of +Illustrations of the source book.</p> + +<p class="tnote">In several cases, missing punctuation was added or wrong punctuation +removed.</p> + +<p class="tnote">The following typos were fixed:<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;"> thouand to thousand</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;"> Harelquin to Harlequin</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;"> pretrified to petrified</span></p> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Pinocchio, by C. Collodi + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PINOCCHIO *** + +***** This file should be named 16865-h.htm or 16865-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/8/6/16865/ + +Produced by Mark C. 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files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..4966924 --- /dev/null +++ b/16865-h/images/illus-cover.jpg diff --git a/16865.txt b/16865.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..9a55e64 --- /dev/null +++ b/16865.txt @@ -0,0 +1,6557 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Pinocchio, by C. Collodi + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Pinocchio + The Tale of a Puppet + +Author: C. Collodi + +Illustrator: Alice Carsey + +Release Date: October 13, 2005 [EBook #16865] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PINOCCHIO *** + + + + +Produced by Mark C. Orton, Melissa Er-Raqabi and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net. + + + + + +PINOCCHIO + +THE TALE OF A +PUPPET + +By C COLLODI + + + + +[Illustration: "HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO GO IN?"] + + + + +[Illustration] + + + +PINOCCHIO + +THE TALE OF A +PUPPET + +By C COLLODI + +Illustrated By +ALICE CARSEY + + +WHITMAN PUBLISHING CO. +RACINE, WISCONSIN + + + + +COPYRIGHT 1916 BY +WHITMAN PUBLISHING CO. +RACINE, WISCONSIN +PRINTED IN U.S.A. + + + +Transcriber's Note: + +The untitled illustration on page 26 was not listed in the List of +Illustrations of the source book. + +In several cases, missing punctuation was added or wrong punctuation +removed. + +The following typos were fixed: + thouand to thousand + Harelquin to Harlequin + pretrified to petrified + + + + +CONTENTS + + Chap. Page + I THE PIECE OF WOOD THAT LAUGHED AND CRIED LIKE A CHILD 9 + II MASTER CHERRY GIVES THE WOOD AWAY 12 + III GEPPETTO NAMES HIS PUPPET PINOCCHIO 16 + IV THE TALKING-CRICKET SCOLDS PINOCCHIO 23 + V THE FLYING EGG 26 + VI PINOCCHIO'S FEET BURN TO CINDERS 29 + VII GEPPETTO GIVES HIS OWN BREAKFAST TO PINOCCHIO 31 + VIII GEPPETTO MAKES PINOCCHIO NEW FEET 35 + IX PINOCCHIO GOES TO SEE A PUPPET-SHOW 39 + X THE PUPPETS RECOGNIZE THEIR BROTHER PINOCCHIO 42 + XI FIRE-EATER SNEEZES AND PARDONS PINOCCHIO 45 + XII PINOCCHIO RECEIVES A PRESENT OF FIVE GOLD PIECES 49 + XIII THE INN OF THE RED CRAW-FISH 57 + XIV PINOCCHIO FALLS AMONG ASSASSINS 61 + XV THE ASSASSINS HANG PINOCCHIO TO THE BIG OAK 65 + XVI THE BEAUTIFUL CHILD RESCUES THE PUPPET 71 + XVII PINOCCHIO WILL NOT TAKE HIS MEDICINE 75 + XVIII PINOCCHIO AGAIN MEETS THE FOX AND THE CAT 81 + XIX PINOCCHIO IS ROBBED OF HIS MONEY 87 + XX PINOCCHIO STARTS BACK TO THE FAIRY'S HOUSE 91 + XXI PINOCCHIO ACTS AS WATCH-DOG 94 + XXII PINOCCHIO DISCOVERS THE ROBBERS 97 + XXIII PINOCCHIO FLIES TO THE SEASHORE 101 + XXIV PINOCCHIO FINDS THE FAIRY AGAIN 109 + XXV PINOCCHIO PROMISES THE FAIRY TO BE GOOD 116 + XXVI THE TERRIBLE DOG-FISH 120 + XXVII PINOCCHIO IS ARRESTED BY THE GENDARMES 126 +XXVIII PINOCCHIO ESCAPES BEING FRIED LIKE A FISH 133 + XXIX HE RETURNS TO THE FAIRY'S HOUSE 139 + XXX THE "LAND OF BOOBIES" 147 + XXXI PINOCCHIO ENJOYS FIVE MONTHS OF HAPPINESS 153 + XXXII PINOCCHIO TURNS INTO A DONKEY 160 +XXXIII PINOCCHIO IS TRAINED FOR THE CIRCUS 167 + XXXIV PINOCCHIO IS SWALLOWED BY THE DOG-FISH 178 + XXXV A HAPPY SURPRISE FOR PINOCCHIO 186 + XXXVI PINOCCHIO AT LAST CEASES TO BE A PUPPET AND BECOMES A BOY 194 + + + + +LINE ILLUSTRATIONS + +DECORATIVE TITLE PAGE 1 +THE RUNAWAY PUPPET 9 +GEPPETTO CARRIED OFF HIS FINE PIECE OF WOOD 12 +HE SET TO WORK TO CUT OUT HIS PUPPET 16 +A LITTLE CHICKEN POPPED OUT 17 +PINOCCHIO THREW HIS HAMMER AT THE TALKING-CRICKET 23 +UNTITLED 26 +POOR PINOCCHIO'S FEET BURN TO CINDERS 29 +GEPPETTO MAKES HIS PUPPET SOME CLOTHES 35 +THE PUPPETS BEGAN TO DANCE MERRILY 45 +PINOCCHIO MEETS THE CAT AND THE FOX 49 +SPLASH! SPLASH! THEY FELL INTO THE DITCH 52 +DINNER AT THE RED CRAW-FISH INN 57 +PINOCCHIO ESCAPES FROM HIS ASSASSINS 61 +THEY HUNG PINOCCHIO TO THE BIG OAK TREE 65 +FOUR RABBITS AS BLACK AS INK ENTERED 69 +THE FALCON SAVES PINOCCHIO 71 +PINOCCHIO REFUSES TO TAKE HIS MEDICINE 75 +TREACHEROUS COMPANIONS 81 +THE JUDGE WAS A BIG APE 87 +PINOCCHIO GETS HIS FOOT CAUGHT IN A TRAP 94 +THE NEW WATCH-DOG 97 +PINOCCHIO'S WILD RIDE ON THE PIGEON'S BACK 101 +AN IMMENSE SERPENT STRETCHED ACROSS THE ROAD 104 +PINOCCHIO BRAVES THE SEA TO SAVE HIS FATHER 109 +"SCHOOL GIVES ME PAIN ALL OVER THE BODY" 116 +PINOCCHIO STARTS OFF HAPPILY FOR SCHOOL 120 +"OH, I AM SICK OF BEING A PUPPET!" 121 +THE BOYS THREW THEIR BOOKS AT POOR PINOCCHIO 126 +THE FISHERMAN PUT HIS HAND INTO THE NET 133 +THE DOG SEIZES PINOCCHIO AND ESCAPES 139 +"HERE IS THE COACH!" SHOUTED CANDLEWICK 147 +THEY ARRIVE IN THE "LAND OF THE BOOBIES" 153 +THE BOYS ARE TURNED INTO DONKEYS 160 +THE LITTLE DONKEYS ARE SOLD 167 +ALL HIS FRIENDS WERE INVITED 172 +THE PUPPET WAS WRIGGLING LIKE AN EEL 178 +SWALLOWED BY THE DOG-FISH 186 +IT WOULD BE MORE COMFORTABLE ON THE TUNNY'S BACK 189 +THE BLIND CAT AND THE TAILLESS FOX 194 + + + + +[Illustration] + +PINOCCHIO + +CHAPTER I + +THE PIECE OF WOOD THAT LAUGHED AND CRIED LIKE A CHILD + + +There was once upon a time a piece of wood in the shop of an old +carpenter named Master Antonio. Everybody, however, called him Master +Cherry, on account of the end of his nose, which was always as red and +polished as a ripe cherry. + +No sooner had Master Cherry set eyes on the piece of wood than his face +beamed with delight, and, rubbing his hands together with satisfaction, +he said softly to himself: + +"This wood has come at the right moment; it will just do to make the leg +of a little table." + +He immediately took a sharp axe with which to remove the bark and the +rough surface, but just as he was going to give the first stroke he +heard a very small voice say imploringly, "Do not strike me so hard!" + +He turned his terrified eyes all around the room to try and discover +where the little voice could possibly have come from, but he saw nobody! +He looked under the bench--nobody; he looked into a cupboard that was +always shut--nobody; he looked into a basket of shavings and +sawdust--nobody; he even opened the door of the shop and gave a glance +into the street--and still nobody. Who, then, could it be? + +"I see how it is," he said, laughing and scratching his wig, "evidently +that little voice was all my imagination. Let us set to work again." + +And, taking up the axe, he struck a tremendous blow on the piece of +wood. + +"Oh! oh! you have hurt me!" cried the same little voice dolefully. + +This time Master Cherry was petrified. His eyes started out of his head +with fright, his mouth remained open, and his tongue hung out almost to +the end of his chin, like a mask on a fountain. As soon as he had +recovered the use of his speech he began to say, stuttering and +trembling with fear: + +"But where on earth can that little voice have come from that said 'Oh! +oh!'? Is it possible that this piece of wood can have learned to cry and +to lament like a child? I cannot believe it. This piece of wood is +nothing but a log for fuel like all the others, and thrown on the fire +it would about suffice to boil a saucepan of beans. How then? Can anyone +be hidden inside it? If anyone is hidden inside, so much the worse for +him. I will settle him at once." + +So saying, he seized the poor piece of wood and commenced beating it +without mercy against the walls of the room. + +Then he stopped to listen if he could hear any little voice lamenting. +He waited two minutes--nothing; five minutes--nothing; ten +minutes--still nothing! + +"I see how it is," he then said, forcing himself to laugh, and pushing +up his wig; "evidently the little voice that said 'Oh! oh!' was all my +imagination! Let us set to work again." + +Putting the axe aside, he took his plane, to plane and polish the bit of +wood; but whilst he was running it up and down he heard the same little +voice say, laughing: + +"Stop! you are tickling me all over!" + +This time poor Master Cherry fell down as if he had been struck by +lightning. When he at last opened his eyes he found himself seated on +the floor. + +His face was changed, even the end of his nose, instead of being +crimson, as it was nearly always, had become blue from fright. + + + + +[Illustration] + +CHAPTER II + +MASTER CHERRY GIVES THE WOOD AWAY + + +At that moment some one knocked at the door. + +"Come in," said the carpenter, without having the strength to rise to +his feet. + +A lively little old man immediately walked into the shop. His name was +Geppetto, but when the boys of the neighborhood wished to make him angry +they called him Pudding, because his yellow wig greatly resembled a +pudding made of Indian corn. + +Geppetto was very fiery. Woe to him who called him Pudding! He became +furious and there was no holding him. + +"Good-day, Master Antonio," said Geppetto; "what are you doing there on +the floor?" + +"I am teaching the alphabet to the ants." + +"Much good may that do you." + +"What has brought you to me, neighbor Geppetto?" + +"My legs. But to tell the truth. Master Antonio, I came to ask a favor +of you." + +"Here I am, ready to serve you," replied the carpenter, getting on his +knees. + +"This morning an idea came into my head." + +"Let us hear it." + +"I thought I would make a beautiful wooden puppet; one that could dance, +fence, and leap like an acrobat. With this puppet I would travel about +the world to earn a piece of bread and a glass of wine. What do you +think of it?" + +"Bravo, Pudding!" exclaimed the same little voice, and it was impossible +to say where it came from. + +Hearing himself called Pudding, Geppetto became as red as a turkey-cock +from rage and, turning to the carpenter, he said in a fury: + +"Why do you insult me?" + +"Who insults you?" + +"You called me Pudding!" + +"It was not I!" + +"Do you think I called myself Pudding? It was you, I say!" + +"No!" + +"Yes!" + +"No!" + +"Yes!" + +And, becoming more and more angry, from words they came to blows, and, +flying at each other, they bit and fought, and scratched. + +When the fight was over Master Antonio was in possession of Geppetto's +yellow wig, and Geppetto discovered that the grey wig belonging to the +carpenter remained between his teeth. + +"Give me back my wig," screamed Master Antonio. + +"And you, return me mine, and let us be friends again." + +The two old men having each recovered his own wig, shook hands and swore +that they would remain friends to the end of their lives. + +"Well, then, neighbor Geppetto," said the carpenter, to prove that peace +was made, "what is the favor that you wish of me?" + +"I want a little wood to make my puppet; will you give me some?" + +Master Antonio was delighted, and he immediately went to the bench and +fetched the piece of wood that had caused him so much fear. But just as +he was going to give it to his friend the piece of wood gave a shake +and, wriggling violently out of his hands, struck with all of its force +against the dried-up shins of poor Geppetto. + +"Ah! is that the courteous way in which you make your presents, Master +Antonio? You have almost lamed me!" + +"I swear to you that it was not I!" + +"Then you would have it that it was I?" + +"The wood is entirely to blame!" + +"I know that it was the wood; but it was you that hit my legs with it!" + +"I did not hit you with it!" + +"Liar!" + +"Geppetto, don't insult me or I will call you Pudding!" + +"Knave!" + +"Pudding!" + +"Donkey!" + +"Pudding!" + +"Baboon!" + +"Pudding!" + +On hearing himself called Pudding for the third time Geppetto, mad with +rage, fell upon the carpenter and they fought desperately. + +When the battle was over, Master Antonio had two more scratches on his +nose, and his adversary had lost two buttons off his waistcoat. Their +accounts being thus squared, they shook hands and swore to remain good +friends for the rest of their lives. + +Geppetto carried off his fine piece of wood and, thanking Master +Antonio, returned limping to his house. + + + + +[Illustration] + +CHAPTER III + +GEPPETTO NAMES HIS PUPPET PINOCCHIO + + +Geppetto lived in a small ground-floor room that was only lighted from +the staircase. The furniture could not have been simpler--a rickety +chair, a poor bed, and a broken-down table. At the end of the room there +was a fireplace with a lighted fire; but the fire was painted, and by +the fire was a painted saucepan that was boiling cheerfully and sending +out a cloud of smoke that looked exactly like real smoke. + +As soon as he reached home Geppetto took his tools and set to work to +cut out and model his puppet. + +[Illustration: A Little Chicken Popped Out, Very Gay and Polite] + +"What name shall I give him?" he said to himself; "I think I will call +him Pinocchio. It is a name that will bring him luck. I once knew a +whole family so called. There was Pinocchio the father, Pinocchia the +mother, and Pinocchi the children, and all of them did well. The +richest of them was a beggar." + +Having found a name for his puppet he began to work in good earnest, and +he first made his hair, then his forehead, and then his eyes. + +The eyes being finished, imagine his astonishment when he perceived that +they moved and looked fixedly at him. + +Geppetto, seeing himself stared at by those two wooden eyes, said in an +angry voice: + +"Wicked wooden eyes, why do you look at me?" + +No one answered. + +He then proceeded to carve the nose, but no sooner had he made it than +it began to grow. And it grew, and grew, and grew, until in a few +minutes it had become an immense nose that seemed as if it would never +end. + +Poor Geppetto tired himself out with cutting it off, but the more he cut +and shortened it, the longer did that impertinent nose become! + +The mouth was not even completed when it began to laugh and deride him. + +"Stop laughing!" said Geppetto, provoked; but he might as well have +spoken to the wall. + +"Stop laughing, I say!" he roared in a threatening tone. + +The mouth then ceased laughing, but put out its tongue as far as it +would go. + +Geppetto, not to spoil his handiwork, pretended not to see and continued +his labors. After the mouth he fashioned the chin, then the throat, then +the shoulders, the stomach, the arms and the hands. + +The hands were scarcely finished when Geppetto felt his wig snatched +from his head. He turned round, and what did he see? He saw his yellow +wig in the puppet's hand. + +"Pinocchio! Give me back my wig instantly!" + +But Pinocchio, instead of returning it, put it on his own head and was +in consequence nearly smothered. + +Geppetto at this insolent and derisive behavior felt sadder and more +melancholy than he had ever been in his life before; and, turning to +Pinocchio, he said to him: + +"You young rascal! You are not yet completed and you are already +beginning to show want of respect to your father! That is bad, my boy, +very bad!" + +And he dried a tear. + +The legs and the feet remained to be done. + +When Geppetto had finished the feet he received a kick on the point of +his nose. + +"I deserve it!" he said to himself; "I should have thought of it sooner! +Now it is too late!" + +He then took the puppet under the arms and placed him on the floor to +teach him to walk. + +Pinocchio's legs were stiff and he could not move, but Geppetto led him +by the hand and showed him how to put one foot before the other. + +When his legs became limber Pinocchio began to walk by himself and to +run about the room, until, having gone out of the house door, he jumped +into the street and escaped. + +Poor Geppetto rushed after him but was not able to overtake him, for +that rascal Pinocchio leaped in front of him like a hare and knocking +his wooden feet together against the pavement made as much clatter as +twenty pairs of peasants' clogs. + +"Stop him! stop him!" shouted Geppetto; but the people in the street, +seeing a wooden puppet running like a race-horse, stood still in +astonishment to look at it, and laughed and laughed. + +At last, as good luck would have it, a soldier arrived who, hearing the +uproar, imagined that a colt had escaped from his master. Planting +himself courageously with his legs apart in the middle of the road, he +waited with the determined purpose of stopping him and thus preventing +the chance of worse disasters. + +When Pinocchio, still at some distance, saw the soldier barricading the +whole street, he endeavored to take him by surprise and to pass between +his legs. But he failed entirely. + +The soldier without disturbing himself in the least caught him cleverly +by the nose and gave him to Geppetto. Wishing to punish him, Geppetto +intended to pull his ears at once. But imagine his feelings when he +could not succeed in finding them. And do you know the reason? In his +hurry to model him he had forgotten to make any ears. + +He then took him by the collar and as he was leading him away he said to +him, shaking his head threateningly: + +"We will go home at once, and as soon as we arrive we will settle our +accounts, never doubt it." + +At this information Pinocchio threw himself on the ground and would not +take another step. In the meanwhile a crowd of idlers and inquisitive +people began to assemble and to make a ring around them. + +Some of them said one thing, some another. + +"Poor puppet!" said several, "he is right not to wish to return home! +Who knows how Geppetto, that bad old man, will beat him!" + +And the others added maliciously: + +"Geppetto seems a good man! but with boys he is a regular tyrant! If +that poor puppet is left in his hands he is quite capable of tearing him +in pieces!" + +It ended in so much being said and done that the soldier at last set +Pinocchio at liberty and led Geppetto to prison. The poor man, not being +ready with words to defend himself, cried like a calf and as he was +being led away to prison sobbed out: + +"Wretched boy! And to think how I labored to make him a well-conducted +puppet! But it serves me right! I should have thought of it sooner!" + + + + +[Illustration] + +CHAPTER IV + +THE TALKING-CRICKET SCOLDS PINOCCHIO + + +While poor Geppetto was being taken to prison for no fault of his, that +imp Pinocchio, finding himself free from the clutches of the soldier, +ran off as fast as his legs could carry him. That he might reach home +the quicker he rushed across the fields, and in his mad hurry he jumped +high banks, thorn hedges and ditches full of water. + +Arriving at the house he found the street door ajar. He pushed it open, +went in, and having fastened the latch, threw himself on the floor and +gave a great sigh of satisfaction. + +But soon he heard some one in the room who was saying: + +"Cri-cri-cri!" + +"Who calls me?" said Pinocchio in a fright. + +"It is I!" + +Pinocchio turned round and saw a big cricket crawling slowly up the +wall. + +"Tell me, Cricket, who may you be?" + +"I am the Talking-Cricket, and I have lived in this room a hundred years +or more." + +"Now, however, this room is mine," said the puppet, "and if you would do +me a pleasure go away at once, without even turning round." + +"I will not go," answered the Cricket, "until I have told you a great +truth." + +"Tell it me, then, and be quick about it." + +"Woe to those boys who rebel against their parents and run away from +home. They will never come to any good in the world, and sooner or later +they will repent bitterly." + +"Sing away, Cricket, as you please, and as long as you please. For me, I +have made up my mind to run away tomorrow at daybreak, because if I +remain I shall not escape the fate of all other boys; I shall be sent to +school and shall be made to study either by love or by force. To tell +you in confidence, I have no wish to learn; it is much more amusing to +run after butterflies, or to climb trees and to take the young birds out +of their nests." + +"Poor little goose! But do you not know that in that way you will grow +up a perfect donkey, and that every one will make fun of you?" + +"Hold your tongue, you wicked, ill-omened croaker!" shouted Pinocchio. + +But the Cricket, who was patient and philosophical, instead of becoming +angry at this impertinence, continued in the same tone: + +"But if you do not wish to go to school why not at least learn a trade, +if only to enable you to earn honestly a piece of bread!" + +"Do you want me to tell you?" replied Pinocchio, who was beginning to +lose patience. "Amongst all the trades in the world there is only one +that really takes my fancy." + +"And that trade--what is it?" + +"It is to eat, drink, sleep and amuse myself, and to lead a vagabond +life from morning to night." + +"As a rule," said the Talking-Cricket, "all those who follow that trade +end almost always either in a hospital or in prison." + +"Take care, you wicked, ill-omened croaker! Woe to you if I fly into a +passion!" + +"Poor Pinocchio! I really pity you!" + +"Why do you pity me?" + +"Because you are a puppet and, what is worse, because you have a wooden +head." + +At these last words Pinocchio jumped up in a rage and, snatching a +wooden hammer from the bench, he threw it at the Talking-Cricket. + +Perhaps he never meant to hit him, but unfortunately it struck him +exactly on the head, so that the poor Cricket had scarcely breath to cry +"Cri-cri-cri!" and then he remained dried up and flattened against the +wall. + + + + +[Illustration] + +CHAPTER V + +THE FLYING EGG + + +Night was coming on and Pinocchio, remembering that he had eaten nothing +all day, began to feel a gnawing in his stomach that very much resembled +appetite. + +After a few minutes his appetite had become hunger and in no time his +hunger became ravenous. + +Poor Pinocchio ran quickly to the fireplace, where a saucepan was +boiling, and was going to take off the lid to see what was in it, but +the saucepan was only painted on the wall. You can imagine his feelings. +His nose, which was already long, became longer by at least three +inches. + +He then began to run about the room, searching in the drawers and in +every imaginable place, in hopes of finding a bit of bread. If it was +only a bit of dry bread, a crust, a bone left by a dog, a little moldy +pudding of Indian corn, a fish bone, a cherry stone--in fact, anything +that he could gnaw. But he could find nothing, nothing at all, +absolutely nothing. + +And in the meanwhile his hunger grew and grew. Poor Pinocchio had no +other relief than yawning, and his yawns were so tremendous that +sometimes his mouth almost reached his ears. And after he had yawned he +spluttered and felt as if he were going to faint. + +Then he began to cry desperately, and he said: + +"The Talking-Cricket was right. I did wrong to rebel against my papa and +to run away from home. If my papa were here I should not now be dying of +yawning! Oh! what a dreadful illness hunger is!" + +Just then he thought he saw something in the dust-heap--something round +and white that looked like a hen's egg. To give a spring and seize hold +of it was the affair of a moment. It was indeed an egg. + +Pinocchio's joy was beyond description. Almost believing it must be a +dream he kept turning the egg over in his hands, feeling it and kissing +it. And as he kissed it he said: + +"And now, how shall I cook it? Shall I make an omelet? No, it would be +better to cook it in a saucer! Or would it not be more savory to fry it +in the frying-pan? Or shall I simply boil it? No, the quickest way of +all is to cook it in a saucer: I am in such a hurry to eat it!" + +Without loss of time he placed an earthenware saucer on a brazier full +of red-hot embers. Into the saucer instead of oil or butter he poured a +little water; and when the water began to smoke, tac! he broke the +egg-shell over it and let the contents drop in. But, instead of the +white and the yolk a little chicken popped out very gay and polite. +Making a beautiful courtesy it said to him: + +"A thousand thanks, Master Pinocchio, for saving me the trouble of +breaking the shell. Adieu until we meet again. Keep well, and my best +compliments to all at home!" + +Thus saying, it spread its wings, darted through the open window and, +flying away, was lost to sight. + +The poor puppet stood as if he had been bewitched, with his eyes fixed, +his mouth open, and the egg-shell in his hand. Recovering, however, from +his first stupefaction, he began to cry and scream, and to stamp his +feet on the floor in desperation, and amidst his sobs he said: + +"Ah, indeed, the Talking-Cricket was right. If I had not run away from +home, and if my papa were here, I should not now be dying of hunger! Oh! +what a dreadful illness hunger is!" + +And, as his stomach cried out more than ever and he did not know how to +quiet it, he thought he would leave the house and make an excursion in +the neighborhood in hopes of finding some charitable person who would +give him a piece of bread. + + + + +[Illustration] + +CHAPTER VI + +PINOCCHIO'S FEET BURN TO CINDERS + + +It was a wild and stormy night. The thunder was tremendous and the +lightning so vivid that the sky seemed on fire. + +Pinocchio had a great fear of thunder, but hunger was stronger than +fear. He therefore closed the house door and made a rush for the +village, which he reached in a hundred bounds, with his tongue hanging +out and panting for breath like a dog after game. + +But he found it all dark and deserted. The shops were closed, the +windows shut, and there was not so much as a dog in the street. It +seemed the land of the dead. + +Pinocchio, urged by desperation and hunger, took hold of the bell of a +house and began to ring it with all his might, saying to himself: + +"That will bring somebody." + +And so it did. A little old man appeared at a window with a night-cap on +his head and called to him angrily: + +"What do you want at such an hour?" + +"Would you be kind enough to give me a little bread?" + +"Wait there, I will be back directly," said the little old man, thinking +it was one of those rascally boys who amuse themselves at night by +ringing the house-bells to rouse respectable people who are sleeping +quietly. + +After half a minute the window was again opened and the voice of the +same little old man shouted to Pinocchio: + +"Come underneath and hold out your cap." + +Pinocchio pulled off his cap; but, just as he held it out, an enormous +basin of water was poured down on him, soaking him from head to foot as +if he had been a pot of dried-up geraniums. + +He returned home like a wet chicken, quite exhausted with fatigue and +hunger; and, having no longer strength to stand, he sat down and rested +his damp and muddy feet on a brazier full of burning embers. + +And then he fell asleep, and whilst he slept his feet, which were +wooden, took fire, and little by little they burnt away and became +cinders. + +Pinocchio continued to sleep and to snore as if his feet belonged to +some one else. At last about daybreak he awoke because some one was +knocking at the door. + +"Who is there?" he asked, yawning and rubbing his eyes. + +"It is I!" answered a voice. + +And Pinocchio recognized Geppetto's voice. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +GEPPETTO GIVES HIS OWN BREAKFAST TO PINOCCHIO + + +Poor Pinocchio, whose eyes were still half shut from sleep, had not as +yet discovered that his feet were burnt off. The moment, therefore, that +he heard his father's voice he slipped off his stool to run and open the +door; but, after stumbling two or three times, he fell his whole length +on the floor. + +And the noise he made in falling was as if a sack of wooden ladles had +been thrown from a fifth story. + +"Open the door!" shouted Geppetto from the street. + +"Dear papa, I cannot," answered the puppet, crying and rolling about on +the ground. + +"Why can't you?" + +"Because my feet have been eaten." + +"And who has eaten your feet?" + +"The cat," said Pinocchio, seeing the cat, who was amusing herself by +making some shavings dance with her forepaws. + +"Open the door, I tell you!" repeated Geppetto. "If you don't, when I +get into the house you shall have the cat from me!" + +"I cannot stand up, believe me. Oh, poor me! poor me! I shall have to +walk on my knees for the rest of my life!" + +Geppetto, believing that all this lamentation was only another of the +puppet's tricks, thought of a means of putting an end to it, and, +climbing up the wall, he got in at the window. + +He was very angry and at first he did nothing but scold; but when he saw +his Pinocchio lying on the ground and really without feet he was quite +overcome. He took him in his arms and began to kiss and caress him, and +to say a thousand endearing things to him, and as the big tears ran down +his cheeks he said, sobbing: + +"My little Pinocchio! how did you manage to burn your feet?" + +"I don't know, papa, but it has been such a dreadful night that I shall +remember it as long as I live. It thundered and lightened, and I was +very hungry, and then the Talking-Cricket said to me: 'It serves you +right; you have been wicked and you deserve it,' and I said to him: +'Take care, Cricket!' and he said: 'You are a puppet and you have a +wooden head,' and I threw the handle of a hammer at him, and he died, +but the fault was his, for I didn't wish to kill him, and the proof of +it is that I put an earthenware saucer on a brazier of burning embers, +but a chicken flew out and said: 'Adieu until we meet again, and many +compliments to all at home': and I got still more hungry, for which +reason that little old man in a night-cap, opening the window, said to +me: 'Come underneath and hold out your hat,' and poured a basinful of +water on my head, because asking for a little bread isn't a disgrace, is +it? and I returned home at once, and because I was always very hungry I +put my feet on the brazier to dry them, and then you returned, and I +found they were burnt off, and I am always hungry, but I have no longer +any feet! Oh! oh! oh! oh!" And poor Pinocchio began to cry and to roar +so loudly that he was heard five miles off. + +Geppetto, who from all this jumbled account had only understood one +thing, which was that the puppet was dying of hunger, drew from his +pocket three pears and, giving them to him, said: + +"These three pears were intended for my breakfast, but I will give them +to you willingly. Eat them, and I hope they will do you good." + +"If you wish me to eat them, be kind enough to peel them for me." + +"Peel them?" said Geppetto, astonished. "I should never have thought, my +boy, that you were so dainty and fastidious. That is bad! In this world +we should accustom ourselves from childhood to like and to eat +everything, for there is no saying to what we may be brought. There are +so many chances!" + +"You are no doubt right," interrupted Pinocchio, "but I will never eat +fruit that has not been peeled. I cannot bear rind." + +So good Geppetto peeled the three pears and put the rind on a corner of +the table. + +Having eaten the first pear in two mouthfuls, Pinocchio was about to +throw away the core, but Geppetto caught hold of his arm and said to +him: + +"Do not throw it away; in this world everything may be of use." + +"But core I am determined I will not eat," shouted the puppet, turning +upon him like a viper. + +"Who knows! there are so many chances!" repeated Geppetto, without +losing his temper. + +And so the three cores, instead of being thrown out of the window, were +placed on the corner of the table, together with the three rinds. + +Having eaten, or rather having devoured the three pears, Pinocchio +yawned tremendously, and then said in a fretful tone: + +"I am as hungry as ever!" + +"But, my boy, I have nothing more to give you!" + +"Nothing, really nothing?" + +"I have only the rind and the cores of the three pears." + +"One must have patience!" said Pinocchio; "if there is nothing else I +will eat a rind." + +And he began to chew it. At first he made a wry face, but then one after +another he quickly disposed of the rinds: and after the rinds even the +cores, and when he had eaten up everything he clapped his hands on his +sides in his satisfaction and said joyfully: + +"Ah! now I feel comfortable." + +"You see, now," observed Geppetto, "that I was right when I said to you +that it did not do to accustom ourselves to be too particular or too +dainty in our tastes. We can never know, my dear boy, what may happen to +us. There are so many chances!" + + + + +[Illustration] + +CHAPTER VIII + +GEPPETTO MAKES PINOCCHIO NEW FEET + + +No sooner had the puppet satisfied his hunger than he began to cry and +to grumble because he wanted a pair of new feet. + +But Geppetto, to punish him for his naughtiness, allowed him to cry and +to despair for half the day. He then said to him: + +"Why should I make you new feet? To enable you, perhaps, to escape again +from home?" + +"I promise you," said the puppet, sobbing, "that for the future I will +be good." + +"All boys," replied Geppetto, "when they are bent upon obtaining +something, say the same thing." + +"I promise you that I will go to school and that I will study and bring +home a good report." + +"All boys, when they are bent on obtaining something, repeat the same +story." + +"But I am not like other boys! I am better than all of them and I always +speak the truth. I promise you, papa, that I will learn a trade and that +I will be the consolation and the staff of your old age." + +Geppetto's eyes filled with tears and his heart was sad at seeing his +poor Pinocchio in such a pitiable state. He did not say another word, +but, taking his tools and two small pieces of well-seasoned wood, he set +to work with great diligence. + +In less than an hour the feet were finished: two little feet--swift, +well-knit and nervous. They might have been modelled by an artist of +genius. + +Geppetto then said to the puppet: + +"Shut your eyes and go to sleep!" + +And Pinocchio shut his eyes and pretended to be asleep. + +And whilst he pretended to sleep, Geppetto, with a little glue which he +had melted in an egg-shell, fastened his feet in their place, and it was +so well done that not even a trace could be seen of where they were +joined. + +No sooner had the puppet discovered that he had feet than he jumped down +from the table on which he was lying and began to spring and to cut a +thousand capers about the room, as if he had gone mad with the greatness +of his delight. + +"To reward you for what you have done for me," said Pinocchio to his +father, "I will go to school at once." + +"Good boy." + +"But to go to school I shall want some clothes." + +Geppetto, who was poor and who had not so much as a penny in his pocket, +then made him a little dress of flowered paper, a pair of shoes from the +bark of a tree, and a cap of the crumb of bread. + +Pinocchio ran immediately to look at himself in a crock of water, and he +was so pleased with his appearance that he said, strutting about like a +peacock: + +"I look quite like a gentleman!" + +"Yes, indeed," answered Geppetto, "for bear in mind that it is not fine +clothes that make the gentleman, but rather clean clothes." + +"By the bye," added the puppet, "to go to school I am still in +want--indeed, I am without the best thing, and the most important." + +"And what is it?" + +"I have no spelling-book." + +"You are right: but what shall we do to get one?" + +"It is quite easy. We have only to go to the bookseller's and buy it." + +"And the money?" + +"I have got none." + +"Neither have I," added the good old man, very sadly. + +And Pinocchio, although he was a very merry boy, became sad also, +because poverty, when it is real poverty, is understood by +everybody--even by boys. + +"Well, patience!" exclaimed Geppetto, all at once rising to his feet, +and putting on his old corduroy coat, all patched and darned, he ran out +of the house. + +He returned shortly, holding in his hand a spelling-book for Pinocchio, +but the old coat was gone. The poor man was in his shirt-sleeves and out +of doors it was snowing. + +"And the coat, papa?" + +"I have sold it." + +"Why did you sell it?" + +"Because I found it too hot." + +Pinocchio understood this answer in an instant, and unable to restrain +the impulse of his good heart he sprang up and, throwing his arms around +Geppetto's neck, he began kissing him again and again. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +PINOCCHIO GOES TO SEE A PUPPET-SHOW + + +As soon as it stopped snowing Pinocchio set out for school with his fine +spelling-book under his arm. As he went along he began to imagine a +thousand things in his little brain and to build a thousand castles in +the air, one more beautiful than the other. + +And, talking to himself, he said: + +"Today at school I will learn to read at once; then tomorrow I will +begin to write, and the day after tomorrow to figure. Then, with my +acquirements, I will earn a great deal of money, and with the first +money I have in my pocket I will immediately buy for my papa a beautiful +new cloth coat. But what am I saying? Cloth, indeed! It shall be all +made of gold and silver, and it shall have diamond buttons. That poor +man really deserves it, for to buy me books and have me taught he has +remained in his shirt-sleeves. And in this cold! It is only fathers who +are capable of such sacrifices!" + +Whilst he was saying this with great emotion, he thought that he heard +music in the distance that sounded like fifes and the beating of a big +drum: Fi-fie-fi, fi-fi-fi; zum, zum, zum. + +He stopped and listened. The sounds came from the end of a cross street +that led to a little village on the seashore. + +"What can that music be? What a pity that I have to go to school, or +else--" + +And he remained irresolute. It was, however, necessary to come to a +decision. Should he go to school? or should he go after the fifes? + +"Today I will go and hear the fifes, and tomorrow I will go to school," +finally decided the young scapegrace, shrugging his shoulders. + +The more he ran the nearer came the sounds of the fifes and the beating +of the big drum: Fi-fi-fi; zum, zum, zum, zum. + +At last he found himself in the middle of a square quite full of people, +who were all crowded round a building made of wood and canvas, and +painted a thousand colors. + +"What is that building?" asked Pinocchio, turning to a little boy who +belonged to the place. + +"Read the placard--it is all written--and then you will know." + +"I would read it willingly, but it so happens that today I don't know +how to read." + +"Bravo, blockhead! Then I will read it to you. The writing on that +placard in those letters red as fire is: + + "THE GREAT PUPPET THEATER." + +"Has the play begun long?" + +"It is beginning now." + +"How much does it cost to go in?" + +"A dime." + +Pinocchio, who was in a fever of curiosity, lost all control of himself, +and without any shame he said to the little boy to whom he was talking: + +"Would you lend me a dime until tomorrow?" + +"I would lend it to you willingly," said the other, "but it so happens +that today I cannot give it to you." + +"I will sell you my jacket for a dime," the puppet then said to him. + +"What do you think that I could do with a jacket of flowered paper? If +there were rain and it got wet, it would be impossible to get it off my +back." + +"Will you buy my shoes?" + +"They would only be of use to light the fire." + +"How much will you give me for my cap?" + +"That would be a wonderful acquisition indeed! A cap of bread crumb! +There would be a risk of the mice coming to eat it whilst it was on my +head." + +Pinocchio was on thorns. He was on the point of making another offer, +but he had not the courage. He hesitated, felt irresolute and +remorseful. At last he said: + +"Will you give me a dime for this new spelling-book?" + +"I am a boy and I don't buy from boys," replied his little interlocutor, +who had much more sense than he had. + +"I will buy the spelling-book for a dime," called out a hawker of old +clothes, who had been listening to the conversation. + +And the book was sold there and then. And to think that poor Geppetto +had remained at home trembling with cold in his shirt-sleeves in order +that his son should have a spelling-book. + + + + +CHAPTER X + +THE PUPPETS RECOGNIZE THEIR BROTHER PINOCCHIO + + +When Pinocchio came into the little puppet theater, an incident occurred +that almost produced a revolution. + +The curtain had gone up and the play had already begun. + +On the stage Harlequin and Punch were as usual quarrelling with each +other and threatening every moment to come to blows. + +All at once Harlequin stopped short and, turning to the public, he +pointed with his hand to some one far down in the pit and exclaimed in a +dramatic tone: + +"Gods of the firmament! Do I dream or am I awake? But surely that is +Pinocchio!" + +"It is indeed Pinocchio!" cried Punch. + +"It is indeed himself!" screamed Miss Rose, peeping from behind the +scenes. + +"It is Pinocchio! it is Pinocchio!" shouted all the puppets in chorus, +leaping from all sides on to the stage. "It is Pinocchio! It is our +brother Pinocchio! Long live Pinocchio!" + +"Pinocchio, come up here to me," cried Harlequin, "and throw yourself +into the arms of your wooden brothers!" + +At this affectionate invitation Pinocchio made a leap from the end of +the pit into the reserved seats; another leap landed him on the head of +the leader of the orchestra, and he then sprang upon the stage. + +The embraces, the friendly pinches, and the demonstrations of warm +brotherly affection that Pinocchio received from the excited crowd of +actors and actresses of the puppet dramatic company are beyond +description. + +The sight was doubtless a moving one, but the public in the pit, finding +that the play was stopped, became impatient and began to shout: "We will +have the play--go on with the play!" + +It was all breath thrown away. The puppets, instead of continuing the +recital, redoubled their noise and outcries, and, putting Pinocchio on +their shoulders, they carried him in triumph before the footlights. + +At that moment out came the showman. He was very big, and so ugly that +the sight of him was enough to frighten anyone. His beard was as black +as ink, and so long that it reached from his chin to the ground. I need +only say that he trod upon it when he walked. His mouth was as big as an +oven, and his eyes were like two lanterns of red glass with lights +burning inside them. He carried a large whip made of snakes and foxes' +tails twisted together, which he cracked constantly. + +At his unexpected appearance there was a profound silence: no one dared +to breathe. A fly might have been heard in the stillness. The poor +puppets of both sexes trembled like so many leaves. + +"Why have you come to raise a disturbance in my theater?" asked the +showman of Pinocchio, in the gruff voice of a hobgoblin suffering from a +severe cold in the head. + +"Believe me, honored sir, it was not my fault!" + +"That is enough! Tonight we will settle our accounts." + +As soon as the play was over the showman went into the kitchen, where a +fine sheep, preparing for his supper, was turning slowly on the spit in +front of the fire. As there was not enough wood to finish roasting and +browning it, he called Harlequin and Punch, and said to them: + +"Bring that puppet here: you will find him hanging on a nail. It seems +to me that he is made of very dry wood and I am sure that if he were +thrown on the fire he would make a beautiful blaze for the roast." + +At first Harlequin and Punch hesitated; but, appalled by a severe glance +from their master, they obeyed. In a short time they returned to the +kitchen carrying poor Pinocchio, who was wriggling like an eel taken out +of water and screaming desperately: "Papa! papa! save me! I will not +die, I will not die!" + + + + +[Illustration] + +CHAPTER XI + +FIRE-EATER SNEEZES AND PARDONS PINOCCHIO + + +The showman, Fire-Eater--for that was his name--looked like a wicked +man, especially with his black beard that covered his chest and legs +like an apron. On the whole, however, he had not a bad heart. In proof +of this, when he saw poor Pinocchio brought before him, struggling and +screaming "I will not die, I will not die!" he was quite moved and felt +very sorry for him. He tried to hold out, but after a little he could +stand it no longer and he sneezed violently. When he heard the sneeze, +Harlequin, who up to that moment had been in the deepest affliction and +bowed down like a weeping willow, became quite cheerful and, leaning +towards Pinocchio, he whispered to him softly: + +"Good news, brother. The showman has sneezed and that is a sign that he +pities you, and consequently you are saved." + +Most men, when they feel compassion for somebody, either weep or at +least pretend to dry their eyes. Fire-Eater, on the contrary, whenever +he was really overcome, had the habit of sneezing. + +After he had sneezed, the showman, still acting the ruffian, shouted to +Pinocchio: + +"Have done crying! Your lamentations have given me a pain in my stomach. +I feel a spasm that almost--Etchoo! etchoo!" and he sneezed again twice. + +"Bless you!" said Pinocchio. + +"Thank you! And your papa and your mamma, are they still alive?" asked +Fire-Eater. + +"Papa, yes; my mamma I have never known." + +"Who can say what a sorrow it would be for your poor old father if I +were to have you thrown amongst those burning coals! Poor old man! I +pity him! Etchoo! etchoo! etchoo!" and he sneezed again three times. + +"Bless you" said Pinocchio. + +"Thank you! All the same, some compassion is due to me, for as you see I +have no more wood with which to finish roasting my mutton, and, to tell +you the truth, under the circumstances you would have been of great use +to me! However, I have had pity on you, so I must have patience. Instead +of you I will burn under the spit one of the puppets belonging to my +company. Ho there, gendarmes!" + +At this call two wooden gendarmes immediately appeared. They were very +long and very thin, and had on cocked hats, and held unsheathed swords +in their hands. + +The showman said to them in a hoarse voice: + +"Take Harlequin, bind him securely, and then throw him on the fire to +burn. I am determined that my mutton shall be well roasted." + +Only imagine that poor Harlequin! His terror was so great that his legs +bent under him, and he fell with his face on the ground. + +At this agonizing sight Pinocchio, weeping bitterly, threw himself at +the showman's feet and, bathing his long beard with his tears, he began +to say, in a supplicating voice: + +"Have pity, Sir Fire-Eater!" + +"Here there are no sirs," the showman answered severely. + +"Have pity, Sir Knight!" + +"Here there are no knights!" + +"Have pity, Commander!" + +"Here there are no commanders!" + +"Have pity, Excellence!" + +Upon hearing himself called Excellence the showman began to smile and +became at once kinder and more tractable. Turning to Pinocchio, he +asked: + +"Well, what do you want from me?" + +"I implore you to pardon poor Harlequin." + +"For him there can be no pardon. As I have spared you he must be put on +the fire, for I am determined that my mutton shall be well roasted." + +"In that case," cried Pinocchio proudly, rising and throwing away his +cap of bread crumb--"in that case I know my duty. Come on, gendarmes! +Bind me and throw me amongst the flames. No, it is not just that poor +Harlequin, my true friend, should die for me!" + +These words, pronounced in a loud, heroic voice, made all the puppets +who were present cry. Even the gendarmes, although they were made of +wood, wept like two newly born lambs. + +Fire-Eater at first remained as hard and unmoved as ice, but little by +little he began to melt and to sneeze. And, having sneezed four or five +times, he opened his arms affectionately and said to Pinocchio: + +"You are a good, brave boy! Come here and give me a kiss." + +Pinocchio ran at once and, climbing like a squirrel up the showman's +beard, he deposited a hearty kiss on the point of his nose. + +"Then the pardon is granted?" asked poor Harlequin in a faint voice that +was scarcely audible. + +"The pardon is granted!" answered Fire-Eater; he then added, sighing and +shaking his head: + +"I must have patience! Tonight I shall have to resign myself to eat the +mutton half raw; but another time, woe to him who displeases me!" + +At the news of the pardon the puppets all ran to the stage and, having +lighted the lamps and chandeliers as if for a full-dress performance, +they began to leap and to dance merrily. At dawn they were still +dancing. + + + + +[Illustration] + +CHAPTER XII + +PINOCCHIO RECEIVES A PRESENT OF FIVE GOLD PIECES + + +The following day Fire-Eater called Pinocchio to one side and asked him: + +"What is your father's name?" + +"Geppetto." + +"And what trade does he follow?" + +"He is a beggar." + +"Does he gain much?" + +"Gain much? Why, he has never a penny in his pocket. Only think, in +order to buy a spelling-book so that I could go to school he was obliged +to sell the only coat he had to wear--a coat that, between patches and +darns, was not fit to be seen." + +"Poor devil! I feel almost sorry for him! Here are five gold pieces. Go +at once and take them to him with my compliments." + +Pinocchio was overjoyed and thanked the showman a thousand times. He +embraced all the puppets of the company one by one, even to the +gendarmes, and set out to return home. + +But he had not gone far when he met on the road a Fox lame of one foot, +and a Cat blind of both eyes, and they were going along helping each +other like good companions in misfortune. The Fox, who was lame, walked +leaning on the Cat; and the Cat, who was blind, was guided by the Fox. + +"Good-day, Pinocchio," said the Fox, greeting him politely. + +"How do you come to know my name?" asked the puppet. + +"I know your father well." + +"Where did you see him?" + +"I saw him yesterday at the door of his house." + +"And what was he doing?" + +"He was in his shirt-sleeves and shivering with cold." + +"Poor papa! But that is over; for the future he shall shiver no more!" + +"Why?" + +"Because I have become a gentleman." + +"A gentleman--you!" said the Fox, and he began to laugh rudely and +scornfully. The Cat also began to laugh, but to conceal it she combed +her whiskers with her forepaws. + +[Illustration: Splash! Splash! They fell Into the Very Middle of the +Ditch] + +"There is little to laugh at," cried Pinocchio angrily. "I am really +sorry to make your mouth water, but if you know anything about it, you +can see that these are five gold pieces." + +And he pulled out the money that Fire-Eater had given him. + +At the jingling of the money the Fox, with an involuntary movement, +stretched out the paw that seemed crippled, and the Cat opened wide two +eyes that looked like two green lanterns. It is true that she shut them +again, and so quickly that Pinocchio observed nothing. + +"And now," asked the Fox, "what are you going to do with all that +money?" + +"First of all," answered the puppet, "I intend to buy a new coat for my +papa, made of gold and silver, and with diamond buttons; and then I will +buy a spelling-book for myself." + +"For yourself?" + +"Yes indeed, for I wish to go to school to study in earnest." + +"Look at me!" said the Fox. "Through my foolish passion for study I have +lost a leg." + +"Look at me!" said the Cat. "Through my foolish passion for study I have +lost the sight of both my eyes." + +At that moment a white Blackbird, that was perched on the hedge by the +road, began his usual song, and said: + +"Pinocchio, don't listen to the advice of bad companions; if you do you +will repent it!" + +Poor Blackbird! If only he had not spoken! The Cat, with a great leap, +sprang upon him, and without even giving him time to say "Oh!" ate him +in a mouthful, feathers and all. + +Having eaten him and cleaned her mouth she shut her eyes again and +feigned blindness as before. + +"Poor Blackbird!" said Pinocchio to the Cat, "why did you treat him so +badly?" + +"I did it to give him a lesson. He will learn another time not to +meddle in other people's conversation." + +They had gone almost half-way when the Fox, halting suddenly, said to +the puppet: + +"Would you like to double your money?" + +"In what way?" + +"Would you like to make out of your five miserable sovereigns, a +hundred, a thousand, two thousand?" + +"I should think so! but in what way?" + +"The way is easy enough. Instead of returning home you must go with us." + +"And where do you wish to take me?" + +"To the land of the Owls." + +Pinocchio reflected a moment, and then he said resolutely: + +"No, I will not go. I am already close to the house, and I will return +home to my papa, who is waiting for me. Who can tell how often the poor +old man must have sighed yesterday when I did not come back! I have +indeed been a bad son, and the Talking-Cricket was right when he said: +'Disobedient boys never come to any good in the world.' I have found it +to be true, for many misfortunes have happened to me. Even yesterday in +Fire-Eater's house I ran the risk--Oh! it makes me shudder only to think +of it!" + +"Well, then," said the Fox, "you are quite decided to go home? Go, then, +and so much the worse for you." + +"So much the worse for you!" repeated the Cat. + +"Think well of it, Pinocchio, for you are giving a kick to fortune." + +"To fortune!" repeated the Cat. + +"Between today and tomorrow your five sovereigns would have become two +thousand." + +"Two thousand!" repeated the Cat. + +"But how is it possible that they could become so many?" asked +Pinocchio, remaining with his mouth open from astonishment. + +"I will explain it to you at once," said the Fox. "You must know that in +the land of the Owls there is a sacred field called by everybody the +Field of Miracles. In this field you must dig a little hole, and you put +into it, we will say, one gold sovereign. You then cover up the hole +with a little earth; you must water it with two pails of water from the +fountain, then sprinkle it with two pinches of salt, and when night +comes you can go quietly to bed. In the meanwhile, during the night, the +gold piece will grow and flower, and in the morning when you get up and +return to the field, what do you find? You find a beautiful tree laden +with as many gold sovereigns as a fine ear of corn has grains in the +month of June." + +"So that," said Pinocchio, more and more bewildered, "supposing I buried +my five sovereigns in that field, how many should I find there the +following morning?" + +"That is an exceedingly easy calculation," replied the Fox, "a +calculation that you can make on the ends of your fingers. Every +sovereign will give you an increase of five hundred; multiply five +hundred by five, and the following morning will find you with two +thousand five hundred shining gold pieces in your pocket." + +"Oh! how delightful!" cried Pinocchio, dancing for joy. "As soon as ever +I have obtained those sovereigns, I will keep two thousand for myself +and the other five hundred I will make a present of to you two." + +"A present to us?" cried the Fox with indignation and appearing much +offended. "What are you dreaming of?" + +"What are you dreaming of?" repeated the Cat. + +"We do not work," said the Fox, "for interest: we work solely to enrich +others." + +"Others!" repeated the Cat. + +"What good people!" thought Pinocchio to himself, and, forgetting there +and then his papa, the new coat, the spelling-book, and all his good +resolutions, he said to the Fox and the Cat: + +"Let us be off at once. I will go with you." + +[Illustration: A LITTLE CHICKEN POPPED OUT, VERY GAY AND POLITE] + + + + +[Illustration] + +CHAPTER XIII + +THE INN OF THE RED CRAW-FISH + + +They walked, and walked, and walked, until at last, towards evening, +they arrived, all tired out, at the inn of The Red Craw-Fish. + +"Let us stop here a little," said the Fox, "that we may have something +to eat, and rest ourselves for an hour or two. We will start again at +midnight, so as to arrive at the Field of Miracles by dawn tomorrow +morning." + +Having gone into the inn they all three sat down to table, but none of +them had any appetite. + +The Cat, who was suffering from indigestion and feeling seriously +indisposed, could only eat thirty-five fish with tomato sauce and four +portions of tripe with Parmesan cheese; and because she thought the +tripe was not seasoned enough, she asked three times for the butter and +grated cheese! + +The Fox would also willingly have picked a little, but as his doctor had +ordered him a strict diet, he was forced to content himself simply with +a hare dressed with a sweet and sour sauce, and garnished lightly with +fat chickens and early pullets. After the hare he sent for a made dish +of partridges, rabbits, frogs, lizards and other delicacies; he could +not touch anything else. He cared so little for food, he said, that he +could put nothing to his lips. + +The one who ate the least was Pinocchio. He asked for some walnuts and a +hunch of bread, and left everything on his plate. The poor boy's +thoughts were continually fixed on the Field of Miracles. + +When they had supped, the Fox said to the host: + +"Give us two good rooms, one for Mr. Pinocchio, and the other for me and +my companion. We will snatch a little sleep before we leave. Remember, +however, that at midnight we wish to be called to continue our journey." + +"Yes, gentlemen," answered the host, and he winked at the Fox and the +Cat, as much as to say: "I know what you are up to. We understand one +another!" + +No sooner had Pinocchio got into bed than he fell asleep at once and +began to dream. And he dreamed that he was in the middle of a field, and +the field was full of shrubs covered with clusters of gold sovereigns, +and as they swung in the wind they went zin, zin, zin, almost as if they +would say: "Let who will, come and take us." But just as Pinocchio was +stretching out his hand to pick handfuls of those beautiful gold pieces +and to put them in his pocket, he was suddenly awakened by three violent +blows on the door of his room. + +It was the host who had come to tell him that midnight had struck. + +"Are my companions ready?" asked the puppet. + +"Ready! Why, they left two hours ago." + +"Why were they in such a hurry?" + +"Because the Cat had received a message to say that her eldest kitten +was ill with chilblains on his feet and was in danger of death." + +"Did they pay for the supper?" + +"What are you thinking of? They are too well educated to dream of +offering such an insult to a gentleman like you." + +"What a pity! It is an insult that would have given me so much +pleasure!" said Pinocchio, scratching his head. He then asked: + +"And where did my good friends say they would wait for me?" + +"At the Field of Miracles, tomorrow morning at daybreak." + +Pinocchio paid a sovereign for his supper and that of his companions, +and then left. + +Outside the inn it was so pitch dark that he had almost to grope his +way, for it was impossible to see a hand's breadth in front of him. Some +night-birds flying across the road from one hedge to the other brushed +Pinocchio's nose with their wings as they passed, which caused him so +much terror that, springing back, he shouted: "Who goes there?" and the +echo in the surrounding hills repeated in the distance: "Who goes there? +Who goes there?" + +As he was walking along he saw a little insect shining dimly on the +trunk of a tree, like a night-light in a lamp of transparent china. + +"Who are you?" asked Pinocchio. + +"I am the ghost of the Talking-Cricket," answered the insect in a low +voice, so weak and faint that it seemed to come from the other world. + +"What do you want with me?" said the puppet. + +"I want to give you some advice. Go back and take the four sovereigns +that you have left to your poor father, who is weeping and in despair +because you have not returned to him." + +"By tomorrow my papa will be a gentleman, for these four sovereigns will +have become two thousand." + +"Don't trust to those who promise to make you rich in a day. Usually +they are either mad or rogues! Give ear to me, and go back, my boy." + +"On the contrary, I am determined to go on." + +"The hour is late!" + +"I am determined to go on." + +"The night is dark!" + +"I am determined to go on." + +"The road is dangerous!" + +"I am determined to go on." + +"Remember that boys who are bent on following their caprices, and will +have their own way, sooner or later repent it." + +"Always the same stories. Good-night, Cricket." + +"Good-night, Pinocchio, and may Heaven preserve you from dangers and +from assassins." + +No sooner had he said these words than the Talking-Cricket vanished +suddenly like a light that has been blown out, and the road became +darker than ever. + + + + +[Illustration] + +CHAPTER XIV + +PINOCCHIO FALLS AMONGST ASSASSINS + + +"Really," said the puppet to himself, as he resumed his journey, "how +unfortunate we poor boys are. Everybody scolds us and gives us good +advice. See now; because I don't choose to listen to that tiresome +Cricket, who knows, according to him, how many misfortunes are to happen +to me! I am even to meet with assassins! That is, however, of little +consequence, for I don't believe in assassins--I have never believed in +them. For me, I think that assassins have been invented purposely by +papas to frighten boys who want to go out at night. Besides, supposing I +was to come across them here in the road, do you imagine they would +frighten me? Not the least in the world. I should go to meet them and +cry: 'Gentlemen assassins, what do you want with me? Remember that with +me there is no joking. Therefore go about your business and be quiet!' +At this speech they would run away like the wind. If, however, they were +so badly educated as not to run away, why, then I would run away myself +and there would be an end of it." + +But Pinocchio had not time to finish his reasoning, for at that moment +he thought that he heard a slight rustle of leaves behind him. + +He turned to look and saw in the gloom two evil-looking black figures +completely enveloped in charcoal sacks. They were running after him on +tiptoe and making great leaps like two phantoms. + +"Here they are in reality!" he said to himself and, not knowing where to +hide his gold pieces, he put them in his mouth precisely under his +tongue. + +Then he tried to escape. But he had not gone a step when he felt himself +seized by the arm and heard two horrid, sepulchral voices saying to him: + +"Your money or your life!" + +Pinocchio, not being able to answer in words, owing to the money that +was in his mouth, made a thousand low bows and a thousand pantomimes. He +tried thus to make the two muffled figures, whose eyes were only visible +through the holes in their sacks, understand that he was a poor puppet, +and that he had not as much as a counterfeit nickel in his pocket. + +"Come, now! Less nonsense and out with the money!" cried the two +brigands threateningly. + +And the puppet made a gesture with his hands to signify: "I have none." + +"Deliver up your money or you are dead," said the tallest of the +brigands. + +"Dead!" repeated the other. + +"And after we have killed you, we will also kill your father!" + +"Also your father!" + +"No, no, no, not my poor papa!" cried Pinocchio in a despairing voice, +and as he said it the sovereigns clinked in his mouth. + +"Ah! you rascal! Then you have hidden your money under your tongue! Spit +it out at once!" + +Pinocchio was obstinate. + +"Ah! you pretend to be deaf, do you? Wait a moment, leave it to us to +find a means to make you give it up." + +And one of them seized the puppet by the end of his nose, and the other +took him by the chin, and began to pull them brutally, the one up and +the other down, to force him to open his mouth. But it was all to no +purpose. Pinocchio's mouth seemed to be nailed and riveted together. + +Then the shorter assassin drew out an ugly knife and tried to put it +between his lips like a lever or chisel. But Pinocchio, as quick as +lightning, caught his hand with his teeth, and with one bite bit it +clear off and spat it out. Imagine his astonishment when instead of a +hand he perceived that a cat's paw lay on the ground. + +Encouraged by this first victory he used his nails to such purpose that +he succeeded in liberating himself from his assailants, and, jumping the +hedge by the roadside, he began to fly across the country. The assassins +ran after him like two dogs chasing a hare, and the one who had lost a +paw ran on one leg, and no one ever knew how he managed it. + +After a race of some miles Pinocchio could go no more. Giving himself +up for lost, he climbed the trunk of a very high pine tree and seated +himself in the topmost branches. The assassins attempted to climb after +him, but when they had reached half-way up they slid down again and +arrived on the ground with the skin grazed from their hands and knees. + +But they were not to be beaten by so little; collecting a quantity of +dry wood, they piled it beneath the pine and set fire to it. In less +time than it takes to tell, the pine began to burn and to flame like a +candle blown by the wind. Pinocchio, seeing that the flames were +mounting higher every instant, and not wishing to end his life like a +roasted pigeon, made a stupendous leap from the top of the tree and +started afresh across the fields and vineyards. The assassins followed +him, and kept behind him without once giving up. + +The day began to break and they were still pursuing him. Suddenly +Pinocchio found his way barred by a wide, deep ditch full of stagnant +water the color of coffee. What was he to do? "One! two! three!" cried +the puppet, and, making a rush, he sprang to the other side. The +assassins also jumped, but not having measured the distance +properly--splash! splash! they fell into the very middle of the ditch. +Pinocchio, who heard the plunge and the splashing of the water, shouted +out, laughing, and without stopping: + +"A fine bath to you, gentleman assassins." + +And he felt convinced that they were drowned, when, turning to look, he +perceived that, on the contrary, they were both running after him, still +enveloped in their sacks, with the water dripping from them as if they +had been two hollow baskets. + + + + +[Illustration] + +CHAPTER XV + +THE ASSASSINS HANG PINOCCHIO TO THE BIG OAK + + +At this sight the puppet's courage failed him and he was on the point of +throwing himself on the ground and giving himself over for lost. +Turning, however, his eyes in every direction, he saw, at some distance, +a small house as white as snow. + +"If only I had breath to reach that house," he said to himself, "perhaps +I should be saved." + +And, without delaying an instant, he recommenced running for his life +through the wood, and the assassins after him. + +At last, after a desperate race of nearly two hours, he arrived quite +breathless at the door of the house, and knocked. + +No one answered. + +He knocked again with great violence, for he heard the sound of steps +approaching him and the heavy panting of his persecutors. The same +silence. + +Seeing that knocking was useless, he began in desperation to kick and +pommel the door with all his might. The window then opened and a +beautiful Child appeared at it. She had blue hair and a face as white as +a waxen image; her eyes were closed and her hands were crossed on her +breast. Without moving her lips in the least, she said, in a voice that +seemed to come from the other world: + +"In this house there is no one. They are all dead." + +"Then at least open the door for me yourself," shouted Pinocchio, crying +and imploring. + +"I am dead also." + +"Dead? Then what are you doing there at the window?" + +"I am waiting for the bier to come to carry me away." + +Having said this she immediately disappeared and the window was closed +again without the slightest noise. + +"Oh! beautiful Child with blue hair," cried Pinocchio, "open the door, +for pity's sake! Have compassion on a poor boy pursued by assas--" + +But he could not finish the word, for he felt himself seized by the +collar and the same two horrible voices said to him threateningly: + +"You shall not escape from us again!" + +The puppet, seeing death staring him in the face, was taken with such a +violent fit of trembling that the joints of his wooden legs began to +creak, and the sovereigns hidden under his tongue to clink. + +"Now, then," demanded the assassins, "will you open your mouth--yes or +no? Ah! no answer? Leave it to us: this time we will force you to open +it!" + +And, drawing out two long, horrid knives as sharp as razors, +clash!--they attempted to stab him twice. + +But the puppet, luckily for him, was made of very hard wood; the knives +therefore broke into a thousand pieces and the assassins were left with +the handles in their hands, staring at each other. + +"I see what we must do," said one of them. "He must be hung! let us hang +him!" + +"Let us hang him!" repeated the other. + +Without loss of time they tied his arms behind him, passed a running +noose round his throat, and hung him to the branch of a tree called the +Big Oak. + +They then sat down on the grass and waited for his last struggle. But at +the end of three hours the puppet's eyes were still open, his mouth +closed, and he was kicking more than ever. + +Losing patience, they turned to Pinocchio and said in a bantering tone: + +"Good-bye till tomorrow. Let us hope that when we return you will be +polite enough to allow yourself to be found quite dead, and with your +mouth wide open." + +And they walked off. + +In the meantime a tempestuous northerly wind began to blow and roar +angrily, and it beat the poor puppet from side to side, making him swing +violently, like the clatter of a bell ringing for a wedding. And the +swinging gave him atrocious spasms, and the running noose, becoming +still tighter round his throat, took away his breath. + +Little by little his eyes began to grow dim, but although he felt that +death was near he still continued to hope that some charitable person +would come to his assistance before it was too late. But when, after +waiting and waiting, he found that no one came, absolutely no one, then +he remembered his poor father, and, thinking he was dying, he stammered +out: + +"Oh, papa! papa! if only you were here!" + +[Illustration: Four Rabbits as Black as Ink Entered Carrying a Little +Bier] + +His breath failed him and he could say no more. He shut his eyes, opened +his mouth, stretched his legs, gave a long shudder, and hung stiff and +insensible. + + + + +[Illustration] + +CHAPTER XVI + +THE BEAUTIFUL CHILD RESCUES THE PUPPET + + +While poor Pinocchio, suspended to a branch of the Big Oak, was +apparently more dead than alive, the beautiful Child with blue hair came +again to the window. When she saw the unhappy puppet hanging by his +throat, and dancing up and down in the gusts of the north wind, she was +moved by compassion. Striking her hands together, she gave three little +claps. + +At this signal there came a sound of the sweep of wings flying rapidly +and a large Falcon flew on to the window-sill. + +"What are your orders, gracious Fairy?" he asked, inclining his beak in +sign of reverence. + +"Do you see that puppet dangling from a branch of the Big Oak?" + +"I see him." + +"Very well. Fly there at once: with your strong beak break the knot that +keeps him suspended in the air, and lay him gently on the grass at the +foot of the tree." + +The Falcon flew away and after two minutes he returned, saying: + +"I have done as you commanded." + +"And how did you find him?" + +"To see him he appeared dead, but he cannot really be quite dead, for I +had no sooner loosened the running noose that tightened his throat than, +giving a sigh, he muttered in a faint voice: 'Now I feel better!'" + +The Fairy then struck her hands together twice and a magnificent Poodle +appeared, walking upright on his hind legs exactly as if he had been a +man. + +He was in the full-dress livery of a coachman. On his head he had a +three-cornered cap braided with gold, his curly white wig came down on +to his shoulders, he had a chocolate-colored waistcoat with diamond +buttons, and two large pockets to contain the bones that his mistress +gave him at dinner. He had, besides, a pair of short crimson velvet +breeches, silk stockings, cut-down shoes, and hanging behind him a +species of umbrella case made of blue satin, to put his tail into when +the weather was rainy. + +"Be quick, Medoro, like a good dog!" said the Fairy to the Poodle. "Have +the most beautiful carriage in my coach-house harnessed, and take the +road to the wood. When you come to the Big Oak you will find a poor +puppet stretched on the grass half dead. Pick him up gently and lay him +flat on the cushions of the carriage and bring him here to me. Do you +understand?" + +The Poodle, to show that he had understood, shook the case of blue +satin three or four times and ran off like a race-horse. + +Shortly afterwards a beautiful little carriage came out of the +coach-house. The cushions were stuffed with canary feathers and it was +lined on the inside with whipped cream, custard and vanilla wafers. The +little carriage was drawn by a hundred pairs of white mice, and the +Poodle, seated on the coach-box, cracked his whip from side to side like +a driver when he is afraid that he is behind time. + +Scarcely had a quarter of an hour passed, when the carriage returned. +The Fairy, who was waiting at the door of the house, took the poor +puppet in her arms and carried him into a little room that was +wainscoted with mother-of-pearl. She sent at once to summon the most +famous doctors in the neighborhood. + +They came immediately, one after the other: namely, a Crow, an Owl, and +a Talking-Cricket. + +"I wish to know from you, gentlemen," said the Fairy, "if this +unfortunate puppet is alive or dead!" + +At this request the Crow, advancing first, felt Pinocchio's pulse; he +then felt his nose and then the little toe of his foot: and, having done +this carefully, he pronounced solemnly the following words: + +"To my belief the puppet is already quite dead; but, if unfortunately he +should not be dead, then it would be a sign that he is still alive!" + +"I regret," said the Owl, "to be obliged to contradict the Crow, my +illustrious friend and colleague; but, in my opinion the puppet is still +alive; but, if unfortunately he should not be alive, then it would be a +sign that he is dead indeed!" + +"And you--have you nothing to say?" asked the Fairy of the +Talking-Cricket. + +"In my opinion, the wisest thing a prudent doctor can do, when he does +not know what he is talking about, is to be silent. For the rest, that +puppet there has a face that is not new to me. I have known him for some +time!" + +Pinocchio, who up to that moment had lain immovable, like a real piece +of wood, was seized with a fit of convulsive trembling that shook the +whole bed. + +"That puppet there," continued the Talking-Cricket, "is a confirmed +rogue." + +Pinocchio opened his eyes, but shut them again immediately. + +"He is a ragamuffin, a do-nothing, a vagabond." + +Pinocchio hid his face beneath the clothes. + +"That puppet there is a disobedient son who will make his poor father +die of a broken heart!" + +At that instant a suffocated sound of sobs and crying was heard in the +room. Imagine everybody's astonishment when, having raised the sheets a +little, it was discovered that the sounds came from Pinocchio. + +"When a dead person cries, it is a sign that he is on the road to get +well," said the Crow solemnly. + +"I grieve to contradict my illustrious friend and colleague," added the +Owl; "but for me, when the dead person cries, it is a sign that he is +sorry to die." + + + + +[Illustration] + +CHAPTER XVII + +PINOCCHIO WILL NOT TAKE HIS MEDICINE + + +As soon as the three doctors had left the room the Fairy approached +Pinocchio and, having touched his forehead, she perceived that he was in +a high fever. + +She therefore dissolved a certain white powder in half a tumbler of +water and, offering it to the puppet, she said to him lovingly: + +"Drink it and in a few days you will be cured." + +Pinocchio looked at the tumbler, made a wry face, and then asked in a +plaintive voice: + +"Is it sweet or bitter?" + +"It is bitter, but it will do you good." + +"If it is bitter, I will not take it." + +"Listen to me: drink it." + +"I don't like anything bitter." + +"Drink it, and when you have drunk it I will give you a lump of sugar to +take away the taste." + +"Where is the lump of sugar?" + +"Here it is," said the Fairy, taking a piece from a gold sugar-basin. + +"Give me first the lump of sugar and then I will drink that bad bitter +water." + +"Do you promise me?" + +"Yes." + +The Fairy gave him the sugar and Pinocchio, having crunched it up and +swallowed it in a second, said, licking his lips: + +"It would be a fine thing if sugar were medicine! I would take it every +day." + +"Now keep your promise and drink these few drops of water, which will +restore you to health." + +Pinocchio took the tumbler unwillingly in his hand and put the point of +his nose to it: he then approached it to his lips: he then again put his +nose to it, and at last said: + +"It is too bitter! too bitter! I cannot drink it." + +"How can you tell that, when you have not even tasted it?" + +"I can imagine it! I know it from the smell. I want first another lump +of sugar and then I will drink it!" + +The Fairy then, with all the patience of a good mamma, put another lump +of sugar in his mouth, and again presented the tumbler to him. + +"I cannot drink it so!" said the puppet, making a thousand grimaces. + +"Why?" + +"Because that pillow that is down there on my feet bothers me." + +The Fairy removed the pillow. + +"It is useless. Even so I cannot drink it." + +"What is the matter now?" + +"The door of the room, which is half open, bothers me." + +The Fairy went and closed the door. + +"In short," cried Pinocchio, bursting into tears, "I will not drink that +bitter water--no, no, no!" + +"My boy, you will repent it." + +"I don't care." + +"Your illness is serious." + +"I don't care." + +"The fever in a few hours will carry you into the other world." + +"I don't care." + +"Are you not afraid of death?" + +"I am not in the least afraid! I would rather die than drink that bitter +medicine." + +At that moment the door of the room flew open and four rabbits as black +as ink entered carrying on their shoulders a little bier. + +"What do you want with me?" cried Pinocchio, sitting up in bed in a +great fright. + +"We have come to take you," said the biggest rabbit. + +"To take me? But I am not yet dead!" + +"No, not yet? but you have only a few minutes to live, as you have +refused the medicine that would have cured you of the fever." + +"Oh, Fairy, Fairy!" the puppet then began to scream, "give me the +tumbler at once; be quick, for pity's sake, for I will not die--no, I +will not die." + +And, taking the tumbler in both hands, he emptied it at a gulp. + +"We must have patience!" said the rabbits; "this time we have made our +journey in vain." And, taking the little bier again on their shoulders, +they left the room, grumbling and murmuring between their teeth. + +In fact, a few minutes afterwards, Pinocchio jumped down from the bed +quite well, because wooden puppets have the privilege of being seldom +ill and of being cured very quickly. + +The Fairy, seeing him running and rushing about the room as gay and as +lively as a young cock, said to him: + +"Then my medicine has really done you good?" + +"Good? I should think so! It has restored me to life!" + +"Then why on earth did you require so much persuasion to take it?" + +"Because you see that we boys are all like that! We are more afraid of +medicine than of the illness." + +"Disgraceful! Boys ought to know that a good remedy taken in time may +save them from a serious illness, and perhaps even from death." + +"Oh! but another time I shall not require so much persuasion. I shall +remember those black rabbits with the bier on their shoulders and then I +shall immediately take the tumbler in my hand, and down it will go!" + +"Now, come here to me and tell me how it came about that you fell into +the hands of those assassins." + +"You see, the showman, Fire-Eater, gave me some gold pieces and said to +me: 'Go, and take them to your father!' and instead I met on the road a +Fox and a Cat, who said to me: 'Would you like those pieces of gold to +become a thousand or two? Come with us and we will take you to the Field +of Miracles,' and I said: 'Let us go.' And they said: 'Let us stop at +the inn of The Red Craw-Fish,' and after midnight they left. And when I +awoke I found that they were no longer there, because they had gone +away. Then I began to travel by night, for you cannot imagine how dark +it was; and on that account I met on the road two assassins in charcoal +sacks who said to me: 'Out with your money,' and I said to them: 'I have +got none,' because I had hidden the four gold pieces in my mouth, and +one of the assassins tried to put his hand in my mouth, and I bit his +hand off and spat it out, but instead of a hand it was a cat's paw. And +the assassins ran after me, and I ran, and ran, until at last they +caught me and tied me by the neck to a tree in this wood, and said to +me: 'Tomorrow we shall return here and then you will be dead with your +mouth open and we shall be able to carry off the pieces of gold that you +have hidden under your tongue." + +"And the four pieces--where have you put them?" asked the Fairy. + +"I have lost them!" said Pinocchio, but he was telling a lie, for he had +them in his pocket. + +He had scarcely told the lie when his nose, which was already long, grew +at once two inches longer. + +"And where did you lose them?" + +"In the wood near here." + +At this second lie his nose went on growing. + +"If you have lost them in the wood near here," said the Fairy, "we will +look for them and we shall find them: because everything that is lost in +that wood is always found." + +"Ah! now I remember all about it," replied the puppet, getting quite +confused; "I didn't lose the four gold pieces, I swallowed them whilst I +was drinking your medicine." + +At this lie his nose grew to such an extraordinary length that poor +Pinocchio could not move in any direction. If he turned to one side he +struck his nose against the bed or the window-panes, if he turned to the +other he struck it against the walls or the door, if he raised his head +a little he ran the risk of sticking it into one of the Fairy's eyes. + +And the Fairy looked at him and laughed. + +"What are you laughing at?" asked the puppet, very confused and anxious +at finding his nose growing so prodigiously. + +"I am laughing at the lie you have told." + +"And how can you possibly know that I have told a lie?" + +"Lies, my dear boy, are found out immediately, because they are of two +sorts. There are lies that have short legs, and lies that have long +noses. Your lie, as it happens, is one of those that have a long nose." + +Pinocchio, not knowing where to hide himself for shame, tried to run out +of the room; but he did not succeed, for his nose had increased so much +that it could no longer pass through the door. + +[Illustration: SPLASH! SPLASH! THEY FELL INTO THE VERY MIDDLE OF THE +DITCH] + + + + +[Illustration] + +CHAPTER XVIII + +PINOCCHIO AGAIN MEETS THE FOX AND THE CAT + + +The Fairy allowed the puppet to cry for a good half-hour over his nose, +which could no longer pass through the door of the room. This she did to +give him a severe lesson, and to correct him of the disgraceful fault of +telling lies--the most disgraceful fault that a boy can have. But when +she saw him quite disfigured and his eyes swollen out of his head from +weeping, she felt full of compassion for him. She therefore beat her +hands together and at that signal a thousand large birds called +Woodpeckers flew in at the window. They immediately perched on +Pinocchio's nose and began to peck at it with such zeal that in a few +minutes his enormous and ridiculous nose was reduced to its usual +dimensions. + +"What a good Fairy you are," said the puppet, drying his eyes, "and how +much I love you!" + +"I love you also," answered the Fairy; "and if you will remain with me +you shall be my little brother and I will be your good little sister." + +"I would remain willingly if it were not for my poor papa." + +"I have thought of everything. I have already let your father know, and +he will be here tonight." + +"Really?" shouted Pinocchio, jumping for joy. "Then, little Fairy, if +you consent, I should like to go and meet him. I am so anxious to give a +kiss to that poor old man, who has suffered so much on my account, that +I am counting the minutes." + +"Go, then, but be careful not to lose yourself. Take the road through +the wood and I am sure that you will meet him." + +Pinocchio set out, and as soon as he was in the wood he began to run +like a kid. But when he had reached a certain spot, almost in front of +the Big Oak, he stopped, because he thought he heard people amongst the +bushes. In fact, two persons came out on to the road. Can you guess who +they were? His two traveling companions, the Fox and the Cat, with whom +he had supped at the inn of The Red Craw-Fish. + +"Why, here is our dear Pinocchio!" cried the Fox, kissing and embracing +him. "How came you to be here?" + +"How come you to be here?" repeated the Cat. + +"It is a long story," answered the puppet, "which I will tell you when I +have time. But do you know that the other night, when you left me alone +at the inn, I met with assassins on the road?" + +"Assassins! Oh, poor Pinocchio! And what did they want?" + +"They wanted to rob me of my gold pieces." + +"Villains!" said the Fox. + +"Infamous villains!" repeated the Cat. + +"But I ran away from them," continued the puppet, "and they followed me, +and at last they overtook me and hung me to a branch of that oak tree." + +And Pinocchio pointed to the Big Oak, which was two steps from them. + +"Is it possible to hear of anything more dreadful?" said the Fox. "In +what a world we are condemned to live! Where can respectable people like +us find a safe refuge?" + +Whilst they were thus talking Pinocchio observed that the Cat was lame +of her front right leg, for in fact she had lost her paw with all its +claws. He therefore asked her: + +"What have you done with your paw?" + +The Cat tried to answer, but became confused. Therefore the Fox said +immediately: + +"My friend is too modest, and that is why she doesn't speak. I will +answer for her. I must tell you that an hour ago we met an old wolf on +the road, almost fainting from want of food, who asked alms of us. Not +having so much as a fish-bone to give him, what did my friend, who has +really the heart of a Caesar, do? She bit off one of her fore paws and +threw it to that poor beast that he might appease his hunger." + +And the Fox, in relating this, dried a tear. + +Pinocchio was also touched and, approaching the Cat, he whispered into +her ear: + +"If all cats resembled you, how fortunate the mice would be!" + +"And now, what are you doing here?" asked the Fox of the puppet. + +"I am waiting for my papa, whom I expect to arrive every moment." + +"And your gold pieces?" + +"I have got them in my pocket, all but one that I spent at the inn of +The Red Craw-Fish." + +"And to think that, instead of four pieces, by tomorrow they might +become one or two thousand! Why do you not listen to my advice? Why will +you not go and bury them in the Field of Miracles?" + +"Today it is impossible; I will go another day." + +"Another day it will be too late!" said the Fox. + +"Why?" + +"Because the field has been bought by a gentleman and after tomorrow no +one will be allowed to bury money there." + +"How far off is the Field of Miracles?" + +"Not two miles. Will you come with us? In half an hour you will be +there. You can bury your money at once, and in a few minutes you will +collect two thousand, and this evening you will return with your pockets +full. Will you come with us?" + +Pinocchio thought of the good Fairy, old Geppetto, and the warnings of +the Talking-Cricket, and he hesitated a little before answering. He +ended, however, by doing as all boys do who have not a grain of sense +and who have no heart--he ended by giving his head a little shake and +saying to the Fox and the Cat: + +"Let us go: I will come with you." + +And they went. + +After having walked half the day they reached a town that was called +"Trap for Blockheads." As soon as Pinocchio entered this town he saw +that the streets were crowded with dogs who were yawning from hunger, +shorn sheep trembling with cold, cocks without combs begging for a grain +of Indian corn, large butterflies that could no longer fly because they +had sold their beautiful colored wings, peacocks which had no tails and +were ashamed to be seen, and pheasants that went scratching about in a +subdued fashion, mourning for their brilliant gold and silver feathers +gone forever. + +In the midst of this crowd of beggars and shamefaced creatures some +lordly carriage passed from time to time containing a Fox, or a thieving +Magpie, or some other ravenous bird of prey. + +"And where is the Field of Miracles?" asked Pinocchio. + +"It is here, not two steps from us." + +They crossed the town and, having gone beyond the walls, they came to a +solitary field. + +"Here we are," said the Fox to the puppet. "Now stoop down and dig with +your hands a little hole in the ground and put your gold pieces into +it." + +Pinocchio obeyed. He dug a hole, put into it the four gold pieces that +he had left, and then filled up the hole with a little earth. + +"Now, then," said the Fox, "go to that canal close to us, fetch a can of +water, and water the ground where you have sowed them." + +Pinocchio went to the canal, and, as he had no can, he took off one of +his old shoes and filling it with water he watered the ground over the +hole. + +He then asked: + +"Is there anything else to be done?" + +"Nothing else," answered the Fox. "We can now go away. You can return in +about twenty minutes and you will find a shrub already pushing through +the ground, with its branches quite loaded with money." + +The poor puppet, beside himself with joy, thanked the Fox and the Cat a +thousand times, and promised them a beautiful present. + +"We wish for no presents," answered the two rascals. "It is enough for +us to have taught you the way to enrich yourself without undergoing hard +work, and we are as happy as people out for a holiday." + +Thus saying, they took leave of Pinocchio, and, wishing him a good +harvest, went about their business. + + + + +[Illustration] + +CHAPTER XIX + +PINOCCHIO IS ROBBED OF HIS MONEY + + +The puppet returned to the town and began to count the minutes one by +one, and when he thought that it must be time he took the road leading +to the Field of Miracles. + +And as he walked along with hurried steps his heart beat fast--tic, tac, +tic, tac--like a drawing-room clock when it is really going well. +Meanwhile he was thinking to himself: + +"And if, instead of a thousand gold pieces, I were to find on the +branches of the tree two thousand? And instead of two thousand, +supposing I found five thousand? and instead of five thousand, that I +found a hundred thousand? Oh! what a fine gentleman I should then +become! I would have a beautiful palace, a thousand little wooden horses +and a thousand stables to amuse myself with, a cellar full of currant +wine and sweet syrups, and a library quite full of candies, tarts, +plum-cakes, macaroons, and biscuits with cream." + +Whilst he was building these castles in the air he had arrived in the +neighborhood of the field, and he stopped to look about for a tree with +its branches laden with money, but he saw nothing. He advanced another +hundred steps--nothing; he entered the field and went right up to the +little hole where he had buried his sovereigns--and nothing. He then +became very thoughtful and, forgetting the rules of society and good +manners, he took his hands out of his pocket and gave his head a long +scratch. + +At that moment he heard an explosion of laughter close to him and, +looking up, he saw a large Parrot perched on a tree, who was pruning the +few feathers he had left. + +"Why are you laughing?" asked Pinocchio in an angry voice. + +"I am laughing because in pruning my feathers I tickled myself under my +wings." + +The puppet did not answer, but went to the canal and, filling the same +old shoe full of water, he proceeded to water the earth afresh that +covered his gold pieces. + +While he was thus occupied another laugh, still more impertinent than +the first, rang out in the silence of that solitary place. + +"Once for all," shouted Pinocchio in a rage, "may I know, you +ill-educated Parrot, what you are laughing at?" + +"I am laughing at those simpletons who believe in all the foolish things +that are told them, and who allow themselves to be entrapped by those +who are more cunning than they are." + +"Are you perhaps speaking of me?" + +"Yes, I am speaking of you, poor Pinocchio--of you who are simple +enough to believe that money can be sown and gathered in fields in the +same way as beans and gourds. I also believed it once and today I am +suffering for it. Today--but it is too late--I have at last learned that +to put a few pennies honestly together it is necessary to know how to +earn them, either by the work of our own hands or by the cleverness of +our own brains." + +"I don't understand you," said the puppet, who was already trembling +with fear. + +"Have patience! I will explain myself better," rejoined the Parrot. "You +must know, then, that while you were in the town the Fox and the Cat +returned to the field; they took the buried money and then fled like the +wind. And now he that catches them will be clever." + +Pinocchio remained with his mouth open and, not choosing to believe the +Parrot's words, he began with his hands and nails to dig up the earth +that he had watered. And he dug, and dug, and dug, and made such a deep +hole that a rick of straw might have stood upright in it, but the money +was no longer there. + +He rushed back to the town in a state of desperation and went at once to +the Courts of Justice to denounce the two knaves who had robbed him to +the judge. + +The judge was a big ape of the gorilla tribe, an old ape respectable for +his age, his white beard, but especially for his gold spectacles without +glasses that he was always obliged to wear, on account of an +inflammation of the eyes that had tormented him for many years. + +Pinocchio related in the presence of the judge all the particulars of +the infamous fraud of which he had been the victim. He gave the names, +the surnames, and other details, of the two rascals, and ended by +demanding justice. + +The judge listened with great benignity; took a lively interest in the +story; was much touched and moved; and when the puppet had nothing +further to say he stretched out his hand and rang a bell. + +At this summons two mastiffs immediately appeared dressed as gendarmes. +The judge then, pointing to Pinocchio, said to them: + +"That poor devil has been robbed of four gold pieces; take him away and +put him immediately into prison." + +The puppet was petrified on hearing this unexpected sentence and tried +to protest; but the gendarmes, to avoid losing time, stopped his mouth +and carried him off to the lockup. + +And there he remained for four months--four long months--and he would +have remained longer still if a fortunate chance had not released him. +The young Emperor who reigned over the town of "Trap for Blockheads," +having won a splendid victory over his enemies, ordered great public +rejoicings. There were illuminations, fireworks, horse races and +velocipede races, and as a further sign of triumph he commanded that the +prisons should be opened and all the prisoners freed. + +"If the others are to be let out of prison, I will go also," said +Pinocchio to the jailor. + +"No, not you," said the jailor, "because you do not belong to the +fortunate class." + +"I beg your pardon," replied Pinocchio, "I am also a criminal." + +"In that case you are perfectly right," said the jailor, and, taking off +his hat and bowing to him respectfully, he opened the prison doors and +let him escape. + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +PINOCCHIO STARTS BACK TO THE FAIRY'S HOUSE + + +You can imagine Pinocchio's joy when he found himself free. Without +stopping to take breath he immediately left the town and took the road +that led to the Fairy's house. + +On account of the rainy weather the road had become a marsh into which +he sank knee-deep. But the puppet would not give in. Tormented by the +desire of seeing his father and his little sister with blue hair again, +he ran on like a greyhound, and as he ran he was splashed with mud from +head to foot. And he said to himself as he went along: "How many +misfortunes have happened to me. But I deserved them, for I am an +obstinate, passionate puppet. I am always bent upon having my own way, +without listening to those who wish me well, and who have a thousand +times more sense than I have! But from this time forth I am determined +to change and to become orderly and obedient. For at last I have seen +that disobedient boys come to no good and gain nothing. And has my papa +waited for me? Shall I find him at the Fairy's house? Poor man, it is so +long since I last saw him: I am dying to embrace him and to cover him +with kisses! And will the Fairy forgive me my bad conduct to her? To +think of all the kindness and loving care I received from her, to think +that if I am now alive I owe it to her! Would it be possible to find a +more ungrateful boy, or one with less heart than I have?" + +Whilst he was saying this he stopped suddenly, frightened to death, and +made four steps backwards. + +What had he seen? + +He had seen an immense Serpent stretched across the road. Its skin was +green, it had red eyes, and a pointed tail that was smoking like a +chimney. + +It would be impossible to imagine the puppet's terror. He walked away to +a safe distance and, sitting down on a heap of stones, waited until the +Serpent should have gone about its business and left the road clear. + +He waited an hour; two hours; three hours; but the Serpent was always +there, and even from a distance he could see the red light of his fiery +eyes and the column of smoke that ascended from the end of his tail. + +At last Pinocchio, trying to feel courageous, approached to within a few +steps, and said to the Serpent in a little soft, insinuating voice: + +"Excuse me. Sir Serpent, but would you be so good as to move a little to +one side--just enough to allow me to pass?" + +He might as well have spoken to the wall. Nobody moved. + +He began again in the same soft voice: + +"You must know. Sir Serpent, that I am on my way home, where my father +is waiting for me, and it is such a long time since I saw him last! Will +you, therefore, allow me to continue my road?" + +He waited for a sign in answer to this request, but there was none; in +fact, the Serpent, who up to that moment had been sprightly and full of +life, became motionless and almost rigid. He shut his eyes and his tail +ceased smoking. + +"Can he really be dead?" said Pinocchio, rubbing his hands with delight. +He determined to jump over him and reach the other side of the road. +But, just as he was going to leap, the Serpent raised himself suddenly +on end, like a spring set in motion; and the puppet, drawing back, in +his terror caught his feet and fell to the ground. + +And he fell so awkwardly that his head stuck in the mud and his legs +went into the air. + +At the sight of the puppet kicking violently with his head in the mud, +the Serpent went into convulsions of laughter, and laughed, and laughed, +until he broke a blood-vessel in his chest and died. And that time he +was really dead. + +Pinocchio then set off running, in hopes that he should reach the +Fairy's house before dark. But before long he began to suffer so +dreadfully from hunger that he could not bear it, and he jumped into a +field by the wayside, intending to pick some bunches of Muscatel grapes. +Oh, that he had never done it! + +He had scarcely reached the vines when crack--his legs were caught +between two cutting iron bars and he became so giddy with pain that +stars of every color danced before his eyes. + +The poor puppet had been taken in a trap put there to capture some big +polecats which were the scourge of the poultry-yards in the +neighborhood. + + + + +[Illustration] + +CHAPTER XXI + +PINOCCHIO ACTS AS WATCH-DOG + + +Pinocchio began to cry and scream, but his tears and groans were +useless, for there was not a house to be seen, and not a living soul +passed down the road. + +At last night came on. + +Partly from the pain of the trap, that cut his legs, and a little from +fear at finding himself alone in the dark in the midst of the fields, +the puppet was on the point of fainting. Just at that moment he saw a +Firefly flitting over his head. He called to it and said: + +"Oh, little Firefly, will you have pity on me and liberate me from this +torture?" + +"Poor boy!" said the Firefly, stopping and looking at him with +compassion; "but how could your legs have been caught by those sharp +irons?" + +"I came into the field to pick two bunches of these Muscatel grapes, +and--" + +"But were the grapes yours?" + +"No." + +"Then who taught you to carry off other people's property?" + +"I was so hungry." + +"Hunger, my boy, is not a good reason for appropriating what does not +belong to us." + +"That is true, that is true!" said Pinocchio, crying. "I will never do +it again." + +At this moment their conversation was interrupted by a slight sound of +approaching footsteps. It was the owner of the field coming on tiptoe to +see if one of the polecats that ate his chickens during the night had +been caught in his trap. + +His astonishment was great when, having brought out his lantern from +under his coat, he perceived that instead of a polecat a boy had been +taken. + +"Ah, little thief," said the angry peasant, "then it is you who carries +off my chickens?" + +"No, it is not I; indeed it is not!" cried Pinocchio, sobbing. "I only +came into the field to take two bunches of grapes!" + +"He who steals grapes is quite capable of stealing chickens. Leave it to +me, I will give you a lesson that you will not forget in a hurry." + +Opening the trap, he seized the puppet by the collar and carried him to +his house as if he had been a young lamb. + +When he reached the yard in front of the house he threw him roughly on +the ground and, putting his foot on his neck, he said to him: + +"It is late and I want to go to bed; we will settle our accounts +tomorrow. In the meanwhile, as the dog who kept guard at night died +today, you shall take his place at once. You shall be my watch-dog." + +And, taking a great collar covered with brass knobs, he strapped it so +tightly round his throat that he was not able to draw his head out of +it. A heavy chain attached to the collar was fastened to the wall. + +"If it should rain tonight," he then said to him, "you can go and lie +down in the kennel; the straw that has served as a bed for my poor dog +for the last four years is still there. If unfortunately robbers should +come, remember to keep your ears pricked and to bark." + +After giving him this last injunction the man went into the house, shut +the door, and put up the chain. + +Poor Pinocchio remained lying on the ground more dead than alive from +the effects of cold, hunger and fear. From time to time he put his hands +angrily to the collar that tightened his throat and said, crying: + +"It serves me right! Decidedly, it serves me right! I was determined to +be a vagabond and a good-for-nothing. I would listen to bad companions, +and that is why I always meet with misfortunes. If I had been a good +little boy, as so many are; if I had remained at home with my poor papa, +I should not now be in the midst of the fields and obliged to be the +watch-dog to a peasant's house. Oh, if I could be born again! But now it +is too late and I must have patience!" + +Relieved by this little outburst, which came straight from his heart, he +went into the dog-kennel and fell asleep. + + + + +[Illustration] + +CHAPTER XXII + +PINOCCHIO DISCOVERS THE ROBBERS + + +He had been sleeping heavily for about two hours when, towards midnight, he +was aroused by a whispering of strange voices that seemed to come from the +courtyard. Putting the point of his nose out of the kennel, he saw four +little beasts with dark fur, that looked like cats, standing consulting +together. But they were not cats; they were polecats--carnivorous little +animals, especially greedy for eggs and young chickens. One of the +polecats, leaving his companions, came to the opening of the kennel and +said in a low voice: + +"Good evening, Melampo." + +"My name is not Melampo," answered the puppet. + +"Oh! then who are you?" + +"I am Pinocchio." + +"And what are you doing here?" + +"I am acting as watch-dog." + +"Then where is Melampo? Where is the old dog who lived in this kennel?" + +"He died this morning." + +"Is he dead? Poor beast! He was so good. But, judging you by your face, +I should say that you were also a good dog." + +"I beg your pardon, I am not a dog." + +"Not a dog? Then what are you?" + +"I am a puppet." + +"And you are acting as watch-dog?" + +"That is only too true--as a punishment." + +"Well, then, I will offer you the same conditions that we made with the +deceased Melampo, and I am sure you will be satisfied with them." + +"What are these conditions?" + +"One night in every week you are to permit us to visit this poultry-yard +as we have hitherto done, and to carry off eight chickens. Of these +chickens seven are to be eaten by us, and one we will give to you, on +the express understanding, however, that you pretend to be asleep, and +that it never enters your head to bark and to waken the peasant." + +"Did Melampo act in this manner?" asked Pinocchio. + +"Certainly, and we were always on the best terms with him. Sleep +quietly, and rest assured that before we go we will leave by the kennel +a beautiful chicken ready plucked for your breakfast tomorrow. Have we +understood each other clearly?" + +"Only too clearly!" answered Pinocchio, and he shook his head +threateningly, as much as to say: "You shall hear of this shortly!" + +The four polecats, thinking themselves safe, repaired to the +poultry-yard, which was close to the kennel, and, having opened the +wooden gate with their teeth and claws, they slipped in one by one. But +they had only just passed through when they heard the gate shut behind +them with great violence. + +It was Pinocchio who had shut it, and for greater security he put a +large stone against it to keep it closed. + +He then began to bark, and he barked exactly like a watch-dog: "Bow-wow, +bow-wow." + +Hearing the barking, the peasant jumped out of bed and, taking his gun, +he came to the window and asked: + +"What is the matter?" + +"There are robbers!" answered Pinocchio. + +"Where are they?" + +"In the poultry-yard." + +"I will come down directly." + +In fact, in less time than it takes to say "Amen!" the peasant came +down. He rushed into the poultry-yard, caught the polecats, and, having +put them into a sack, he said to them in a tone of great satisfaction: + +"At last you have fallen into my hands! I might punish you, but I am not +so cruel. I will content myself instead by carrying you in the morning +to the innkeeper of the neighboring village, who will skin and cook you +as hares with a sweet and sour sauce. It is an honor that you don't +deserve, but generous people like me don't consider such trifles!" + +He then approached Pinocchio and began to caress him, and amongst other +things he asked him: + +"How did you manage to discover the four thieves? To think that Melampo, +my faithful Melampo, never found out anything!" + +The puppet might then have told him the whole story; he might have +informed him of the disgraceful conditions that had been made between +the dog and the polecats; but he remembered that the dog was dead and he +thought to himself: + +"What is the good of accusing the dead? The dead are dead, and the best +thing to be done is to leave them in peace!" + +"When the thieves got into the yard, were you asleep or awake?" the +peasant went on to ask him. + +"I was asleep," answered Pinocchio, "but the polecats woke me with their +chatter and one of them came to the kennel and said to me: 'If you +promise not to bark, and not to wake the master, we will make you a +present of a fine chicken ready plucked!' To think that they should have +had the audacity to make such a proposal to me! For, although I am a +puppet, possessing perhaps nearly all the faults in the world, there is +one that I certainly will never be guilty of, that of making terms with, +and sharing the gains of, dishonest people!" + +"Well said, my boy!" cried the peasant, slapping him on the shoulder. +"Such sentiments do you honor; and as a proof of my gratitude I will at +once set you at liberty, and you may return home." + +And he removed the dog-collar. + + + + +[Illustration] + +CHAPTER XXIII + +PINOCCHIO FLIES TO THE SEASHORE + + +As soon as Pinocchio was released from the heavy and humiliating weight +of the dog-collar he started off across the fields and never stopped +until he had reached the high road that led to the Fairy's house. He +could see amongst the trees the top of the Big Oak to which he had been +hung, but, although he looked in every direction, the little house +belonging to the beautiful Child with the blue hair was nowhere visible. + +Seized with a sad presentiment, he began to run with all the strength he +had left and in a few minutes he reached the field where the little +white house had once stood. But it was no longer there. Instead of the +house he saw a marble stone, on which were engraved these sad words: + + HERE LIES + THE CHILD WITH THE BLUE HAIR + WHO DIED FROM SORROW + BECAUSE SHE WAS ABANDONED BY HER + LITTLE BROTHER PINOCCHIO + +I leave you to imagine the puppet's feelings when he had with difficulty +spelled out this epitaph. He fell with his face on the ground and, +covering the tombstone with a thousand kisses, burst into an agony of +tears. He cried all night and when morning came he was still crying, +although he had no tears left, and his sobs and lamentations were so +acute and heart-breaking that they aroused the echoes in the surrounding +hills. + +And as he wept he said: + +"Oh, little Fairy, why did you die? Why did I not die instead of you, I +who am so wicked, whilst you were so good? And my papa? Where can he be? +Oh, little Fairy, tell me where I can find him, for I want to remain +with him always and never leave him again, never again! Oh, little +Fairy, tell me that it is not true that you are dead! If you really love +your little brother, come to life again. Does it not grieve you to see +me alone and abandoned by everybody? If assassins come they will hang me +again to the branch of a tree, and then I should die indeed. What do you +imagine that I can do here alone in the world? Now that I have lost you +and my papa, who will give me food? Where shall I go to sleep at night? +Who will make me a new jacket? Oh, it would be better, a hundred times +better, for me to die also! Yes, I want to die--oh! oh! oh!" + +[Illustration: An Immense Serpent Stretched Across the Road] + +And in his despair he tried to tear his hair, but his hair was made +of wood so he could not even have the satisfaction of sticking his +fingers into it. + +Just then a large Pigeon flew over his head and, stopping with distended +wings, called down to him from a great height: + +"Tell me, child, what are you doing there?" + +"Don't you see? I am crying!" said Pinocchio, raising his head towards +the voice and rubbing his eyes with his jacket. + +"Tell me," continued the Pigeon, "amongst your companions, do you happen +to know a puppet who is called Pinocchio?" + +"Pinocchio? Did you say Pinocchio?" repeated the puppet, jumping quickly +to his feet. "I am Pinocchio!" + +At this answer the Pigeon descended rapidly to the ground. He was larger +than a turkey. + +"Do you also know Geppetto?" he asked. + +"Do I know him! He is my poor papa! Has he perhaps spoken to you of me? +Will you take me to him? Is he still alive? Answer me, for pity's sake: +is he still alive?" + +"I left him three days ago on the seashore." + +"What was he doing?" + +"He was building a little boat for himself, to cross the ocean. For more +than three months that poor man has been going all round the world +looking for you. Not having succeeded in finding you, he has now taken +it into his head to go to the distant countries of the New World in +search of you." + +"How far is it from here to the shore?" asked Pinocchio breathlessly. + +"More than six hundred miles." + +"Six hundred miles? Oh, beautiful Pigeon, what a fine thing it would be +to have your wings!" + +"If you wish to go, I will carry you there." + +"How?" + +"On my back. Do you weigh much?" + +"I weigh next to nothing. I am as light as a feather." + +And without waiting for more Pinocchio jumped at once on the Pigeon's +back and, putting a leg on each side of him as men do on horseback, he +exclaimed joyfully: + +"Gallop, gallop, my little horse, for I am anxious to arrive quickly!" + +The Pigeon took flight and in a few minutes had soared so high that they +almost touched the clouds. Finding himself at such an immense height the +puppet had the curiosity to turn and look down; but his head spun round +and he became so frightened to save himself from the danger of falling +he wound his arms tightly round the neck of his feathered steed. + +They flew all day. Towards evening the Pigeon said: + +"I am very thirsty!" + +"And I am very hungry!" rejoined Pinocchio. + +"Let us stop at that dovecote for a few minutes and then we will +continue our journey, so that we may reach the seashore by dawn +tomorrow." + +They went into a deserted dovecote, where they found nothing but a basin +full of water and a basket full of vetch. + +The puppet had never in his life been able to eat vetch: according to +him it made him sick. That evening, however, he ate to repletion, and +when he had nearly emptied the basket he turned to the Pigeon and said +to him: + +"I never could have believed that vetch was so good!" + +"Be assured, my boy," replied the Pigeon, "that when hunger is real, and +there is nothing else to eat, even vetch becomes delicious. Hunger +knows neither caprice nor greediness." + +Having quickly finished their little meal they recommenced their journey +and flew away. The following morning they reached the seashore. + +The Pigeon placed Pinocchio on the ground and, not wishing to be +troubled with thanks for having done a good action, flew quickly away +and disappeared. + +The shore was crowded with people who were looking out to sea, shouting +and gesticulating. + +"What has happened?" asked Pinocchio of an old woman. + +"A poor father who has lost his son has gone away in a boat to search +for him on the other side of the water, and today the sea is tempestuous +and the little boat is in danger of sinking." + +"Where is the little boat?" + +"It is out there in a line with my finger," said the old woman, pointing +to a little boat which, seen at that distance, looked like a nutshell +with a very little man in it. + +Pinocchio fixed his eyes on it and after looking attentively he gave a +piercing scream, crying: + +"It is my papa! It is my papa!" + +The boat, meanwhile, beaten by the fury of the waves, at one moment +disappeared in the trough of the sea, and the next came again to the +surface. Pinocchio, standing on the top of a high rock, kept calling to +his father by name, and making every kind of signal to him with his +hands, his handkerchief, and his cap. + +And, although he was so far off, Geppetto appeared to recognize his son, +for he also took off his cap and waved it, and tried by gestures to +make him understand that he would have returned if it had been possible, +but that the sea was so tempestuous that he could not use his oars or +approach the shore. + +Suddenly a tremendous wave rose and the boat disappeared. They waited, +hoping it would come again to the surface, but it was seen no more. + +"Poor man!" said the fishermen who were assembled on the shore; +murmuring a prayer, they turned to go home. + +Just then they heard a desperate cry and, looking back, they saw a +little boy who exclaimed, as he jumped from a rock into the sea: + +"I will save my papa!" + +Pinocchio, being made of wood, floated easily and he swam like a fish. +At one moment they saw him disappear under the water, carried down by +the fury of the waves, and next he reappeared struggling with a leg or +an arm. At last they lost sight of him and he was seen no more. + + + + +[Illustration] + +CHAPTER XXIV + +PINOCCHIO FINDS THE FAIRY AGAIN + + +Pinocchio, hoping to be in time to help his father, swam the whole +night. + +And what a horrible night it was! The rain came down in torrents, it +hailed, the thunder was frightful, and the flashes of lightning made it +as light as day. + +Towards morning he saw a long strip of land not far off. It was an +island in the midst of the sea. + +He tried his utmost to reach the shore, but it was all in vain. The +waves, racing and tumbling over each other, knocked him about as if he +had been a stick or a wisp of straw. At last, fortunately for him, a +billow rolled up with such fury and impetuosity that he was lifted up +and thrown far on to the sands. + +He fell with such force that, as he struck the ground, his ribs and all +his joints cracked, but he comforted himself, saying: + +"This time also I have made a wonderful escape!" + +Little by little the sky cleared, the sun shone out in all his splendor, +and the sea became as quiet and as smooth as oil. + +The puppet put his clothes in the sun to dry and began to look in every +direction in hopes of seeing on the vast expanse of water a little boat +with a little man in it. But, although he looked and looked, he could +see nothing but the sky, and the sea, and the sail of some ship, but so +far away that it seemed no bigger than a fly. + +"If I only knew what this island was called!" he said to himself. "If I +only knew whether it was inhabited by civilized people--I mean, by +people who have not the bad habit of hanging boys to the branches of the +trees. But whom can I ask? Whom, if there is nobody?" + +This idea of finding himself alone, alone, all alone, in the midst of +this great uninhabited country, made him so melancholy that he was just +beginning to cry. But at that moment, at a short distance from the +shore, he saw a big fish swimming by; it was going quietly on its own +business with its head out of the water. + +Not knowing its name, the puppet called to it in a loud voice to make +himself heard: + +"Eh, Sir Fish, will you permit me a word with you?" + +"Two if you like," answered the fish, who was a Dolphin, and so polite +that few similar are to be found in any sea in the world. + +"Will you be kind enough to tell me if there are villages in this island +where it would be possible to obtain something to eat, without running +the danger of being eaten?" + +"Certainly there are," replied the Dolphin. "Indeed, you will find one +at a short distance from here." + +"And what road must I take to go there?" + +"You must take that path to your left and follow your nose. You cannot +make a mistake." + +"Will you tell me another thing? You who swim about the sea all day and +all night, have you by chance met a little boat with my papa in it?" + +"And who is your papa?" + +"He is the best papa in the world, whilst it would be difficult to find +a worse son than I am." + +"During the terrible storm last night," answered the Dolphin, "the +little boat must have gone to the bottom." + +"And my papa?" + +"He must have been swallowed by the terrible Dog-Fish, who for some days +past has been spreading devastation and ruin in our waters." + +"Is this Dog-Fish very big?" asked Pinocchio, who was already beginning +to quake with fear. + +"Big!" replied the Dolphin. "That you may form some idea of his size, I +need only tell you that he is bigger than a five-storied house, and that +his mouth is so enormous and so deep that a railway train with its +smoking engine could pass down his throat." + +"Mercy upon us!" exclaimed the terrified puppet; and, putting on his +clothes with the greatest haste, he said to the Dolphin: + +"Good-bye, Sir Fish; excuse the trouble I have given you, and many +thanks for your politeness." + +He then took the path that had been pointed out to him and began to +walk fast--so fast, indeed, that he was almost running. And at the +slightest noise he turned to look behind him, fearing that he might see +the terrible Dog-Fish with a railway train in its mouth following him. + +After a walk of half an hour he reached a little village called "The +Village of the Industrious Bees." The road was alive with people running +here and there to attend to their business; all were at work, all had +something to do. You could not have found an idler or a vagabond, not +even if you had searched for him with a lighted lamp. + +"Ah!" said that lazy Pinocchio at once, "I see that this village will +never suit me! I wasn't born to work!" + +In the meanwhile he was tormented by hunger, for he had eaten nothing +for twenty-four hours--not even vetch. What was he to do? + +There were only two ways by which he could obtain food--either by asking +for a little work, or by begging for a nickel or for a mouthful of +bread. + +He was ashamed to beg, for his father had always preached to him that no +one had a right to beg except the aged and the infirm. The really poor +in this world, deserving of compassion and assistance, are only those +who from age or sickness are no longer able to earn their own bread with +the labor of their hands. It is the duty of every one else to work; and +if they will not work, so much the worse for them if they suffer from +hunger. + +At that moment a man came down the road, tired and panting for breath. +He was dragging, alone, with fatigue and difficulty, two carts full of +charcoal. + +Pinocchio, judging by his face that he was a kind man, approached him +and, casting down his eyes with shame, he said to him in a low voice: + +"Would you have the charity to give me a nickel, for I am dying of +hunger?" + +"You shall have not only a nickel," said the man, "but I will give you a +quarter, provided that you help me to drag home these two carts of +charcoal." + +"I am surprised at you!" answered the puppet in a tone of offense. "Let +me tell you that I am not accustomed to do the work of a donkey: I have +never drawn a cart!" + +"So much the better for you," answered the man. "Then, my boy, if you +are really dying of hunger, eat two fine slices of your pride, and be +careful not to get indigestion." + +A few minutes afterwards a mason passed down the road carrying on his +shoulders a basket of lime. + +"Would you have the charity, good man, to give a nickel to a poor boy +who is yawning for want of food?" + +"Willingly," answered the man. "Come with me and carry the lime, and +instead of a nickel I will give you a quarter." + +"But the lime is heavy," objected Pinocchio, "and I don't want to tire +myself." + +"If you don't want to tire yourself, then, my boy, amuse yourself with +yawning, and much good may it do you." + +In less than half an hour twenty other people went by, and Pinocchio +asked charity of them all, but they all answered: + +"Are you not ashamed to beg? Instead of idling about the roads, go and +look for a little work and learn to earn your bread." + +At last a nice little woman carrying two cans of water came by. + +"Will you let me drink a little water out of your can?" asked Pinocchio, +who was burning with thirst. + +"Drink, my boy, if you wish it!" said the little woman, setting down the +two cans. + +Pinocchio drank like a fish, and as he dried his mouth he mumbled: + +"I have quenched my thirst. If I could only appease my hunger!" + +The good woman, hearing these words, said at once: + +"If you will help me to carry home these two cans of water I will give +you a fine piece of bread." + +Pinocchio looked at the can and answered neither yes nor no. + +"And besides the bread you shall have a nice dish of cauliflower dressed +with oil and vinegar," added the good woman. + +Pinocchio gave another look at the can and answered neither yes nor no. + +"And after the cauliflower I will give you a beautiful bonbon full of +syrup." + +The temptation of this last dainty was so great that Pinocchio could +resist no longer and with an air of decision he said: + +"I must have patience! I will carry the can to your house." + +The can was heavy and the puppet, not being strong enough to carry it in +his hand, had to resign himself to carry it on his head. + +When they reached the house the good little woman made Pinocchio sit +down at a small table already laid and she placed before him the bread, +the cauliflower and the bonbon. + +Pinocchio did not eat, he devoured. His stomach was like an apartment +that had been left empty and uninhabited for five months. + +When his ravenous hunger was somewhat appeased he raised his head to +thank his benefactress, but he had no sooner looked at her than he gave +a prolonged "Oh-h!" of astonishment and continued staring at her with +wide open eyes, his fork in the air, and his mouth full of bread and +cauliflower, as if he had been bewitched. + +"What has surprised you so much?" asked the good woman, laughing. + +"It is--" answered the puppet, "it is--it is--that you are like--that +you remind me--yes, yes, yes, the same voice--the same eyes--the same +hair--yes, yes, yes--you also have blue hair--as she had--Oh, little +Fairy! tell me that it is you, really you! Do not make me cry any more! +If you knew--I have cried so much, I have suffered so much." + +And, throwing himself at her feet on the floor, Pinocchio embraced the +knees of the mysterious little woman and began to cry bitterly. + + + + +[Illustration] + +CHAPTER XXV + +PINOCCHIO PROMISES THE FAIRY TO BE GOOD + + +At first the good little woman maintained that she was not the little +Fairy with blue hair, but, seeing that she was found out and not wishing +to continue the comedy any longer, she ended by making herself known, +and she said to Pinocchio: + +"You little rogue! how did you ever discover who I was?" + +"It was my great affection for you that told me." + +"Do you remember? You left me a child, and now that you have found me +again I am a woman--a woman almost old enough to be your mamma." + +"I am delighted at that, for now, instead of calling you little sister, +I will call you mamma. I have wished for such a long time to have a +mamma like other boys! But how did you manage to grow so fast?" + +"That is a secret." + +"Teach it to me, for I should also like to grow. Don't you see? I always +remain no bigger than a ninepin." + +"But you cannot grow," replied the Fairy. + +"Why?" + +"Because puppets never grow. They are born puppets, live puppets, and +die puppets." + +"Oh, I am sick of being a puppet!" cried Pinocchio, giving himself a +slap. "It is time that I became a man." + +"And you will become one, if you know how to deserve it." + +"Not really? And what can I do to deserve it?" + +"A very easy thing: by learning to be a good boy." + +"And you think I am not?" + +"You are quite the contrary. Good boys are obedient, and you--" + +"And I never obey." + +"Good boys like to learn and to work, and you--" + +"And I instead lead an idle, vagabond life the year through." + +"Good boys always speak the truth." + +"And I always tell lies." + +"Good boys go willingly to school." + +"And school gives me pain all over the body. But from today I will +change my life." + +"Do you promise me?" + +"I promise you. I will become a good little boy, and I will be the +consolation of my papa. Where is my poor papa at this moment?" + +"I do not know." + +"Shall I ever have the happiness of seeing him again and kissing him?" + +"I think so; indeed, I am sure of it." + +At this answer Pinocchio was so delighted that he took the Fairy's hands +and began to kiss them with such fervor that he seemed beside himself. +Then, raising his face and looking at her lovingly, he asked: + +"Tell me, little mamma: then it was not true that you were dead?" + +"It seems not," said the Fairy, smiling. + +"If you only knew the sorrow I felt and the tightening of my throat when +I read, 'Here lies--'" + +"I know it, and it is on that account that I have forgiven you. I saw +from the sincerity of your grief that you had a good heart; and when +boys have good hearts, even if they are scamps and have got bad habits, +there is always something to hope for; that is, there is always hope +that they will turn to better ways. That is why I came to look for you +here. I will be your mamma." + +"Oh, how delightful!" shouted Pinocchio, jumping for joy. + +"You must obey me and do everything that I bid you." + +"Willingly, willingly, willingly!" + +"Tomorrow," rejoined the Fairy, "you will begin to go to school." + +Pinocchio became at once a little less joyful. + +"Then you must choose an art, or a trade, according to your own wishes." + +Pinocchio became very grave. + +"What are you muttering between your teeth?" asked the Fairy in an +angry voice. + +"I was saying," moaned the puppet in a low voice, "that it seemed to me +too late for me to go to school now." + +"No, sir. Keep it in mind that it is never too late to learn and to +instruct ourselves." + +"But I do not wish to follow either an art or a trade." + +"Why?" + +"Because it tires me to work." + +"My boy," said the Fairy, "those who talk in that way end almost always +either in prison or in the hospital. Let me tell you that every man, +whether he is born rich or poor, is obliged to do something in this +world--to occupy himself, to work. Woe to those who lead slothful lives. +Sloth is a dreadful illness and must be cured at once, in childhood. If +not, when we are old it can never be cured." + +Pinocchio was touched by these words and, lifting his head quickly, he +said to the Fairy: + +"I will study, I will work, I will do all that you tell me, for indeed I +have become weary of being a puppet, and I wish at any price to become a +boy. You promised me that I should, did you not?" + +"I did promise you, and it now depends upon yourself." + + + + +[Illustration] + +CHAPTER XXVI + +THE TERRIBLE DOG-FISH + + +The following day Pinocchio went to the government school. Imagine the +delight of all the little rogues, when they saw a puppet walk into their +school! They set up a roar of laughter that never ended. They played him +all sorts of tricks. One boy carried off his cap, another pulled his +jacket behind; one tried to give him a pair of inky mustachios just +under his nose, and another attempted to tie strings to his feet and +hands to make him dance. + +For a short time Pinocchio pretended not to care and got on as well as +he could; but at last, losing all patience, he turned to those who were +teasing him most and making game of him, and said to them, looking very +angry: + +"Beware, boys! I have not come here to be your buffoon. I respect +others, and I intend to be respected." + +[Illustration: "Oh, I Am Sick of Being a Puppet!" Cried Pinocchio] + +"Well said, boaster! You have spoken like a book!" howled the young +rascals, convulsed with mad laughter, and one of them, more impertinent +than the others, stretched out his hand, intending to seize the puppet +by the end of his nose. + +But he was not in time, for Pinocchio stuck his leg out from under the +table and gave him a great kick on his shins. + +"Oh, what hard feet!" roared the boy, rubbing the bruise that the puppet +had given him. + +"And what elbows! even harder than his feet!" said another, who for his +rude tricks had received a blow in the stomach. + +But, nevertheless, the kick and the blow acquired at once for Pinocchio +the sympathy and the esteem of all the boys in the school. They all made +friends with him and liked him heartily. + +And even the master praised him, for he found him attentive, studious +and intelligent--always the first to come to school, and the last to +leave when school was over. + +But he had one fault: he made too many friends, and amongst them were +several young rascals well known for their dislike to study and love of +mischief. + +The master warned him every day, and even the good Fairy never failed to +tell him and to repeat constantly: + +"Take care, Pinocchio! Those bad school-fellows of yours will end sooner +or later by making you lose all love of study, and perhaps they may even +bring upon you some great misfortune." + +"There is no fear of that!" answered the puppet, shrugging his shoulders +and touching his forehead as much as to say: "There is so much sense +here!" + +Now it happened that one fine day, as he was on his way to school, he +met several of his usual companions who, coming up to him, asked: + +"Have you heard the great news?" + +"No." + +"In the sea near here a Dog-Fish has appeared as big as a mountain." + +"Not really? Can it be the same Dog-Fish that was there when my papa was +drowned?" + +"We are going to the shore to see him. Will you come with us?" + +"No; I am going to school." + +"What matters school? We can go to school tomorrow. Whether we have a +lesson more or a lesson less, we shall always remain the same donkeys." + +"But what will the master say?" + +"The master may say what he likes. He is paid on purpose to grumble all +day." + +"And my mamma?" + +"Mammas know nothing," answered those bad little boys. + +"Do you know what I will do?" said Pinocchio. "I have reasons for +wishing to see the Dog-Fish, but I will go and see him when school is +over." + +"Poor donkey!" exclaimed one of the number. "Do you suppose that a fish +of that size will wait your convenience? As soon as he is tired of being +here he will start for another place, and then it will be too late." + +"How long does it take to go from here to the shore?" asked the puppet. + +"We can be there and back in an hour." + +"Then away!" shouted Pinocchio, "and he who runs fastest is the best!" + +Having thus given the signal to start, the boys, with their books and +copy-books under their arms, rushed off across the fields, and Pinocchio +was always the first--he seemed to have wings to his feet. + +From time to time he turned to jeer at his companions, who were some +distance behind, and, seeing them panting for breath, covered with dust, +and their tongues hanging out of their mouths, he laughed heartily. The +unfortunate boy little knew what terrors and horrible disasters he was +going to meet with! + + + + +[Illustration] + +CHAPTER XXVII + +PINOCCHIO IS ARRESTED BY THE GENDARMES + + +When he arrived on the shore Pinocchio looked out to sea, but he saw no +Dog-Fish. The sea was as smooth as a great crystal mirror. + +"Where is the Dog-Fish?" he asked, turning to his companions. + +"He must have gone to have his breakfast," said one of them, laughing. + +"Or he has thrown himself on to his bed to have a little nap," added +another, laughing still louder. + +From their absurd answers and silly laughter Pinocchio perceived that +his companions had been making a fool of him, in inducing him to believe +a tale with no truth in it. Taking it very badly, he said to them +angrily: + +"And now, may I ask what fun you could find in deceiving me with the +story of the Dog-Fish?" + +"Oh, it was great fun!" answered the little rascals in chorus. + +"And in what did it consist?" + +"In making you miss school and persuading you to come with us. Are you +not ashamed of being always so punctual and so diligent with your +lessons? Are you not ashamed of studying so hard?" + +"And if I study hard, what concern is it of yours?" + +"It concerns us excessively, because it makes us appear in a bad light +to the master." + +"Why?" + +"Because boys who study make those who, like us, have no wish to learn, +seem worse by comparison. And that is too bad. We, too, have our pride!" + +"Then what must I do to please you?" + +"You must follow our example and hate school, lessons, and the +master--our three greatest enemies." + +"And if I wish to continue my studies?" + +"In that case we will have nothing more to do with you, and at the first +opportunity we will make you pay for it." + +"Really," said the puppet, shaking his head, "you make me inclined to +laugh." + +"Eh, Pinocchio" shouted the biggest of the boys, confronting him. "None +of your superior airs: don't come here to crow over us, for if you are +not afraid of us, we are not afraid of you. Remember that you are one +against seven of us." + +"Seven, like the seven deadly sins," said Pinocchio, with a shout of +laughter. + +"Listen to him! He has insulted us all! He called us the seven deadly +sins!" + +"Take that to begin with and keep it for your supper tonight," said one +of the boys. + +And, so saying, he gave him a blow on the head with his fist. + +But it was give and take; for the puppet, as was to be expected, +immediately returned the blow, and the fight in a moment became general +and desperate. + +Pinocchio, although he was one alone, defended himself like a hero. He +used his feet, which were of the hardest wood, to such purpose that he +kept his enemies at a respectful distance. Wherever they touched they +left a bruise by way of reminder. + +The boys, becoming furious at not being able to measure themselves hand +to hand with the puppet, had recourse to other weapons. Loosening their +satchels, they commenced throwing their school-books at him--grammars, +dictionaries, spelling-books, geography books, and other scholastic +works. But Pinocchio was quick and had sharp eyes, and always managed to +duck in time, so that the books passed over his head and all fell into +the sea. + +Imagine the astonishment of the fish! Thinking that the books were +something to eat they all arrived in shoals, but, having tasted a page +or two, or a frontispiece, they spat it quickly out and made a wry face +that seemed to say: "It isn't food for us; we are accustomed to +something much better!" + +The battle meantime had become fiercer than ever, when a big crab, who +had come out of the water and had climbed slowly up on the shore, called +out in a hoarse voice that sounded like a trumpet with a bad cold: + +[Illustration: FOUR RABBITS AS BLACK AS INK ENTERED CARRYING A LITTLE +BIER] + +"Have done with that, you young ruffians, for you are nothing else! +These hand-to-hand fights between boys seldom finish well. Some disaster +is sure to happen!" + +Poor crab! He might as well have preached to the wind. Even that young +rascal, Pinocchio, turning around, looked at him mockingly and said +rudely: + +"Hold your tongue, you tiresome crab! You had better suck some liquorice +lozenges to cure that cold in your throat." + +Just then the boys, who had no more books of their own to throw, spied +at a little distance the satchel that belonged to Pinocchio, and took +possession of it. + +Amongst the books there was one bound in strong cardboard with the back +and points of parchment. It was a Treatise on Arithmetic. + +One of the boys seized this volume and, aiming at Pinocchio's head, +threw it at him with all the force he could muster. But instead of +hitting the puppet it struck one of his companions on the temple, who, +turning as white as a sheet, said only: + +"Oh, mother! help, I am dying!" and fell his whole length on the sand. +Thinking he was dead, the terrified boys ran off as hard as their legs +could carry them and in a few minutes they were out of sight. + +But Pinocchio remained. Although from grief and fright he was more dead +than alive, nevertheless he ran and soaked his handkerchief in the sea +and began to bathe the temples of his poor school-fellow. Crying +bitterly in his despair, he kept calling him by name and saying to him: + +"Eugene! my poor Eugene! Open your eyes and look at me! Why do you not +answer? I did not do it; indeed it was not I that hurt you so! believe +me, it was not! Open your eyes, Eugene. If you keep your eyes shut I +shall die, too. Oh! what shall I do? how shall I ever return home? How +can I ever have the courage to go back to my good mamma? What will +become of me? Where can I fly to? Oh! how much better it would have +been, a thousand times better, if I had only gone to school! Why did I +listen to my companions? they have been my ruin. The master said to me, +and my mamma repeated it often: 'Beware of bad companions!' Oh, dear! +what will become of me, what will become of me, what will become of me?" + +And Pinocchio began to cry and sob, and to strike his head with his +fists, and to call poor Eugene by his name. Suddenly he heard the sound +of approaching footsteps. + +He turned and saw two soldiers. + +"What are you doing there, lying on the ground?" they asked Pinocchio. + +"I am helping my school-fellow." + +"Has he been hurt?" + +"So it seems." + +"Hurt indeed!" said one of them, stooping down and examining Eugene +closely. + +"This boy has been wounded in the temple. Who wounded him?" + +"Not I," stammered the puppet breathlessly. + +"If it was not you, who then did it?" + +"Not I," repeated Pinocchio. + +"And with what was he wounded?" + +"With this book." And the puppet picked up from the ground the Treatise +on Arithmetic, bound in cardboard and parchment, and showed it to the +soldier. + +"And to whom does this belong?" + +"To me." + +"That is enough, nothing more is wanted. Get up and come with us at +once." + +"But I--" + +"Come along with us!" + +"But I am innocent." + +"Come along with us!" + +Before they left, the soldiers called some fishermen who were passing at +that moment near the shore in their boat, and said to them: + +"We give this boy who has been wounded in the head in your charge. Carry +him to your house and nurse him. Tomorrow we will come and see him." + +They then turned to Pinocchio and, having placed him between them, they +said to him in a commanding voice: + +"Forward! and walk quickly, or it will be the worse for you." + +Without requiring it to be repeated, the puppet set out along the road +leading to the village. But the poor little devil hardly knew where he +was. He thought he must be dreaming, and what a dreadful dream! He was +beside himself. He saw double; his legs shook; his tongue clung to the +roof of his mouth, and he could not utter a word. And yet, in the midst +of his stupefaction and apathy, his heart was pierced by a cruel +thorn--the thought that he would pass under the windows of the good +Fairy's house between the soldiers. He would rather have died. + +They had already reached the village when a gust of wind blew +Pinocchio's cap off his head and carried it ten yards off. + +"Will you permit me," said the puppet to the soldiers, "to go and get +my cap?" + +"Go, then; but be quick about it." + +The puppet went and picked up his cap, but instead of putting it on his +head he took it between his teeth and began to run as hard as he could +towards the seashore. + +The soldiers, thinking it would be difficult to overtake him, sent after +him a large mastiff who had won the first prizes at all the dog races. +Pinocchio ran, but the dog ran faster. The people came to their windows +and crowded into the street in their anxiety to see the end of the +desperate race. + + + + +[Illustration] + +CHAPTER XXVIII + +PINOCCHIO ESCAPES BEING FRIED LIKE A FISH + + +There came a moment in this desperate race--a terrible moment--when +Pinocchio thought himself lost: for Alidoro, the mastiff, had run so +swiftly that he had nearly come up with him. + +The puppet could hear the panting of the dreadful beast close behind +him; there was not a hand's breadth between them, he could even feel the +dog's hot breath. + +Fortunately the shore was close and the sea but a few steps off. + +As soon as he reached the sands the puppet made a wonderful leap--a frog +could have done no better--and plunged into the water. + +Alidoro, on the contrary, wished to stop himself, but, carried away by +the impetus of the race, he also went into the sea. The unfortunate dog +could not swim, but he made great efforts to keep himself afloat with +his paws; but the more he struggled the farther he sank head downwards +under the water. + +When he rose to the surface again his eyes were rolling with terror, and +he barked out: + +"I am drowning! I am drowning!" + +"Drown!" shouted Pinocchio from a distance, seeing himself safe from all +danger. + +"Help me, dear Pinocchio! Save me from death!" + +At that agonizing cry the puppet, who had in reality an excellent heart, +was moved with compassion, and, turning to the dog, he said: + +"But if I save your life, will you promise to give me no further +annoyance, and not to run after me?" + +"I promise! I promise! Be quick, for pity's sake, for if you delay +another half-minute I shall be dead." + +Pinocchio hesitated; but, remembering that his father had often told him +that a good action is never lost, he swam to Alidoro, and, taking hold +of his tail with both hands, brought him safe and sound on to the dry +sand of the beach. + +The poor dog could not stand. He had drunk so much salt water that he +was like a balloon. The puppet, however, not wishing to trust him too +far, thought it more prudent to jump again into the water. When he had +swum some distance from the shore he called out to the friend he had +rescued: + +"Good-bye, Alidoro; a good journey to you, and take my compliments to +all at home." + +"Good-bye, Pinocchio," answered the dog; "a thousand thanks for having +saved my life. You have done me a great service, and in this world what +is given is returned. If an occasion offers I shall not forget it." + +Pinocchio swam on, keeping always near the land. At last he thought that +he had reached a safe place. Giving a look along the shore, he saw +amongst the rocks a kind of cave from which a cloud of smoke was +ascending. + +"In that cave," he said to himself, "there must be a fire. So much the +better. I will go and dry and warm myself, and then? and then we shall +see." + +Having taken the resolution he approached the rocks, but, as he was +going to climb up, he felt something under the water that rose higher +and higher and carried him into the air. He tried to escape, but it was +too late, for, to his extreme surprise, he found himself enclosed in a +great net, together with a swarm of fish of every size and shape, who +were flapping and struggling like so many despairing souls. + +At the same moment a fisherman came out of the cave; he was so ugly, so +horribly ugly, that he looked like a sea monster. Instead of hair his +head was covered with a thick bush of green grass, his skin was green, +his eyes were green, his long beard that came down to the ground was +also green. He had the appearance of an immense lizard standing on its +hind-paws. + +When the fisherman had drawn his net out of the sea, he exclaimed with +great satisfaction: + +"Thank Heaven! Again today I shall have a splendid feast of fish!" + +"What a mercy that I am not a fish!" said Pinocchio to himself, +regaining a little courage. + +The netful of fish was carried into the cave, which was dark and smoky. +In the middle of the cave a large frying-pan full of oil was frying and +sending out a smell of mushrooms that was suffocating. + +"Now we will see what fish we have taken!" said the green fisherman, +and, putting into the net an enormous hand, so out of all proportion +that it looked like a baker's shovel, he pulled out a handful of fish. + +"These fish are good!" he said, looking at them and smelling them +complacently. And after he had smelled them he threw them into a pan +without water. + +He repeated the same operation many times, and as he drew out the fish +his mouth watered and he said, chuckling to himself: + +"What good whiting!" + +"What exquisite sardines!" + +"These soles are delicious!" + +"And these crabs excellent!" + +"What dear little anchovies!" + +The last to remain in the net was Pinocchio. + +No sooner had the fisherman taken him out than he opened his big green +eyes with astonishment and cried, half frightened: + +"What species of fish is this? Fish of this kind I never remember to +have eaten." + +And he looked at him again attentively and, having examined him well all +over, he ended by saying: + +"I know: he must be a craw-fish." + +Pinocchio, mortified at being mistaken for a craw-fish, said in an angry +voice: + +"A craw-fish indeed! Do you take me for a craw-fish? what treatment! Let +me tell you that I am a puppet." + +"A puppet?" replied the fisherman. "To tell the truth, a puppet is +quite a new fish for me. All the better! I shall eat you with greater +pleasure." + +"Eat me! but will you understand that I am not a fish? Do you hear that +I talk and reason as you do?" + +"That is quite true," said the fisherman; "and as I see that you are a +fish possessed of the talent of talking and reasoning as I do, I will +treat you with all the attention that is your due." + +"And this attention?" + +"In token of my friendship and particular regard, I will leave you the +choice of how you would like to be cooked. Would you like to be fried in +the frying-pan, or would you prefer to be stewed with tomato sauce?" + +"To tell the truth," answered Pinocchio, "if I am to choose, I should +prefer to be set at liberty and to return home." + +"You are joking! Do you imagine that I would lose the opportunity of +tasting such a rare fish? It is not every day, I assure you, that a +puppet fish is caught in these waters. Leave it to me. I will fry you in +the frying-pan with the other fish, and you will be quite satisfied. It +is always consolation to be fried in company." + +At this speech the unhappy Pinocchio began to cry and scream and to +implore for mercy, and he said, sobbing: "How much better it would have +been if I had gone to school! I would listen to my companions and now I +am paying for it." + +And he wriggled like an eel and made indescribable efforts to slip out +of the clutches of the green fisherman. But it was useless: the +fisherman took a long strip of rush and, having bound his hands and feet +as if he had been a sausage, he threw him into the pan with the other +fish. + +He then fetched a wooden bowl full of flour and began to flour them +each in turn, and as soon as they were ready he threw them into the +frying-pan. + +The first to dance in the boiling oil were the poor whitings; the crabs +followed, then the sardines, then the soles, then the anchovies, and at +last it was Pinocchio's turn. Seeing himself so near death, and such a +horrible death, he was so frightened, and trembled so violently, that he +had neither voice nor breath left for further entreaties. + +But the poor boy implored with his eyes! The green fisherman, however, +without caring in the least, plunged him five or six times in the flour, +until he was white from head to foot and looked like a puppet made of +plaster. + + + + +[Illustration] + +CHAPTER XXIX + +HE RETURNS TO THE FAIRY'S HOUSE + + +Just as the fisherman was on the point of throwing Pinocchio into the +frying-pan a large dog entered the cave, enticed there by the strong and +savory odor of fried fish. + +"Get out!" shouted the fisherman, threateningly, holding the floured +puppet in his hand. + +But the poor dog, who was as hungry as a wolf, whined and wagged his +tail as much as to say: + +"Give me a mouthful of fish and I will leave you in peace." + +"Get out, I tell you!" repeated the fisherman and he stretched out his +leg to give him a kick. + +But the dog, who, when he was really hungry, would not stand trifling, +turned upon him, growling and showing his terrible tusks. + +At that moment a little feeble voice was heard in the cave, saying +entreatingly: + +"Save me, Alidoro! If you do not save me I shall be fried!" + +The dog recognized Pinocchio's voice and, to his extreme surprise, +perceived that it proceeded from the floured bundle that the fisherman +held in his hand. + +So what do you think he did? He made a spring, seized the bundle in his +mouth, and, holding it gently between his teeth, he rushed out of the +cave and was gone like a flash of lightning. + +The fisherman, furious at seeing a fish he was so anxious to eat +snatched from him, ran after the dog, but he had not gone many steps +when he was taken with a fit of coughing and had to give it up. + +Alidoro, when he had reached the path that led to the village, stopped +and put his friend Pinocchio gently on the ground. + +"How much I have to thank you for!" said the puppet. + +"There is no necessity," replied the dog. "You saved me and I have now +returned it. You know that we must all help each other in this world." + +"But how came you to come to the cave?" + +"I was lying on the shore more dead than alive when the wind brought to +me the smell of fried fish. The smell excited my appetite and I followed +it up. If I had arrived a second later--" + +"Do not mention it!" groaned Pinocchio, who was still trembling with +fright. "Do not mention it! If you had arrived a second later I should +by this time have been fried, eaten and digested. Brrr! It makes me +shudder only to think of it!" + +Alidoro, laughing, extended his right paw to the puppet, who shook it +heartily in token of great friendship, and they then separated. + +The dog took the road home, and Pinocchio, left alone, went to a cottage +not far off and said to a little old man who was warming himself in the +sun: + +"Tell me, good man, do you know anything of a poor boy called Eugene who +was wounded in the head?" + +"The boy was brought by some fishermen to this cottage, and now--" + +"And now he is dead!" interrupted Pinocchio with great sorrow. + +"No, he is alive and has returned to his home." + +"Not really? not really?" cried the puppet, dancing with delight. "Then +the wound was not serious?" + +"It might have been very serious and even fatal," answered the little +old man, "for they threw a thick book bound in cardboard at his head." + +"And who threw it at him?" + +"One of his school-fellows, a certain Pinocchio." + +"And who is this Pinocchio?" asked the puppet, pretending ignorance. + +"They say that he is a bad boy, a vagabond, a regular good-for-nothing." + +"Calumnies! all calumnies!" + +"Do you know this Pinocchio?" + +"By sight!" answered the puppet. + +"And what is your opinion of him?" asked the little man. + +"He seems to me to be a very good boy, anxious to learn, and obedient +and affectionate to his father and family." + +Whilst the puppet was firing off all these lies, he touched his nose and +perceived that it had lengthened more than a hand. Very much alarmed he +began to cry out: + +"Don't believe, good man, what I have been telling you. I know Pinocchio +very well and I can assure you that he is a very bad boy, disobedient +and idle, who, instead of going to school, runs off with his companions +to amuse himself." + +He had hardly finished speaking when his nose became shorter and +returned to the same size that it was before. + +"And why are you all covered with white?" asked the old man suddenly. + +"I will tell you. Without observing it I rubbed myself against a wall +which had been freshly whitewashed," answered the puppet, ashamed to +confess that he had been floured like a fish prepared for the +frying-pan. + +"And what have you done with your jacket, your trousers, and your cap?" + +"I met with robbers, who took them from me. Tell me, good old man, could +you perhaps give me some clothes to return home in?" + +"My boy, as to clothes, I have nothing but a little sack in which I keep +beans. If you wish for it, take it; there it is." + +Pinocchio did not wait to be told twice. He took the sack at once and +with a pair of scissors he cut a hole at the end and at each side, and +put it on like a shirt. And with this slight clothing he set off for the +village. + +But as he went he did not feel at all comfortable--so little so, indeed, +that for a step forward he took another backwards, and he said, talking +to himself: + +"How shall I ever present myself to my good little Fairy? What will she +say when she sees me? Will she forgive me this second escapade? Oh, I am +sure that she will not forgive me! And it serves me right, for I am a +rascal. I am always promising to correct myself and I never keep my +word!" + +When he reached the village it was night and very dark. A storm had come +on and as the rain was coming down in torrents he went straight to the +Fairy's house, resolved to knock at the door. + +But when he was there his courage failed him and instead of knocking he +ran away some twenty paces. He returned to the door a second time and +laid hold of the knocker, and, trembling, gave a little knock. + +He waited and waited. At last, after half an hour had passed, a window +on the top floor was opened--the house was four stories high--and +Pinocchio saw a big Snail with a lighted candle on her head looking out. +She called to him: + +"Who is there at this hour?" + +"Is the Fairy at home?" asked the puppet. + +"The Fairy is asleep and must not be awakened; but who are you?" + +"It is I." + +"Who is I?" + +"Pinocchio." + +"And who is Pinocchio?" + +"The puppet who lives in the Fairy's house." + +"Ah, I understand!" said the Snail. "Wait for me there. I will come down +and open the door directly." + +"Be quick, for pity's sake, for I am dying of cold." + +"My boy, I am a snail, and snails are never in a hurry." + +An hour passed, and then two, and the door was not opened. Pinocchio, +who was wet through and through, and trembling from cold and fear, at +last took courage and knocked again, and this time he knocked louder. + +At this second knock a window on the lower story opened and the same +Snail appeared at it. + +"Beautiful little Snail," cried Pinocchio from the street, "I have been +waiting for two hours! And two hours on such a bad night seem longer +than two years. Be quick, for pity's sake." + +"My boy," answered the calm little animal--"my boy, I am a snail, and +snails are never in a hurry." + +And the window was shut again. + +Shortly afterwards midnight struck; then one o'clock, then two o'clock, +and the door remained still closed. + +Pinocchio at last, losing all patience, seized the knocker in a rage, +intending to give a blow that would resound through the house. But the +knocker, which was iron, turned suddenly into an eel and, slipping out +of his hands, disappeared in the stream of water that ran down the +middle of the street. + +"Ah! is that it?" shouted Pinocchio, blind with rage. "Since the knocker +has disappeared, I will kick instead with all my might." + +And, drawing a little back, he gave a tremendous kick against the house +door. The blow was indeed so violent that his foot went through the wood +and stuck; and when he tried to draw it back again it was trouble thrown +away, for it remained fixed like a nail that has been hammered down. + +Think of poor Pinocchio! He was obliged to spend the remainder of the +night with one foot on the ground and the other in the air. + +The following morning at daybreak the door was at last opened. The +clever little Snail had taken only nine hours to come down from the +fourth story to the house-door. It is evident that her exertions must +have been great. + +"What are you doing with your foot stuck in the door?" she asked the +puppet. + +"It was an accident. Do try, beautiful little Snail, if you cannot +release me from this torture." + +"My boy, that is the work of a carpenter, and I have never been a +carpenter." + +"Beg the Fairy from me!" + +"The Fairy is asleep and must not be awakened." + +"But what do you suppose that I can do all day nailed to this door?" + +"Amuse yourself by counting the ants that pass down the street." + +"Bring me at least something to eat, for I am quite exhausted." + +"At once," said the Snail. + +In fact, after three hours and a half she returned to Pinocchio carrying +a silver tray on her head. The tray contained a loaf of bread, a roast +chicken, and four ripe apricots. + +"Here is the breakfast that the Fairy has sent you," said the Snail. + +The puppet felt very much comforted at the sight of these good things. +But when he began to eat them, what was his disgust at making the +discovery that the bread was plaster, the chicken cardboard, and the +four apricots painted alabaster. + +He wanted to cry. In his desperation he tried to throw away the tray and +all that was on it; but instead, either from grief or exhaustion, he +fainted away. + +When he came to himself he found that he was lying on a sofa, and the +Fairy was beside him. + +"I will pardon you once more," the Fairy said, "but woe to you if you +behave badly a third time!" + +Pinocchio promised and swore that he would study, and that for the +future he would always conduct himself well. + +And he kept his word for the remainder of the year. Indeed, at the +examinations before the holidays, he had the honor of being the first in +the school, and his behavior in general was so satisfactory and +praiseworthy that the Fairy was very much pleased, and said to him: + +"Tomorrow your wish shall be gratified." + +"And that is?" + +"Tomorrow you shall cease to be a wooden puppet and you shall become a +boy." + +No one who had not witnessed it could ever imagine Pinocchio's joy at +this long-sighed-for good fortune. All his school-fellows were to be +invited for the following day to a grand breakfast at the Fairy's house, +that they might celebrate together the great event. The Fairy had +prepared two hundred cups of coffee and milk, and four hundred rolls cut +and buttered on each side. The day promised to be most happy and +delightful, but-- + +Unfortunately in the lives of puppets there is always a "but" that +spoils everything. + + + + +[Illustration] + +CHAPTER XXX + +THE "LAND OF BOOBIES" + + +Pinocchio, as was natural, asked the Fairy's permission to go round the +town to give out the invitations, and the Fairy said to him: + +"Go, if you like, and invite your companions for the breakfast tomorrow, +but remember to return home before dark. Have you understood?" + +"I promise to be back in an hour," answered the puppet. + +"Take care, Pinocchio! Boys are always very ready to promise, but +generally they are little given to keep their word." + +"But I am not like other boys. When I say a thing, I do it." + +"We shall see. If you are disobedient, so much the worse for you." + +"Why?" + +"Because boys who do not listen to the advice of those who know more +than they do always meet with some misfortune or other." + +"I have experienced that," said Pinocchio, "but I shall never make that +mistake again." + +"We shall see if that is true." + +Without saying more the puppet took leave of his good Fairy, who was +like a mamma to him, and went out of the house singing and dancing. + +In less than an hour all his friends were invited. Some accepted at once +heartily; others at first required pressing; but when they heard that +the rolls to be eaten with the coffee were to be buttered on both sides +they ended by saying: + +"We will come also, to do you a pleasure." + +Now I must tell you that amongst Pinocchio's friends and school-fellows +there was one that he greatly preferred and was very fond of. This boy's +name was Romeo, but he always went by the nickname of Candlewick, +because he was so thin, straight and bright, like the new wick of a +little nightlight. + +Candlewick was the laziest and the naughtiest boy in the school, but +Pinocchio was devoted to him. He had indeed gone at once to his house to +invite him to the breakfast, but he had not found him. He returned a +second time, but Candlewick was not there. He went a third time, but it +was in vain. Where could he search for him? He looked here, there, and +everywhere, and at last he saw him hiding on the porch of a peasant's +cottage. + +"What are you doing there?" asked Pinocchio, coming up to him. + +"I am waiting for midnight, to start away." + +"And where are you going?" + +"I am going to live in a country--the most delightful country in the +world: a real land of sweetmeats!" + +"And what is it called?" + +"It is called the 'Land of Boobies.' Why do you not come, too?" + +"I? No, never!" + +"You are wrong, Pinocchio. If you do not come you will repent it. Where +could you find a better country for us boys? There are no schools there; +there are no masters; there are no books. In that delightful land nobody +ever studies. On Saturday there is never school, and every week consists +of six Saturdays and one Sunday. Only think, the autumn holidays begin +on the first of January and finish on the last day of December. That is +the country for me! That is what all civilized countries should be +like!" + +"But how are the days spent in the 'Land of Boobies'?" + +They are spent in play and amusement from morning till night. When night +comes you go to bed, and recommence the same life in the morning. What +do you think of it?" + +"Hum!" said Pinocchio, and he shook his head slightly, as much as to +say, "That is a life that I also would willingly lead." + +"Well, will you go with me? Yes or no? Resolve quickly." + +"No, no, no, and again no. I promised my good Fairy to become a well +conducted boy, and I will keep my word. And as I see that the sun is +setting I must leave you at once and run away. Good-bye, and a pleasant +journey to you." + +"Where are you rushing off to in such a hurry?" + +"Home. My good Fairy wishes me to be back before dark." + +"Wait another two minutes." + +"It will make me too late." + +"Only two minutes." + +"And if the Fairy scolds me?" + +"Let her scold. When she has scolded well she will hold her tongue," +said that rascal Candlewick. + +"And what are you going to do? Are you going alone or with companions?" + +"Alone? Indeed not, there will be more than a hundred boys." + +"And do you make the journey on foot?" + +"A coach will pass by shortly which is to take me to that happy +country." + +"What would I not give for the coach to pass by now!" + +"Why?" + +"That I might see you all start together." + +"Stay here a little longer and you will see us." + +"No, no, I must go home." + +"Wait another two minutes." + +"I have already delayed too long. The Fairy will be anxious about me." + +"Poor Fairy! Is she afraid that the bats will eat you?" + +"But now," continued Pinocchio, "are you really certain that there are +no schools in that country?" + +"Not even the shadow of one." + +"And no masters either?" + +"Not one." + +"And no one is ever made to study?" + +"Never, never, never!" + +"What a delightful country!" said Pinocchio, his mouth watering. "What a +delightful country! I have never been there, but I can quite imagine +it." + +"Why will you not come also?" + +"It is useless to tempt me. I promised my good Fairy to become a +sensible boy, and I will not break my word." + +"Good-bye, then, and give my compliments to all the boys at school, if +you meet them in the street." + +"Good-bye, Candlewick; a pleasant journey to you; amuse yourself, and +think sometimes of your friends." + +Thus saying, the puppet made two steps to go, but then stopped, and, +turning to his friend, he inquired: + +"But are you quite certain that in that country all the weeks consist of +six Saturdays and one Sunday?" + +"Most certainly." + +"But do you know for certain that the holidays begin on the first of +January and finish on the last day of December?" + +"Assuredly." + +"What a delightful country!" repeated Pinocchio, looking enchanted. +Then, with a resolute air, he added in a great hurry: + +"This time really good-bye, and a pleasant journey to you." + +"Good-bye." + +"When do you start?" + +"Shortly." + +"What a pity! If really it wanted only an hour to the time of your +start, I should almost be tempted to wait." + +"And the Fairy?" + +"It is already late. If I return home an hour sooner or later it will +be all the same." + +"Poor Pinocchio! And if the Fairy scolds you?" + +"I must have patience! I will let her scold. When she has scolded well +she will hold her tongue." + +In the meantime night had come on and it was quite dark. Suddenly they +saw in the distance a small light moving and they heard a noise of +talking, and the sound of a trumpet, but so small and feeble that it +resembled the hum of a mosquito. + +"Here it is!" shouted Candlewick, jumping to his feet. + +"What is it?" asked Pinocchio in a whisper. + +"It is the coach coming to take me. Now will you come, yes or no?" + +"But is it really true," asked the puppet, "that in that country boys +are never obliged to study?" + +"Never, never, never!" + +"What a delightful country! What a delightful country! What a delightful +country!" + +[Illustration: THEY THOUGHT IT WOULD BE MORE COMFORTABLE TO GET ON THE +TUNNY'S BACK] + + + + +[Illustration] + +CHAPTER XXXI + +PINOCCHIO ENJOYS FIVE MONTHS OF HAPPINESS + + +At last the coach arrived, and it arrived without making the slightest +noise, for its wheels were bound round with flax and rags. + +It was drawn by twelve pairs of donkeys, all the same size but of +different colors. + +Some were gray, some white, some brindled like pepper and salt, and +others had large stripes of yellow and blue. + +But the most extraordinary thing was this: the twelve pairs, that is, +the twenty-four donkeys, instead of being shod like other beasts of +burden, had on their feet men's boots made of white kid. + +And the coachman? + +Picture to yourself a little man broader than he was long, flabby and +greasy like a lump of butter, with a small round face like an orange, a +little mouth that was always laughing, and a soft, caressing voice like +a cat when she is trying to insinuate herself into the good graces of +the mistress of the house. + +All the boys vied with each other in taking places in his coach, to be +conducted to the "Land of Boobies." + +The coach was, in fact, quite full of boys between eight and fourteen +years old, heaped one upon another like herrings in a barrel. They were +uncomfortable, packed closely together and could hardly breathe; but +nobody said "Oh!"--nobody grumbled. The consolation of knowing that in a +few hours they would reach a country where there were no books, no +schools, and no masters, made them so happy and resigned that they felt +neither fatigue nor inconvenience, neither hunger, nor thirst, nor want +of sleep. + +As soon as the coach had drawn up the little man turned to Candlewick +and with a thousand smirks and grimaces said to him, smiling: + +"Tell me, my fine boy, would you also like to go to that fortunate +country?" + +"I certainly wish to go." + +"But I must warn you, my dear child, that there is not a place left in +the coach. You can see for yourself that it is quite full." + +"No matter," replied Candlewick, "if there is no place inside, I will +manage to sit on the springs." + +And, giving a leap, he seated himself astride on the springs. + +"And you, my love!" said the little man, turning in a flattering manner +to Pinocchio, "what do you intend to do? Are you coming with us or are +you going to remain behind?" + +"I remain behind," answered Pinocchio. "I am going home. I intend to +study, as all well conducted boys do." + +"Much good may it do you!" + +"Pinocchio!" called out Candlewick, "listen to me: come with us and we +shall have such fun." + +"No, no, no!" + +"Come with us and we shall have such fun," shouted in chorus a hundred +voices from the inside of the coach. + +"But if I come with you, what will my good Fairy say?" said the puppet, +who was beginning to yield. + +"Do not trouble your head with melancholy thoughts. Consider only that +we are going to a country where we shall be at liberty to run riot from +morning till night." + +Pinocchio did not answer, but he sighed; he sighed again; he sighed for +the third time, and he said finally: + +"Make a little room for me, for I am coming, too." + +"The places are all full," replied the little man; "but, to show you how +welcome you are, you shall have my seat on the box." + +"And you?" + +"Oh, I will go on foot." + +"No, indeed, I could not allow that. I would rather mount one of these +donkeys," cried Pinocchio. + +Approaching the right-hand donkey of the first pair, he attempted to +mount him, but the animal turned on him and, giving him a great blow in +the stomach, rolled him over with his legs in the air. + +You can imagine the impertinent and immoderate laughter of all the boys +who witnessed this scene. + +But the little man did not laugh. He approached the rebellious donkey +and, pretending to give him a kiss, bit off half of his ear. + +Pinocchio in the meantime had gotten up from the ground in a fury and, +with a spring, he seated himself on the poor animal's back. And he +sprang so well that the boys stopped laughing and began to shout: +"Hurrah, Pinocchio!" and they clapped their hands and applauded him as +if they would never finish. + +Now that Pinocchio was mounted, the coach started. Whilst the donkeys +were galloping and the coach was rattling over the stones of the high +road, the puppet thought that he heard a low voice that was scarcely +audible saying to him: + +"Poor fool! you would follow your own way, but you will repent it!" + +Pinocchio, feeling almost frightened, looked from side to side to try +and discover where these words could come from, but he saw nobody. The +donkeys galloped, the coach rattled, the boys inside slept, Candlewick +snored like a dormouse, and the little man seated on the box sang +between his teeth: + + "During the night all sleep, + But I sleep never." + +After they had gone another mile, Pinocchio heard the same little low +voice saying to him: + +"Bear it in mind, simpleton! Boys who refuse to study and turn their +backs upon books, schools and masters, to pass their time in play and +amusement, sooner or later come to a bad end. I know it by experience, +and I can tell you. A day will come when you will weep as I am weeping +now, but then it will be too late!" + +On hearing these words whispered very softly, the puppet, more +frightened than ever, sprang down from the back of his donkey and went +and took hold of his mouth. + +Imagine his surprise when he found that the donkey was crying--crying +like a boy! + +"Eh! Sir Coachman," cried Pinocchio to the little man, "here is an +extraordinary thing! This donkey is crying." + +"Let him cry; he will laugh when he is a bridegroom." + +"But have you by chance taught him to talk?" + +"No; but he spent three years in a company of learned dogs, and he +learned to mutter a few words." + +"Poor beast!" + +"Come, come," said the little man, "don't let us waste time in seeing a +donkey cry. Mount him and let us go on: the night is cold and the road +is long." + +Pinocchio obeyed without another word. In the morning about daybreak +they arrived safely in the "Land of Boobies." + +It was a country unlike any other country in the world. The population +was composed entirely of boys. The oldest were fourteen, and the +youngest scarcely eight years old. In the streets there was such +merriment, noise and shouting that it was enough to turn anybody's head. +There were troops of boys everywhere. Some were playing with nuts, some +with battledores, some with balls. Some rode velocipedes, others wooden +horses. A party were playing at hide and seek, a few were chasing each +other. Some were reciting, some singing, some leaping. Some were amusing +themselves with walking on their hands with their feet in the air; +others were trundling hoops or strutting about dressed as generals, +wearing leaf helmets and commanding a squadron of cardboard soldiers. +Some were laughing, some shouting, some were calling out; others clapped +their hands, or whistled, or clucked like a hen who has just laid an +egg. + +In every square, canvas theaters had been erected and they were crowded +with boys from morning till evening. On the walls of the houses there +were inscriptions written in charcoal: "Long live playthings, we will +have no more schools; down with arithmetic," and similar other fine +sentiments, all in bad spelling. + +Pinocchio, Candlewick and the other boys who had made the journey with +the little man, had scarcely set foot in the town before they were in +the thick of the tumult, and I need not tell you that in a few minutes +they had made acquaintance with everybody. Where could happier or more +contented boys be found? + +In the midst of continual games and every variety of amusement, the +hours, the days and the weeks passed like lightning. + +"Oh, what a delightful life!" said Pinocchio, whenever by chance he met +Candlewick. + +"See, then, if I was not right?" replied the other. "And to think that +you did not want to come! To think that you had taken it into your head +to return home to your Fairy, and to lose your time in studying! If you +are this moment free from the bother of books and school, you must +acknowledge that you owe it to me, to my advice, and to my persuasions. +It is only friends who know how to render such great services." + +"It is true, Candlewick! If I am now a really happy boy, it is all your +doing. But do you know what the master used to say when he talked to me +of you? He always said to me: 'Do not associate with that rascal +Candlewick, for he is a bad companion, and will only lead you into +mischief!'" + +"Poor master!" replied the other, shaking his head. "I know only too +well that he disliked me, and amused himself by calumniating me; but I +am generous and I forgive him!" + +"Noble soul!" said Pinocchio, embracing his friend affectionately and +kissing him between the eyes. + +This delightful life had gone on for five months. The days had been +entirely spent in play and amusement, without a thought of books or +school, when one morning Pinocchio awoke to a most disagreeable surprise +that put him into a very bad humor. + + + + +[Illustration] + +CHAPTER XXXII + +PINOCCHIO TURNS INTO A DONKEY + + +The surprise was that Pinocchio, when he awoke, scratched his head, and +in scratching his head he discovered, to his great astonishment, that +his ears had grown more than a hand. + +You know that the puppet from his birth had always had very small +ears--so small that they were not visible to the naked eye. You can +imagine then what he felt when he found that during the night his ears +had become so long that they seemed like two brooms. + +He went at once in search of a glass that he might look at himself, but, +not being able to find one, he filled the basin of his washing-stand +with water, and he saw reflected what he certainly would never have +wished to see. He saw his head embellished with a magnificent pair of +donkey's ears! + +Only think of poor Pinocchio's sorrow, shame and despair! + +He began to cry and roar, and he beat his head against the wall, but the +more he cried the longer his ears grew; they grew, and grew, and became +hairy towards the points. + +At the sound of his loud outcries a beautiful little Marmot that lived +on the first floor came into the room. Seeing the puppet in such grief +she asked earnestly: + +"What has happened to you, my dear fellow-lodger?" + +"I am ill, my dear little Marmot, very ill, and my illness frightens me. +Do you understand counting a pulse?" + +"A little." + +"Then feel and see if by chance I have got fever." + +The little Marmot raised her right fore-paw, and, after having felt +Pinocchio's pulse, she said to him, sighing: + +"My friend, I am grieved to be obliged to give you bad news!" + +"What is it?" + +"You have got a very bad fever!" + +"What fever is it?" + +"It is donkey fever." + +"That is a fever that I do not understand," said the puppet, but he +understood it only too well. + +"Then I will explain it to you," said the Marmot. "You must know that in +two or three hours you will be no longer a puppet, or a boy." + +"Then what shall I be?" + +"In two or three hours you will become really and truly a little donkey, +like those that draw carts and carry cabbages and salad to market." + +"Oh, unfortunate that I am! unfortunate that I am!" cried Pinocchio, +seizing his two ears with his hands and pulling them and tearing them +furiously as if they had been some one else's ears. + +"My dear boy," said the Marmot, by way of consoling him, "you can do +nothing. It is destiny. It is written in the decrees of wisdom that all +boys who are lazy, and who take a dislike to books, to schools, and to +masters, and who pass their time in amusement, games, and diversions, +must end sooner or later by becoming transformed into so many little +donkeys." + +"But is it really so?" asked the puppet, sobbing. + +"It is indeed only too true! And tears are now useless. You should have +thought of it sooner!" + +"But it was not my fault; believe me, little Marmot, the fault was all +Candlewick's!" + +"And who is this Candlewick?" + +"One of my school-fellows. I wanted to return home; I wanted to be +obedient. I wished to study, but Candlewick said to me: 'Why should you +bother yourself by studying? Why should you go to school? Come with us +instead to the "Land of Boobies"; there we shall none of us have to +learn; there we shall amuse ourselves from morning to night, and we +shall always be merry'." + +"And why did you follow the advice of that false friend? of that bad +companion?" + +"Why? Because, my dear little Marmot, I am a puppet with no sense, and +with no heart. Ah! if I had had the least heart I should never have left +that good Fairy who loved me like a mamma, and who had done so much for +me! And I would be no longer a puppet, for I would by this time have +become a little boy like so many others: But if I meet Candlewick, woe +to him! He shall hear what I think of him!" + +And he turned to go out. But when he reached the door he remembered his +donkey's ears, and, feeling ashamed to show them in public, what do you +think he did? He took a big cotton cap and, putting it on his head, he +pulled it well down over the point of his nose. + +He then set out and went everywhere in search of Candlewick. He looked +for him in the streets, in the squares, in the little theaters, in every +possible place, but he could not find him. He inquired for him of +everybody he met, but no one had seen him. + +He then went to seek him at his house and, having reached the door, he +knocked. + +"Who is there?" asked Candlewick from within. + +"It is I!" answered the puppet. + +"Wait a moment and I will let you in." + +After half an hour the door was opened and imagine Pinocchio's feelings +when, upon going into the room, he saw his friend Candlewick with a big +cotton cap on his head which came down over his nose. + +At the sight of the cap Pinocchio felt almost consoled and thought to +himself: + +"Has my friend got the same illness that I have? Is he also suffering +from donkey fever?" + +And, pretending to have observed nothing, he asked him, smiling: + +"How are you, my dear Candlewick?" + +"Very well; as well as a mouse in a Parmesan cheese." + +"Are you saying that seriously?" + +"Why should I tell you a lie?" + +"Excuse me; but why, then, do you keep that cotton cap on your head +which covers up your ears?" + +"The doctor ordered me to wear it because I have hurt this knee. And +you, dear puppet, why have you got on that cotton cap pulled down over +your nose?" + +"The doctor prescribed it because I have grazed my foot." + +"Oh, poor Pinocchio!" + +"Oh, poor Candlewick!" + +After these words a long silence followed, during which the two friends +did nothing but look mockingly at each other. + +At last the puppet said in a soft voice to his companion: + +"Satisfy my curiosity, my dear Candlewick: have you ever suffered from +disease of the ears?" + +"Never! And you?" + +"Never. Only since this morning one of my ears aches." + +"Mine is also paining me." + +"You also? And which of your ears hurts you?" + +"Both of them. And you?" + +"Both of them. Can we have got the same illness?" + +"I fear so." + +"Will you do me a kindness, Candlewick?" + +"Willingly! With all my heart." + +"Will you let me see your ears?" + +"Why not? But first, my dear Pinocchio, I should like to see yours." + +"No: you must be first." + +"No, dear. First you and then I!" + +"Well," said the puppet, "let us come to an agreement like good +friends." + +"Let us hear it." + +"We will both take off our caps at the same moment. Do you agree?" + +"I agree." + +"Then, attention!" + +And Pinocchio began to count in a loud voice: + +"One, two, three!" + +At the word "Three!" the two boys took off their caps and threw them +into the air. + +And then a scene followed that would seem incredible if it were not +true. That is, that when Pinocchio and Candlewick discovered that they +were both struck with the same misfortune, instead of feeling full of +mortification and grief, they began to prick their ungainly ears and to +make a thousand antics, and they ended by going into bursts of laughter. + +And they laughed, and laughed, and laughed, until they had to hold +themselves together. But in the midst of their merriment Candlewick +suddenly stopped, staggered, and, changing color, said to his friend: + +"Help, help, Pinocchio!" + +"What is the matter with you?" + +"Alas, I cannot any longer stand upright." + +"Neither can I," exclaimed Pinocchio, tottering and beginning to cry. + +And whilst they were talking, they both doubled up and began to run +round the room on their hands and feet. And as they ran, their hands +became hoofs, their faces lengthened into muzzles, and their backs +became covered with a light gray hairy coat sprinkled with black. + +But do you know what was the worst moment for these two wretched boys? +The worst and the most humiliating moment was when their tails grew. +Vanquished by shame and sorrow, they wept and lamented their fate. + +Oh, if they had but been wiser! But instead of sighs and lamentations +they could only bray like asses; and they brayed loudly and said in +chorus: "Hee-haw!" + +Whilst this was going on some one knocked at the door and a voice on the +outside said: + +"Open the door! I am the little man, I am the coachman who brought you +to this country. Open at once, or it will be the worse for you!" + + + + +[Illustration] + +CHAPTER XXXIII + +PINOCCHIO IS TRAINED FOR THE CIRCUS + + +Finding that the door remained shut the little man burst it open with a +violent kick and, coming into the room, he said to Pinocchio and +Candlewick with his usual little laugh: + +"Well done, boys! You brayed well, and I recognized you by your voices. +That is why I am here." + +At these words the two little donkeys were quite stupefied and stood +with their heads down, their ears lowered, and their tails between their +legs. + +At first the little man stroked and caressed them; then, taking out a +currycomb, he currycombed them well. And when by this process he had +polished them till they shone like two mirrors, he put a halter round +their necks and led them to the market-place, in hopes of selling them +and making a good profit. + +And indeed buyers were not wanting. Candlewick was bought by a peasant +whose donkey had died the previous day. Pinocchio was sold to the +director of a company of buffoons and tight-rope dancers, who bought him +that he might teach him to leap and to dance with the other animals +belonging to the company. + +And now, my little readers, you will have understood the fine trade that +little man pursued. The wicked little monster, who had a face all milk +and honey, made frequent journeys round the world with his coach. As he +went along he collected, with promises and flattery, all the idle boys +who had taken a dislike to books and school. As soon as his coach was +full he conducted them to the "Land of Boobies," that they might pass +their time in games, in uproar, and in amusement. When these poor, +deluded boys, from continual play and no study, had become so many +little donkeys, he took possession of them with great delight and +satisfaction, and carried them off to the fairs and markets to be sold. +And in this way he had in a few years made heaps of money and had become +a millionaire. + +What became of Candlewick I do not know, but I do know that Pinocchio +from the very first day had to endure a very hard, laborious life. + +When he was put into his stall his master filled the manger with straw; +but Pinocchio, having tried a mouthful, spat it out again. + +Then his master, grumbling, filled the manger with hay; but neither did +the hay please him. + +"Ah!" exclaimed his master in a passion. "Does not hay please you +either? Leave it to me, my fine donkey; if you are so full of caprices I +will find a way to cure you!" + +And by way of correcting him he struck his legs with his whip. + +Pinocchio began to cry and to bray with pain, and he said, braying: + +"Hee-haw! I cannot digest straw!" + +"Then eat hay!" said his master, who understood perfectly the asinine +dialect. + +"Hee-haw! hay gives me a pain in my stomach." + +"Do you mean to pretend that a little donkey like you must be kept on +breasts of chickens, and capons in jelly?" asked his master, getting +more and more angry, and whipping him again. + +At this second whipping Pinocchio prudently held his tongue and said +nothing more. + +The stable was then shut and Pinocchio was left alone. He had not eaten +for many hours and he began to yawn from hunger. And when he yawned he +opened a mouth that seemed as wide as an oven. + +At last, finding nothing else in the manger, he resigned himself and +chewed a little hay; and after he had chewed it well, he shut his eyes +and swallowed it. + +"This hay is not bad," he said to himself; "but how much better it would +have been if I had gone on with my studies! Instead of hay I might now +be eating a hunch of new bread and a fine slice of sausage. But I must +have patience!" + +The next morning when he woke he looked in the manger for a little more +hay; but he found none, for he had eaten it all during the night. + +Then he took a mouthful of chopped straw, but whilst he was chewing it +he had to acknowledge that the taste of chopped straw did not in the +least resemble a savory dish of macaroni or pie. + +"But I must have patience!" he repeated as he went on chewing. "May my +example serve at least as a warning to all disobedient boys who do not +want to study. Patience!" + +"Patience indeed!" shouted his master, coming at that moment into the +stable. "Do you think, my little donkey, that I bought you only to give +you food and drink? I bought you to make you work, and that you might +earn money for me. Up, then, at once! you must come with me into the +circus, and there I will teach you to jump through hoops, to go through +frames of paper head foremost, to dance waltzes and polkas, and to stand +upright on your hind legs." + +Poor Pinocchio, either by love or by force, had to learn all these fine +things. But it took him three months before he had learned them, and he +got many a whipping that nearly took off his skin. + +At last a day came when his master was able to announce that he would +give a really extraordinary representation. The many colored placards +stuck on the street corners were thus worded: + + + GREAT FULL DRESS REPRESENTATION + + TONIGHT + WILL TAKE PLACE THE USUAL FEATS AND SURPRISING + PERFORMANCES EXECUTED BY ALL THE ARTISTS + AND BY ALL THE HORSES OF THE COMPANY + AND MOREOVER + THE FAMOUS + LITTLE DONKEY PINOCCHIO + CALLED + THE STAR OF THE DANCE + WILL MAKE HIS FIRST APPEARANCE + + THE THEATER WILL BE BRILLIANTLY ILLUMINATED + +[Illustration: In Less Than an Hour All His Friends Were Invited] + +On that evening, as you may imagine, an hour before the play was to +begin the theater was crammed. + +There was not a place to be had either in the pit or the stalls, or in +the boxes even, by paying its weight in gold. + +The benches round the circus were crowded with children and with boys of +all ages, who were in a fever of impatience to see the famous little +donkey Pinocchio dance. + +When the first part of the performance was over, the director of the +company, dressed in a black coat, white breeches, and big leather boots +that came above his knees, presented himself to the public, and, after +making a profound bow, he began with much solemnity the following +ridiculous speech: + +"Respectable public, ladies and gentlemen! The humble undersigned being +a passer-by in this illustrious city, I have wished to procure for +myself the honor, not to say the pleasure, of presenting to this +intelligent and distinguished audience a celebrated little donkey, who +has already had the honor of dancing in the presence of His Majesty the +Emperor of all the principal courts of Europe. + +"And, thanking you, I beg of you to help us with your inspiring presence +and to be indulgent to us." + +This speech was received with much laughter and applause, but the +applause redoubled and became tumultuous when the little donkey +Pinocchio made his appearance in the middle of the circus. He was decked +out for the occasion. He had a new bridle of polished leather with brass +buckles and studs, and two white camelias in his ears. His mane was +divided and curled, and each curl was tied with bows of colored ribbon. +He had a girth of gold and silver round his body, and his tail was +plaited with amaranth and blue velvet ribbons. He was, in fact, a little +donkey to fall in love with! + +The director, in presenting him to the public, added these few words: + +"My respectable auditors! I am not here to tell you falsehoods of the +great difficulties that I have overcome in understanding and subjugating +this mammifer, whilst he was grazing at liberty amongst the mountains in +the plains of the torrid zone. I beg you will observe the wild rolling +of his eyes. Every means having been tried in vain to tame him, and to +accustom him to the life of domestic quadrupeds, I was often forced to +have recourse to the convincing argument of the whip. But all my +goodness to him, instead of gaining his affections, has, on the +contrary, increased his viciousness. However, following the system of +Gall, I discovered in his cranium a bony cartilage that the Faculty of +Medicine of Paris has itself recognized as the regenerating bulb of the +hair, and of dance. For this reason I have not only taught him to dance, +but also to jump through hoops and through frames covered with paper. +Admire him, and then pass your opinion on him! But before taking my +leave of you, permit me, ladies and gentlemen, to invite you to the +daily performance that will take place tomorrow evening; but in case the +weather should threaten rain, the performance will be postponed till +tomorrow morning at 11 ante-meridian of post-meridian." + +Here the director made another profound bow, and, then turning to +Pinocchio, he said: + +"Courage, Pinocchio! before you begin your feats make your bow to this +distinguished audience--ladies, gentlemen, and children." + +Pinocchio obeyed, and bent both his knees till they touched the ground, +and remained kneeling until the director, cracking his whip, shouted to +him: + +"At a foot's pace!" + +Then the little donkey raised himself on his four legs and began to walk +round the theater, keeping at a foot's pace. + +After a little the director cried: + +"Trot!" and Pinocchio, obeying the order, changed to a trot. + +"Gallop!" and Pinocchio broke into a gallop. + +"Full gallop!" and Pinocchio went full gallop. But whilst he was going +full speed like a race horse the director, raising his arm in the air, +fired off a pistol. + +At the shot the little donkey, pretending to be wounded, fell his whole +length in the circus, as if he were really dying. + +As he got up from the ground amidst an outburst of applause, shouts and +clapping of hands, he naturally raised his head and looked up, and he +saw in one of the boxes a beautiful lady who wore round her neck a thick +gold chain from which hung a medallion. On the medallion was painted the +portrait of a puppet. + +"That is my portrait! That lady is the Fairy!" said Pinocchio to +himself, recognizing her immediately; and, overcome with delight, he +tried to cry: + +"Oh, my little Fairy! Oh, my little Fairy!" + +But instead of these words a bray came from his throat, so sonorous and +so prolonged that all the spectators laughed, and more especially all +the children who were in the theater. + +Then the director, to give him a lesson, and to make him understand that +it is not good manners to bray before the public, gave him a blow on his +nose with the handle of his whip. + +The poor little donkey put his tongue out an inch and licked his nose +for at least five minutes, thinking perhaps that it would ease the pain +he felt. + +But what was his despair when, looking up a second time, he saw that the +box was empty and that the Fairy had disappeared! + +He thought he was going to die; his eyes filled with tears and he began +to weep. Nobody, however, noticed it, and least of all the director who, +cracking his whip, shouted: + +"Courage, Pinocchio! Now let the audience see how gracefully you can +jump through the hoops." + +Pinocchio tried two or three times, but each time that he came in front +of the hoop, instead of going through it, he found it easier to go under +it. At last he made a leap and went through it, but his right leg +unfortunately caught in the hoop, and that caused him to fall to the +ground doubled up in a heap on the other side. + +When he got up he was lame and it was only with great difficulty that he +managed to return to the stable. + +"Bring out Pinocchio! We want the little donkey! Bring out the little +donkey!" shouted all the boys in the theater, touched and sorry for the +sad accident. + +But the little donkey was seen no more that evening. + +The following morning the veterinary, that is, the doctor of animals, +paid him a visit, and declared that he would remain lame for life. + +The director then said to the stable-boy: + +"What do you suppose I can do with a lame donkey? He would eat food +without earning it. Take him to the market and sell him." + +When they reached the market a purchaser was found at once. He asked the +stable-boy: + +"How much do you want for that lame donkey?" + +"Twenty dollars." + +"I will give you two dollars. Don't suppose that I am buying him to make +use of; I am buying him solely for his skin. I see that his skin is very +hard and I intend to make a drum with it for the band of my village." + +Imagine poor Pinocchio's feelings when he heard that he was destined to +become a drum! + +As soon as the purchaser had paid his two dollars he conducted the +little donkey to the seashore. He then put a stone round his neck and, +tying a rope, the end of which he held in his hand, round his leg, he +gave him a sudden push and threw him into the water. + +Pinocchio, weighted down by the stone, went at once to the bottom, and +his owner, keeping tight hold of the cord, sat down quietly on a piece +of rock to wait until the little donkey was drowned, intending then to +skin him. + + + + +[Illustration] + +CHAPTER XXXIV + +PINOCCHIO IS SWALLOWED BY THE DOG-FISH + + +After Pinocchio had been fifty minutes under the water, his purchaser +said aloud to himself: + +"My poor little lame donkey must by this time be quite drowned. I will +therefore pull him out of the water, and I will make a fine drum of his +skin." + +And he began to haul in the rope that he had tied to the donkey's leg, +and he hauled, and hauled, and hauled, until at last--what do you think +appeared above the water? Instead of a little dead donkey he saw a live +puppet, who was wriggling like an eel. + +Seeing this wooden puppet, the poor man thought he was dreaming, and, +struck dumb with astonishment, he remained with his mouth open and his +eyes starting out of his head. + +Having somewhat recovered from his first stupefaction, he asked in a +quavering voice: + +"And the little donkey that I threw into the sea? What has become of +him?" + +"I am the little donkey!" said Pinocchio, laughing. + +"You?" + +"I." + +"Ah, you young scamp!! Do you dare to make game of me?" + +"To make game of you? Quite the contrary, my dear master? I am speaking +seriously." + +"But how can you, who but a short time ago were a little donkey, have +become a wooden puppet, only from having been left in the water?" + +"It must have been the effect of sea water. The sea makes extraordinary +changes." + +"Beware, puppet, beware! Don't imagine that you can amuse yourself at my +expense. Woe to you if I lose patience!" + +"Well, master, do you wish to know the true story? If you will set my +leg free I will tell it you." + +The good man, who was curious to hear the true story, immediately untied +the knot that kept him bound; and Pinocchio, finding himself free as a +bird in the air, commenced as follows: + +"You must know that I was once a puppet as I am now, and I was on the +point of becoming a boy like the many who are in the world. But instead, +induced by my dislike for study and the advice of bad companions, I ran +away from home. One fine day when I awoke I found myself changed into a +donkey with long ears, and a long tail. What a disgrace it was to +me!--a disgrace, dear master, that even your worst enemy would not +inflict upon you! Taken to the market to be sold I was bought by the +director of an equestrian company, who took it into his head to make a +famous dancer of me, and a famous leaper through hoops. But one night +during a performance I had a bad fall in the circus and lamed both my +legs. Then the director, not knowing what to do with a lame donkey, sent +me to be sold, and you were the purchaser!" + +"Only too true. And I paid two dollars for you. And now, who will give +me back my good money?" + +"And why did you buy me? You bought me to make a drum of my skin!" + +"Only too true! And now, where shall I find another skin?" + +"Don't despair, master. There are such a number of little donkeys in the +world!" + +"Tell me, you impertinent rascal, does your story end here?" + +"No," answered the puppet; "I have another two words to say and then I +shall have finished. After you had bought me you brought me to this +place to kill me; but then, yielding to a feeling of compassion, you +preferred to tie a stone round my neck and to throw me into the sea. +This humane feeling does you great honor and I shall always be grateful +to you for it. But, nevertheless, dear master, this time you made your +calculations without considering the Fairy!" + +"And who is the Fairy?" + +"She is my mamma and she resembles all other good mammas who care for +their children, and who never lose sight of them, but help them +lovingly, even when, on account of their foolishness and evil conduct, +they deserve to be abandoned and left to themselves. Well, then, the +good Fairy, as soon as she saw that I was in danger of drowning, sent +immediately an immense shoal of fish, who, believing me really to be a +little dead donkey, began to eat me. And what mouthfuls they took; I +should never have thought that fish were greedier than boys! Some ate my +ears, some my muzzle, others my neck and mane, some the skin of my legs, +some my coat. Amongst them there was a little fish so polite that he +even condescended to eat my tail." + +"From this time forth," said his purchaser, horrified, "I swear that I +will never touch fish. It would be too dreadful to open a mullet, or a +fried whiting, and to find inside a donkey's tail!" + +"I agree with you," said the puppet, laughing. "However, I must tell you +that when the fish had finished eating the donkey's hide that covered me +from head to foot, they naturally reached the bone, or rather the wood, +for, as you see, I am made of the hardest wood. But after giving a few +bites they soon discovered that I was not a morsel for their teeth, and, +disgusted with such indigestible food, they went off, some in one +direction and some in another, without so much as saying 'Thank you' to +me. And now, at last, I have told you how it was that when you pulled up +the rope you found a live puppet instead of a dead donkey." + +"I laugh at your story," cried the man in a rage. "I know only that I +spent two dollars to buy you, and I will have my money back. Shall I +tell you what I will do? I will take you back to the market and I will +sell you by weight as seasoned wood for lighting fires." + +"Sell me if you like; I am content," said Pinocchio. + +But as he said it he made a spring and plunged into the water. Swimming +gaily away from the shore, he called to his poor owner: + +"Good-bye, master; if you should be in want of a skin to make a drum, +remember me." + +And he laughed and went on swimming, and after a while he turned again +and shouted louder: + +"Good-bye, master; if you should be in want of a little well seasoned +wood for lighting the fire, remember me." + +In the twinkling of an eye he had swum so far off that he was scarcely +visible. All that could be seen of him was a little black speck on the +surface of the sea that from time to time lifted its legs out of the +water and leaped and capered like a dolphin enjoying himself. + +Whilst Pinocchio was swimming, he knew not whither, he saw in the midst +of the sea a rock that seemed to be made of white marble, and on the +summit there stood a beautiful little goat who bleated lovingly and made +signs to him to approach. + +But the most singular thing was this. The little goat's hair, instead of +being white or black, or a mixture of two colors as is usual with other +goats, was blue, and a very vivid blue, greatly resembling the hair of +the beautiful Child. + +I leave you to imagine how rapidly poor Pinocchio's heart began to beat. +He swam with redoubled strength and energy towards the white rock; and +he was already half-way there when he saw, rising up out of the water +and coming to meet him, the horrible head of a sea-monster. His +wide-open, cavernous mouth and his three rows of enormous teeth would +have been terrifying to look at even in a picture. + +And do you know what this sea-monster was? + +This sea-monster was neither more nor less than that gigantic Dog-Fish, +who has been mentioned many times in this story, and who, for his +slaughter and for his insatiable voracity, had been named the "Attila of +Fish and Fishermen." + +Only to think of poor Pinocchio's terror at the sight of the monster. He +tried to avoid it, to change his direction; he tried to escape, but that +immense, wide-open mouth came towards him with the velocity of an arrow. + +"Be quick, Pinocchio, for pity's sake!" cried the beautiful little goat, +bleating. + +And Pinocchio swam desperately with his arms, his chest, his legs, and +his feet. + +"Quick, Pinocchio, the monster is close upon you!" + +And Pinocchio swam quicker than ever, and flew on with the rapidity of a +ball from a gun. He had nearly reached the rock, and the little goat, +leaning over towards the sea, had stretched out her fore-legs to help +him out of the water! + +But it was too late! The monster had overtaken him and, drawing in his +breath, he sucked in the poor puppet as he would have sucked a hen's +egg; and he swallowed him with such violence and avidity that Pinocchio, +in falling into the Dog-Fish's stomach, received such a blow that he +remained unconscious for a quarter of an hour afterwards. + +When he came to himself again after the shock he could not in the least +imagine in what world he was. All around him it was quite dark, and the +darkness was so black and so profound that it seemed to him that he had +fallen head downwards into an inkstand full of ink. He listened, but he +could hear no noise; only from time to time great gusts of wind blew in +his face. At first he could not understand where the wind came from, but +at last he discovered that it came out of the monster's lungs. For you +must know that the Dog-Fish suffered very much from asthma, and when he +breathed it was exactly as if a north wind was blowing. + +Pinocchio at first tried to keep up his courage, but when he had one +proof after another that he was really shut up in the body of this +sea-monster he began to cry and scream, and to sob out: + +"Help! help! Oh, how unfortunate I am! Will nobody come to save me?" + +"Who do you think could save you, unhappy wretch?" said a voice in the +dark that sounded like a guitar out of tune. + +"Who is speaking?" asked Pinocchio, frozen with terror. + +"It is I! I am a poor Tunny who was swallowed by the Dog-Fish at the +same time that you were. And what fish are you?" + +"I have nothing in common with fish. I am a puppet." + +"Then, if you are not a fish, why did you let yourself be swallowed by +the monster?" + +"I didn't let myself be swallowed; it was the monster swallowed me! And +now, what are we to do here in the dark?" + +"Resign ourselves and wait until the Dog-Fish has digested us both." + +"But I do not want to be digested!" howled Pinocchio, beginning to cry +again. + +"Neither do I want to be digested," added the Tunny; "but I am enough of +a philosopher to console myself by thinking that when one is born a +Tunny it is more dignified to die in the water than in oil." + +"That is all nonsense!" cried Pinocchio. + +"It is my opinion," replied the Tunny, "and opinions, so say the +political Tunnies, ought to be respected." + +"To sum it all up, I want to get away from here. I want to escape." + +"Escape, if you are able!" + +"Is this Dog-Fish who has swallowed us very big?" asked the puppet. + +"Big! Why, only imagine, his body is two miles long without counting his +tail." + +Whilst they were holding this conversation in the dark, Pinocchio +thought that he saw a light a long way off. + +"What is that little light I see in the distance?" he asked. + +"It is most likely some companion in misfortune who is waiting, like us, +to be digested." + +"I will go and find him. Do you not think that it may by chance be some +old fish who perhaps could show us how to escape?" + +"I hope it may be so, with all my heart, dear puppet." + +"Good-bye, Tunny." + +"Good-bye, puppet, and good fortune attend you." + +"Where shall we meet again?" + +"Who can say? It is better not even to think of it!" + + + + +[Illustration] + +CHAPTER XXXV + +A HAPPY SURPRISE FOR PINOCCHIO + + +Pinocchio, having taken leave of his friend the Tunny, began to grope +his way in the dark through the body of the Dog-Fish, taking a step at a +time in the direction of the light that he saw shining dimly at a great +distance. + +The farther he advanced the brighter became the light; and he walked and +walked until at last he reached it; and when he reached it--what did he +find? I will give you a thousand guesses. He found a little table spread +out and on it a lighted candle stuck into a green glass bottle, and, +seated at the table, was a little old man. He was eating some live fish, +and they were so very much alive that whilst he was eating them they +sometimes even jumped out of his mouth. + +At this sight Pinocchio was filled with such great and unexpected joy +that he became almost delirious. He wanted to laugh, he wanted to cry, +he wanted to say a thousand things, and instead he could only stammer +out a few confused and broken words. At last he succeeded in uttering a +cry of joy, and, opening his arms, he threw them around the little old +man's neck, and began to shout: + +"Oh, my dear papa! I have found you at last! I will never leave you +more, never more, never more!" + +"Then my eyes tell me true?" said the little old man, rubbing his eyes; +"then you are really my dear Pinocchio?" + +"Yes, yes, I am Pinocchio, really Pinocchio! And you have quite forgiven +me, have you not? Oh, my dear papa, how good you are! And to think that +I, on the contrary--Oh! but if you only knew what misfortunes have been +poured on my head, and all that has befallen me! Only imagine, the day +that you, poor, dear papa, sold your coat to buy me a spelling-book, +that I might go to school, I escaped to see the puppet show, and the +showman wanted to put me on the fire, that I might roast his mutton, and +he was the same that afterwards gave me five gold pieces to take them to +you, but I met the Fox and the Cat, who took me to the inn of The Red +Craw-Fish, where they ate like wolves, and I left by myself in the +middle of the night, and I encountered assassins who ran after me, and I +ran away, and they followed, and I ran, and they always followed me, and +I ran, until they hung me to a branch of a Big Oak, and the beautiful +Child with blue hair sent a little carriage to fetch me, and the doctors +when they saw me said immediately, 'If he is not dead, it is a proof +that he is still alive'--and then by chance I told a lie, and my nose +began to grow until I could no longer get through the door of the room, +for which reason I went with the Fox and the Cat to bury the four gold +pieces, for one I had spent at the inn, and the Parrot began to laugh, +and instead of two thousand gold pieces I found none left, for which +reason the judge when he heard that I had been robbed had me immediately +put in prison to content the robbers, and then when I was coming away I +saw a beautiful bunch of grapes in a field, and I was caught in a trap, +and the peasant, who was quite right, put a dog-collar round my neck +that I might guard the poultry-yard, and acknowledging my innocence let +me go, and the Serpent with the smoking tail began to laugh and broke a +blood-vessel in his chest, and so I returned to the house of the +beautiful Child, who was dead, and the Pigeon, seeing that I was crying, +said to me, 'I have seen your father who was building a little boat to +go in search of you,' and I said to him, 'Oh! if I also had wings,' and +he said to me, 'Do you want to go to your father?' and I said, 'Without +doubt! but who will take me to him?' and he said to me, 'I will take +you,' and I said to him, 'How?' and he said to me, 'Get on my back,' and +so we flew all night, and then in the morning all the fishermen who were +looking out to sea said to me, 'There is a poor man in a boat who is on +the point of being drowned,' and I recognized you at once, even at that +distance, for my heart told me, and I made signs to you to return to +land." + +"I also recognized you," said Geppetto, "and I would willingly have +returned to the shore, but what was I to do! The sea was tremendous and +a great wave upset my boat. Then a horrible Dog-Fish, who was near, as +soon as he saw me in the water, came towards me, and, putting out his +tongue, took hold of me and swallowed me as if I had been a little apple +tart." + +"And how long have you been shut up here?" asked Pinocchio. + +[Illustration: They Thought It Would Be More Comfortable to Get on the +Tunny's Back] + +"Since that day--it must be nearly two years ago; two years, my dear +Pinocchio, that have seemed like two centuries!" + +"And how have you managed to live? And where did you get the candle? And +the matches to light it? Who gave them to you?" + +"Stop, and I will tell you everything. You must know, then, that in the +same storm in which my boat was upset a merchant vessel foundered. The +sailors were all saved, but the vessel went to the bottom, and the +Dog-Fish, who had that day an excellent appetite, after he had swallowed +me, swallowed also the vessel." + +"How?" + +"He swallowed it in one mouthful, and the only thing that he spat out +was the mainmast, that had stuck between his teeth like a fish-bone. +Fortunately for me, the vessel was laden with preserved meat in tins, +biscuit, bottles of wine, dried raisins, cheese, coffee, sugar, candles, +and boxes of wax matches. With this providential supply I have been able +to live for two years. But I have arrived at the end of my resources; +there is nothing left in the larder, and this candle that you see +burning is the last that remains." + +"And after that?" + +"After that, dear boy, we shall both remain in the dark." + +"Then, dear little papa," said Pinocchio, "there is no time to lose. We +must think of escaping." + +"Of escaping? How?" + +"We must escape through the mouth of the Dog-Fish, throw ourselves into +the sea and swim away." + +"You talk well; but, dear Pinocchio, I don't know how to swim." + +"What does that matter? I am a good swimmer, and you can get on my +shoulders and I will carry you safely to shore." + +"All illusions, my boy!" replied Geppetto, shaking his head, with a +melancholy smile. "Do you suppose it possible that a puppet like you, +scarcely a yard high, could have the strength to swim with me on his +shoulders!" + +"Try it and you will see!" + +Without another word Pinocchio took the candle in his hand, and, going +in front to light the way, he said to his father: + +"Follow me, and don't be afraid." + +And they walked for some time and traversed the body and the stomach of +the Dog-Fish. But when they had arrived at the point where the monster's +big throat began, they thought it better to stop to give a good look +around and to choose the best moment for escaping. + +Now, I must tell you that the Dog-Fish, being very old, and suffering +from asthma and palpitation of the heart, was obliged to sleep with his +mouth open. Pinocchio, therefore, having approached the entrance to his +throat, and, looking up, could see beyond the enormous gaping mouth a +large piece of starry sky and beautiful moonlight. + +"This is the moment to escape," he whispered, turning to his father; +"the Dog-Fish is sleeping like a dormouse, the sea is calm, and it is as +light as day. Follow me, dear papa, and in a short time we shall be in +safety." + +They immediately climbed up the throat of the sea-monster, and, having +reached his immense mouth, they began to walk on tiptoe down his tongue. + +Before taking the final leap the puppet said to his father: + +"Get on my shoulders and put your arms tightly around my neck. I will +take care of the rest." + +As soon as Geppetto was firmly settled on his son's shoulders, +Pinocchio, feeling sure of himself, threw himself into the water and +began to swim. The sea was as smooth as oil, the moon shone brilliantly, +and the Dog-Fish was sleeping so profoundly that even a cannonade would +have failed to wake him. + + + + +[Illustration] + +CHAPTER XXXVI + +PINOCCHIO AT LAST CEASES TO BE A PUPPET AND BECOMES A BOY + + +Whilst Pinocchio was swimming quickly towards the shore he discovered +that his father, who was on his shoulders with his legs in the water, +was trembling as violently as if the poor man had an attack of ague +fever. + +Was he trembling from cold or from fear. Perhaps a little from both the +one and the other. But Pinocchio, thinking it was from fear, said, to +comfort him: + +"Courage, papa! In a few minutes we shall be safely on shore." + +"But where is this blessed shore?" asked the little old man, becoming +still more frightened, and screwing up his eyes as tailors do when they +wish to thread a needle. "I have been looking in every direction and I +see nothing but the sky and the sea." + +"But I see the shore as well," said the puppet. "You must know that I am +like a cat: I see better by night than by day." + +Poor Pinocchio was making a pretense of being in good spirits, but in +reality he was beginning to feel discouraged; his strength was failing, +he was gasping and panting for breath. He could do no more, and the +shore was still far off. + +He swam until he had no breath left; then he turned his head to Geppetto +and said in broken words? + +"Papa, help me, I am dying!" + +The father and son were on the point of drowning when they heard a voice +like a guitar out of tune saying: + +"Who is it that is dying?" + +"It is I, and my poor father!" + +"I know that voice! You are Pinocchio!" + +"Precisely; and you?" + +"I am the Tunny, your prison companion in the body of the Dog-Fish." + +"And how did you manage to escape?" + +"I followed your example. You showed me the road, and I escaped after +you." + +"Tunny, you have arrived at the right moment! I implore you to help us +or we are lost." + +"Willingly and with all my heart. You must, both of you, take hold of my +tail and leave it to me to guide you. I will take you on shore in four +minutes." + +Geppetto and Pinocchio, as I need not tell you, accepted the offer at +once; but, instead of holding on by his tail, they thought it would be +more comfortable to get on the Tunny's back. + +Having reached the shore, Pinocchio sprang first on land that he might +help his father to do the same. He then turned to the Tunny and said to +him in a voice full of emotion: + +"My friend, you have saved my papa's life. I can find no words with +which to thank you properly. Permit me at least to give you a kiss as a +sign of my eternal gratitude!" + +The Tunny put his head out of the water and Pinocchio, kneeling on the +ground, kissed him tenderly on the mouth. At this spontaneous proof of +warm affection, the poor Tunny, who was not accustomed to it, felt +extremely touched, and, ashamed to let himself be seen crying like a +child, he plunged under the water and disappeared. + +By this time the day had dawned. Pinocchio, then offering his arm to +Geppetto, who had scarcely breath to stand, said to him: + +"Lean on my arm, dear papa, and let us go. We will walk very slowly, +like the ants, and when we are tired we can rest by the wayside." + +"And where shall we go?" asked Geppetto. + +"In search of some house or cottage, where they will give us for charity +a mouthful of bread, and a little straw to serve as a bed." + +They had not gone a hundred yards when they saw by the roadside two +villainous-looking individuals begging. + +They were the Cat and the Fox, but they were scarcely recognizable. +Fancy! the Cat had so long feigned blindness that she had become blind +in reality; and the Fox, old, mangy, and with one side paralyzed, had +not even his tail left. That sneaking thief, having fallen into the most +squalid misery, one fine day had found himself obliged to sell his +beautiful tail to a traveling peddler, who bought it to drive away +flies. + +"Oh, Pinocchio!" cried the Fox, "give a little in charity to two poor, +infirm people." + +"Infirm people," repeated the Cat. + +"Begone, impostors!" answered the puppet. "You took me in once, but you +will never catch me again." + +"Believe me, Pinocchio, we are now poor and unfortunate indeed!" + +"If you are poor, you deserve it. Recollect the proverb: 'Stolen money +never fructifies.' Begone, impostors!" + +And, thus saying, Pinocchio and Geppetto went their way in peace. When +they had gone another hundred yards they saw, at the end of a path in +the middle of the fields, a nice little straw hut with a roof of tiles +and bricks. + +"That hut must be inhabited by some one," said Pinocchio. "Let us go and +knock at the door." + +They went and knocked. + +"We are a poor father and son without bread and without a roof," +answered the puppet. + +"Turn the key and the door will open," said the same little voice. + +Pinocchio turned the key and the door opened. They went in and looked +here, there, and everywhere, but could see no one. + +"Oh! where is the master of the house?" said Pinocchio, much surprised. + +"Here I am, up here!" + +The father and son looked immediately up to the ceiling, and there on a +beam they saw the Talking-Cricket. + +"Oh, my dear little Cricket!" said Pinocchio, bowing politely to him. + +"Ah! now you call me 'Your dear little Cricket.' But do you remember the +time when you threw the handle of a hammer at me, to drive me from your +house?" + +"You are right, Cricket! Drive me away also! Throw the handle of a +hammer at me, but have pity on my poor papa." + +"I will have pity on both father and son, but I wished to remind you of +the ill treatment I received from you, to teach you that in this world, +when it is possible, we should show courtesy to everybody, if we wish it +to be extended to us in our hour of need." + +"You are right. Cricket, you are right, and I will bear in mind the +lesson you have given me. But tell me how you managed to buy this +beautiful hut." + +"This hut was given to me yesterday by a goat whose wool was of a +beautiful blue color." + +"And where has the goat gone?" asked Pinocchio, with lively curiosity. + +"I do not know." + +"And when will it come back?" + +"It will never come back. It went away yesterday in great grief and, +bleating, it seemed to say: 'Poor Pinocchio! I shall never see him more, +for by this time the Dog-Fish must have devoured him!'" + +"Did it really say that? Then it was she! It was my dear little Fairy," +exclaimed Pinocchio, crying and sobbing. + +When he had cried for some time he dried his eyes and prepared a +comfortable bed of straw for Geppetto to lie down upon. Then he asked +the Cricket: + +"Tell me, little Cricket, where can I find a tumbler of milk for my poor +papa?" + +"Three fields off from here there lives a gardener called Giangio, who +keeps cows. Go to him and you will get the milk you are in want of." + +Pinocchio ran all the way to Giangio's house, and the gardener asked +him: + +"How much milk do you want?" + +"I want a tumblerful." + +"A tumbler of milk costs five cents. Begin by giving me the five cents." + +"I have not even one cent," replied Pinocchio, grieved and mortified. + +"That is bad, puppet," answered the gardener. "If you have not even one +cent, I have not even a drop of milk." + +"I must have patience!" said Pinocchio, and he turned to go. + +"Wait a little," said Giangio. "We can come to an arrangement together. +Will you undertake to turn the pumping machine?" + +"What is the pumping machine?" + +"It is a wooden pole which serves to draw up the water from the cistern +to water the vegetables." + +"You can try me." + +"Well, then, if you will draw a hundred buckets of water, I will give +you in compensation a tumbler of milk." + +"It is a bargain." + +Giangio then led Pinocchio to the kitchen garden and taught him how to +turn the pumping machine. Pinocchio immediately began to work; but +before he had drawn up the hundred buckets of water the perspiration was +pouring from his head to his feet. Never before had he undergone such +fatigue. + +"Up till now," said the gardener, "the labor of turning the pumping +machine was performed by my little donkey, but the poor animal is +dying." + +"Will you take me to see him?" said Pinocchio. + +"Willingly." + +When Pinocchio went into the stable he saw a beautiful little donkey +stretched on the straw, worn out from hunger and overwork. After looking +at him earnestly, he said to himself, much troubled: + +"I am sure I know this little donkey! His face is not new to me." + +And, bending over him, he asked him in asinine language: + +"Who are you?" + +At this question the little donkey opened his dying eyes, and answered +in broken words in the same language: + +"I am--Can--dle--wick." + +And, having again closed his eyes, he expired. + +"Oh, poor Candlewick!" said Pinocchio in a low voice; and, taking a +handful of straw, he dried a tear that was rolling down his face. + +"Do you grieve for a donkey that cost you nothing?" said the gardener. +"What must it be to me, who bought him for ready money?" + +"I must tell you--he was my friend!" + +"Your friend?" + +"One of my school-fellows!" + +"How?" shouted Giangio, laughing loudly. "How? had you donkeys for +school-fellows? I can imagine what wonderful studies you must have +made!" + +The puppet, who felt much mortified at these words, did not answer; but, +taking his tumbler of milk, still quite warm, he returned to the hut. + +And from that day for more than five months he continued to get up at +daybreak every morning to go and turn the pumping machine, to earn the +tumbler of milk that was of such benefit to his father in his bad state +of health. Nor was he satisfied with this; for, during the time that he +had over, he learned to make hampers and baskets of rushes, and with the +money he obtained by selling them he was able with great economy to +provide for all the daily expenses. Amongst other things he constructed +an elegant little wheel-chair, in which he could take his father out on +fine days to breathe a mouthful of fresh air. + +By his industry, ingenuity and his anxiety to work and to overcome +difficulties, he not only succeeded in maintaining his father, who +continued infirm, in comfort, but he also contrived to put aside five +dollars to buy himself a new coat. + +One morning he said to his father: + +"I am going to the neighboring market to buy myself a jacket, a cap, and +a pair of shoes. When I return," he added, laughing, "I shall be so well +dressed that you will take me for a fine gentleman." + +And, leaving the house, he began to run merrily and happily along. All +at once he heard himself called by name and, turning around, he saw a +big Snail crawling out from the hedge. + +"Do you not know me?" asked the Snail. + +"It seems to me--and yet I am not sure--" + +"Do you not remember the Snail who was lady's-maid to the Fairy with +blue hair? Do you not remember the time when I came downstairs to let +you in, and you were caught by your foot, which you had stuck through +the house-door?" + +"I remember it all" shouted Pinocchio. "Tell me quickly, my beautiful +little Snail, where have you left my good Fairy? What is she doing? Has +she forgiven me? Does she still remember me? Does she still wish me +well? Is she far from here? Can I go and see her?" + +To all these rapid, breathless questions the Snail replied in her usual +phlegmatic manner: + +"My dear Pinocchio, the poor Fairy is lying in bed at the hospital!" + +"At the hospital?" + +"It is only too true. Overtaken by a thousand misfortunes, she has +fallen seriously ill, and she has not even enough to buy herself a +mouthful of bread." + +"Is it really so? Oh, what sorrow you have given me! Oh, poor Fairy! +Poor Fairy! Poor Fairy! If I had a million I would run and carry it to +her, but I have only five dollars. Here they are--I was going to buy a +new coat. Take them, Snail, and carry them at once to my good Fairy." + +"And your new coat?" + +"What matters my new coat? I would sell even these rags that I have on +to be able to help her. Go, Snail, and be quick; and in two days return +to this place, for I hope I shall then be able to give you some more +money. Up to this time I have worked to maintain my papa; from today I +will work five hours more that I may also maintain my good mamma. +Good-bye, Snail, I shall expect you in two days." + +The Snail, contrary to her usual habits, began to run like a lizard in a +hot August sun. + +That evening Pinocchio, instead of going to bed at ten o'clock, sat up +till midnight had struck; and instead of making eight baskets of rushes +he made sixteen. + +Then he went to bed and fell asleep. And whilst he slept he thought that +he saw the Fairy, smiling and beautiful, who, after having kissed him, +said to him: + +"Well done, Pinocchio! To reward you for your good heart I will forgive +you for all that is past. Boys who minister tenderly to their parents +and assist them in their misery and infirmities, are deserving of great +praise and affection, even if they cannot be cited as examples of +obedience and good behavior. Try and do better in the future and you +will be happy." + +At this moment his dream ended and Pinocchio opened his eyes and awoke. + +But imagine his astonishment when upon awakening he discovered that he +was no longer a wooden puppet, but that he had become instead a boy, +like all other boys. He gave a glance round and saw that the straw walls +of the hut had disappeared, and that he was in a pretty little room +furnished and arranged with a simplicity that was almost elegance. +Jumping out of bed he found a new suit of clothes ready for him, a new +cap, and a pair of new boots, that fitted him beautifully. + +He was hardly dressed when he naturally put his hands in his pockets +and pulled out a little ivory purse on which these words were written: +"The Fairy with blue hair returns the five dollars to her dear +Pinocchio, and thanks him for his good heart." He opened the purse and +instead of five dollars he saw fifty shining gold pieces fresh from the +mint. + +He then went and looked at himself in the glass, and he thought he was +some one else. For he no longer saw the usual reflection of a wooden +puppet; he was greeted instead by the image of a bright, intelligent boy +with chestnut hair, blue eyes, and looking as happy and joyful as if it +were the Easter holidays. + +In the midst of all these wonders succeeding each other, Pinocchio felt +quite bewildered, and he could not tell if he was really awake or if he +was dreaming with his eyes open. + +"Where can my papa be?" he exclaimed suddenly, and, going into the next +room, he found old Geppetto quite well, lively, and in good humor, just +as he had been formerly. He had already resumed his trade of +wood-carving, and he was designing a rich and beautiful frame of leaves, +flowers and the heads of animals. + +"Satisfy my curiosity, dear papa," said Pinocchio, throwing his arms +around his neck and covering him with kisses; "how can this sudden +change be accounted for?" + +"This sudden change in our home is all your doing," answered Geppetto. + +"How my doing?" + +"Because when boys who have behaved badly turn over a new leaf and +become good, they have the power of bringing contentment and happiness +to their families." + +"And where has the old wooden Pinocchio hidden himself?" + +"There he is," answered Geppetto, and he pointed to a big puppet +leaning against a chair, with its head on one side, its arms dangling, +and its legs so crossed and bent that it was really a miracle that it +remained standing. + +Pinocchio turned and looked at it; and, after he had looked at it for a +short time, he said to himself with great complacency: + +"How ridiculous I was when I was a puppet! And how glad I am that I have +become a well-behaved little boy!" + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Pinocchio, by C. Collodi + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PINOCCHIO *** + +***** This file should be named 16865.txt or 16865.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/8/6/16865/ + +Produced by Mark C. Orton, Melissa Er-Raqabi and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net. + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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