diff options
| author | nfenwick <nfenwick@pglaf.org> | 2025-03-08 13:19:37 -0800 |
|---|---|---|
| committer | nfenwick <nfenwick@pglaf.org> | 2025-03-08 13:19:37 -0800 |
| commit | d87ed349aec78d6db53a162b7bf1734eb0d56d67 (patch) | |
| tree | dceae97457d53469ea2cea41170b12653ccb3df7 /41446-8.txt | |
| parent | bd1bcaaabae463dfad0aded5091cb4dbfbd036af (diff) | |
Diffstat (limited to '41446-8.txt')
| -rw-r--r-- | 41446-8.txt | 5238 |
1 files changed, 0 insertions, 5238 deletions
diff --git a/41446-8.txt b/41446-8.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 31db6ed..0000000 --- a/41446-8.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,5238 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Heart of Pinocchio, by Collodi Nipote - -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: The Heart of Pinocchio - New Adventures of the Celebrated Little Puppet - -Author: Collodi Nipote - -Illustrator: J. R. Flanagan - -Translator: Virginia Watson - -Release Date: November 23, 2012 [EBook #41446] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE HEART OF PINOCCHIO *** - - - - -Produced by Melissa McDaniel and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net - - - - - - - -Transcriber's Note: - - Inconsistent hyphenation and spelling in the original document have - been preserved. Obvious typographical errors have been corrected. - - Italic text is denoted by _underscores_. - - The frequent use of ellipses has been retained as printed. - - On page 19, "I had better tried" should possibly be "I had better - try". - - - - -THE HEART OF PINOCCHIO - - [Illustration: "BUT SMELL THIS" ... AND WHILE HE SPOKE THE RASCAL OF - A PINOCCHIO TOOK IN BOTH HIS HANDS THE DISH AND HELD IT CLOSE TO - STOLZ'S NOSE] - - - - - THE HEART OF - PINOCCHIO - - _New Adventures of the - Celebrated Little Puppet_ - - _By_ - - COLLODI NIPOTE - (_Paolo Lorenzini_) - - _Adapted from the Italian by_ - VIRGINIA WATSON - - _With Drawings by - J. R. Flanagan_ - - HARPER & BROTHERS PUBLISHERS - NEW YORK AND LONDON - - - - -_The Twilight Series_ - -Imaginative Stories and Fairy Tales - -Illustrated--Jackets Printed in Colors - - THE HOLLOW TREE AND DEEP WOODS BOOK. By A. B. Paine - THE HOLLOW TREE SNOWED-IN BOOK. By A. B. Paine - HOLLOW TREE NIGHTS AND DAYS. By A. B. Paine - ALICE IN WONDERLAND. By Lewis Carroll - THROUGH THE LOOKING-GLASS. By Lewis Carroll - HOME FAIRY TALES. By Jean Mace - DANISH FAIRY AND FOLK TALES. By J. Christian Bay - FAVORITE FAIRY TALES. Illustrated by Peter Newell - TWILIGHT LAND. By Howard Pyle - THE DWARF'S TAILOR. By Zoe Dana Underhill - FAIRY BOOK. By Edouard Laboulaye - LAST FAIRY TALES. By Edouard Laboulaye - PINOCCHIO. By Carlo Collodi - THE HEART OF PINOCCHIO. By Collodi Nipote - THE WATER BABIES. By Charles Kingsley - - -THE HEART OF PINOCCHIO - - - Copyright, 1919, by Harper & Brothers - Printed in the United States of America - - - - -CONTENTS - - - CHAP. PAGE - - I. _How Pinocchio Discovered that He Had a Heart and Had - Become a Real Boy_ 1 - - II. _How Pinocchio Recognized the Advantages of His - Wooden Body_ 22 - - III. _How Pinocchio Sent a Solemn Protest to Francis - Joseph to Rectify an Official Bulletin_ 33 - - IV. _How Pinocchio Learned that War Changes Everything--Even - the Meaning of Words_ 62 - - V. _In Which Pinocchio Discovers that Sometimes When You - Want to Advance You Have to Take a Step Backward_ 78 - - VI. _Wherein We See Pinocchio's Heart_ 92 - - VII. _How Pinocchio Came Face to Face with Our Alpine - Troops_ 110 - - VIII. _How Pinocchio Made Two Beasts Sing--Contrary to - Nature_ 135 - - IX. _How Pinocchio Complained Because He Was No Longer - a Wooden Puppet_ 151 - - X. _Many Deeds and Few Words_ 177 - - XI. _And Now--Finished or Not Finished_ 199 - - - - -ILLUSTRATIONS - - - "_But smell this_" ... _and while he spoke the - rascal of a Pinocchio took in both hands the - dish and held it close to Stolz's nose_ _Frontispiece_ - - "_I see the suet-eaters_" _Facing page_ 36 - - _He saw a rag tied to a pole waving_ " 42 - - "_You beastly little creature, what game are you - playing?_" " 46 - - _One day he managed to capture a pig and to drag - it along behind him_ " 62 - - _His foot caught Cutemup right in the stomach and - knocked him breathless_ " 88 - - _Pinocchio did his best to get on his feet, but - couldn't succeed_ " 116 - - _Ciampanella, the company cook_ " 134 - - - - -INTRODUCTION - - -Dear Boys and Girls,--Let us hope that none of you has been so -unfortunate as to have missed the pleasure of watching sometime or -other a puppet show. Probably Punch and Judy is the one you know best, -but there are many others with jolly little fellows who dance in and -out of all sorts of adventures. So you can imagine Pinocchio, the hero -of this book, as one of those lively puppets. And, in case you have -never read the earlier book about him, you will want to know something -of what happened to him before you meet him in these pages. - -One day a poor carpenter, called Master Cherry, began to cut up a -piece of wood to make a table-leg of it when, to his utmost amazement, -the piece of wood cried out, "Do not strike me so hard!" The -frightened carpenter stopped for a moment, and when he began again and -struck the wood a blow with his ax the voice cried out once more, -"Oh, oh! you have hurt me so!" The carpenter was now so terrified that -he was only too glad to turn the piece of wood over to a neighbor, -Papa Geppetto, who cut it up into the shape of a boy puppet, painted -it, and named it Pinocchio--which means "a piece of pinewood." As soon -as he had finished making him, Pinocchio grabbed the old man's wig off -his head and started in to play tricks. Papa Geppetto then taught the -puppet to walk, and when naughty Pinocchio discovered he could use his -legs, he ran away. Then began all kinds of adventures, and Pinocchio -was sometimes naughty and selfish, and sometimes kind and considerate, -but always funny and jolly. - -In this new book Pinocchio's heart has grown through love and -consideration for others, so that he becomes a real boy and takes part -in the war to help his beautiful country, Italy. - - THE TRANSLATOR. - - - - -THE HEART OF PINOCCHIO - - [Illustration] - - - - -THE HEART OF PINOCCHIO - - - - -CHAPTER I - -_How Pinocchio Discovered That He Had a Heart and Had Become a Real -Boy_ - - -He yawned, stuck out his tongue and licked the end of his nose, opened -his eyes, shut them again, opened them once more and rubbed them -vigorously with the back of his hand, jumped up, and then sat down on -the sofa, listening intently for several minutes, after which he -scratched his noddle solemnly. When Pinocchio scratched his head in -this way you could be sure that there was trouble in the air. And so -there was. The room was empty, the windows closed, and the door as -well; no noise came from the still quiet street; a deep silence -filled the air, yet there, right there, close to him, he heard queer -sounds like blows--tick-tock ... tick-tock ... tick-tock ... -tick-tock. - - [Illustration] - -It sounded like some one who was amusing himself by rapping with his -knuckles on a wooden box--tick-tock ... tick-tock ... tick-tock. - -"But who is it?" called out the puppet, suddenly, jumping down from -the sofa and running to peer into every corner of the room. When he -had knocked over the chest, rummaged the wardrobe with the mirror, -upset the little table, turned over the chairs, pulled the pictures -off the walls, and torn down the window-curtains, he found himself -seated on the floor in the middle of the room, dead tired, his face -all smeared with dust and spider-webs, his shirt in tatters, his -tongue hanging out like a pointer's returning from the hunt. Yet -there, close to him, he still heard that strange tick-tock ... -tick-tock ... tick-tock ... and it seemed as if those mysterious -fingers were rapping even more quickly upon the mysterious wooden box. -Pinocchio would have pulled his hair out in desperation if Papa -Geppetto hadn't forgotten to make him any. But as the desperation of -puppets lasts just about as long as the joy of poor human beings, -Pinocchio, laying his right forefinger on the point of his magnificent -nose, calmly remarked: - -"Let me argue this out. There is no one else in here but me. I am -keeping perfectly quiet, not even drawing a long breath, yet the noise -keeps up.... Then, since it is not I who am making the noise, some one -else must be making it, and as no one outside me is making it, -whatever makes it must be inside me." - -This seemed reasonable, but Pinocchio, who had not expected he would -come to such a conclusion, gave a start, kicked violently, and began -to roll around on the ground, yelling as if he would split his throat: -"Help! Help!" The thought had suddenly come to him that during the -night a mouse had jumped into his mouth and down into his stomach and -was searching about in it for some way to get out. But the quieter he -kept the noisier grew the tick-tock; in fact, so loud that it seemed -to cut off his breath. Fear made him calm. - -"Let me argue this out," he said again, laying his forefinger against -his nose. "It cannot be a mouse; the movement is too regular, so -regular that if I weren't sure that I went to bed without supper I -should think I had swallowed Papa Geppetto's watch by mistake.... Hm! -If he hadn't told me time and time again that I am only a little -puppet without a heart I should almost believe that I had one down -inside me, and that this tick-tock were indeed ..." - -"Just so!" - -"Who said 'Just so'? Who said 'Just so'?" called Pinocchio, looking -around in terror. Naturally no one answered him. - -"Hm! Did I dream it?" he asked himself. "And even if there is any one -who thinks he can frighten me with his 'just so' he will find himself -much mistaken. A brave boy does not know what fear is, and I begin to -think ... - -"'Just so' or not 'just so,' if any one has anything to say to me let -him come forward and he will learn what kind of blows I can give." - - [Illustration] - -He turned round and stepped back a few steps. It seemed to him that -some one was making a threatening gesture at him. Without hesitating a -moment, he rushed forward with his head down, thrashing out blows like -a madman. Then he heard a terrible smashing of glass. Pinocchio had -hit out at his own image in the wardrobe mirror, which naturally was -shattered to bits. There is no need for me to tell you how he felt, -because you will have no trouble in picturing it for yourselves. - -"But how did I come to make such a blunder?" he asked himself, as soon -as he had recovered from his surprise. "How did I happen not to -recognize myself in the mirror? Am I really so changed...? Can I -indeed be changed into a real little boy or am I a puppet as I always -was?" - -"Just so! Just so! Just so!" - -This time there could be no doubt about it. Pinocchio sprang toward -the window, opened it, and stuck his head out. There below, a few feet -lower down, was a beautiful terrace covered with flowering plants. In -the midst of the plants was a stand, and on the stand a magnificent -green parrot who just at that moment was scratching under his beak -with his claw, and looking around him with one eye open. Down in the -street below there was not a soul to be seen. - -"Oh, you ugly beast! Was it you who was chattering 'just so, just so, -just so'?" - -The parrot burst out into a crazy laugh and began to sing in his -cracked voice: - - "Coccorito wants to know - Who the glass gave such a blow. - Coccorito knows it well - And the master he will tell." - -"Hah! Hah! Hah!" And he burst out into another guffaw. Patience, which -is the only heritage of donkeys, was certainly not Pinocchio's -principal virtue. Moreover, the parrot laughed in such a rude manner -that he would have annoyed Jove himself. - - [Illustration] - -"Stop it, idiot!" - -"Idiot, idiot, 'yot, 'yot." - -"Beast!" - -"Beast!" - -"Take care ..." - -"Take ca-a-a-re." - -"I'll give it to you." - -"You, you, you." - - "Ho! Ho! Ho! Ho! - Who the glass gave such a blow? - Coccorito knows it well - And the master he will tell." - -"Will you? I'll make you shut up. Take this, you horrid beast!" - -There was a large terra-cotta pot with a fine plant of basil in it -standing on the window-sill, and the furious Pinocchio seized it in -both hands and hurled it down with all his force. Coccorito would have -come to a sad ending if the god of parrots had not protected his -topknot. The flower-pot grazed the stand and was shattered against the -marble parapet, and the pieces, falling down, hit against the large -stained-glass window opening on to the terrace and broke it. - -Pinocchio, who could hardly believe that he had done so much damage, -stood still a moment and gazed stupidly at the pile of broken pieces -and at the parrot, who laughed as if he would burst. But when -Pinocchio saw a big officer rush angrily over the terrace, with his -hair brushed up on his head, a huge mustache beneath his curved nose, -and a thick switch in his hand, he was seized with such a fright that -he threw over his shoulders the first thing in the way of clothing he -could lay his hand on, rushed to the door, opened it with a kick, ran -through a small room adjoining, sped down the stairs at breakneck -speed, flung open the street door and--Heavens! He felt a violent -blow on his stomach and, as if hurled from a catapult, he was thrown -into the air and fell down the rest of the steps, his legs out before -him. But he didn't stay still when he got to the bottom. He sprang up -like a jack-in-the-box, rubbed himself on the injured part, and was -off again. He seemed to see some one strolling there in the middle of -the street; he thought he heard himself called twice or thrice by a -well-known voice, but the fear which was driving him bade him run, and -he ran with all the strength he had in his body. - - [Illustration] - -Poor Papa Geppetto! It was indeed he who was strolling in the middle -of the street and who, seeing Pinocchio flying out of the house like a -madman, wrapped in a flowered chintz curtain, had called to him -imploringly. - -And so it was--in his hurry Pinocchio had thrown over his shoulders -one of the curtains of his room, and if I must tell you all the -truth, he was a perfectly comical sight. Soon Pinocchio had a string -of people at his heels crying out: "Catch the madman! Give it to the -madman!" - -Catch him! That was easy to say, but it was no easy matter to grab -hold of the rascal. Indeed, his pursuers were soon weary, and -Pinocchio might have thought himself safe if a dog hadn't suddenly -joined in the game. It was a large jet-black poodle that had come from -no one knew where. With a couple of bounds he had caught up with -Pinocchio and had seized the curtain in his teeth and was dragging it -through the dust. Suddenly he stiffened on his four legs and Pinocchio -gave a little whirl and found himself face to face with the animal. - -"Ho, ho, ho! What do I see? Oh, Medoro, don't you recognize me? Give -me your paw." - -Medoro growled and shook the curtain violently, which was still -knotted about Pinocchio's waist. It was only then that he noticed the -strange covering he had on and burst out laughing. - -"Oh, Medoro! What do you really want to do with this rag? I'll give it -to you willingly." - -He had scarcely undone the knots when Medoro made a spring and was off -down the street they had come, the curtain in his teeth. The puppet -stood there, quite upset. Medoro had given him a lesson. The dog that -had been so friendly had turned on him and, after having pulled the -miserable old curtain off him, had made off without paying any further -attention to his old friend. - - [Illustration] - -"A fine way of doing!" he grumbled. "I'll catch cold running around -after that rag. Papa Geppetto won't even thank him.... I had better -tried to mend the mirror of the wardrobe or the general's window." - -The thought of all the troubles he had caused the poor man in so short -a time made Pinocchio rather melancholy, and two big tears shone in -his bright little eyes. But suddenly he sighed a deep sigh, shrugged -his shoulders several times, and with his head high and his hands on -his hips, set off again on his way, whistling a popular song. - -He had not gone a hundred steps when he stopped suddenly, cocked his -ear, listened a moment quietly, and then flung himself into the fields -which bordered the street. The wind brought from far off the gay notes -of a military band. - -There was a huge crowd, but Pinocchio didn't give that a thought, in -spite of the fact that he was very tired with his long run. By pushing -and poking and kicks in the shins he got up into the front row. -Soldiers were passing. At the head was a company of bicycle -sharpshooters (bersaglieri), then the band, then the regiment, the Red -Cross ambulance, and soldiers, and a long line of sappers. Everybody -clapped, threw kisses and flowers, and overwhelmed the bersaglieri -with little gifts. The soldiers broke ranks and mingled with the crowd -and answered the applause with loud cheers for Italy, the King, and -the Army. Some of them marched along in the midst of their families; -weeping mothers begged their sons to be careful; the fathers bade them -be brave, reminding them of the fighting in '48, '66, '70--the -glorious years of our emancipation. The little boys kept close to -their fathers, proud to see them armed like the heroes of old legends, -and many of the girls besought their sweethearts: "Write to me, won't -you? Every day I want you to write to me. If I don't get letters from -you I shall think that you are dead and I shall weep so bitterly." - -Dead! This word affected Pinocchio so that suddenly he felt his heart -beating loudly--that strange tick-tock, tick-tock, tick-tock which had -startled him earlier that morning. - -Dead? "Oh! where are they going?" he asked a sprightly old man who was -standing near by, shouting, "Hurrah for Italy!" as if he were a boy. - -"They are going to the war." - -"Are they really off to war? Will they fire only powder from their -guns, or real, lead bullets, too?" - -"Indeed yes, real bullets, too." - -"And will they all die?" - -"We hope not all of them--but they are going to fight for the honor -and greatness of their country, and he who dies for his country may -die happy." - -Pinocchio did not breathe. He scratched his head solemnly, and with -his eyes and mouth made such a face that if the little old man had -seen it he would probably have boxed his ears for him. This "die -happy" was silly. Death had always frightened him whenever he had come -near to it. - -"Have you been to war?" Pinocchio asked the little old man, half -ironically. - -"Can't you see?" and he pointed to a row of medals pinned on his coat. - -"And you would go back?" - -"Certainly, if they would take me as a volunteer." - -This reply brought a strange longing to Pinocchio, all the more that -the tick-tock, tick-tock, tick-tock in the box inside of his body was -making so much noise that it rang in his ears. And then the gay notes -of the band, the joyous air of the soldiers, the cheers of the crowd, -suddenly brought a strange idea into his head. The war, with its -cannon, marches on one side, fighting on the other, horses dashing, -flags waving in the wind, songs of victory, medals on the breast, -prisoners tied together like sausages, war trophies, danced before his -eyes in a fantastic dance. The war must be just the place for him, all -the more so when he thought that it couldn't be easy to get to it if -the little old man who had been there so often couldn't go now. - -"I, too, will go to the war with the soldiers," he said, in a low -voice, and without wasting a moment he pushed his way between the -troops, who, now that they were approaching the station, began to -close up the ranks. He found himself by the side of a young blond -soldier, who seemed more lonely and sad than the others. - -"Will you take me with you?" Pinocchio asked, pulling at his coat. - -"Where?" - -"To the war." - -"You? Are you crazy?" - -"No, indeed." - -"And you ask me to take you with me?" - -"Whom, then, must I ask?" - -"There is the guard down there, that one with a blue scarf over his -shoulder." - -When Pinocchio got an idea in his head he had to work it out at any -cost. So he repeated his demand to the lieutenant of the guard, who, -smiling under his mustache, pointed out the captain inspecting the -troops. But the captain could decide nothing without the consent of -the battalion commander, who, for his part, would have had to ask the -approval of the colonel. He advised Pinocchio to hasten matters by -going to the adjutant, who could present his request directly to the -general. - -They were now in the station. The soldiers took their places in the -huge cars, around which crowded their families, friends, and the -cheering, curious throng. At the end of the train some first-class -carriages were attached into which the orderlies carried the -hand-baggage of their higher officers. In front of one compartment -reserved for one of these was piled up a regular mountain of small -objects--little packages, boxes, rugs, furs, which a cavalry soldier -was trying to carry inside. The adjutant, a few feet away, was looking -on, trembling with impatience and vexation. - -"Quick! Quick! You lazybones! Quick! Quick! Mollica. General -Win-the-War will be here in a minute and his things are not yet -inside. I'll put you under arrest for a fortnight." - -"I respectfully beg the adjutant to observe that I have only two hands -for the service of my general and of my country." - -"And I beg you to observe that the train is about to start off." - -"If the adjutant would order some one to give me a hand ..." - -"There isn't any one to be had, confound it!" - -Just at that moment Pinocchio advanced resolutely toward the adjutant -to put forward his request to be enlisted. - -"Mr. Adjutant ... I have come ... to ..." - -The adjutant didn't let Pinocchio say another word, but caught hold of -him under the chin, squeezed him, shook him gently ... and said: - -"Good! I understand ... you want to do something for the army.... Good -boy! You are the best kind of a volunteer. Fine! Help Private Mollica -to carry in all this stuff and your country will be grateful to you. -And you, Mollica, hurry up. I beg you to observe that now you have the -four hands you requested for the job. We understand each other, heh?" - -Then he was off toward a group of soldiers who were chalking on the -door of one of the railway carriages in large letters: "_Through -Train--Venice--Trieste--Vienna_." A big crowd had gathered around, -stopping the traffic. - -"Ho, boys, who told you to write _through train_? Next time ask -permission from your superior officer.... There will be a little stop -before we get there." - -"Doesn't matter, sir, as long as we _get_ there." - -"Well! You can tell when a train leaves, but not whether it will ever -arrive." - -"Hurrah for Italy!" - -"Good boys! I like that. But rub out what you have written. You are -first-class soldiers, you are. We understand each other, heh?" And off -he went. - -With Pinocchio's aid Private Mollica performed miracles. In a few -minutes the general's things were inside, beautifully arranged in the -baggage-racks. - -"You are a prodigy, boy, I tell you. You have done me a great service -and my adjutant will be so pleased that if you will promise to keep -guard here a moment I will go to tell him so that he can thank you in -the general's name." - -"Go along; I'll stay," Pinocchio replied, and took up a position in -front of the door that was so soldierly you might have taken him for a -distant relative of Napoleon the Great before St. Helena. - -But a minute had not gone by and Mollica had not got a hundred steps -away when Pinocchio turned as pale as death and trembled so with -fright that he almost fell off the step. He had caught sight a short -way off of General Win-the-War surrounded by a crowd of officers; and -with his marvelous vision had recognized in him Papa Geppetto's -furious tenant, whose stained glass he had shattered a few hours -before, all on account of saucy Coccorito. - -He was lost; there was no possible way of escape! Win-the-War was -coming direct to his compartment and the adjutant was guiding him. The -crowd in the way divided before him and the soldiers stood stiffly at -attention. Even Mollica stood there straight as a ramrod.... Pinocchio -gave a leap into the compartment, hoping to escape by the opposite -door. But it was not possible to open it.... He heard the sound of -the approaching steps, the ring of the spurs.... Pinocchio flung -himself down on the floor of the compartment and hid himself, face -downward, under one of the seats. - -The general, a colonel, and the adjutant got in. A band struck up the -national air; thousands of voices cheered the King, Italy, and the -Army. The soldiers responded with youthful courage.... You heard a -continual medley of good-bys and good wishes, and the quick, sharp -repetition of commands. A hundred voices were singing, "Farewell, my -dear one, farewell"; a hundred others sang Garibaldi's Hymn.... There -was a profound silence in the compartment. Perhaps the superior -officers felt the great responsibility of the moment and were moved by -it. Pinocchio didn't dare breathe for fear of betraying himself, but -in his breast the tick-tock, tick-tock, tick-tock beat so loudly that -he thought it must resound all along the wooden walls of the carriage. -The notes of the national air seemed to be quicker ... the cries of -the crowd louder ... the locomotive whistled shrilly a desperate -good-by ... the train began to move.... - -"Gentlemen," said the general to his two companions, "let Italy's fate -now be fulfilled. To-morrow we shall cross the frontier, for the glory -of our King and for the greatness of our country. Long live Italy!" - -There was so much emotion in the old soldier's voice that Pinocchio -felt as if a rope were strangling his throat. When the train was under -way, rumbling noisily along the rails, he burst out crying and -discovered that he had a heart just as if he were a real boy! - - - - -CHAPTER II - -_How Pinocchio Recognized the Advantages of His Wooden Body_ - - -"So, Colonel, you understand? This afternoon we shall be at ---- -(censor); we shall bivouac the troops; to-morrow morning at two we -must be on the march. We shall cross the frontier at ---- (censor) and -we shall descend toward ----. I expect rapid and united advance until -we encounter serious opposition. Remind the soldiers of the respect -due to property in the conquered lands and to the beaten foes taken -prisoners.... I have been told by the commander-in-chief that it has -been discovered that there is a host of spies who are working to -injure us. I command you to be very severe with spies caught in the -act, no matter what their age, race, or social standing. Tell your -officers to keep absolutely secret all orders which they receive. If -there is the slightest suspicion that an order relating to our advance -has reached the ear of a person suspected even in the slightest -degree, take him out, stand him with his face to the wall, and give -him eight bullets in his back. You understand--without fear of -consequences or that you may be mistaken. It would be better than to -allow--let us suppose such a case--a whole regiment to be destroyed." - - [Illustration] - -Pinocchio, who had been beginning to enjoy the adventure, the swaying -of the train, which, as he lay on his face, tickled his stomach, and -the conversation of the general, which greatly interested him, was so -terrified at these words that his body felt like goose-flesh. For a -moment he thought he would faint. His ears rang loudly and he burst -into a sweat. Heigh-ho! The general was not a man to say such things -as a joke: "If there is the slightest suspicion that an order relating -to our advance has reached the ear of a person suspected even in the -slightest degree, take him out, stand him with his face to the wall, -and give him eight bullets in his back." It was clear. As clear as it -could be! Instead of a _single_ order, Pinocchio had overheard a -number ... they would certainly take him for a spy, and most certainly -the eight bullets would not be lacking. - -"Eight!" he exclaimed to himself as soon as he had managed to grow a -little calmer. "Eight! One would be enough for me, and even that would -be too much! But I don't want to die with bullets in my back.... I am -not a spy at all. Well ... how can I persuade that orang-outang that I -am in this compartment and under this seat for no other purpose than -to go to war against my country's enemies, and because the authorities -certainly wouldn't let me go in a more decent way? And suppose he -recognizes me as the one who smashed his stained-glass window that -opened out on his terrace, instead of eight bullets, he will order me -a couple of dozen.... What a pity! Poor me! Poor Papa Geppetto, what -will he say about me? But, to sum it up, I am not a spy, and when any -one wants to pretend to be what he is not he must find out the way to -show them that he is not what they believe him to be.... The best way, -I think, would be to slip off quietly. No one saw me come in here ... -all I have to do is to get out without any one's seeing me. It can't -be very difficult to do that; I'll just stay quietly until the train -gets to its destination, then let these gentlemen step out, and a -minute later I'll fade away." - -If you could have poked your head under the seat and seen Pinocchio's -face at this moment you would have been made happy by his joyful -smile. This little bit of reasoning had so quieted his mind that if -they had pressed eight muskets against his back to shoot the famous -eight bullets into him he would have begun to laugh as if they were -doing it only to tickle him. - -He stretched himself out slowly, and, lulled by the swaying of the -train, was soon overcome by such a tranquil slumber that he couldn't -have slept better in his own little bed. - -"Poor Pinocchio!" I think I hear you say. "What is going to happen to -him now?" Yes, that's the way. It is the usual rule in this world that -when a person thinks he can enjoy a moment of blessed repose some -misfortune is lying in wait for him. If Pinocchio, instead of letting -himself be overcome with sleep, had kept his eyes and ears open while -the train was slowing down and the locomotive ahead was puffing -noisily he would have heard General Win-the-War let out a yell of -pain. Of course, he should have kept it back, but in time of war we -pardon certain things, particularly when a general about to make an -attack suffers from the torture of rheumatic sciatica, an old trouble -of his. - -"What's the matter, General?" - -"My leg. My pain has come back; it's worse than an Austrian bullet." - -"Perhaps you have taken a little cold." - -"Perhaps.... It doesn't seem warm here, for a fact, does it, Colonel?" - -"No, indeed." - -"We are in the mountains and still climbing, and the temperature is -going down." - -"Gracious me! so it is. They ought ... Major, do me the favor at the -next stop to ask if it is possible to heat the compartment. If the -rest of you don't like the heat you can just go into the next -compartment." - -"The idea!" - -At the next stop, which was not long in coming, the colonel asked -permission of his superior officer to go off for an inspection of his -men, and the major went off to see about heat for his commanding -officer. It was not a hard matter to obtain what he wanted. The -general was traveling in an up-to-date carriage, one of those that -have under the seats special steam coils which can be connected with -the exhaust pipes of the locomotive's boiler, and, by a simple -adjustment, begin to send out heat immediately. - -The signal for departure had already been given when the major -returned joyfully to the compartment. - -"Well?" - -"The connection is made and we have heat on." - -"Or rather we shall have it, because just now ..." - -"Excuse me, General, all we have to do is to push that handle where -the sign says 'cold' and 'hot' and ..." - -The general, who was following the maneuver attentively, uttered an -"Oh!" of relief as if the compartment were suddenly transformed into -a hothouse, and stretched his legs out comfortably, resting his feet -on the opposite seat. - -I can't tell you where Pinocchio's thoughts were at this moment. But I -can assure you that he was dreaming and that they must have been -pleasant dreams, because there was a beautiful smile on his face. But -suddenly the expression changed to one strange and painful. Perhaps in -his dreams, while he was seated at a table that was spread with the -most delicious dainties, he felt himself slipping down, down, and -suddenly found himself on a hot gridiron with St. Lawrence in person. -It is certain that when he opened his eyes it was impossible to -breathe the air beneath the seat, and where his back touched it, it -was hot enough to bake a loaf of bread. He started to jump out, but -caught sight, right in front of his nose, of the little wheels in the -adjutant's spurs. The sight of these brought him back to his real -situation. - -"But what is the matter?" he said to himself. "Is the axle of the -wheel on fire? And can I keep from burning? But if they notice it, -too? If no one moves that means that there is no danger ... but, -Heavens! it burns! Ouch! I am covered with sweat, but I have got to -stand it.... If I get out there will be the eight bullets in my back. -Poor me! How much better it would be if I were still nothing but a -wooden puppet!" - - [Illustration] - -Well, I can't help him. It's too much for me. It would indeed have -been convenient at that moment to be made of wood, for he was in a -situation such as no one would wish for any creature of flesh and -blood--for me or you, for instance. He had either to stand being -steamed on the boiling pipe of the heating apparatus or to give -himself up into the hands of the general, who wouldn't delay long the -threatened shooting. - -Pinocchio was a hero, also a regular martyr, because he stood the -torture more than half an hour, turning himself from side to side, -moving restlessly, and drawing up his body in one way and another -like the aforesaid St. Lawrence of blessed memory, the only difference -being that the saint expected to be well cooked on one side and then -to turn over and be cooked on the other; while Pinocchio, when he -discovered that a certain part of him was about to be cooked in -earnest, let out a loud scream and followed it by calls for "Help! -help!" - -General Win-the-War and the adjutant jumped to their feet like -jacks-in-the-box, threw themselves down on the ground, and, without -paying any attention to the blow on the heads they gave each other, -ran their arms under the seat, and with outstretched hands seized hold -of Pinocchio and dragged him out. They nearly tore him in two like a -tender chicken, one pulling him on one side and one on the other. - -"You wretch!" - -"You scoundrel!" - -"Who are you?" - -"Speak, you miserable creature!" - -"General, he is a spy." - -"We must question him in German ... he must be an Austrian." - -"_Wer sind Sie?_" - -No answer. - -"What language do you speak, you little beast?" - -Poor Pinocchio couldn't even draw a long breath. The general clutched -him by the collar with such a military firmness that he turned the -color of a ripe cherry. A little more and he would have been strangled -to death. - -The adjutant saved him by respectfully bidding the general remember -that in questioning a prisoner it is necessary to allow him to breathe -if you wish an answer. - -"Mr. General ... forgive me. I am not a spy. It would be a real crime -if you had me shot ... just as soon as we arrive at ... Give me a gun -and I will go to war with the troops." - -"Oh, you wretch! So you listened to all we said?" - -"How could I help it? I was under here when the train started. It was -I who helped Private Mollica to put all your stuff inside." - -"Even this leather case?" - -"Certainly I, I myself." - -"Even the despatch-case with the plans! Major, give me your revolver -so that I can shoot him like a dog." - -"But why do you want to shoot me, Mr. General? I haven't done -anything.... I wanted to go to the war to hear the cannon, but I never -spied on any one, not even when I went to school.... Can you really -take me for a Boche? No, for gracious' sake, no.... Look at my -features.... No, no, no, for Heaven's sake! Keep your weapon quiet.... -Don't you know who I am?... I am Pinocchio, Papa Geppetto's Pinocchio -... who only this morning broke your stained-glass window...." - -At that point the general uttered such a roar that Pinocchio felt his -breath leave him. But he saw the officer hand back the pistol to the -major and take up from the seat a big leather bag; then he didn't see -the bag again, but he felt it several times and with great force -exactly on the part of his body which had suffered the most from the -heat of the steam coil.... But Pinocchio was saved by his sincerity. -General Win-the-War could certainly not have bothered to beat a real -spy, but I can tell you that at that moment Pinocchio would have -preferred to be still a wooden puppet. - - - - -CHAPTER III - -_How Pinocchio Sent a Solemn Protest to Francis Joseph to Rectify an -Official Bulletin_ - - -May had come with her blossoms, but up there a sharp wind was blowing -so that it seemed still February. Pinocchio, half naked as he was, -shivered like a leaf, and every now and then let out a sneeze which -sounded like a bursting shell. At every sneeze Mollica gave him a -kick, Corporal Fanfara a box on the ear, and Drummer Stecca a pinch. -The only one who didn't abuse him was Bersaglierino, the blond young -soldier, more melancholy than his companions, whom he had first -accosted in the station when they were setting out. I have told you -that Pinocchio trembled with cold, and I will tell you that it was -almost a good thing for him to do so; otherwise they would have seen -him tremble with fear. If this had happened, his teasing companions -would have driven him to despair. Pinocchio was to be pitied. He was -at the front, the frontier several miles behind them, and any minute -might bring Austrian bullets whistling through the air. The general -had spared the youngster from being shot in the back, but he had given -orders to put him in the very front line during the advance and to -keep him well guarded. In one case the guns of the enemy would do -justice to the suspected spy; in the other, Pinocchio would clear -himself by his conduct and at the same time would lose his desire for -a close view of the enemy. - -Private Mollica was furious with him. - -"Che-chew! che-chew! che-chew!" - -"Plague take you!" Another kick. "Keep still, you little beast! If you -let the enemy spot us I'll stick this bayonet in your backbone." - -"I can't stand it any longer. I am frozen--che-chew!" - -"Stop it!" Another box on the ear. "You are all right. You wanted to -be a volunteer; now you see how much fun it is." - -"I?" - -"Yes, you.... You were the cause of the fine talking-to my general -gave me, and you made me lose my place as an orderly where I had a -chance to make extra soldi. If you hadn't gone and told him that you -had helped me to carry his things and if you hadn't slipped under the -seat of that same officer to listen to what he said, I shouldn't have -been punished by being sent to the front." - -"Are you afraid, then, Mollica?" - -"I afraid? But don't you know that if I catch sight of an Austrian -I'll eat him?" - -"Like the food you took from the general," that rascal of a Pinocchio -dared to remark. - -There was a chorus of laughs that stopped as if by magic at the sound -of a certain roar in the distance and of something whistling through -the air and very near. - -"There they are!" - -"We're in it." - -"Where?" - -"Where are they?" - -Who paid any attention now to Pinocchio? All of them had drawn close -to one another and had rushed to the edge of the road, their guns -pointed, to examine the distant landscape. The mountain was very -steep there and covered with thick vegetation. Down at the bottom, -toward the plain, there seemed to be an unexpected rise ... after the -steep descent a green stretch through which a river ran like a silver -ribbon. Still farther, was a chain of low mountains, almost like a -cloud on the edge of the peaceful horizon. - -There was the roar of some more shots and the whistling of the shells, -and a branch of a tree was splintered and fell. - -Pinocchio, alone in the middle of the road, felt a creeping up and -down his spine and experienced a trembling in his legs that shook like -a palsied man's. The second time he heard a shell whistle he felt that -he must find a hole in which to hide himself. He looked about him and -caught sight near by of an enormous larch-tree which pointed directly -toward the heavens. I don't know how to explain it, but the sight of -it took away from Pinocchio the desire to hide himself under the -ground and made him wish to climb toward the stars. He gave a spring -and shinned up the big trunk in a flash. I bet you a plugged soldo -against a lira that you would have done the same.... - - [Illustration: "I SEE THE SUET-EATERS"] - -"I see them! I see them!" - -"Who?" - -"Whom do you see?" - -"Where are they? Where are you that we can't see you?" - -"I am up here." - -"Bravo! And whom do you see?" Bersaglierino asked. - -"I see the suet-eaters." - -"Where are they?" - -"Down there where there is a kind of slope there is a town hidden -among the trees ... up here you can see a roof and the spire of a -bell-tower ... you can see people on the roof ... you can see -something glisten ... now they are firing." - -This time there were several reports, but they seemed to be aiming in -another direction, because there was not the usual whistle in the air. - -"Whom are they 'strafing'?" Corporal Fanfara asked himself. - -"I'll 'strafe' that scoundrel Pinocchio. If you don't come down alive -I will bring you down dead with a bullet in the seat of your -trousers." - -"But listen! Look down there and see whom they're giving it to," cried -the enraged Bersaglierino, pointing out a marching column which was -hurrying below them. - -"Our infantry!" - -"Yes, indeed. They will beat us to it. It's a shame." - -"Our company ought to start off at a double-quick." - -"It must be a half-mile away." - -"But the bersaglieri must get there first ... even if there are only -the four of us." - -"Sure thing." - -"Do you hear?" - -"Forward, Savoy!" - -And, heads lowered and bayonets fixed, they rushed down the slope. - - * * * * * - -"Ho! boys! Ho! Mol-li-ca! Cor-po-ral!... Oh! They are going off -without me! What a mean thing to do! They leave me here at the top of -this tree and run off.... But if they think they can play me such a -trick they are mistaken.... I am hungry as a wolf, and if I don't get -them to feed me, whom can I join? Run, run.... We'll see who gets -there first!" - -He climbed down the tree, grumbling as he went, tightened the belt of -his trousers, drank in several deep breaths of air, and then tore off -like an express train behind time. - -I will tell you at once, not to keep you in suspense, that the -bersaglieri got there the first, the infantry second, and Pinocchio -... a good third. I call it a "good third" merely as a way of -expressing it, because when he arrived at the village our soldiers had -already passed through it and had advanced some distance beyond, -following the Austrians, who had taken to their heels and who were -suffering a sharp fire at short range. - -The village was so small that it didn't even deserve the name of one. -There were ten houses in all besides the church with the bell-tower, -and a long shed over which waved the white flag with the red cross. -There was a deathlike silence everywhere. On the little square before -the church some bodies of Austrian soldiers were lying; among them was -that of an officer so ugly that he seemed to have died of fright, but -there was a red spot on his back. Pinocchio was terrified at the sight -of him, but he had such a longing for his sword, his automatic pistol, -his handsome belt, his light-blue cape, and his cap that he persuaded -himself it was perfectly silly to be afraid of a dead Austrian, -particularly when they weren't afraid of live ones. Without too much -reflection, he buckled on the dead man's belt, armed himself with the -pistol, wrapped himself in the blue cape, and pressed the cap down on -his head. He was good to look at, I can assure you. - - [Illustration] - -The Hapsburg army had never had an officer who could be compared with -this puppet who had now become a real boy. Pinocchio was prancing up -and down in his new disguise, his sword clanking against the pavement, -just like any little lieutenant, when he heard a horrible roar high up -overhead, then, a moment later, an explosion which shook the ground! -When he lifted up his head to see what had happened he thought he -caught sight of some one walking about on the church's bell-tower. He -saw a rag tied to a pole waving and, as if in reply to a signal, -brumm! another shot that fell closer. Pinocchio, who was suspicious, -went into the vestry and, pistol in hand, rushed up the steep little -wooden stairs. He got to the top without even making the old -worm-eaten stairs squeak. In the space where the bells hung a man in -civilian's clothes had his back turned toward him. He was looking off -from the balcony, and kept on waving the red cloth. You could see the -vast expanse of the plain, and among the green a strange, intermittent -flash ... then a puff ... then you heard a roar, followed by a crash, -like a moving train rapidly approaching, then a tremendous explosion. -The shells never fell as far as the town, but burst all around it, -sending up columns of earth and smoke. And off there Pinocchio could -see the bersaglieri, the soldiers of his country. The traitor with his -signals was directing fire on the Italian troops. - -Tell me truly, what would you have done if you had been in Pinocchio's -place? Would you have fired at the traitor? Yes or no. Well, Pinocchio -did the same--cocked his pistol, shut his eyes, pulled the trigger, -and pum-pum-pum-pum-pum-pum-pum, seven shots went off. He had expected -only one, and was so frightened that he pitched his weapon away and -took to his heels, down the steps, without thought of the wretch, who, -for his part, did no more signaling, I assure you! - -When he had got down to the square Pinocchio rushed across it, and was -about to run in the direction where he had seen his bersaglieri -fighting, when, passing by the shed where the Red Cross flag waved, he -thought he heard the sound of several voices in a lively discussion. -He stopped suddenly and very, very quietly approached a big window -closed merely by a wire netting. Inside he saw on one side of the -large room two rows of beds, in the middle a group of rough-looking -soldiers, with waxed mustaches, completely armed, who were busy -plotting together. Just at that moment they separated to go to bed. -They took off their weapons, hid them under the sheets, and slipped -themselves into bed, drawing the covers up to their noses. - - [Illustration: HE SAW A RAG TIED TO A POLE WAVING] - -"_Wunderschön!_" ("Fine.") - -"When Italian pigs come we make a colossal festival," grunted a Croat -and laughed boisterously. "We sick get well, and Italians all croak." - -"I'll croak you," muttered Pinocchio, who in a twinkle had understood -the deviltry the wretches were planning. He made himself as small as -he could, so that the cape dragged on the ground like a petticoat, -slunk along the walls of the shed, then rushed off at full speed -toward the fields. He was just passing the last house of the village -when he found himself unexpectedly surrounded by a score of Austrian -soldiers in a half-tipsy condition, so that they took him for their -superior officer. He thought himself lost. - -"Lieutenant, don't go farther. 'Talians still near and make croak all -Croats." - -"Croat? I a Croat!" - -"'Talians make croak Slovaks, too." - -"Oh! Mamma!" - -"_Ja, ja!_" - -"_Ja, ja!_" - -Pinocchio had a flash of intuition; he hid his hand under his cape, -unsheathed the sword, and, assuming so martial a manner that then and -there he could have been taken for a handsome brother of William, he -yelled and swore some doggerel which the dolts might think was -Hungarian, Dalmatian, or Rumanian, spun 'round and continued on his -way to the Italian position. The Austrians followed him, bayonets -fixed, convinced that the spirit of Tegetoff had come to life and was -leading them to victory. But instead, when they had gone a hundred -yards they were showered with bullets and had to fling themselves on -the ground in order to escape immediate extermination. Pinocchio saw -that he was being shot at more than the others, and didn't know why. -All around him the torn-up earth was strewn with plumes. - -"I should like to know why they are after me especially, who am not -even firing, while they are sparing these monkeys who have followed me -and are shooting like mad. Oh! Perhaps it is on account of the uniform -of that miserable officer. If that is the case, my dear ones, enough -of your sport. 'Oho! I am an Italian. Stop firing, for Heaven's sake, -so that I can tell you something important. Oho! Enough, I say!'" - -And standing up straight, he hurled the cape and the cap away from -him, and with no thought of danger, made for the spot from which came -the Italian fire. - -Then came the end of the scene. The Croats behind him jumped to their -feet like so many jacks-in-the-box, threw their arms about and waved -their hands in the air.... From a hedge not far off, a company of -bersaglieri came running up and surrounded them, yelling, "Surrender!" - -"If one of them moves, stick him like a toad," commanded a lieutenant. - -"Don't worry, sir, I'll spit him for your roasting." - -"Secure their officer." - -"Heh, boys! don't joke ... lower your bayonets. I'm no Austrian -officer. I am Pinocchio. Mollica, don't you recognize me?" - -"You beastly little creature, what game are you playing? But I'll run -you through, all the same." - -"What's up now?" - -"Lieutenant, Mollica wants to make believe that I am an Austrian -lieutenant, because I was the cause of his losing his place as -orderly with General Win-the-War, but I am Pinocchio. Do you know me? -I am glad. Order these twenty apes, which I have brought all the way -here, to be bound, and then if you give me thirty men I will guarantee -to catch some others that I have put to bed in the big barracks under -the protection of the Red Cross, who pretended they were ill, but who -had hidden their guns under the covers to 'croak Italian hogs.'" - -"Where are they?" - -"I'll tell you now ... then I'll show you up on the tower what a -pretty thing I found--a traitor who was making signals to some one far -off, and then, boom! there came one of those shells that burst. I -meant to let him have one little bullet, but the pistol fired so many -at him that I threw everything away...." - -"But come on! Come on! Show me the way!" - -"Right away, but on one condition--that when I have guided you, you -will give me something to eat, because I am so hungry that I could eat -that miserable Mollica." - - [Illustration: "YOU BEASTLY LITTLE CREATURE, WHAT GAME ARE YOU -PLAYING?"] - -"Come on, boy, to the village. Double quick!" - - * * * * * - -Who would have imagined that his regiment had been fighting -continuously for ten hours, leaving some dead on the field and sending -not a few wounded to the ambulance? There on the square of the village -won by Italy, beneath the shadow of the red, white, and green flag -that waved from the summit of the little tower, the brave boys gave -vent to unrestrained joy. It was time for rations. In the camp -kitchens big pots were steaming, but the soldiers did not crowd around -them as usual to fill their canteens. The bersaglieri's attention was -held by a sight which put them in good humor, and good humor in war is -a rare thing. Pinocchio was eating! He had swallowed three platefuls -of soup in five minutes, and as he continued to grunt that he was -hungry, they had given him a canteen full to the top and slipped into -it a piece of meat that would have been sufficient to satisfy the -hunger of four city employees. - -"Look out for bones!" - -"Are you going to eat them all?" - -"If he stays with us he'll break the Government." - -"Look out, boys, he'll end by bursting." - -"Don't you split open with all the Austrians you have eaten, for pork -is more indigestible than asses' meat." - -"Heh! don't find fault with the food." - -"And what kind of meat do you call this?" - -"The best beef." - -"Lie! I am familiar with animals ... you give beef to the officers; -donkey-meat to the soldiers." - -"Look out, you Pinocchio, you'll get into trouble with that tongue of -yours." - -"Then let me eat in peace. You are all staring at me as if I were a -Zulu chewing a hen with her feathers on. My tongue can't be dainty -both talking and eating." - -"Let's murder him." - -And then there was a loud burst of laughter from all. Pinocchio was -shoveling food into his mouth with both his hands, so that his face -was red as a cock's comb and he could scarcely breathe. - -They were already as fond of him as if he were their son. His -achievements had won for him a certain respect even from the officers -whom he amused with his monkeyshines. It had been decided to adopt -Pinocchio as the "son of the regiment" and to keep him at the front as -a mascot. He was to live with the troops and to wear the uniform of a -Boy Scout. The soldiers with common accord had put off his costume to -an opportune moment. Do you want to know the reason? The brave boys -were afraid to stick Pinocchio into puttees with so many spiral bands -because his little thin legs would have frightened people. For the -time being they had him put on a pair of short trousers which dragged -behind him on the ground, a little cape like a bersagliere's, and a -fez with a light-blue tassel so long that it touched his heels. This -tassel was Pinocchio's delight, who, in order to look at it, always -walked along with his head over his shoulder, and so would keep -bumping into first one thing and then another. One day the mischievous -Mollica made him run into one of the quarter-master-corps mules, and -Pinocchio saluted and asked its pardon. But when he ran into officers, -sergeants, corporals, and soldiers, instead of saluting he swore at -them all. - -It is three days later. General Win-the-War's troops have not -advanced. Our bersaglieri are still in camp near ----. It is a -sultry, thundering afternoon. Many of the soldiers are sleeping. The -Bersaglierino is playing cards with Mollica. Corporal Fanfara is -shaving. Stecca is practising on his cornet, trying a variation on a -well-known tune. Pinocchio, in the back of the tent, is snoring so -loudly that Mollica every now and then hurls a handful of earth at his -nose to make him lower his note. - -Suddenly the boredom is broken, every one jumps up and runs out to a -certain point and crowds around an automobile that has just arrived. -Pinocchio wakes up with a start, finds his mouth full of grit, his -nose dirty, and hears all the noise about him--has a terrible fright, -lets out a yell, and rushes out of the tent. But he is scarcely -outside before he feels himself caught up by his legs and whirled -around on the ground. He gets up again and is face to face with -Bersaglierino, who has not left his post and who laughs loudly at -Pinocchio's plight. - -"What has happened?" - -"The mail has come." - -"And you're making all this racket for that? I thought it was the -Austrians." - -"You little coward, you!" - -"That's enough, Bersaglierino, if you say that to me again I'll give -you such a kick that will change your shape. But why don't you, too, -go to see if you have any letters?" - - [Illustration] - -"Who do you think would write me? I am as alone in the world as a dog, -just like you, it seems." - -"Yes, that's so," replied Pinocchio, swallowing hard, because he had -suddenly felt his throat tighten at the thought of Papa Geppetto, from -whom he had had no news for many a long day. - -"It is a red-letter day for the others. Mollica will have a letter -from his father, Fanfara news from his two babies, Stecca kisses from -his wife.... I might be killed to-morrow by a bullet in the stomach -and they would let me rot in a ditch and that would be the end." - -Mollica came back, his arms full of newspapers. His father, a -news-dealer in Naples, sent him a copy of every unsold publication, -knowing that anything may come in useful in war-times, even old news. - -"Heh! Bersaglierino! You want us to play the postman and yet you don't -take any trouble to get your scented letter." - -"You are joking?" - -"No, it's no joke. Here is one really for you, and I congratulate you -because if you are engaged she must be at least a countess." - -The Bersaglierino took the letter his comrade held out to him and read -the address over several times. There was no doubt; it was his name -that was written on the scented envelope the color of a blush rose. He -turned pale and stood for a moment undecided, then he tore it open and -read: - - DEAR BERSAGLIERINO,--I saw how sad and alone you were at the - moment of your departure, so I felt it was my duty as a - patriotic Italian girl to write to you. Go and fight for our - country; do your duty bravely, and remember that in thought - I follow and will follow you every minute. If you return - valorously I will meet you and tell you how happy I am; if - you fall wounded I will go to your hospital bed to soothe - your suffering; if you die for your country my flowers shall - lie on your grave and your name will always be written in my - heart. Long live Italy! - - Your war-godmother, - - FATINA. - -"Long live Italy!" Bersaglierino shouted like mad. He caught up his -hat with its cock plumes and tossed it in the air with all his force, -seized Pinocchio who was standing by him, and lifted him up in both -his arms, pulled his cap off his head, and then twirled it round on -his pate, scratching the poor boy's nose. - -"What's got into you? Are you crazy?" - -"Am I crazy? I am happy! I am not alone any more, do you understand? I -am no longer an unlucky fellow like you with no one belonging to him. -But I am fonder of you than ever. Give me a kiss ..." and he pressed -such a hearty kiss on his nose that his comrades laughed. But -Pinocchio longed to cry. The heart in his body beat a violent -tick-tock, tick-tock. - -"Have you read what Franz Joe's newspapers say?--'Italian soldiers are -brigands who do not respect civilians or the wounded in the -hospitals.' That means you, dear Pinocchio, because you shot the -traitor on the tower. You can be sure that if the suet-eaters win they -will make you pay for the crime." - -"Me?" - -"Yes, indeed, you! You don't intend to say that I killed him, do you? -And you, thank God, are not an enlisted Italian soldier, therefore -..." - -"I understand." - -The camp was quiet once again; indeed, I might say that tender -memories had softened its youthful exuberance. The voices from home -were keeping the soldiers silent. It was as if every letter their eyes -fell on was speaking to them quietly and they were blessed in -listening, their faces shining with happiness. Corporal Fanfara held a -sheet of paper on which there was nothing but some strange scrawls. He -gazed at it with delight, and while two big tears ran down his cheeks -he murmured in his Venetian dialect, "My darling little rascals!" -These scrawls of theirs were more welcome to him than the letter from -his wife which told of privations, anxiety, and troubles. Private -Mollica was acting like a detective, searching through the newspaper -pages for his father's dirty finger-marks; and as there was little -trouble in finding them he kept repeating every moment, "This was made -by my dear old man." Then he kissed the marks so often that his whole -mouth was black with printer's ink. - -Shortly after every one was writing, some bent over their -writing-tablets, some on the back of a good-natured comrade, some -stretched out on the ground, some on the edge of a bench, on the -staves of a barrel, on a tree-trunk, with pencils, fountain-pens, on -post-cards, envelopes, letter-paper spilled out miraculously from -portfolios, bags, and canteens. Every one was writing. The -Bersaglierino seemed to be composing a poem. He gesticulated, whacked -himself on the ear, beat time with his pen that squirted ink in every -direction, and every now and then declaimed under his breath certain -phrases that were so moving that they made even him weep. - -Pinocchio was as silent and gloomy as the hood of a dirty kitchen -stove. Squatting at the entrance to the tent, he kept glancing at his -companions, and every now and then he would scratch his head so -vigorously that he might have been currycombing a donkey. When -Pinocchio scratched his head in that way ... Well, now you know that -matters were serious, but I tell you they were so serious that he had -the courage to interrupt the Bersaglierino in his literary studies. - -"Excuse me, but will you do me a favor?" - -"What do you want? Keep quiet ... leave me alone ... you make me lose -my thread of thought ..." - -"So you write with thread, do you? Are you aware that they don't use -this any more?" - -"Stop your nonsense. Leave me alone, puppet." - -"Do me a favor and then ..." - -"What is it? Spit it out!" - -"Lend me a pencil and a piece of paper." - -"You want to write, too?" - -"Yes." - -"Then you, too, have some one in the world who interests you?" - -"Yes ... perhaps." - -"A godmother like mine?" - -"Hum! No indeed." - -"You are serious about wanting to write?" - -"Yes." - -"Here's paper and pencil, then. Do you know how to write?" - -"Once I knew how." - -"All right. Then let me see it." - -"Gladly." - -Pinocchio rested his elbows on his knees, chin on his clasped hands, -and, biting his pencil, lost himself in profound meditation. - - * * * * * - -"Excuse me, Bersaglierino." - -"Ho! Finished already?" - -"No ... that is ... yes, I have finished beginning, but ... I don't -know what you put before the beginning." - -"Write, 'Dear So-and-so,' or 'My darling, etc., etc.'" - -"But you see I can't put either 'dear' or 'my darling.'" - -"So you are writing to a creditor?" - -"Something like that." - -"Heavens! Put his first name, his last name, swear at him, and that's -enough." - - * * * * * - -"Excuse me, Bersaglierino..." - -"Oh, are you still there?" - -"Yes.... I haven't been able to start the beginning because ..." - -"Do you or do you not know how to write?" - -"Like a lawyer." - -"Then?" - -"I don't know what his last name is." - -"Whose?" - -"Franz Joe's." - -"Writing to him? You want to write to him? To that miserable -Hapsburg?" - -The news spread like lightning through the camp. The soldiers passed -it from mouth to mouth, laughing like mad: Pinocchio was writing to -Emperor Franz Joseph! This was interesting. They must know what the -letter said. It would certainly be something to amuse them. So walking -quietly, as if they were all eager to take him in the very act, they -approached the tent where Pinocchio was composing his missive, not -without difficulty. He had not been writing for several minutes and -the words seemed so long to put down on paper. He had to keep thinking -of the spelling, and the verbs bothered him terribly. When he raised -his head to draw a breath of relief before re-reading what he had -managed to write, he found himself surrounded by all the regiment. - -"Oh, you are well brought up, aren't you? Who taught you to stick your -noses into other people's business?" - -"To whom have you written?" - - [Illustration] - -"To the one I wanted to." - -"Let's see the scribbling." - -"Look in your mirror and you will see worse lines on your own face." - -"We want to read the letter." - -"But if you are a pack of illiterates ..." - -"Listen, either you will let me see it or I will take you by one ear -and the letter with the other hand, and I'll carry you both off to the -censor, who will haul you before a court martial that will condemn you -to be shot in the back." - -"Oh, do you really want to see it, Mollica?" - -"You heard what I said." - -"On one condition." - -"What's that?" - -"That you will take charge of it and see that it gets to its address." - -"All right. Hand it here, you puppy. Listen to what he writes: - - "MR. FRANZ HAPSBURG, - - In his house in Austria, - - "You wrote in the papers that the Italian soldiers are - rascals because they kill civilians and wounded Ostrians. I - want you to know that you are mistaken, because as you know - the traitor was killed by a pistol that shot off Ostrian - bullets by itself while it was in my hands who am not in the - army. That's how our soldiers found the traitor already - dead, the traitor who made signals from the church tower, so - that the shells fell on the ruins. As for the wounded in the - horspital I can asshure you that they were better off than - me and you, and that they had guns between their leggs under - the sheets. He who tells lies goes to hell and you will - certainly go there, but just now I'd like to send you there - myself who don't give a hang for you. - - "PINOCCHIO." - -I can't describe to you what took place after the letter had been -read. - -They gave the poor youngster such a feast that they had to put him to -bed in a hammock. Before Private Mollica went to sleep he kept -repeating: "I have promised to take your letter to Franz Joseph.... -You see if I don't send it through all the ranks till it reaches his -own hands. On Mollica's honor!... I have promised to take your letter -to Franz Joseph!" - - - - -CHAPTER IV - -_How Pinocchio Learned That War Changes Everything--Even the Meaning -of Words_ - - -The bersaglieri had passed the Isonzo and were intrenched at ---- -(censor). You certainly know now what the Isonzo is, because war -teaches geography better than do teachers in the schools; so I don't -intend to explain it to you. Pinocchio had followed his friends, and I -assure you no one regretted his coming. When there were orders to -carry to the rear or purchases to be made, it was Pinocchio who -attended to them. Slender as a lizard and quick as a squirrel, he was -out of the trenches without being seen and slipped along the furrows -and ditches and the bushes with marvelous dexterity. He had been -absolutely forbidden to approach the loopholes, and when they caught -him about to disobey he got such boxes on the ears that he had to -rub them for half an hour afterward. Mollica, and the Bersaglierino -in particular, kept their eyes on him, so that they punished him -often. - - [Illustration: ONE DAY HE MANAGED TO CAPTURE A PIG AND TO DRAG IT -ALONG BEHIND HIM] - -"I'd like to know why it is you two can stand with your noses against -the hole and I mayn't." - -"Because of the _mosquitoes_." - -"Who cares for them? I haven't the slightest fear of mosquitoes." - -But when he saw them carry off a poor soldier hit in the middle of the -forehead and understood that the "mosquitoes" were Austrian bullets, -he gained a little wisdom. While the soldiers were suffering from the -trench life which restrained their ardent natures, keeping them still -and watchful, the rogue of a Pinocchio amused himself with all kinds -of jokes. Dirty as he could be, he was always grubbing with his nails -in the ground to deepen the trench, to make some new breastwork, to -build up an escarp. If they sent him out to find logs of wood to -repair the roofs of the dugouts he would come back laden with all -sorts of things. Hens and eggs were his favorite booty. One day he -managed to capture a pig and to drag it along behind him. But when -they got near the trenches the cussed animal began to squeal so -horribly that the Austrians opened up a terrific fire on him. For fear -of the "mosquitoes" Pinocchio had to let him go, and the pig ran to -take refuge among his brothers, the enemy. - -That evening it rained cats and dogs. The trench was one slimy pool. -The rain dripped everywhere, penetrating, baring the parapets which -collapsed, squirting mud and gluing the feet of the soldiers, who, wet -to the bone, had to scurry through the wire to carry ammunition to -safety and to repair the damage done to the trench. Pinocchio, -barelegged, ran back and forth, bemired up to his hair, to give a -helping hand to his friends. - -"What fun! We seem to be turning into crabs." - -"You are a beastly little puppy!" - -"Poor Mollica! You really make me sorry for you." - -"I make you sorry for me?" - -"Certainly. I shouldn't want to be you in all this downpour." - -"Why?" - -"Because this rain will melt your sugary nature." - -Mollica, to convince him of the contrary, started to administer one of -his usual boxes on the ear, but he slipped and fell, face down, into -the mud. - - [Illustration] - -"Are you comfortable, Private Mollica? Tell me were you ever in a -softer bed than now?... You look to me like a roll dipped in -chocolate.... Bersaglierino, come and see how ugly he is! All chalky -up into his hair.... I never saw any one look such an idiot!" - - [Illustration] - -"I wish they would murder you, you beastly little puppy!" - -After struggling about in the mud he managed to get to his feet again -and had almost caught him, but in one spring Pinocchio was far away. -The telephone dugout was a little deeper than the trench and the -water was rapidly filling it up. It was already up to the operator's -knees. A crowd of soldiers were working hard to stop the flood. - -"What are you doing, stupids? Do you think you can bail out this -puddle with a cap? You are green. We ought to have big Bertha...." - -He didn't get in another word. They took hold of him by his arms and -legs and soused him into the dirty water and held him under till he -had drunk a cupful. The telephone operator would have liked to see him -dead, then and there. - -"Hold him under till he is as swollen as a toad. He was calling down -misfortune on us, wishing that a shell would fall on us. As if this -rain weren't enough (che-chew, che-chew!); we are chilled to the -marrow (che-chew!) and are likely to die bravely of cold ... -(che-chew!)." - -"Enough! Let me go! Help! Bersaglierino! Mollica-a-a!" - -"What are you doing to him? Let him go. Shame on you!" yelled -Bersaglierino, running up. - -"But don't you know that he was wishing a shell would hit us, the -little wretch?" - -"Just as if we hadn't enough troubles now." - -"Of course you have enough, and one of your troubles is that you are -regular beasts," cried Pinocchio as soon as he could get his breath. -"I said I wished for Bertha, the cook in Papa Geppetto's house, to -sweep away the water in here, but now I wish I had a broom in my hand -to break its handle against your ribs." - -"But don't you know that a 'Big Bertha' is a Boche gun that would have -blown us into a thousand pieces?" - -"So, little devil, do you understand? And now that you have learned -your lesson, be off with you." - -There was nothing else for poor Pinocchio to do but to spit out the -mud still in his mouth and turn on his heel. - -"Bersaglierino, I would have believed anything but that words change -their meaning in this way. With these idiots you have to pay attention -to what you say. They made me swallow so much ditch-water that it will -be a miracle if I don't have little fish swimming around in my -stomach." - -It stopped raining, but as if the Austrians didn't want to give the -bersaglieri time to repair the damages caused by the bad weather, they -began a furious bombardment of the trench. The "mosquitoes" kept up a -terrible singing. Huge projectiles churned up the ground all around, -digging out deep holes, raising whirls of earth, throwing off shreds -of stone and steel in every direction. One shell had fallen near the -telephone and had done great damage. The soldiers couldn't venture any -distance from the dugout to aim at the enemy who was firing at them -with such accuracy. Mud prevented their movements. They couldn't -change their positions because the slippery earth offered no foothold. -It was impossible to excavate deep because the earth slid down. It was -a critical moment. Several men had been killed, the wounded were -moaning bitterly, the dying were groaning.... But the Italian -bersaglieri did not lose courage and stood up against the foe, showing -a genuine disregard for their lives. Pinocchio longed to cry. He -wasn't thinking of the danger to himself, but of the fact that if this -devilish fire kept up much longer all his bersaglieri would be killed. -Wasn't there anybody to look out for them? What was our artillery -doing? Did they really intend to let them all be massacred? - -He had scarcely thought this when he heard behind him the thunder of -Italian guns. A quarter of an hour later and the Austrians were quite -quiet. But the situation hadn't improved. Orders had come from the -second line to hold out at all costs because it wouldn't be possible -to relieve them until the next evening. An attack in force was -expected every minute. - -The captain assembled his company and said: "Men, we must stick and be -ready for anything. We can't have reinforcements, but to-night they -will send us _chevaux de frise_ and barbed wire. But I don't want to -be caught like a bird in a net. We have plenty of 'jelly.' If two -would volunteer to carry a couple of pounds of it under the -entanglements of those gentlemen over yonder we might be able to -change our lodgings. They have a fine trench of reinforced concrete -with rooms and good beds and bathroom. We'd be better off there than -in this mud. What do you say, boys? Is there any one who ..." - -They didn't even let him finish. All stepped forward, and, if I am to -tell you the truth, Pinocchio, too, but no one noticed him. Mollica -and the Bersaglierino were chosen. - -It grew dark. Some of them, completely worn out, dozed leaning up -against the side of the trench. The Bersaglierino was writing rapidly -a letter in pencil. Mollica had pulled out of his knapsack the old -newspapers his father had sent him and seemed about to take up his old -studies of fingerprints. There were tears in his eyes. - -"Heh! Mollica, you look as if you weren't pleased with the duty the -captain has given you." - -"Well?" - -"But you ought to let me go." - -"You? But how do you suppose they would let a boy like you carry -jelly?" - -"Do you think I would eat it all up? I won't say that I mightn't taste -it, especially if it is that golden-yellow kind that shivers like a -paralytic old man, but I would carry out the order like any one -else.... Only, I can't understand how for a little bit of jelly those -scoundrels will give up their comfortable trench. It's true that they -eat all sorts of miserable kinds of food and that Esau sold his -birthright for a mess of pottage, but ..." - -"Shut up, you chatterbox! You'll see what will happen. I'll explain to -you that 'jelly' in war-time is what we call a mixture of stuff that -when put in a pipe under the wire entanglements and set off by a fuse -will blow you up sky-high in a thousand pieces, if you don't take to -your heels in time." - -"And you ... want to go and be blown up?" - -"No. I hope to come back safe and sound, and I have still to send your -letter to Franz Joey." - -Pinocchio was silent and hid himself in a corner without another word. -I can't tell you exactly if he had some sad presentiment or if his -disillusion resulting from Mollica's technical explanation of "jelly" -had put him in a bad humor. There was no doubt about it--war had -changed the dictionary. He was still more certain of this when, an -hour later, he saw the "Frisian horses" arrive. He was expecting -beasts with at least four legs, and instead he saw them drag in front -of the trenches a huge roll of iron wound up in an enormous skein of -barbed wire. But there was still a greater surprise in store for him. -That very night he was to find out that in war-time not only the value -of words changes, but that there are some which are canceled from -certain persons' vocabulary. - -It was night ... and there was nothing to be seen and you couldn't -even hear the traditional fly. From the Austrian trench there came a -dull regular noise. It seemed as if a lot of pigs were squealing. -Instead, it was the Croats who were snoring. No one slept in the -Italian trenches. There was a strange coming and going, a fantastic -flittering of shadows. There was low talking, commands were passed -from mouth to mouth and whispered in the ear--every one was making -preparations. Mollica and the Bersaglierino had put steel helmets on -their heads and had shields of the same metal on their arms. - -"But what are you going to do? You look like the statue of Perseus in -the costume of a soldier." - -"I would almost rather be in his place and with no more clothes than -he has on instead of in this get-up ... but what's there to be done -about it? I promised you to take the letter to Franz Joey." - -A little later Mollica and Bersaglierino left the trench and wriggled -along the ground like serpents, carrying with them big metal boxes. -The bersaglieri took their places behind the loopholes, their muskets -in position, and stood there motionless, anxious, and restless. -Pinocchio, too, wanted to see what was happening, and, taking -advantage of his guardians' carelessness, slipped out of the trench -and squatted down in a big hole which an enemy projectile had hollowed -out twenty yards away. - -The poor youngster was very sad. The black night, the silence -everywhere, the preparations he had watched and could not understand, -were the causes of his melancholy. - -"But how under the sun did it ever enter Bersaglierino's head to offer -himself for this expedition?" he thought. "He might have let some one -else go. Not so bad for Mollica. He'll eat up the Austrians like -waffles. If any one dares to play a trick on him he'll land him a few -good blows and put him where he belongs, but Bersaglierino ... so -little and so frail.... If any misfortune happens to him ..." - -Some time went by, I can't say how long, but it was quite a little -while, because Pinocchio had almost fallen asleep, when the air was -shaken by two tremendous explosions. He woke with a start, saw two red -flashes shining for an instant on a shower of fragments thrown up to a -great height ... then blackness and the fiendish rattling of the -machine-guns and crackle of musket fire. Suddenly a long white shaft -of light broke the darkness, coming from no one knew where, waving to -the right and to the left, and fixing itself on the ground between the -two trenches, which were immediately showered by shells. - -"And Bersaglierino? And Mollica?" Pinocchio asked himself, anxiously, -feeling his throat tighten up. - -Suddenly a black shadow was outlined in the gleam of a searchlight -that was operated from a distance. It crawled along the ground, moving -by starts. They had seen it, too, from the trenches and there were -confused cries of, "Come on!" ... "Bravo!" ... "A few more steps!" ... -"Stick to it!" - -And the figure seemed to gain new strength and to bound like a wild -beast. But who was it? Surely the Bersaglierino. The form was small, -slender, and very quick. Mollica was large and slow. What had become -of him? Between the roar of the explosions and the whistle of the -shells there came a shrill cry of anguish. The little shadow slid -along, then a leap in the silvery ray, and it was lost in the -blackness of the earth torn by the rain of steel. - -"Oh, beasts that they are! They have murdered him!" Pinocchio -screamed. "Enough! Enough! Wretches! Don't you see that he has ceased -to move? Stop shooting.... Give him time to recover.... Perhaps he is -wounded." - -It seemed that the Austrian fire grew even more murderous. - -Pinocchio, beside himself with fury, rushed out of his hiding-place -and in a couple of bounds was back in the trench. - -"They have wounded Bersaglierino.... He is there ... out there in the -No Man's Land.... Help him ... don't let him die so." - -They sprang over the top to rescue their wounded comrades, but had -scarcely gone a step before they were lost to him. - -Pinocchio lost his head. He sprang out of the dugout and ran as fast -as he could into the spot still illuminated by the ray of silver. He -stumbled, fell, got up again, fell once more, but kept on crawling on -his hands and knees.... He heard a groan, felt a body, lifted it in -his arms, and, gathering all his strength together, began to drag it -toward the trench. All at once he felt his legs give way and he let -out a yell of terror. He was answered by another from a hundred -valiant throats; he saw a strange flash, felt a hurricane strike him, -a wave roll over him ... but before losing his senses there came to -him the cry of victory. The Italian bersaglieri had bayoneted those -who had wounded Bersaglierino and had won from the enemy one more -portion of their country. - -A little later the stretcher-bearers were able to gather up the -wounded from the field of honor. - - - - -CHAPTER V - -_In Which Pinocchio Discovers That Sometimes When You Want to Advance -You Have to Take a Step Backward_ - - -For a long while Pinocchio didn't know whether he was alive or dead. -Then after a time he seemed to be dreaming, but the dreams were so -queer that ... just imagine, he thought he was a puppet again, asleep -on a chair with his feet resting on a brazier full of lighted -charcoal, that one of his feet was on fire and that the flame, little -by little, was creeping up his leg. And, just as once before when -something similar had happened, the dream became a painful reality. -However, there was another dream that comforted him. A lovely woman's -smiling face would come close to him and he would hear soft, -affectionate words. It was the queerest thing possible! It seemed to -him that this face was set in a lovely frame of light-blue hair which -came down like a veil, like a cape enfolding the graceful form of a -young girl. Some one had told him that her name was Fatina, and he -kept repeating the name, as once ... when he was still a little puppet -and the girl with blue hair ... But what had happened to him? - - * * * * * - -One morning he opened his eyes and discovered that he was in a little -white bed in a white room, and that to right and left of him in two -other beds were two wounded men all enveloped in bandages. - - [Illustration] - -"Bersaglierino! Bersaglierino!" cried Pinocchio, trying to raise -himself up in bed. But a horrid pain made him fall back on the pillow -and forced him to scream loudly. The door of the little room opened -and a Red Cross nurse in her blue uniform entered swiftly. - -"Oh! At last! But be good and don't try to move! The Bersaglierino is -here on your right; he is better, but you must let him be quiet, and -you, too, need to rest." - -"Tell me, Fatina, is the Bersaglierino really alive?" - -"Don't you see him? Here he is. When he wakes up you can say a few -words to him. Yesterday he was so eager to know about you, but you -couldn't speak to him." - -"Listen, Fatina, and I ... am I really alive?" - -"It seems so to me." - -"But am I ... made of wood or ..." - -"You are made of iron." - -"Of iron? Don't joke so with me, Fatina. If you want my nose to grow -longer, dearest lady, or if you want me to turn back into a wooden -puppet, I am ready to do so; but not of iron, no. I am too afraid of -rust." - -"But what are you talking about? Let me feel your pulse. No, that's -all right, no fever. I said you were made of iron because you have -come out of it all so wonderfully. You were threatened with gas -gangrene, and if they had not amputated at once, it would have been -the end of you, but instead ..." - -"Please, please ... what did they do to me?" - -"They cut off your injured leg." - -"My leg!" - -"Yes, indeed; they couldn't help it." - -"And when did they cut it off?" - -"Three days ago." - -"You are perfectly certain of this?" - -"I was present." - -"And I ... wasn't I present?" - -"I think so." - -"And how is it I didn't know anything about it?" - -"You were asleep." - -"I think it was you who were dreaming. Look." - -Before Fatina could stop him Pinocchio caught the covers and threw -them off. One leg was indeed missing and just the one which he had -dreamed had been burned by the brazier. He saw a heap of bloody -bandages and let out such a scream that he made the other two wounded -start up. - -The one on the left, who looked like a monk in a hood, because from -under the bands which bound his head a long shaggy beard was sticking -out, cried in annoyance: - -"Heh! What is it, a locomotive? You are making as much noise as an -enemy's cannon." - -"Be quiet, be quiet!" - -"Bersaglierino, have you seen what they did to me? They've carried off -one of my legs without asking my permission." - -"And they took off one of my arms, and they've made a hole in my head -and cut open my stomach." - -"But what kind of dirty tricks are these? I want my leg.... I want my -leg!" - -"If it were still on you it would be all swollen and black. Be silent, -shut up, and thank God that they haven't taken the other one. Because -Major Cutemup is here, and when he begins to amputate it is hard to -get him to stop. Imagine, they wanted to cut off my nose." - -"I want my leg!" - -"Be good." - -"Fatina, I beg you, make them make me another one. Write to Geppetto -to make me another one, even of wood, but I want to be able to walk -and run. I want to go back to the war, I do!" - -The patient on the left jumped out of his bed and, in giving him a -kiss, brushed his face with his bushy beard. - -"There, you are a brave boy. You please me.... We will have another -leg made for you, and if you want to go back to see the Boches you can -come with me. Sister Fatina, is it not true that they're going to make -him a new leg?" - -"Certainly." - -"Of wood?" - -"And with machinery inside so that you can move it as if it were a -real leg." - - [Illustration] - -"Then ..." - -"Will you be good?" - -"Yes ... but as soon as I catch sight of Major Cutemup I'll tell him a -few things I think of him." - -"How are you, Bersaglierino?" - -"Better, Fatina dear." - -"Be brave." - -Then she moved softly away, as noiseless as a dream. - -"Did you see, Pinocchio? Fatina kept her word. She had scarcely heard -that I was wounded before she hurried to my bed. She is an angel and I -am quite happy. But I owe it to you that I am alive. I had four -bullets in my back.... Those dogs had got the range on me, and if you -hadn't come to my aid they would have finished me.... And you weren't -lucky, either--they shot your leg to pieces, and if the company hadn't -appeared ... But we won! Hurrah for Italy!" - -"And Mollica?" - -"Dead. They found him near the wire, surrounded by a heap of dead -enemies. He made a regular slaughter. He had your letter to Franz -Joseph stuck on the end of his bayonet. Every time that he hit a foe -he cried, 'Beast of a potato-eater, take this letter and carry it to -your Joey.'" - -"Poor Mollica! If I am able to get back there I'll avenge you." - -"I told you I wanted you with me. You will see what we'll do to those -creatures. I am Captain Teschisso, of the Second Regiment of Alpine -Troops. What fights we have had! How we have 'strafed' them! A shell -splinter gave me a whack and carried off one of my ears, but if you -join me we'll have dozens of them every day." - -"Will I go with you? Yes, indeed, if the Bersaglierino ..." - -"As far as I am concerned, do what you've a mind to. I shall never -return to the regiment now.... You can't make war without an arm, but -..." - -Just at this moment the door of the little white room opened and Major -Cutemup, followed by two young lieutenants, Fatina, and some men -nurses, came in. He was a short, squatty little man, with smooth face -and tiny eyes hidden behind gold-rimmed glasses, and with a stomach -that would have made an alderman jealous. He looked more like a -cab-driver than like an officer, and even more like a butcher who has -risen to be master of a shop by selling old beef for veal. - -"Good morning, boys. You are getting on finely, eh? When I take hold -of you you either die or are better off than you were before anything -happened to you. Let's look at you, Bersaglierino. The arm's doing -well ... the wound in your head will be healed in ten days or so. -Thank God that I saved your eye. It was a risk ... we ought to have -taken it out if we had followed the usual method.... No, no, I find -you in good condition, so good, in fact, that I can tell you a piece -of news ... they have recommended you for the silver medal. I believe -his Majesty will come in person to pin it on your breast. It would be -a real honor for our hospital. - -"And you, lad? But really I don't need to bother about you, either. -Boys are like lizards--you can cut them in pieces and they keep on -living." - -"Please, please, Mr. Major Carve-Beefsteak, I should like to know who -gave you permission to cut off my leg." - -"What? What? You dare ..." - -"There's no good lecturing me, because I am not in the army, as poor -Mollica used to say, so you don't frighten me worth a soldo. So I am -just asking you who gave you permission to ... carry off my claw." - -"Your claw? The femur was broken, the tibia cracked, the patella -shattered, your temperature up over a hundred, delirium, threatened -with gas gangrene.... I couldn't wait until you had gone to the devil -before asking your permission to amputate. And, moreover, no more -words about it. I cut when it's my duty to cut. If, in spite of the -operation, the gangrene had continued I should have amputated your -other leg as well. So let's look at it. Nurse, undo the bandages." - -In a minute the bloody flesh was uncovered. Pinocchio bit his lips in -order to keep from yelling with pain. Cutemup approached in a solemn -manner, and, nearsighted as he was, had almost to stick his nose into -the wound to make his examination. - -"Fine.... The healing process has already begun ... the granulation is -splendid, but have you any pain in the groin, boy?" - -"How in the world do you expect me to know what that is?" - -"Does it hurt you here?" - -"No." - -"Have you any pain in the sound leg?" - -"No." - -"Can you move it?" - -"Yes." - -"Bend it at the knee." - -"I am doing it." - -"Again, again, again. Does it pain you?" - -"No." - -"Fine!... Now stretch it out." - -He should never have said that. Pinocchio stretched it out with such -agility that there was no difference from the way he usually -administered his solemnest kicks. His foot caught Cutemup right in the -stomach and knocked him breathless into the arms of the young -lieutenant, who had to resort to artificial respiration to revive him. - -The Alpine soldier broke out into such an astonishing laugh from -beneath his bandages and his beard that the others, Fatina included, -had to echo him. Pinocchio played 'possum, perfectly still with his -eyes half closed. When Cutemup, quite recovered, sprang toward him to -give vent to his just vengeance, he seemed much surprised to see him -in such a state. He examined him attentively, and, keeping himself a -respectful distance away, poked with his forefinger two or three times -the leg which had given him such marvelous proof of vitality and -energy, then, turning to his colleagues, he began to speak in an -imposing manner: - -"The accident which befell me was the result of the nervous depression -of the patient. The reflex motions have superiority over the will -centers. The muscles slacken at the lightest pressure, like a cord of -a strung bow. The vitality shown by the patient is due to a nervous -over-excitation, not noticeable until now. I shall keep the patient -under observation. If you come across similar cases, take notes of -them that I may include them in my article. I shall order extra -nutrition and care in building up the patient as soon as the wound has -healed completely. Sister Fatina, note for the boy special rations of -filet of beefsteak, roast chicken, eggs, custards well-sweetened, at -dinner and again at supper." - - [Illustration: HIS FOOT CAUGHT CUTEMUP RIGHT IN THE STOMACH AND -KNOCKED HIM BREATHLESS] - -At this bill of fare Pinocchio's leg by some strange phenomenon began -to bend again from the knee. - -The major, thoroughly absorbed in his lesson, did not notice it: "So, -then, that is understood. You, Captain Teschisso, are doing -splendidly; in a few days we'll take the bandage off you. Gentlemen, -let us go into the next room." - -They had scarcely gone out and the door was scarcely closed before -Pinocchio burst out into such a hearty laugh that the captain and -Bersaglierino had to laugh, too. - -"You don't seem too much depressed." - -"What were you doing with that leg in the air?" - - [Illustration] - -"Do you know, Captain, as my first kick had gained special nourishment -for me, I wanted to give him another one so that I could get a double -quantity; then there would have been something for all of you." - -"Thank you, you shaved poodle." - -Just then Fatina returned and was surprised to see Pinocchio laughing -so hard that his tongue was hanging out with happiness. - -"What's this?" - -"Fatina, my compliments. Did you hear what the major ordered? Filet of -beefsteak, chickens, custards with heaps of sugar, at dinner and again -at supper." - -"You wretch!" - -"I am not a wretch; I am a poor, weak invalid and no one had better -feel the muscles in my legs too much who doesn't want to get kicks in -the stomach." - -"You little beast! Suppose I go and tell the major that ..." - -"No, for Heaven's sake! Dear Fatina, keep quiet." - -"On one condition." - -"Let's hear it." - -"That you will be good, that you will be patient and let yourself be -taken care of until it is time to fit your wooden leg." - -"I promise you. You know, once I was made of wood all over. In order -to get ahead I can even make up my mind to take a step backward." - - - - -CHAPTER VI - -_Wherein We See Pinocchio's Heart_ - - -All three of them were now up again. It was to be for them a day of -great gladness. Yet all three were in a bad humor. They didn't even -talk. Captain Teschisso, dressed in a brand-new uniform, couldn't tear -himself away from the mirror, which he addressed in a low voice: - -"Just see what they have made of me. I can't go on this way.... I am -not presentable. Without an ear, with a slash on the cheek, half my -beard gone ... I look like a wild animal to be shown at a circus. -Lord! How many kicks I'd like to give those dogs! They've botched me -so I'm no longer fit for this world.... It's against the regulations, -but before I die I want to devour heaps of those curs! Who allows them -to make war like this? Who permits them to reduce a captain of Alpine -troops to such a sight? It would be better for me to die at once. I'm -not good for anything, and that dog of a Cutemup might have made a -better job of me. Let him show himself and I'll give him a piece of my -mind." - -Poor Teschisso! He was right! His ugly scar did disfigure him. Another -man would have wept at seeing himself thus; he trembled with eagerness -to be revenged. - -Pinocchio, too, was grumbling like a stewpot, giving vent to his ill -humor. They had put on him a wooden leg that was a real triumph of -mechanism. It was jointed like a real one and moved with an automatic -motion in harmony with his sound leg. Pinocchio had tried to run, to -jump, and to balance, and had to convince himself that he had not lost -anything by the exchange. But the leg had one fault--when he extended -it it unbent too rapidly, hitting the heel on the ground with a noisy -and annoying sound. And in addition to this the mechanism, which was -still so new, rattled. - -"Plague take it! My own didn't need to be oiled. Who knows how much -oil this one will expect me to give it? But that I'll make Mr. Cutemup -pay for. If he comes up to me and repeats that I am better than I -used to be I'll plant another kick in his stomach, then I'll ask how -he would manage to walk if it were his, on the tip of his toes, with -this heel that beats like a drumstick." - - [Illustration] - -The Bersaglierino, too, had a wooden left arm. You wouldn't even have -noticed it. He could move it in any direction, and the gloved -artificial hand which came out of the sleeve of his gray jacket, -although a little stiff, could be moved as easily as a real hand. The -wound that furrowed his forehead didn't disfigure him; indeed, it gave -to his gentle features a certain air of nobility and fierceness. But -the Bersaglierino was sad, so sad that if you had looked into his -eyes you would have been certain that he had to make a great effort -not to cry. Pinocchio noticed it. - -"Tell me, Bersaglierino, what was your business before the war?" - -"What's that to you?" - -"Oh, I just want to know." - -"I was a journalist, a writer." - -"Hm! Must be a horrid profession." - -"Why?" - -"Because you have to work so hard not to die of hunger." - -"Who told you so?" - -"Nobody. But if you had made a lot of money in your job you wouldn't -have left it to volunteer, and as you get only fourteen cents a day as -a volunteer at the front, as a civilian you must have been hard up all -the year. Then ... you needn't make a face ... you don't write with -the left hand ... so you can go back to being a journalist, even with -... the Austrian improvement." - -He hoped to drive away his sadness by saying it in this way, but -instead he only increased it. - -"Leave me in peace, puppet!" he said, roughly and with such a stern -tone that Pinocchio in his turn longed to cry. - -At this moment the door of the room was opened with great violence and -Major Cutemup, as if hurled by a catapult, made his appearance, -followed by Fatina and by a regiment of soldiers and nurses. He was -red as the comb of a cock at his first crow, wheezed every now and -then like a pair of bellows, and dripped sweat as a bucket just out of -the well drips water. - -"Sister Fatina, I rely on you ... I rely on you to see that everything -is in order. Four soldiers will wash the windows ... six will scrub -the floors, which must shine like a mirror, and everything must be -done in ten minutes. And you, boys, put on your special uniforms.... I -have great news for you. His Majesty has announced his visit to the -hospital; with his own august hands he will bestow the decorations. -You, Bersaglierino, who are among these fortunate ones, take care to -be irreproachable in your appearance. You, Captain ..." - -"What! What did he say? Do you think I can let his Majesty see me in -this frightful condition? Half a beard, half a mustache, minus an ear, -half a face ..." - -"But ... I don't know what you can do about it. Fix it up the best you -can." - -"Certainly I'll fix it up, I'll ... Good Heavens! man, let me go to a -barber who can make me look like a Christian, because you, Major -Cutemup, have made me resemble one of Menelik's crew." - -"But ..." - -"But I swear that I won't let the dogs who got me in this condition -stick their fingers on my face, I tell you." - -"Teschisso!" - -"No, I won't let them touch me." - -"Captain Teschisso, I must remind you of the respect due ..." - -"What's that? Major Cutemup ... did you think I was talking of you? -Not a thought of doing so. I meant those dogs of Austrians." - -"A-a-a-h! Then be off to the barber's." - -"Thanks. I'll have him fix me up in a minute." - -"Boy, hurry up. His Majesty is coming." - - * * * * * - -Ten minutes later everything was shining like a mirror. The soldiers -were already at work in the adjoining room. Pinocchio had disappeared. -Teschisso had gone to be shaved. Fatina was arranging the white -window-curtains. The Bersaglierino was seated on his bed, his right -arm resting on his knee and his chin held in the hollow of his hand. - -"What's the matter? What is it, Bersaglierino?" - -He didn't answer, and Fatina, after having looked at him a minute with -her large, soft eyes, came up nearer and sat down beside him on the -little white bed. - -"Tell me what's the trouble, Bersaglierino. Why are you crying? Why -don't you make yourself handsome? Didn't you hear? The King is coming -to give you the medal." - -"Why should I care about that? What do you think that means to me, -Fatina?" - -And then, since she seemed much astonished at his words, he continued, -vehemently: - -"Why, indeed, should I care about that?... After they have sent me -away from here I shall go back to living alone like a dog ... to -fighting every day for my existence. Who will get any satisfaction -from the reward the King's hand has bestowed on me? No one. Perhaps -the day will come when I shall have to pin the medal on my coat to -keep the boys in the streets from making fun of me, the poor maimed -creature who will wander about playing a street-organ." - -"Oh, Bersaglierino! I never imagined you could talk like that. I don't -want you to talk so." - -And she spoke with so much feeling that he, fearing he had offended -her, started to beg her pardon: - -"Fatina ..." - -"Tell me, aren't you glad to have done your duty, to have given your -blood for your country? Didn't you volunteer? Didn't you go willingly -through the barbed wire to open a road of victory for your country? -And now you are almost blaming yourself for the good you have done, -for fear of the morrow. And you think yourself destined to end as a -laughing-stock of horrid little children? Oh, but you are bad! Tell -me, are you really so sure that you are alone in the world, that there -is no one who will rejoice to see shining on your breast the medal -your country has bestowed on you?" - -"Ah, if it were so, Fatina, if it were true!" - -"Do you believe that no one has followed you in thought through all -your dangers on the field of honor, that no one suffered, knowing you -were wounded, or trembled at the thought of your bed of pain? Do you -really believe that there is no one to rejoice at seeing you take up -again your place in the world? You are young, full of ardor and -intelligence ..." - -"But I am poor, so poor!" - -"You can get rich by working. You fought the war with weapons; -continue it with the pen. Write what you have seen; you will make a -name for yourself and some day will be the pride of your family." - -"I! Don't make fun of me, Fatina. I, wounded, maimed, will never find -a woman to link her life with mine." - -"Bersaglierino, I, too, am alone in the world, free to dispose of -myself. I am not rich, but I have enough to live on; I am not a -professor, but I am widely educated.... I will be frank; if to-morrow -a brave man like you, in the same condition, should come and ask me -..." - -"To be his wife?" - -"I should say yes, and I should be proud. Do you understand? Proud of -him and of the medal shining on his breast, which would seem like my -own...." - -"Oh! Fatina, Fatina!" - -He could say no more. Tears choked him. But she looked at him tenderly -with her kind eyes, and in them, too two large tears were shining. - -Pinocchio could not stand any more of this. For half an hour he had -been hidden under the bed, had therefore listened to this noble -dialogue, and had had to bite his lips to keep from crying. But as it -was not amusing he could not stand it any longer. He crawled very -quietly from his hiding-place, approached Fatina and Bersaglierino -cautiously and without their seeing him or being able to put up any -resistance, he gathered the two heads in his arms, brought them close -together, and held them close, covering them both with kisses. - -Pinocchio's generous and lovable impulse had found the way to unite -these two beings whom destiny had brought together. The picture they -made was interesting and touching and would have touched every one who -knew them, if at this moment Captain Teschisso had not entered, quite -made over by the barber. - -"What ... what are you doing? Aren't you preparing for the august -visit?" - -"Augusta? Who's she?" - -"What? Don't you know that the King, the commander-in-chief of our -army, the first soldier of New Italy, the head of the state, the -corporal of the Zouaves, like his grandfather before him, the flower -of gentlemen, a good father of his family, one of the wisest -sovereigns of Europe...? In short, you'll see him soon. Hurry up, -because when I came in the royal automobile had been sighted.... Don't -you think that dog of a barber fixed me up fine? Anyway, he was able -to get rid of the half of my beard which the Germans shaved with a -shell." - -The King? This short word frightened Pinocchio terribly. This man who -commanded everybody, who could put everybody in prison, who was named -Majesty, August, and Victor Emanuel all at the same time, who caused -the rooms to be polished in five minutes, who set Cutemup to -trembling, who kept all the wounded in the hospital in order, all of -them men of valor who had held their own against hundreds of the -foe--frightened him like a hobgoblin or something similar. At the -very thought of having his glance fall upon him he felt goose-flesh -all over his body. - -"It isn't fear; it is lack of courage or something of that sort, but I -must get out of the way. I have never had anything to do with kings -and I don't know much about the way they think. If Augusta, or his -Majesty, is in a bad humor and should find my presence among the -soldiers out of order, he can bat his eye at Cutemup, make him a sign, -and ... whack! ... my head would roll on the ground. Wouldn't that -murderer of a surgeon be glad to be revenged for the kick I gave him -in the stomach? Yes, I must find some way ..." - -His musings were interrupted by three bugle notes which brought every -one to attention. - -"There he is! There he is!" - -Then resounded enthusiastic hurrahs for the King. - -Pinocchio disappeared under Bersaglierino's bed ... popped up again, -disguised himself, and no one noticed that ... - -Captain Teschisso and the Bersaglierino stood at attention at the foot -of their beds, straight and immovable, awaiting the royal visit. The -King in his soldier way entered without ceremony, followed by his -aide-de-camp, General Win-the-War, Major Cutemup, and a number of -other officers of the garrison, Red Cross nurses, and other wounded -who had come from their rooms to take part in the ceremony. It didn't -seem possible that the room could hold so many persons, but all of -them crowded in, squeezing together in order to see the King and to be -near to him. And his face, which was wrinkled, was illuminated by a -kindly smile that spread out from his thick mustache grown prematurely -white. He gave Teschisso a military salute, then shook his hand -vigorously and said: - -"I am so pleased to see you recovered. I am sure that when you go back -to your regiment I shall hear more of you. You Alpine troopers are all -of you wonderful soldiers." - -"For Italy and for our King, your Majesty." - -"For our Italy greater than ever." - -"She shall be, if we have to shed all our blood." - -"Such is my belief." - -Major Cutemup had suddenly turned crimson with rage, and approached -Fatina, his large, angry eyes scowling at her from behind his -eyeglasses. - -"Why have you treated me so?" he asked, in a low, furious voice. - -"I?" - -"Yes. I told you to put everything in order." - -"Well?" - -"Look at that mess!" and he nodded toward a kind of clothes-hanger -near the head of Bersaglierino's bed, on which were hung a hat with -cock plumes, a coat, with a pair of trousers all torn and ragged and -dirty. It was the uniform the brave young soldier had worn on the -field and which Fatina had hidden under the bed a little while ago. - -Fatina didn't know what to say. The sudden appearance of this -clothes-hanger, ... those clothes spread out, affected her so that she -had no thought of the major or of his rage, which escaped in such -violent outbursts that they would have started a windmill going. - -The King had approached Bersaglierino, and General Win-the-War -presented him, with these words: - -"Your Majesty, this brave soldier has been proposed for the medal of -valor for the following reasons: enrolled as a volunteer, he took part -in the first battles with the enemy, giving an example of courage and -discipline; he volunteered to blow up the enemy wire defenses; he -carried out the assignment given him, and, unhurt himself, he tried to -free a comrade caught on the barbed wire and managed to put to flight -an enemy patrol which attacked him. Then he was hit several times by -machine-gun fire. Carried to the first-aid station, he showed the -greatest self-control and cheered for his King and his country when he -learned that his efforts had enabled his company to take an important -trench from the enemy." - -The King took from the hand of his adjutant a silver medal hung from a -light-blue ribbon and pinned it on Bersaglierino's breast, who was so -pale with emotion that he looked as if he would faint, then clasped -the soldier's right hand in both of his and said: - -"Bravo! Bravo! Bravo! You have done your duty as an Italian soldier. -Treasure this medal which your country gives you by the hand of your -King. Wear it always proudly on your breast. Every one should know -that you deserve it and that they should follow your example.... You -are crying? But it is with happiness, is it not?" - -"Yes, your Majesty." - -"And now that you have recovered, what will you do?" - -"I shall go back to my profession. I am a journalist." - -"And ... will you be able?" - -"I hope so. I was very severely wounded, but ..." - -"You cured him, Major Cutemup?" - -"I myself, your Majesty; he was one of the worst cases. The left arm -carried away by a shell splinter, wounded on the temple, and -threatened with damage to his eye, wounded in his third upper rib and -another wound in the groin with lesion in the intestines. An abdominal -operation was performed, his arm was amputated and there was a suture -in the occipital region.... The poor fellow has certainly had his -share." - -"You can see that by looking at his glorious uniform; it is indeed a -document." - -The uniform in question trembled and the plumed hat shook. - -"Yes ... truly ... but ..." - -"Would you deny it?" - -"No, your Majesty, I wanted to say that that uniform shouldn't be -there just now. It is a glorious object, but in a hospital ward it may -have infectious germs.... I had given orders to ... but ... and if -your Majesty will permit, I will give orders to remove it at once." - -He had scarcely finished speaking when the coat, trousers, and hat -suddenly fell to the ground with such a curious noise that Cutemup -could not help running up to see what had happened. Imagine how he -looked when he found himself face to face with Pinocchio, cold with -terror. He tried to hide him with the glorious garments in order to -carry him off, bundled up in them, but the King turned and asked: - -"What's happened?" - -"Your Majesty, I don't know how to explain it.... Under these clothes -was hidden a wretch who ..." - -"Ah! I saw. I know him. Pinocchio is one of my old and dear -acquaintances. I am glad to see him among my soldiers, in -semi-military garb. Leave to Bersaglierino this uniform that is dear -to him. It will be a glorious souvenir for his family. Good-by, brave -soldier; remember your King. I called to you in the hour of need; if -to-morrow you have need of me, remember that I shall never forget -those who have served me on the battle-field." - -And the good King, the loving father, the model soldier, turned to -leave, followed by his suite. - -Before he had crossed the threshold Pinocchio had sprung to his feet, -flung him two kisses with the tips of his fingers, and began to dance -like mad with happiness. His wooden leg made a horrible noise. Fatina, -fearing Cutemup's anger, begged him to behave. - -"What? What? If Cutemup scolds me, woe to him. Did you hear? The King -is an old acquaintance of mine. If he gets offended with me, I'll take -out my paper and pen and inkstand and I will write: 'Dear King, you -are the best and kindest man in the world, but do me the favor to cut -off the head, or some other organ, from the major who amputated my leg -without permission. In this world an eye for an eye, a head for a leg. -Many kisses from your Pinocchio.'" - - - - -CHAPTER VII - -_How Pinocchio Came Face to Face with Our Alpine Troops_ - - -If you had come across him unexpectedly in his new costume I assure -you you would not have recognized him. On his head was a woolen helmet -from which emerged only his eyes and the point of his nose; on his -back was a short coat of goatskin which swelled him out like a German -stuffed with beer and sausage; his legs were lost in a pair of big -boots with lots of nails. Around his waist was a huge belt of leather -from which hung a number of small rope ends, and in his hand he -carried a splendid stick with an iron point. Captain Teschisso was a -gentleman and wanted his new orderly to be magnificently equipped. -That odd creature of a mountaineer amused himself thoroughly with the -rascal Pinocchio. It didn't seem real to see him struggling to -conquer the mountain peaks and ready to fight those dogs of Austrians -who were up there and with whom he had so many accounts to settle. -They had arrived one morning at Fort ---- (censor). Teschisso had been -greeted like one raised from the dead. Finally the soldiers had thrown -their arms about his neck and kissed and hugged him. They all seemed -like one family, and for a fact they did all resemble one another a -little: tall, with extraordinary beards, with muscular legs straight -as a column and hands that seemed made to give vigorous blows. - - [Illustration] - -"Where is my company?" - -"On ---- [oh, that censor!], at nine thousand feet altitude." - -"All well?" - -"'Most all." - -"And the Boches, where are they?" - -"Bah! We've got them on the run." - -"Send my things up to me with the first supply division; I'm off now -at once." - -"Nine feet of snow and a biting wind." - -"Heavens! If I were sure of finding that dog who cut my beard I would -go to hell itself." - -"I am thinking less of you than of your little orderly." - -"Ha! That youngster has a wooden leg and is as hardy as a goat." - -Pinocchio, to show off, whirled his leg around and with a shy glance -convinced himself that in a wink of the eye he had won the respect of -the little garrison. - - * * * * * - -"Listen, Captain, if you give me something to eat I'll go ahead; if -you don't, here's where I stay." - -"Indeed!" - -"How indeed! Did you understand that I am hungry?" - -"And I have nothing more to give you to eat." - -"And I stop here." - -"You'll get caught in a blizzard and buried in snow and will be frozen -hard like Neapolitan ice-cream." - -"But ... I'm hungry." - -"You have eaten two rations of bread, a box of conserved beef, nearly -half a pound of chocolate ..." - -"Is it my fault if the air of these mountains makes me as hungry as a -wolf? You should have told me before we left. Now I know why you are -always saying that you would like to eat so many Austrians. But if you -think I can get used to the same diet you are much mistaken." - -"Are you coming or aren't you?" - -"Is it much farther?" - -"Do you see that cloud up there?" - -"I defy any one not to see it." - -"When that is passed there is a crack in the mountain called Spaccata; -we must cross that and we are there--at least if they haven't gone on -ahead." - -"In the clouds? Really in the clouds?" - -"Certainly." - -"Listen, Captain, do I really seem to you as much of a fool as that?" - -"Just now, yes." - -"Thanks, but you can go in the clouds by yourself; I'll turn back and -bid you farewell." - -He tried to make one of his usual pirouettes to turn around, but the -snow slipped under his feet and he fell, sitting down, and, sliding on -the white surface, was precipitated down the slope of the mountain -with terrifying speed. - - [Illustration] - -"Help! Help!" - -"Stick your staff in! Stick your staff in!" yelled Teschisso, who -already believed him lost. - -He had need to yell. Pinocchio was flying along like a little steamer -under forced draught and couldn't hear anything, I assure you. -Suddenly he stopped as if he were nailed to the snow. That was to be -expected, you say, with that air of superior beings you assume every -now and then. I know--but I can tell you Pinocchio didn't expect it, -nor even Teschisso, who was leaping down to help his little friend. - -"Are you hurt?" - -"No." - -"Do you feel ill?" - -"No, not exactly ill, but I suffered terribly from--lack of courage." - -"Why don't you get up?" - -"I'm afraid of sliding off again." - -"Let me help you." - -Captain Teschisso took hold of the rope Pinocchio had tied around his -waist and pulled one end of it through his leather belt, fastened the -other end round his body, and, after planting his feet firmly, said: -"Take hold of the rope and pull yourself up. You are quite safe; the -mountain will crumble before I fall." - -Pinocchio did his best to get on his feet, but couldn't succeed. His -hinder parts adhered to the crust of the snow as if some magician had -glued them firmly. Teschisso, who had little patience and thought that -Pinocchio was feigning in order not to have to climb the mountain, -gave such a vigorous pull on the rope tied to the boy's belt that he -jerked him up, swung him through the air for several feet, and flung -him face downward on a heap of snow as downy as a feather-bed. A piece -of gray cloth left behind showed the spot where Pinocchio had been -miraculously halted in his precipitous descent. Teschisso glanced at -it and couldn't keep back one of his loud, honest mountain laughs. -Pinocchio, believing he was being swung around for fun, sprang to his -feet, so furious that the captain's hilarity grew even stronger and -louder. - -"Heavens! And you can thank Heaven that you are still in the land of -the living. Look there and feel the back of your trousers. Hah, hah, -hah! Don't you understand yet what has happened to you? You were -caught in a wolf-trap which the Austrians put there to catch some of -us, and instead you were the one, which isn't the same thing at all." - - [Illustration: PINOCCHIO DID HIS BEST TO GET ON HIS FEET, BUT COULDN'T -SUCCEED] - -Notwithstanding the laughter of the captain, Pinocchio's anger -evaporated in a second. His eyes were fixed on the scraps of his -trousers that still hung on the teeth of the trap and his hands were -rubbing the frozen surface left uncovered. He longed to cry, and felt -so ridiculous that he was almost on the point of flinging himself -again down the snowy slope. - -"Come on, come on! There's no time to lose. There is a long road to go -and the clouds are hanging lower. There's no sense in your staying -there like a macaw, weeping for the seat of your breeches. When we -arrive up there I'll have the company's tailor mend them for you. -You've got to march, and no more nonsense. Forward, march!" - -"Captain, it's impossible." - -"Heavens alive! How impossible?" - -"I am not presentable." - -"Why?" - -"If we find the enemy and the Austrians see me with my trousers in -such a state, they will say that the Italian army ..." - -"Fool! The Italian army never turns its rear to the enemy, and you -won't, either." - -"But ..." - -"If you are afraid of taking cold in your spine that's another matter. -If that's the case let's see what can be done." - -Captain Teschisso turned Pinocchio over, took a copy of a newspaper -out of his pocket, folded it over four times, and stuck it into the -hole of the trousers. And he did it so well that the "Latest News" -with the headlines seemed to be framed in the ragged edges of the -cloth. - -"There you are. Are you satisfied?" - -To tell the truth, he would have preferred to consider a little before -answering, but the captain didn't give him the time. He started off -with a quick stride, pulling the rope after him which he had fastened -to his belt, as if bringing a calf to the butcher. - - * * * * * - -I do not know if you, my children, have ever been up in the high -mountains. You must know that after you reach a certain altitude, -whether because the air becomes rarefied or because of the silence -that surrounds you, you seem to be living another life in another -world. Your breath grows shorter; it seems as if you could not draw a -long one, while the lungs are so full of oxygen that the heart beats -more rapidly; then fatigue is followed by a condition of strange -torpor. Nevertheless, you continue to climb without effort, as if the -legs moved automatically. If you speak, the voice reaches the ears -faintly as if it came from a distance. Sometimes you have a certain -discomfort called mountain-sickness, which makes the temples throb and -brings with it such a languor that the traveler is forced to give up -his ascent. Pinocchio, who for some time had been experiencing all -these sensations peculiar to the high mountains, found himself -suddenly hidden in a fog so thick that he couldn't see a hand's-breath -before his nose. - -Not seeing Teschisso any more, and not feeling his numbed legs move, -and feeling himself dragged upward and upward through the darkness as -if by some prodigious force, he really imagined himself to have -entered a new world, and was seized by such a terror that he began to -scream as if his throat were being cut. But, seeing that his voice -didn't carry far and that Teschisso was not affected by it, he thought -it easier to let himself be dragged along and to spare his breath for -a better cause. - -"I'd like to know where that creature is dragging me," he began to -grumble in a low voice like a somnambulist in the dark to give himself -courage. "I'd like to know where he is taking me. I am almost -beginning to believe that I am really in the clouds, but I'd like to -know what need there is to climb 'way up here to fight when there is -plenty of room down below. Anyway, I don't believe that we'll find a -single Austrian up here in the clouds; it's just a fancy of the -captain, who must be a trifle crazy. Once I heard a country priest say -that the Heavenly Father lives in the clouds to let the water down -when the peasants need it to water their cabbages and turnips, and to -keep the sun lighted to warm those who have no clothes. It looks to me -as if He had let the Alpine troops take His place. - -"Hum! Let's see how this is going to come out. All I care about is to -fill my stomach when we arrive, because I am hungry and can't stand it -any longer. I've been eating snow for an hour now, but I don't get any -nourishment from that. I am beginning to think I was better off where -I was before. If Bersaglierino hadn't been injured I'd still be with -him and his fine regiment. At least down there I could hear some -noise ... patapin! patapum ... pum! Here there's nothing but snow and -ice, not a living person to be seen. I should just like to know with -whom we can fight. In any case, if the Austrians are up there it seems -to me it'll be hard to get close enough to bother them.... But it's -easy to see that the air up there isn't for me; I can scarcely go on, -but if I slip I'd have to fall all the way, as I did this morning. If -I hadn't been so frightened I should almost have enjoyed it. I went -along like a trolley-car, and such speed! But I left my trousers on -the way. A nice sight I'll be when I'm introduced to the company with -the newspaper on ... the rear front! And, to tell the truth, it -doesn't keep me very warm. I feel a little cold in my back. I don't -know whether it really comes from that, but I feel it, almost--if I -didn't feel so well--as if I were going to be sick." - -Teschisso noticed the dead weight on the rope he was pulling and -absent-mindedly quickened his pace, so terrifyingly horizontal. If the -boy had fainted it wouldn't be an easy matter to carry him to safety -in such weather. Although he knew the rocks inch by inch, it was not -easy to find the way in the whiteness of the snow nor to judge how -much more of the road there still remained to cover, on account of the -fog which hid the landscape. He was reproaching himself for not having -listened to the advice of his comrades at the fort, who had advised -him to delay his climb, when he heard a strange metallic noise which -grew stronger each moment. - -"No so bad. Here we are!" - -He took a few steps more, then, pulling from his pocket a horn -whistle, he blew several short, shrill blasts. He was answered by a -dozen voices, one deep one calling: - -"Who goes there?" - -"Friends." - -"Pasquale." - -"Pinerolo." - -"I'm well. Who are you?" - -"Captain Teschisso." - -"Bah! Don't believe it." - -"Here, you dog! I tell you it is I." - -"Captain Teschisso is killed. Too bad. I saw him fall down in the -valley." - -"Oh, did you, Sergeant Minestron?" - -"I'll be dogged if it isn't he; it really is he!" - -From the fog emerged several Alpine figures; they came nearer, growing -more distinct, and then there was a yell of delight. - -"It is he in flesh and blood. Hurrah!" - -"Hurrah for our captain!" - -"Thank God that he is really alive." - -"Lieutenant, Lieutenant, come here ... a surprise!" - -"Captain, how many surprises?" - -"Let me get my breath; you are suffocating me with your hugs. Where -are they?" - -"The Austrians?" - -"Heavens! Whom do you suppose I'm talking about? I came up here for -the express purpose of getting even with them!" - -"They are a long distance away, Captain. We must transport our -artillery up to Mount X [censor]; there we'll go for them." - -"And have you got the _filovia_ [aerial railway] in working order for -that purpose?" - -"Yes, indeed! They have been working on it for three days." - -"And the company?" - -"They are intrenched in the hut on Mount X with the battalion." - -"It will take four good hours to get there." - -"Even more, Captain." - -"And how will I manage to tow along this lump of a Pinocchio who is -half dead with mountain-sickness?" - -"Pinocchio?" - -"Where is he?" - -"Pull the rope and take him off my back; he has tired me out." - -Pinocchio, who was in a state of great weakness and curiously sleepy, -felt himself lifted up and whirled around to the outburst of loud -laughter. It seemed to him that something slipped down his throat -which burned and made him cough and sneeze ... then he thought he was -stretched out on a bed that was rather hard, but covered with warm and -heavy coverings; then ... he experienced a strange feeling of comfort -disturbed only by a long, monotonous, persistent humming. - -If he had been able to notice what was happening to him he would -either have died of fright or he would have believed himself in the -very hands of God. Fastened to the gun-carriage of a six-inch cannon, -suspended in the car of a _filovia_, he was traveling over the abyss -which separates two of our giant Alps. Below him was a sea of clouds, -above the beautiful blue sky, all about him the gleam of white snow, -and on the snow here and there a group of little gray points, like -grains of sand lost in all this immensity. Those were our Alpine -troops, the dear big boys who were laughing at the joke played on -Pinocchio, and defying serenely all the obstacles that nature opposed -to their victorious advance on Italian soil which Austria's power had -for so many years disputed with us. - - * * * * * - -When Pinocchio regained his senses he found himself lying on the -ground wrapped up in coverlets and warm as a bun just out of the oven. -Above his head dangled horizontally the huge basket from which he had -been flung by the shock of its sudden halt, and which swung on the -steel cables of the _filovia_ as if it were weary of being up there -and eager to set about its job. All about was the gleam of the snow, -even though the light was growing paler every moment. I bet you a -soldo against a lira what hour it was. But Pinocchio guessed it from -the odor of cooking which sweetened the air all about, an odor which -would have brought a dead dyspeptic to life. He sniffed the air like a -bloodhound, rolled his eyes in every direction, in all corners, to -discover the spot whence came the delicious fragrance, but couldn't -see anything but snow, nothing, not even a curl of distant smoke. He -was so hungry that he thought he would faint. - -"I am dreaming with eyes open. How is it possible that there should be -in this desert pastry covered with caramel sauce? Because I know I am -not mistaken ... the odor I smell is just that. If I had only a piece -of bread, by means of my nose and by means of my mouth I could fool -myself into believing that I was dining magnificently, but ..." - -But the odor affected him so strongly that he had to get up to limber -up his muscles. He had scarcely got to his feet when a strange thing -happened--from the very spot where he had been lying a puff of smoke -rose gently upward, and this smoke had precisely the odor of pastry -covered with caramel sauce. - - [Illustration] - -Pinocchio crossed his hands over his empty stomach and stood for a -moment pondering. Never in all his life had he had presented to him -so difficult a problem as this to solve. He thought and thought, and, -like Galileo, had recourse to the experimental method. He knelt down -in the snow and began to scrape it away with his hands on the spot -where his body, covered by the latest issue of the newspaper, had left -an impression. The smell of caramel sauce kept growing more fragrant, -and Pinocchio's tongue licked the end of his nose so solemnly that he -would have made the inventor of handkerchiefs blush with shame. -Suddenly a deep opening appeared under the snow. Pinocchio stuck his -arms in up to the elbows and uttered a shriek of terror. His hands and -wrists were held as in a fiery vise and his arms were pulled so -violently that he was jerked face down on the earth and his nose stuck -into the snow. - -If he had not been in such an uncomfortable position and had been able -to look over his shoulder he would have seen four devils of Alpine -troopers advancing very quietly, guns pointed and bayonets fixed. It -could be only a starved Austrian who would attempt to enter through -the dugout's little window cut through the snow into the officers' -mess, and they intended giving him a fine welcome. A corporal with a -reddish beard which hung down to his stomach stood two paces away, -ready to give him a bayonet thrust that would have run him through -like a snipe on a spit, but suddenly he focused his eyes on a certain -point, advanced on his hands and knees, and began to read the "Latest -News" which he had caught sight of in the seat of Pinocchio's -trousers. - -The Alpine troops are the bravest soldiers in the world; if any one -doubts this let him ask the hunters of that foolish gallows-bird of an -emperor; but they are not all well educated, and for this reason -Corporal Scotimondo, as soon as he had spelled out the interesting -headline, signaled to his comrades to advance cautiously. - -You can't have the faintest idea of how important a newspaper -becomes, even if it is not a particularly late one, up there among -those snow-clad peaks where our soldiers were fighting for a greater -Italy. So this editorial, which contained the news of the miraculous -conquest of the Col di Lana, deserved to be preserved in the archives -among the masterpieces of our glory, instead of in the seat of -Pinocchio's trousers. - -As I have told you, Corporal Scotimondo could scarcely spell, but -among his three comrades Private Draghetta was looked upon as a -genius, because as a civilian he had been a clerk in Cuneo. But -Draghetta, who could see the Austrians a mile off and when he saw them -never failed to knock them over with a shot from his gun, was -nearsighted as a mole, and when he wanted to read had to rub his nose -into the print. - -When Pinocchio felt Draghetta's nose tickle him he began to kick like -a donkey stung by a gadfly. - -"Hold him tight; tie him. We've taken the Col di Lana! The Col di Lana -is ours!" - -"Really?" - -"Is it true?" - -"Read it, Draghetta ... don't be afraid ... I'll hold him for you." - -Scotimondo sat astride Pinocchio's back and squeezed him with his -knees so hard that he took his breath away. - -"'Yesterday our brave Alpine troops, supported by infantry regiments, -by means of a brilliant attack gained the highest summit of the Col di -Lana, which is now safely in our possession.' ... Hurrah!" - -"Hurrah for Italy!" - -"Hurrah for the King!" - -They were crazy with joy and danced about on the snow like fiends, -throwing their plumed hats up into the air, waving their guns above -their heads. Suddenly, just as if they had risen from the ground, a -hundred soldiers appeared and surrounded them. - -"What is it?" - -"What has happened?" - -"The Col di Lana is ours!" - -"Hurrah for Italy!" - -"Who told you so?" - -"Where did you hear it?" - -"In the latest news of the _Corriere_." - -"Are you certain?" - -"Where did you find it?" - -"If you don't believe it, ask Draghetta." - -All this noise, this rushing out of the trenches and the soldiers -staying in the open, was against regulations, so that Lieutenant -Sfrizzoli couldn't let it pass without giving vent to one of his usual -fits of rage. Red as a radish, he rushed toward Draghetta, shoving -apart the group of rejoicing Alpine soldiers, and stopped in front of -him, legs wide apart, and with fists clenched. - -"Is it you, Draghetta, who have set the camp in such an uproar?" - -"Not I, sir; it is the Col di Lana." - -"What? What? What?" - -"We've taken it, sir." - -"Who told you?" - -"I read it myself." - -"Where?" - -"On ... on ..." - -"Well?" - -"I don't want to be lacking in respect, sir, to my superior officer, -no matter what the occasion may be ..." - -"Stupid! Tell me where you read it." - -"On the frontispiece of a book without words belonging to an Austrian -soldier who ..." - -Draghetta didn't succeed in getting out another word. Something -interposed between him and the lieutenant with a lightning-like -rapidity ... and he felt a terrible kick in the shins which made him -roll over on the ground with pain. - -"Mr. Lieutenant, it is I ... the scout Pinocchio, under Captain -Teschisso's protection. I took part in the campaign on the Isonzo and -left a leg there and in its place I now have a wooden leg of perfect -Italian manufacturing. He told you what he thought was so, but I beg -to convince you of the contrary. But the news about the Col di Lana is -true, as true as can be. Here is the _Corriere_ which was on the -frontispiece ... of my book without words, in the seat of my trousers. -But, as I can't stand the cold, I beg you to have a patch put on and -to have served to me a plate of that pastry cooked under the snow, -because I am so hungry I could eat even you." - -Shortly after the delighted Pinocchio sat in front of a dish piled -high with spaghetti, and surrounded by soldiers of the company who -never stopped asking him questions about how the war was going down in -the plains. With his mouth full he kept turning to this one and that -one, uttering inarticulate sounds that might have come from a sucking -pig. - - * * * * * - -The arrival of Captain Teschisso was the signal for a furious attack. -He had seen in the distance a long file of the enemy clad in white -shirts moving across the snow; he had hurried to the dugout to give -the alarm and, taking command of the company, had flung himself on the -foe, who, relying too much on the secrecy of his attack, was beaten -and put to flight. - -Pinocchio had assisted in the action at a loophole in the trench, -armed with the finest of spy-glasses. The Alpine troops had performed -prodigious deeds of valor. The captain came back with two prisoners, -one a Hungarian and one a Croat, whom he held by the collars as if -they were two mice surprised while robbing tripe from the larder. - -"Heavens! What blows!" he cried, happily, to the soldiers who -surrounded him, rejoicing. "But, boys, I won't let them sleep -to-night. We must get ready for an attack in force. We must make these -pigs sing!" - -There was no time to pay any attention to them. A few moments later a -rain of shells began to fall around the neighborhood of the dugout. -The Austrians wanted to revenge themselves from a distance for their -sudden rout. Teschisso ordered four mountain guns which had just -arrived by the _filovia_ to be mounted on the gun-carriages, assembled -his men, and ran to take up his position in an excavation nearly a -mile away whence it was possible to observe the enemy's position. -Pinocchio and Ciampanella, the company cook, remained behind to guard -the dugout, and to them had been assigned the care of the two -prisoners from whom Teschisso hoped later to obtain some definite -information. - - [Illustration: CIAMPANELLA, THE COMPANY COOK] - - - - -CHAPTER VIII - -_How Pinocchio Made Two Beasts Sing--Contrary to Nature_ - - -Excuse me, my children, for not having presented Ciampanella to you -before. Ciampanella was a pure-blooded Roman, born under the shadow of -the Capitol, like--the wolf kept at the cost of the City Commune. If -Francis Joseph had seen him he would have appointed him at once as -royal hangman because he had a gallows countenance and a body like a -gigantic negro. Yet he was the best-hearted man in the world, so good -that he wouldn't harm a fly. - -This evening he was in such a good humor that he made even Pinocchio -laugh, whom the charge of the prisoners had made as serious as a -judge. - -"Listen, youngster, don't bother yourself with these two scoundrels -whose throats I'll cut some day with my kitchen knife as if they were -pigs, and so you will be freed from the care of them, and I win back -the honor which I lose in feeding the enemies of my country." - -"Are you crazy?" - -"Why?" - -"Didn't you hear what my captain said? We must make them sing." - -"Them sing? It's easier to make the statue of Marcus Aurelius sing -that's of bronze and won't move from the Capitol for fear the -Councilors of the Commune might take it to a pawnbroker's." - -"But I've found out already what their names are." - -"I, too." - -"Let's hear." - -"Pigs." - -"That is their family name, but the real name of the Croat is Stolz -and the Hungarian's is Franz." - -"And then?" - -"We've got to find out how many of them are down there in the -trenches; if there are others behind them; how many pieces of -artillery they have and where; from what point their munitions and -supplies come, and how many officers are in command of the troops." - -"That's the easiest thing possible." - -"You think so?" - -"You ask them and they will answer." - -"And if they pretend not to hear?" - -"Leave it to me, youngster. I have a special way of making myself -understood, even by the deaf. I didn't read for nothing _The Spanish -Inquisition_. Bring to me here those two satellites of Franz Joe and -you'll hear the speeches I'll make them." - -Ciampanella rubbed his ears, tied an apron around his waist as when he -entered upon his official functions, filled up the little stove with -charcoal and lighted a fine fire. When Pinocchio returned to the -kitchen, followed by the prisoners, a pair of tongs and a shovel were -heating on the red-hot charcoal. - -At the sight of these the Croat and the Hungarian exchanged glances -and a few quick, dry phrases in their language. - -Ciampanella advanced triumphantly to within a foot of them, bowed like -an actor to an applauding audience, and unfolded one of his most -polished discourses: - -"Gentlemen, our officers say that we must respect the enemy, and I -respect you according to command; but in case any one should persist -in refusing to speak, just like the beasts, I should feel it my duty -to treat him like a beast, and my superiors would say to me, -'Ciampanella, you're right.' I explain this because we have need of -certain information, so we take the liberty of asking you in secret -certain things which you, gentlemen, can answer, after which we will -give you special attention in our culinary service. This is said and -promised, so I begin my questions. We want to know how many men and -how many officers that big simpleton of your emperor has whipped up -together against us." - -No answer. - -"What? Are you deaf? Don't you understand modern Italian? Then I'll -talk ancient Roman to you." - -Ciampanella grabbed from the stove the red-hot shovel and waved it -before the Austrians' noses. Their eyes popped out with fright, but -they didn't utter a word. - -"You will either answer or I will give you two kisses with the shovel -on your right cheeks and two on your left." - -"'Talian pigs! Brigands!" - -"May you be skinned alive! To call me a brigand! Me! Pinocchio, which -creature is this, Spitz or Spotz?" - -"Franz." - -"Listen, Franz, if you dare insult me another time, I'll untie your -hands and then I'll give you so many boxes on your ear that'll make -you more of an imbecile than your emperor." - -"You kill us, we die mouths shut." - -"We, we ... Wait before you talk in the plural; wait till I put this -red-hot shovel to Stolz's ear, and then ..." - -Ciampanella came closer to the Croat, armed with his other heated -iron, but suddenly he felt a blow on his eye which half blinded him. - -"... they can ..." - -He couldn't finish because Pinocchio burst out laughing so wildly that -he had to hold his stomach. Ciampanella, who had been taken unaware by -the glass of water Pinocchio had thrown at him, let out all his anger -on him. - -"Youngster, look out for yourself. I won't stand nonsense from you. I -owe to our enemies the respect enjoined by regulations, but you I can -take by the nape of the neck and set you down on the stove, and I'll -roast you as if you were beef." - -Pinocchio became suddenly serious and began to swing his wooden leg so -nervously that if Major Cutemup had seen him he would have turned as -yellow as a Chinaman with fear. If the descendant of Romulus and Remus -had had the slightest idea of the kick which menaced him at this -moment he would have grown calm as if by magic. But Pinocchio, who had -seen Franz and Stolz exchange sly glances and a smile full of irony, -held himself in and, after scratching his head solemnly, approached -Ciampanella, who was wiping his eye with his apron, and taking hold -affectionately of his arm, said: - -"So you want to roast me on your stove?" - -"As I told you." - -"Wouldn't it be better to cook something on it for our supper this -evening?" - -"This evening's supper? But you know that this evening I wouldn't -light the fire if the commander-in-chief came in person to command me -to. When the company is in action I am free to do what I want, and -when I am free to do what I want I don't do anything. So if you are -hungry you'll have to eat bread and compressed meat, and if you don't -like it you'll have to fast." - -"Listen, Ciampanella; you reason like Menenius Agrippa, who was an -ancient Roman able to make things clearer than modern Romans, but -sometimes you get tangled up in your premises." - -"Listen, youngster, don't insult me, because as sure as Ciampanella is -my name I will wring your neck like a chicken's." - -"But I'm not insulting you." - -"Then tell me what kind of things are _premises_; otherwise ..." - -"Otherwise you'll take me and make me sit on the stove and roast me, -won't you? That proves that the fire is lighted and that the charcoal -is burning for nothing, and so if, for example, the commander-in-chief -should pay you a visit he would give you a fortnight's imprisonment -for it, because when the company's in action you are free to do what -you want, but not in the kitchen, and if you are hungry you must eat -bread and compressed meat or fast." - -"Heh, youngster! I didn't light the stove for culinary purposes, but -for strategic reasons. It was to make these two beasts talk." - -"But they haven't talked." - -"We'll fling them out and let the mad dogs eat them." - -"But if you, instead of heating the shovel and tongs, had roasted a -young pullet and served it with one of those famous sauces ..." - -"Chicken in the Roman style with potato puffs ..." - -"Just look at Stolz. He's licking his greased whiskers as if the -potatoes were cooking under his nose." - -"Look at Franz gaping." - -"They have a dog's hunger, and in order to make them sing ..." - -"You want me to cook a little supper such as I can cook if I set -myself to it, stick it under their noses, and ... Youngster, that's a -magnificent idea! When I write my _Manual of War Cookery_ I'll put you -on the frontispiece as the first of kitchen strategians. Leave things -to me and in half an hour I'll hand you out a couple of stews that -would raise up the dead better even than Garibaldi's Hymn!" - -Pinocchio heaved a sigh. He had won such a battle that, if he had -been a German, would have caused the people to hammer I don't know how -many nails into his statue. While Ciampanella was bustling about on -all sides, plucking two young fowls, peeling potatoes, frying lard and -onions, melting butter in a saucepan, preparing a stew in another, -Pinocchio was striding up and down the kitchen, long and narrow as a -corridor, eying stealthily the two prisoners, who were beginning to -show signs of a growing restlessness. They had been fasting for more -than twenty-four hours and their last food had been such a mess that -it might have been requisitioned from the poultry-yard and the stable. - -Ciampanella seemed eager to surpass himself. He hovered over his pots -without paying any attention to Pinocchio, but talking in a loud voice -as if he wished to impart a lesson in cookery to half the world. - -"Listen, youngster, when you want to eat two savory young fowls you -must cook them in the Roman fashion according to Ciampanella's recipe, -which, when it is written down, will not have its equal in _Urbis et -Orbis_. I call it the Roman fashion, but it might also truly be -called the Ostrogothic fashion ... but that's the way. Take two young -fowls and cut them into pieces, put a good-sized lump of butter into a -saucepan and a little onion and fry it a little; dredge the fowls with -flour, and put them to simmer in the butter; when they are browned put -in some tomato paste, salt and pepper, and let them cook down, later a -grain of nutmeg, cover it and let it cook.... Do you smell that odor, -youngster? And just think how it will taste! You'll lick your napkin -like that dirty Croat who ... Ho! ho! look at his tongue hanging -out.... Ho! ho! ho!" - -The air was filled with a fragrance so entrancing that it would have -given an appetite to the mouth of a letter-box; so imagine how the -miserable two felt, who, after all, were men of flesh and blood and -had no other defect than of having been born under the Executioner's -scepter. Stolz with his mouth wide open breathed in the air in deep -breaths, tasting it hungrily as if he could really taste the odor that -tickled his nostrils. Ciampanella stepped in front of him, and spouted -out one of his special speeches, gesticulating with his fork. - -"Well, Mr. Croat? How do you think we do it? Franz Joe is worse off -than the least of our Alpine troops, because we are not reduced to -gnawing bones like you who make war in order to fish, as the proverb -says, in troubled waters. What a delicious odor, isn't it? But don't -stand there with your mouth open or I'll fill it with dish-water. -Here's some!" - -"'Talian pig!" howled Stolz, half strangled with nausea and disgust, -spitting all around. - -"If you call me an Italian pig again, I'll break your head in spite of -the respect they teach us is due the enemy, because in this world it -is tit for tat." - -"Listen, Ciampanella," Pinocchio interrupted at the right moment, "if -the chickens are done we could sit down at the table and offer a bite -to Stolz." - -"That's a good idea, youngster." - -While the boy was setting the table and the chef was dishing up the -stew, from the distance came several tremendous rumblings, which -brought a smile to the faces of the prisoners, who exchanged -significant glances. The sound came from our six-inch guns that had -been dragged with such effort to the altitude of nine thousand feet -and arrived the day before by way of the _filovia_, which were now -opening fire on the enemy's trenches. If Franz and Stolz had had even -the faintest suspicion of this they would have changed their -expressions. - - * * * * * - -"Dear Ciampanella, as a cook you should be put on the pedestal of a -monument. This chicken is a masterpiece. If that imbecile of a Stolz, -instead of standing there like a dog with his tongue hanging out, a -foot away from the tail of a hare, could give a lick to this -drumstick, I wager he would desert his emperor and demand Italian -citizenship." - - [Illustration] - -"For my part, I'd rather give him the chicken than the citizenship." - -"I would as lief have it," Stolz risked saying, passing his tongue -over his whiskers. - -"I guess so." - -"And I'll give you not only a drumstick, but half a chicken with gravy -and a loaf of bread to go with it, if you'll tell me ..." - -"We can't talk; don't want to betray our country." - -"Dear Stolz, you're a fine fellow, but if you can't talk I can't give -you anything to eat and we are quits. But I haven't asked you to -betray either Croatia, or even Hungary, if you are afraid of Franz's -hearing you." - -"Oh, he speaks only Magyar." - -"All the better; then you can tell me how many Bohemians, Slovaks, -Carinthians, Poles, Germans, and Styrians are intrenched on Mount X -opposite our men.... We'll leave out the Croats, your countrymen ... -and, moreover, I'll wager five soldi of Victor Emanuel against a crown -of your emperor that if they were here and smelled this odor they -wouldn't make such a to-do about it or talk like lawyers. But smell -this" ... and while he spoke the rascal of a Pinocchio took in both -his hands the dish with the stew and held it close to Stolz's nose, -who shut his eyes and heaved a sigh as if he were giving up his soul -to the god of all the Croats. - -"You 'Talian scoundrel, if you give me and Franz all we can eat and -drink I'll tell you what you want to know." - -"May the saints in Paradise reward you! If you sing and sing well, -look what delicate morsels I'll give you," cried Ciampanella, jumping -about with delight. He hastened to fill two plates with delicious food -and two loaves of fresh bread and half of a sharp old sheep's cheese -which would have brought a dead man to life. - -"And now there's nothing more to do except to untie your hands and to -give you chairs to sit on." - -"We have three lines of trenches, fifteen hundred men ... two -batteries placed on the Donkey's Saddle ... but you have Alpine troops -and we can't get the better of you. So our colonel had marvelous -plan--he had huge mine dug and thought to blow up Alpines to bust them -all up. This morning we attacked on purpose. When Alpines came face to -us, we go all back to retreat, but they not come to mined spot and -didn't all bust up. But when Alpines enter first trench which we leave -... bum! 'Talian pigs all dead and Austrian soldiers shout hurrah for -emperor. Did you hear little while ago lots of noise? I knows ... I -knows what it was ... big mine blow up." - -"And 'Talian pigs all killed, aren't they?" yelled the enraged -Ciampanella. "And you think I am going to give you food? Not by a long -shot. See what game I'm going to play with you. In the mean time pray -to the god of all the Croats that what you have said may not be true, -because if, instead of making war as real soldiers do, your side has -committed such a despicable deed, you two shall pay for it, and as -truly as my name is Ciampanella, chef of the mess, you'll pay for it -dearly enough." - -And shaking his lion head and jumping up in the air, waving his arms -about violently, he took up a piece of rope and bound the prisoners -tightly to a pole which supported the roof of the dugout. - -"And now if you can eat these good gifts of God which I leave under -your nose, you'll do well, I assure you.... Come, Pinocchio, we must -take this news to the officer commanding our company, because I don't -believe anything wrong has happened yet." - -"And the prisoners?" - -"They won't escape, I, Ciampanella, assure you. They are tied up like -two pork sausages, and, besides, you know what we'll do? When the door -is shut we'll put up against it one of the bombs that they make which -go off almost without touching them. I know where some of them are -hidden away. If they should succeed in loosening the rope and should -try to get away they'll take a ride in the air. And now we'll wish the -gentlemen good appetite and be off on our own affairs." - -Five minutes later Ciampanella and Pinocchio were running across the -snow through the dusk. - - - - -CHAPTER IX - -_How Pinocchio Complained Because He Was No Longer a Wooden Puppet_ - - -It was no easy matter for Ciampanella and Pinocchio to reach their -company, which was intrenched about three miles away, on a declivity -as sharp as a knife-blade, bordered by jagged precipices. They could -not have held out against artillery up there, but the position was -well chosen from which to hammer the enemy's first trench that was -built on a little slope two hundred yards lower down and less than two -miles away. Farther along there opened up a pass of great strategic -importance which the Austrians apparently were intending to defend at -all costs. Yet it had seemed strange to Teschisso that the foe with -its numerous exits should try to attack his Alpine troops in force, -all the more that his first line of defense might be considered as -irretrievably lost. For this reason he had restrained the impulse of -his brave soldiers to fight and decided to intrench them on the -difficult slope to await a favorable moment for decisive action. In -the mean time he had been able to hammer the enemy's position with -four large pieces of artillery which he had placed on a summit above -his intrenchment. When Pinocchio related to him how, with the aid of -the mess-cook, he had made Franz and Stolz sing, and repeated the few -words which he had heard from their mouths, he had no longer any doubt -regarding the foe's strange behavior. - -"Heavens! Those scoundrels wanted to blow us up! Luckily I was -prudent, but you'll see what a joke I'll invent to play on those dogs! -Call Corporal Scotimondo." - -The most important duties were usually intrusted to this soldier with -a face like a cab-driver's, with a large blond beard and full, ruddy -cheeks, who at first sight looked so good-natured. But he was a man of -exceptional energy and extraordinary courage. Calm and quiet when -danger raged, he could inspire in his comrades a boundless -confidence. - -"Corporal, from information received I have learned that we have -opposite us fifteen hundred men." - -"All the better." - -"And a mined zone." - -"That's not so good, not good at all." - -"I have determined to attack the foe from the rear and force him on to -the mined zone. I shall set off with the whole company, leaving only -eight men in the trench, which they must hold at all costs and keep up -a devilish fire to make the enemy think we are all here. Do you -understand?" - -"Certainly, certainly." - -"You will command the squad." - -"Thanks, Captain." - -"I will leave you also Pinocchio and Ciampanella, so that there will -be ten of you. Choose the other eight quickly, because I am going to -give immediate orders to depart." - -"Draghetta, Senzaterra, Pulin, Cattaruzza, and the four Scagnol -brothers." - -"All right! Go and tell them. Remember that I trust you. I am -attempting a big coup, but if I succeed, Heavens, what a stroke!... -They'll fly up like birds." - -A little later Pinocchio was witness of a marvelous and fantastic -scene. The narrow trench was alive with a mass of black figures that -moved noiselessly. The Alpine troops armed themselves with rope and -hatchets, filled up their canteens, and replenished their -cartridge-belts, whispering quick, concise sentences, interrupted with -laughs, quickly smothered as the rattle of an officer's sword was -heard. All these shadows grouped themselves in the depth of the trench -against a heap of huge stones and merged into the profound darkness. -For a time still there was to be heard coming from down below a -subdued rustle, then a profound silence. Pinocchio was strangely -affected and was eager to find out what had happened. He ran to the -end of the trench--there was not a soul there. Where had his Alpine -troops gone? Had they perhaps been swallowed up by the abyss which -yawned a few feet away? He was so terrified that he began to yell -desperately. - -"Captain! Captain Teschis ..." - -He didn't get the chance to finish; he felt two rough, heavy hands -grab him by the ears and lift him up three feet from the ground. - -"Less racket here. Don't be such an idiot. Don't you know that in the -trenches you've got to be as quiet as in church, and ... here I'm in -command, and when I command anything I've got to be obeyed." - -"I'll obey," Pinocchio grumbled, keeping back a cry of pain. - -Corporal Scotimondo put him down gently on the ground, face to face -with himself, and then asked, sharply: - -"What did you want with Captain Teschisso?" - -"I? Nothing." - -"Why did you call him, then?" - -"I thought perhaps ... something terrible had happened.... He's gone -... they're all gone." - -"Gone? How gone? They haven't disappeared; they've only gone down ..." - -"Where?" - -"The precipice, and then they'll climb up again on the other side, -will reach the first trench, will get the better of the enemy and -drive them on the mined zone. Then we'll see a fine sight. But until -this minute comes we've got to keep quiet and not make a racket. Do -you understand? Now go to sleep because you have been mobilized and -will have to stand sentry also, and, besides, to-morrow there'll be -things to do. Now march!" - - [Illustration] - -Scotimondo emphasized this command with a kick which made Pinocchio -take the first steps and showed him the direction he was to go. The -unexpected disappearance of the Alpine troops still seemed miraculous -in spite of the simple explanation Scotimondo had given him, and -Pinocchio had a profound respect for everything that smacked of -magic. - - [Illustration] - -"Yes, gone down," he grumbled to himself while he was nearing the -other end of the trench. "That's quickly said, but I'd just like to -know how it is possible for men of skin and bones to do such a thing. -The precipice is so deep and so steep that if Ciampanella had not -pulled me by the collar I should never have got here. And how will -they manage to get down it? Hum! I am almost beginning to believe that -these Alpine soldiers are in league with the devil. I saw two of them -yesterday with some kind of shoes a couple of yards long which flew -over the snow like airplanes. I wanted to ask the mess-cook to explain -it to me, but from fear he would make fun of me I kept quiet. But from -now on I must keep my eyes more on those men. If I discover they -really have any dealings with the devil I'll take myself off on the -first occasion." - -He stumbled and fell face downward into a soft warm mass from which -came a dull grunt. Overcome with terror, he was about to take flight -when he felt himself held fast by a leg as firmly as if by a trap. - -"I wish you'd get killed. Couldn't you let me sleep a minute? You must -be either a creditor or that tyrant of a picket officer going his -rounds.... If you are a creditor come back six months after peace is -declared, because now I won't pay you a soldo even if I had one. If -you are the picket officer I tell you that when I have put out the -fires I have a right to take my ease ... and now let me sleep ... May -you be ..." - -"Oh, Ciampanella, let me go. Don't you recognize me? I am Pinocchio." - -"Oh, it's you, youngster, is it? Did you intend to make me sing like -Spizzete Spazzete? I have nothing to tell you, but if you insist upon -my singing something for you at all costs, I will sing for you to get -up off me." - -Pinocchio, seeing that the mess-cook was in one of his "moments," -thought it prudent to leave him in peace, so he lay down on a heap of -straw that was close by, intending to go to sleep. - -But his sleep didn't last long. About four o'clock in the morning, -when dawn was peeping over the horizon, he heard a shot that seemed to -come from a spot not far from the trench. - -"Get your guns, boys!" yelled Scotimondo, rushing to a machine-gun, -while the others, guns in hand, took their places before the -loopholes. "It was Draghetta who saw the enemy. Boys, I count on you. -We've got to make a racket, lots of noise as if all the company were -here, and don't expose yourselves ... let them have a continuous and -intense fire." - -His glance took in Pinocchio, who was gazing at him, his eyes wide -open with terror, and Ciampanella tranquilly dozing. With a bound he -caught up a gun and put it into the boy's hands. - -"Ho, lad, stop standing there doing nothing or I'll break your neck! -I'll smash your head before the potato-eaters knock it in." - -With another spring he was on top of the cook, who was calmly dreaming -a culinary dream, and gave him such a kick that he jumped up like a -jack-in-the-box. - -"I hope they'll eat you." - -"Ready to fire! Fire! for Heaven's sake!" Scotimondo screamed at him -and ran to take his post, grumbling, "but why doesn't the sentinel -come back? What's that scoundrel of a Draghetta doing?" - -Ciampanella rubbed his eyes and discovered Pinocchio, who stood there -turning his gun round and round without having yet discovered what -exactly it was that he held. - -"May the dogs eat you! Instead of standing there fiddling with your -weapon that you know as much about as I know about training fleas, you -would do better to give a look at the saucepan that it doesn't burn -instead of making me get that kick from the corporal." - -"But what saucepan? Are you still asleep?" - -"Didn't you hear what he yelled at me when he kicked me? 'Fire! -Fire!'" - -"Certainly, but he meant the fire of the battery, not that of the -stove. Don't you know that we are expecting an attack?" - -"Who says so? There's no need to wait for it. You can wait if you want -to, but I'm off. I don't know anything about war and don't know how to -shoot. When there are necks to wring or beasts to butcher I'm ready, -because they are hens or lambs or such like beasts, but Christians I -_can't_, and toward the enemy I have the respect ordered by our -superiors. Listen, youngster, if two bullets hit me in the rear I'll -take them and won't protest, but I don't stay here at the front unless -they tie me." - -He was just getting away when Scotimondo, who had an eye on him, -turned hurriedly and poked a revolver at his back. - -"Oh, very well! There are certain arguments you can't dispute. I'll -remain, but I'll find me a hole where I can be safe, because if I die -the _Manual of War Cookery_ won't be written," and he threw himself -down on a big stone, signaling to the "youngster" to follow him. - -A voice outside was calling for help, only a few feet away from the -trench. - -"Stay where you are, all of you. I'll go," commanded Scotimondo, and, -wriggling like a serpent, with his revolver in his hand, he set off -and was lost in the darkness. Shortly after he returned, dragging in -Draghetta. - -"What's the matter? Are you wounded?" - -"No, not exactly wounded, but I can't stand up. I'm afraid my feet are -frozen." - -"Let's have a look," and he made him sit down and began to free him -from his woolen puttees, his hobnailed boots, his waterproof -stockings, and to rub his red, swollen feet with snow, all the time -continuing to question him. - -"Was it you who fired that shot?" - -"Yes." - -"Is the enemy in sight?" - -"They tried to leave their trenches--two little groups--one of their -usual nasty little ways to draw us out, and as my superiors did not -see them, I thought it my duty to give the alarm signal." - -"You were right." - -"But I wasn't able to get back because my legs gave way, so I had to -try to crawl on my hands and knees until I had only breath enough left -to call for help, certain and sure that ..." - -"Heavens! Swine!" Scotimondo swore and stopped rubbing. - -"What's the matter?" - -"Nothing, nothing; take your place at the machine-gun; I'll take mine -in the trench." - -"Why?" - -"You have need of rest," and he went off, growling, "poor Draghetta! -He tried to warn the rest of us and couldn't get away himself." - -He again left the trench to reconnoiter. Half an hour later he -returned, assembled his men, and told them that the foe had retreated -to their trenches, but that as soon as it was lighter they would have -to make themselves heard, so as to keep the enemy from attempting an -attack, which would undoubtedly be fatal to the little garrison. They -would have to make a lot of noise, but must not waste ammunition, -because when Captain Teschisso's company came into action they would -probably have to support it. - -"And I impress upon you the importance of not exposing yourselves. -_The first who does so I'll send to the devil myself._ I have need of -every one of you, and it's too much that out of ten one should be -without feet, one a cook, and _one who isn't even a man_." - -"Did you hear that, youngster?" Ciampanella asked Pinocchio, when the -laugh which followed Scotimondo's words had died down. "Did you hear? -They want to send you to the firing-line. What do you think of that?" - -But Pinocchio didn't reply. His wooden leg just then seemed to have -nervous twinges and rattled like a rusty key in a lock. The sun had -scarcely begun to rise above the horizon and the snow to glisten in -its rays when from the trench cut out of the slope narrow as a -knife-blade came a sound of firing that was truly infernal. The -machine-gun was smoking, but poor Draghetta didn't let it rest a -minute. The others kept up a tremendous fire and an accurate one, -because they could see that the parapet of the enemy's trench was -marked by little red clouds. Every now and then above the crackle of -the musketry resounded the humming of larger projectiles that had -their own special tone. The Austrian commanders were evidently laying -plans for the whole day because there was not even the shadow of an -enemy to be seen. They contented themselves with replying with an -occasional shell. But what would they have done if they had known that -opposite them were only seven men, and one of them disabled, and that -the formidable _ta-pum, ta-pum, ta-pum_ which rose above the whine of -the musketry came from--the _mouths_ of Pinocchio and Ciampanella? - -The coming of the twilight cast a veil of melancholy over the little -garrison, wearied by the fatigues imposed by its continual vigilance -and the continual answer to the firing of the foe. - -They were all expecting every moment to see Captain Teschisso's -company come into action, the Austrians swept from their trenches with -the bayonets at their backs and thrown on the mined zone where they -would all be blown up. Yet nothing of the sort was taking place. The -enemy had never appeared more quiet and as sure of himself as to-day. -What had happened to the company? It wasn't possible that it had been -captured by superior forces. The Alpine troops would have fought like -lions; the noise of their battle would have reached the trench, and -some one would certainly have returned to bring the news of the -disaster. It was more likely that Captain Teschisso, knowing that he -would have to engage a superior force, had decided to attack at night. -The surprise and the impossibility of judging the number of the -assaulting force would certainly keep the enemy from resisting. But -Corporal Scotimondo was not altogether satisfied with his captain's -tactics. - -"I'm not a Napoleon," he grumbled, in his patois, striding with long -steps through the narrow passageway of the trenches, every now and -then making a right-about face. "I'm not a Napoleon. It's easy to say -'hold fast at all costs,' but in order to hold fast you have to have -men. My men are not made of iron; I am not made of iron; they need -rest and yet even to let them rest I can't allow the trench to be -without sentinels all night. If I change sentries every half-hour, -nobody sleeps; if I make them stay at the posts for two hours -according to regulations, they'll come back to me with their feet -frozen like Draghetta, and then we couldn't hold fast. Plague take it! -This is certainly a situation to upset a corporal. If ..." - -He stopped suddenly because Pinocchio barred his way. He looked at him -for a minute in amazement, gestured with his head for him to move to -one side, but, seeing that he stood there as firmly as if he had taken -root, he grunted, I don't know whether with anger or surprise. - -"Skip, boy, skip. Don't you understand anything? Don't you understand -I want you to get from under my feet?" - -"Just a question, corporal." - -"What is it?" - -"You need a sentinel for to-night." - -"Yes, a new one every half-hour." - -"I have come to volunteer." - -"Why not? I like the idea ... you, too, will take your half-hour's -turn, but this doesn't help me solve my problem of ..." - -"But I have come to volunteer for the whole night." - -"Really? Are you in earnest?" - -"Yes, indeed. You see, Corporal Squassamondo, I should have liked to -remind you this morning early that I have a wooden leg, but I prefer -to tell you now. Wood doesn't freeze and so I can stand guard for ten -hours even without any danger, if you only give me enough to cover -myself with and plenty to eat." - -"And the other leg?" - -"Ciampanella has told me that storks sleep all night standing on one -leg and don't fall over. I am a man 'that's not a man,' but if I were -no more good than a stork I shouldn't have got a wooden leg on the -battle-field." - -The little lesson had sunk in and Scotimondo felt it like a pinch on -the shins. He tried to be furious, but didn't succeed. He let out a -terrible "Good Heavens!" then was overcome with emotion, caught -Pinocchio in his arms, pressed him to himself, and kissed him again -and again. - - * * * * * - -It was a night blacker than a German conscience. Two shadows glided -over the snow and stopped in the shelter of a rock which dominated all -the narrow slope, the enemy's trenches, the awful mass of peaks and -jagged ridges. At the side of the adversary's position the snow was -marked with an enormous black streak which was lost in the depth of -the mountains. It was the abyss, a frightful wedge-shaped crack which -looked like an enormous interrogation point drawn with charcoal on an -immense white sheet. - -"You feel all right?" - -"Fine as possible." - -"Did they give you a good supper?" - -"I'm so full that I can't draw a long breath with all this stuff I've -got on me. I certainly sha'n't feel cold." - -"In your right pocket you'll find a thermos bottle of hot coffee; in -the other, chocolate." - -"Splendid." - -"Do you want a gun?" - -"What should I do with it? In case of alarm I'll keep sounding -'_ta-pum_' like this morning." - -"Then you understand. You must keep a lookout down there all the time, -there where the white of the snow meets the black of the sky. If you -see anything white on black or black on white which moves give the -alarm; if not, keep still. Take good care not to fall asleep, because -if I should go the rounds and find you asleep I should be compelled to -kill you at your post." - -"In that case wake me up ... five minutes beforehand." - -"Well, I'm off." - -"Good luck." - -"I want to impress it on you--no racket now." - -"Good-by, Scrollamondo. Don't worry." - - * * * * * - -Pinocchio had the courage of a lion that night, and if the Austrians -had attempted an attack he would have felt equal to them all by -himself. As soon as he was alone he took out from the pockets of his -cloak, so full of food that they seemed a military depot, a thin rope -a couple of yards long, knotted one end of it, stuck his head through, -bending his good leg, put his foot on the rope, which he swung in -front of him at the height of his knee, and, leaning against the rock, -stood there still, resting on his wooden leg. - - [Illustration] - -"And now I am ready," he muttered, contentedly; "now let them come on. -I'm not afraid of any one, not even of the snow. There's no denying -it--my idea was magnificent. If that simpleton Toni Salandra had had -one as good he would have saved the Ministry. Two feet of rope and the -trench is saved. With two soldi's worth of soap he could have saved -the finest Parliament our poor country has ever seen.... It's queer -that I haven't the slightest sensation of fear.... It's dark, but I -seem to see as well as by day. It must be that a sentinel's duty -clears the sight. I could swear that I could see a flea a mile away. -Besides, my duty is simple: I am to stay here and do nothing; I am not -to get my feet frozen, and as far as that is concerned there's no -danger; and I am to look out for white moving on black or black on -white. Then, _ta-pum_, _ta-pum_, _ta-pum_, like this morning, then -throw myself on the ground and creep back to the trench like a -cat.... What a fire we kept up this morning, I and Ciampanella! He -fired so often and so vigorously that he ended by falling over with -fright.... If he hadn't had to sleep off his fatigue I couldn't have -done the fine deed I'm doing. I am sure he wouldn't have let me get -cold like this ... because ... I didn't feel it at first, but now I -feel chills creeping up my spine!" - -When Pinocchio stuck his hand into his pocket it touched the rounded -form of the thermos bottle. He took it out, put it to his lips, and -drank a mouthful. Five minutes later the boy felt the heat mounting to -his brain as if he were at the mouth of a furnace. - -"Ah-ha! That's good! When I am a general like Win-the-War I'll heat -the railway compartment with coffee instead of with a radiator. I wish -they'd 'murder' the garments I got on, as Ciampanella says: When I -think that he made me run the risk of having eight bullets in my -stomach I don't know what to do. But before I would have him burned -up, it would be nice to sleep here under this upholstered seat, with -the lullaby of the train that sounds as if my nurse were singing it. -If he found me now I should like to drop into one of those dozes from -which even Ciampanella's _ta-pum_ wouldn't wake me.... If I go to -sleep I'll be cold. That tyrant of a Scotimondo would just as lief -wake me up with a revolver at my head.... I'd like to know what's the -fun of keeping a poor sentinel out in the cold where there's nothing -to watch, because I bet a soldo against a lira that the Austrians are -sleeping soundly to-night--I seem to hear them snoring like so many -suckling pigs.... No, I said I wouldn't go to sleep, and to keep my -word I won't go to sleep, but I can allow myself a nod, just a little -nod. There's no black on white, or white on black; it seems to me to -be getting more cloudy ... so that ... Scotimondo? But what is it? I -am no Napoleon ... he said it. But even Napoleon when he found a -sleeping sentinel took his gun and waited till he waked up. He would -do the same ... with the difference that I haven't any gun ... so that -... not so much noise ... Scotimon ...? but where is Scotmona ... -Scoti ... mon ... do..." - - * * * * * - -Just at this moment the snow began to fall gently, so gently, and as -dry as flour just from the mill. The corporal, who was about to set -out on his usual tour of inspection, glanced at the sky, then growled, -as he rubbed his hands: "The Austrians won't come out in such weather. -It will be a foot thick in less than an hour. I'll go and sleep, -myself." - - * * * * * - - [Illustration] - -Pinocchio woke up with a start. It was dawn!... He found himself -buried in the snow up to his chest. He looked about and could no -longer see the enemy's trench; he looked behind him and couldn't -recognize the Italian post. What under the heavens had happened? He -was on the point of becoming despondent and ready to give the alarm -when on the side of the enemy's position in the wide wedge-sloped -cleft, which looked like an exclamation point drawn with charcoal on -an immense white sheet, he thought he saw a curious movement like many -ants. He fixed his eyes on it, and while his heart beat so loudly that -he thought he would suffocate, he concentrated all his attention, all -his mind, on the point there below. He saw the jagged rock swarming -with Alpine troops, saw little clusters of men suspended over the -abyss, and ropes hanging in space slowly lifting up soldiers; and at -the sight of this miracle of daring and dexterity he naturally forgot -the fear of his wakening. Anxiously he followed the maneuvers of these -brave sons of Italy, saw them suddenly disappear.... Then a cry of -terror rose from the enemy's trench, a rattle of guns and almost at -the same moment two or three hundred Austrians were in flight and -flinging themselves on the slope, pursued by a steady fire. It was -time to give the alarm. Pinocchio wanted to let out one of his -extraordinary _ta-pums_, but just then a terrible explosion shook the -earth and clouded the sky.... A horrible yell, a cry from hundreds of -throats struck him to the marrow ... then there was silence. - -Captain Teschisso, returning victorious from his expedition, found -Pinocchio there, and tenderly gave him first aid, but, seeing that he -didn't come to, he intrusted him to four soldiers, saying: - -"Take him to the first ambulance, with Draghetta and the other -wounded, and tell the surgeon to care for him as my best friend. Poor -youngster, who will have to have another wooden leg! But we have -avenged him and given those dogs what they deserved. Heavens, what a -fight!" - - - - -CHAPTER X - -_Many Deeds and Few Words_ - - -My dear little friends, I won't stop to show you Pinocchio in the sad -surroundings of a hospital. I will tell you only that he stayed there -for more than two months, and that he left it with his two wooden -legs, new and well oiled, and that Fatina, by a curious coincidence, -was his careful and affectionate nurse, and that Ciampanella, playing -the part of a good friend, did not fail to make him frequent visits, -bringing with him certain samples of camp cookery which enraptured -Pinocchio. His surgeon was a most polite Piedmontese, always bowing -and salaaming, who announced to him with all formality the misfortune -which had again overtaken him and asked his permission two days in -advance to amputate his frozen leg. - -"All right," exclaimed Pinocchio, "go ahead. I've got accustomed to -such trifles now. But you must do me a favor." - -"Let me hear it." - -"When you give me my new wooden leg I want it to be longer than usual -and that naturally you change the other one, too." - -"Why?" - -"Because I'd feel as if I were on stilts and it would amuse me to -death to take steps longer than any one else." - -He was satisfied and left the hospital with such long legs that he was -almost as tall as Ciampanella, who took Pinocchio's arm in his as if -he were his sweetheart. - -"Heh, youngster, but you have grown! And then they say that we -non-combatants never do anything! I haven't done anything, but if I -were the one I have in mind I would bestow on you the medal for -bravery because your legs have won it. I tell you, I, who know what I -am talking about." - -"Even if they don't give me anything, I am satisfied all the same. All -I ask is for them to leave me here and not send me home." - -"Come with me and I'll appoint you first adjutant of the mess kitchen, -and when I have taught you how and put the ladle in your hand _we -will live on the fat of the land_ and will make meat-balls with our -leavings for the general, and when we don't know what else to do we'll -write the _Manual of War Cookery_, which I won't risk now because I -haven't a writing hand, as the saying is." - -"Listen, Ciampanella, I am as grateful as if you had offered to lend -me a hundred lire without interest, but just now I can't accept." - -"Why?" - -"Because it requires a special constitution to be a cook. I'd be all -right as far as eating the best morsels was concerned, but it would be -dangerous for me to stay near the stove. I am half wooden and run the -risk of catching on fire. I should have to decide to take out -insurance against fire. Moreover, let's consider. To-day I have other -views. Fatina here has given me a letter for my friend Bersaglierino, -who is at headquarters as the war correspondent of an important -newspaper. We'll see what he advises me to do." - -They parted good friends after a solemn feast which almost made -Ciampanella roll under the table, like an ancient Roman at one of the -banquets of Lucullus or Nero. - - [Illustration] - -Bersaglierino was truly delighted to see his dear little friend again -and kept him with him several days for company. From him he learned a -number of things he didn't know. One day he asked him: - -"Tell me, Pinocchio, do you know the reason for this war in which you, -too, have played your small part and to which you have paid tribute of -part of yourself?" - -"Do you imagine I don't know? It is _to make Italy bigger_." - -"And that seems a just reason to you?" - -"That's what every one says." - -"All those who don't know what they are talking about. If every nation -had the right to let loose a war for the sole purpose of enlarging her -boundaries we'd have to take off our hats to the Germans who provoked -the present curse for their own purposes. We have other and nobler -ideals. We have brothers to liberate, peoples to free from a foreign -yoke. Certain lands which are ours because they were enriched by the -labors of our fathers, because our Italian tongue is spoken in them, -were until to-day exploited by the enemy, who sought in every way to -embitter the existence of our brothers, paying with contempt and -scorn, with persecution and oppression, their loyalty and love for the -mother-country. Italian unity, begun in the revolutionary movement of -1811, was not completed in 1870 with the taking of Rome. The jealousy -of other nations halted us on our way to emancipation. We were too -weak then to make our will felt; we were exhausted with fifty years of -continuous fighting and we had need of a little rest in order to -restore our energy. To-day we are strong enough to stand up for our -rights. Neither underhand dealings of wicked men nor betrayal by -partizans will prevent the victory of our arms. Italy will be -retempered in the war. Our destiny will be fulfilled. - -"I see as in a dream our borders which have been overrun won back to -us, Trent bleeding with Italian blood, Goriza twice redeemed, Trieste -in the shadow of the tricolor. Istria awaits us impatiently; Parenzo -is preparing the way for us to Pola, which we shall take intact, with -the defenses the Austrians erected there against our own brothers. -Zara, Sebenico, and the coast of Dalmatia, which for so many centuries -displayed the glorious insignia of the Lion of St. Mark, are longing -impatiently for the moment which shall reunite them to the -mother-country, that for them and with them will grow ever greater. -War is a curse; this one which is being fought to-day all over the -civilized world is perhaps the most terrible which humanity has ever -known; yet it will not fail to bring great blessings. It has awakened -the consciences of peoples and revealed the virtues and the defects of -particular races. In the contest of the ancient Latin civilization -with the Teuton power the might of right has been re-established, the -right that has been trampled upon by force...." - -And so on and so on, for when Bersaglierino began to argue there was -no way of stopping him, and Pinocchio stood there listening with his -mouth open like a peasant absorbed by the wonderful discourse of a -fakir at a fair. And who knows how long he would have stood there, but -Bersaglierino had so much to do and was obliged to leave him alone, -letting him stay in the rear where he could follow the progress of the -war without exposing himself too much, but where he could still be -doing important service for his country. He put him in the care of a -captain of the commissary department, a good friend of his who had the -unlucky idea of making him a baker in a camp bakery. He stayed there -only two days, astounded at the enormous quantity of bread which was -kneaded and baked all the time. All he did was to give a hand in -filling the baskets which were loaded on automobiles that carried the -bread to the front. The third day he made a figure of dough that -looked like the twin brother of the captain, put it in the oven and, -when it was baked, set it astraddle on the cup of coffee poured out -for that officer, then hid himself behind a curtain to take part in -the welcome which would certainly be given to his most valuable work -of art. But the commissary officer's orderly found him and wanted to -dust his trousers and pull his ears. He never succeeded in doing this. -Pinocchio helped him out of the house with kicks and then hurled him -into the flour-barrel. If they had not pulled him out in time he would -have suffocated. - -The boy fled on the first automobile which left for the front, and for -several days whirled back and forth between the front and rear lines, -going forward on the supply automobiles and returning on the Red Cross -ambulances which brought the wounded to the first-aid posts. The -drivers were glad to take him on their machines because he kept them -all jolly with his pranks, and he, better than any one, was able to -get an idea of the gigantic and wonderful work which was being done -side by side with the army which was fighting for the defense of its -country. What profound respect for discipline, what order, what spirit -of self-sacrifice in those brave soldiers (almost all fathers of -families), continually exposed to bad weather, to the hardest -fatigues, to the most complete privations! Rain, snow, ice, tornadoes -of wind and of shot and shell, nothing succeeded in interrupting for a -single minute the interminably long chain of wagons and lorries that -carried food to the trenches, ammunition to the artillery, and cannon -to the fortified positions. The drivers, dead with sleep, soaked with -rain, shivering with cold, remained calmly at their wheels and at the -heads of their horses. When the great caravan stopped for a moment for -any reason these men, revived with new energy and by the force of -their will, started the huge mechanism on its way again. - -For a little way Pinocchio thought he would become an -automobile-driver, but when they told him that he would have to have a -license and that, in order to get one, he would have to take a regular -examination, he didn't proceed farther. Examiners he looked upon as -even greater enemies than Franz Joe's hunters. - - [Illustration] - -After pondering the subject a long time he decided to become a -military postman. At first he took pleasure in it all. When he -arrived it seemed as if heaven had come down to earth. He was received -like a king, with joyous cries and shouts, and he walked between two -rows of soldiers like a general. When he distributed the letters it -was as if he conferred a favor; when he handed out a money-order he -had an air of condescension as if he were doling the soldi from his -purse. When he had finished distributing the mail he would let them -pay him to read their letters. I can tell you it was not an easy -matter. Often he had hieroglyphics to decipher which would have given -trouble to a professor of paleontology. But Pinocchio had such a quick -mind that when he found he couldn't puzzle it out he invented a letter -and did it so well that he earned a soldo by it and the deep gratitude -of his clients. What disgusted him with the business was the postal -service, which suddenly became confoundedly bad, perhaps on account of -a change in the Ministry. Pinocchio saw his popularity vanish in an -instant, and the soldiers made him bear the brunt of their -dissatisfaction. One day he heard so many complaints that he grew -furious and flung away the bag he wore about his neck and cried out to -those who were disputing around him: - -"You are a bunch of imbeciles. Why do you come to me with your -letters? Do you know what you ought to do? Go and get them, because I -won't take another step for the sake of your pretty faces." - -His ears were boxed again and again and he replied with as many kicks, -but he didn't play postman any more. He was wondering to what new -service he could dedicate himself when a corporal baker gave him this -note: - - DEAR PINOCCHIO,--I am having the one who will hand you this - write these lines so that he can tell you for me that I have - a great longing to see you, because I am not well and I - don't know what to do, and I sign myself your most - affectionate - - CIAMPANELLA, - - _Chief Mess-cook in the service of the - Commander-in-chief_. - -Pinocchio was so affected by this letter that he set off at once in -search of his friend. He found him in full performance of his noble -functions, white, red, and flourishing as if he had come back the day -before from taking the cure at Montecatini. - -"Well?" he said in astonishment, after they had embraced. - -"Well, youngster, I am here and I am not here in this beastly world." - -"But, truly ..." - -"You wouldn't say that I am on the downward path, to make use of the -words of the chaplain, but Ciampanella is no longer himself. They have -given me only a few months more to live. I don't mind for myself, you -know. I think that I shall be as well off there as I have been -here.... But I am thinking of humanity." - -"Nothing and a little less than nothing." - -"No joking now, youngster. Without the _Manual of War Cookery_ written -by Ciampanella humanity can never be happy, because with it men will -eat and laugh, and when you laugh you spend willingly, and when you -spend willingly you eat well.... So that ..." - -"Why don't you write it?" - -"First of all, because I lack the knowledge of handwriting, which -you've got to do; that is why I sent for you, and then ... because I -am afraid that I won't have time enough to dictate it all, because the -surgeon-major who examined me said that I had a disease of the liver -from eating too much, and that it would be the liver that would bring -me to my grave if I didn't stop immediately living on the fat of the -land and drink quantities of water. Listen, youngster, I have always -had a great antipathy for liver, so much so that I never even put it -in patties called Strasburg and which in my _Manual_ I will rechristen -'Austro-German Trenches with Reinforcements of War Bread and Ambushed -in Jelly.' But that's not the point. As I tell you, I have always had -a great antipathy to liver, but also for water, so much so, I'll tell -you in confidence, that sometimes I don't even use it to wash my face -in. - -"So listen. Since they have brought me to this crossroads--either -drink water and live or eat good things and let my liver take me to -the next world--I have decided on the latter. Before dying I wanted to -call you to my presence to tell you that as I have no one in the world -I have been thinking of leaving you everything I possess: ten ladles, -a carver, the change-purse, and the recipes for the _Manual_, for -which, when you publish it, they will give you at least the cross of a -knight, that when you put it on will make, you feel 'way and ahead of -those who look at you." - - [Illustration] - -In short, Ciampanella said so much and did so much that he persuaded -Pinocchio to stay with him. And certainly the boy could not find a -better way of making himself useful to his country. The mess-cook was -at the orders of a division. Each day he satisfied the hunger of four -generals, six colonels, and a crowd of majors and captains of the -General Staff. All these were men who had need of good eating that -wouldn't cause indigestion. Pinocchio served ... as director of the -mess. When he saw some saucepan boiling over, a pot too full, he -quickly reduced them by tasting their contents generously. Sauces and -ragoûts were his passion. Every now and then you might have seen him -dipping half a loaf of bread into the casseroles. One day a captain -who was inspecting surprised him at this, and naturally he lit into -Ciampanella about it, who threatened to quit the kitchen if they -didn't leave him in peace. - -"Do you understand, Mr. Captain? Do you imagine that standing over a -fire is a great pleasure? I am beginning to believe that it is better -to stay in the trenches and die _with a ball in the head_ than in the -rear when you come and ruin my comfort with your inspections. But do -you know what I'll do? I'll hide the ladles in a place I know of and -I'll take up a musket and you'll see what you'll see." - -The captain had to slink off, speeded by the laughs of Pinocchio, -whose nose was smeared and greasy and his mouth dripping with tomato -sauce. Ciampanella, who was so lacking in respect to his superiors, -obeyed the boy as if he were a head taller than he. Pinocchio had -persuaded him to drink quarts of water and to take digestive tablets -after his meals, and every morning a spoonful of salts in a glass of -water as the surgeon-major had ordered. And he followed out this -prescription so carefully that he had noticed a wonderful improvement, -and he kept a big bottle full of medicine among his cans of pepper and -spices. This fact had several times started an idea in Pinocchio's -whimsical pate, and several times he had been on the point of -exchanging this medicine for the kitchen salt, but the thought of the -serious consequences which might result had kept him from doing it. -Moreover, Pinocchio was called more and more often to serve the -mess-table and spent less time in the kitchen. The famous captain of -the inspection had thought in this way to avenge himself upon that -most insolent of semi-puppets, but, to tell you the truth, he didn't -find it bad. Serving at table so many grand generals seemed to him -almost an honor, and he was proud of it. When he handed the dishes to -the highest officers he would make low bows; the captains he treated -almost with disdain. He always tried to serve his "particular" captain -the last, and when there was left in the dish scarcely enough to -scrape out another portion he would whisper in his ear: - -"Heh, Captain, blessed are those that are last!" - -The captain fumed, but waited for the moment when he could give him a -reprimand. He thought the time had come one morning when he found a -fly in the stew. - -"Come here, you little beast." - -"Yes, sir; at your orders, sir." - -"Look!" and he stuck the plate of stew two inches from his nose. - -"There is no doubt, Captain, that it is a fly, a very vulgar fly," and -sticking two fingers delicately into the sauce he pulled the insect -out ... "a fly indeed! But you may consider yourself lucky because in -the rations of your men there will be at least twenty of them. And -those who fight don't think much of it. You do the same, Captain ... -in war-time don't bother about such trifles." - -A tank commander who was next to him laughed heartily. The captain, as -green as a newly formed tomato, kept quiet and ate the stew. - - * * * * * - -That day there was a grand dinner for some French and British officers -who had come on a mission to the front. Ciampanella had cooked one of -his wonderful recipes. Pinocchio, who had stuck his nose and tongue -into all the pots and pans, swore that even the King's cook was not -equal to producing such a dinner. And he, too, wished to do himself -honor. He set the table in a grassy spot surrounded by high trees and -thick hedges. It wasn't possible to find a more picturesque spot, -shady and safe from curious eyes, from reporters, and--spies. It was a -little distance from the kitchen, but distances didn't bother -Pinocchio, whose legs, longer than ordinary ones, could take steps -like a giant's. He decorated the table with wild flowers and wove -between the branches of the trees the flags of Italy, France, England, -and America, tied together with the colors of Belgium, dressed himself -afresh, and prepared to display all his good manners. - -All the high officers seated at the table made a wonderful sight. The -uniforms, starred with crosses and ribbons, shining with gold and -silver, were all the more sparkling against the green background of -the trees and the meadow. - -Pinocchio had served the finest _consommé_ with the air of a head -waiter in an expensive restaurant. When he returned to serve a -magnificent capon in jelly shaped like a cannon surrounded by hearts -of green lettuce which appeared on the menu under the name "William's -Wishes, with Evasions of German Financiers," he was struck by a -strange sight. All the diners had fled from the table and were going -hurriedly behind the hedge, overcome with nausea. A terrible idea -flashed through Pinocchio's mind. He turned around and, his capon in -his hand, rushed to the kitchen. - -"Ciampanella! Ciampanella!" - -"What's the matter?" - -"The medicine?" - -"What's the medicine got to do with dinner?" - -"What did you put in the soup?" - -"Are you crazy, youngster? Be quiet and let the officers eat." - -"Ciampanella, are you perfectly sure of yourself?" - -"Why do you ask me if I am sure of myself?" - -"Because ... the officers aren't eating." - -"What are they doing?" - -"Just come and see, because I don't understand about cooking." - -They went running, but had scarcely passed the threshold when a bomb -from an enemy airplane burst a few feet from them. They were hit in -the chest by a column of air which turned them round, were hurled back -into the kitchen, and buried beneath a shower of masonry. - - * * * * * - -Ciampanella remained buried there, to the great misfortune of -humanity, who, after all, had to do without his _Manual of War -Cookery_, but Pinocchio was dug out alive. He was carried hastily to -the nearest ambulance station and fell into the hands of a splendid -surgeon, who, after having set a slender fracture of the arm and of -the breastbone, swore to save him in spite of fate. He hurriedly -amputated an arm, and a fortnight later in the hospital of a near-by -city they extracted the broken ribs, for which they substituted two -silver plates. - -When Fatina and the Bersaglierino hurried to his bed to help him and -cheer him they found themselves face to face with a poor creature who, -with his artificial legs, arm, and breast, seemed indeed ... a wooden -puppet. - -But Pinocchio was still himself, humorous, lively, and mischievous. -When he noticed that Fatina was looking at him with her big blue eyes -full of tears and pity, he shrugged his shoulders and, scratching his -left ear vigorously, made a face and said: - -"Pretty object, heh? But you must be patient. In order to become a -real boy I couldn't help but go back to ... the old one!" - - - - -CHAPTER XI - -_And Now--Finished or Not Finished_ - - -It was a beautiful morning, sparkling with sunshine and glory because -the tricolor was waving from the windows of every house and the people -in the streets had joy in their eyes and a smile on their lips. On the -terrace of a handsome mansion, a terrace of marble decorated with -exotic plants, at the end of which was a large stained-glass window, a -man of mature age and military bearing was stretched out in a -reclining-chair. He was smoking a large meerschaum pipe and blew out -such puffs of smoke that it seemed as if he were trying to obscure the -sun. By his side was a soldier awaiting orders, and near by was a -stand on which a magnificent green parrot stood, scratching his head -with his claw and rolling his big yellow eyes. - -"Heh! What do you say to that, Duretti? Are we or are we not great? -To-day that we can say we have made Italy?" - - "Now you see - Italy - The general has made so free ..." - -chattered the wretch of a parrot. - -"Be quiet, Coccorito; if you keep on with that nonsense I won't give -you any sunflower seeds for a week. I'd like to know who trained him -to be so impertinent during my absence. If it were not ..." - -General Win-the-War started to get up, but a sudden twinge of pain -made him cry out and keep still in his chair. After biting his lips -for five minutes he began again to suck the mouthpiece of his pipe, -and after smoking up the air for another five minutes he said: - -"Heh! My dear Duretti, it is a great satisfaction to fight for the -greatness of one's country, and if it were not for that cursed -Austrian shot which broke my leg I should like ..." - -But Coccorito wouldn't let him finish and began to sing in his -horrible voice: - - "Every day, - Pé--pé--pé, - When he grew great, - The soldiers he ate, - Ho, ho, ho! - - He broke his leg, - Or so he said, - 'Tis gout, you know, - Won't let him go ..." - - [Illustration] - -The general groaned and threw with all the strength he had left his -big meerschaum pipe at the bird. Coccorito would have come to a sad -end if the god of parrots had not, as he always did, held his -protecting hand over his tuft. The pipe grazed his head and fell in -the street, while he, with a strong tug at his light brass chain, flew -off and perched himself on the window-sill of the floor above, where -he laughed loudly and cried: - - "Ha, ha, ha! - The general to the front set out, - Felt a blow and down he fell, - Because he suffers from the gout. - He says his leg he broke--well, well-- - For his King, for Italy - He broke his leg--he, he, he, he!" - -But Coccorito could now sing in peace and be as insolent as he liked -because the general was no longer paying any attention to him, for two -excellent reasons. First, because, in spite of his high rank, he was -not great enough to reach up to the second-floor window; second, and -more important, because at the moment that his pipe fell in the street -a carriage stopped in front of the house and out of it got a -gentleman, a lady, and ... a small box they were carrying, and it was -against this box that the strange projectile fell, making such a -clatter that the lady couldn't help uttering a few words of protest. -Win-the-War, who never allowed any one to outdo him in courtesy, found -it necessary to explain matters, and with the help of his orderly got -up from his chair and dragged himself to the railing of the terrace. - -"Pardon me, I beg you.... You are right to protest, but my pipe ... -fell.... I threw it.... In short, it is all the fault of my parrot, -who upset me and the pipe. Coccorito, show them at least ... so that -the lady and gentleman may not believe ..." - -"But don't imagine such a thing, General. Don't bother yourself ... it -is no matter." - - "Ha, ha, ha! - The general to the front set out, - Felt a blow and down he fell, - Because he suffers from the gout. - He says his leg he broke--well, well-- - For his King, for Italy - He broke his leg--he, he, he, he!" - -Coccorito began again. - -"Oh, you wretch! Did you hear him?" - -"Don't apologize, General. I beg your pardon. Does old Geppetto live -here?" - -"Yes, sir, on the floor above. Ring the second bell." - -"Thank you." - -"Not at all." - -Old Geppetto was getting ready to mend an old table the legs of which -were red with worm-holes and had in hand a piece of seasoned wood, a -splendid piece. He was going to cut it with a hatchet and he had -lifted up his hand holding the shining tool, when who knows what queer -thoughts made his arm fall heavily. Did he perhaps remember that other -famous piece of wood from which the sprightly little old man had -shaped the wonderful puppet which had brought him so much bother and -trouble? And what had become of him? Why had he sent no news of -himself since he had gone out into the world like a real boy? Perhaps -the poor little old man would have preferred to have him still at his -side, a puppet as he used to be, and of wood out of which he had made -him, than to be left thus alone in the last years of his life. He had -tried so often to make another Pinocchio, but he had never been able -to finish his work. His hands trembled; his eyes were no longer what -they used to be, and even the wood--certainly it was the truth about -the wood--wasn't what it used to be. - -When he heard the bell ring he felt his heart beat, and he ran to open -the door, swaying from side to side like a drunken man. - -"Who's there?" - -"It's I, Geppetto. Don't you recognize me?" - -"My Fatina!" - -"Yes, indeed, your Fatina who has come to introduce her husband, the -Bersaglierino, to you, and to see how you are, and to bring you -somebody you are fond of, very fond of," she replied, as they entered. - -He gave her a long, questioning glance from beneath his spectacles; -then he spied Pinocchio mischievously hiding behind Fatina and the -Bersaglierino. - -"Oh, Fatina! Fatina! How did they bring my poor puppet to such a -state?" sobbed Geppetto as he looked at Pinocchio. "What under the sun -is all this machinery and these contraptions? I made him of wood, all -of wood, and so splendidly that no one was ever able to imitate him. -Why did you let them abuse him in this way? Wouldn't it have been -better if you had let him stay a _real boy_ than to bring him back to -me in this condition?" - -And the dear little old man couldn't contain himself and gave vent to -his sorrow in loud weeping. - -Fatina and the Bersaglierino could find no words to comfort him with -and looked at him compassionately, their own throats tightening. When -Papa Geppetto had grown a little calmer he took his puppet in his arms -and examined him carefully all over, shaking his head and drawing his -lips tightly as if he wished to keep his sobs from bursting out again. -He saw the artificial legs, the arm with its steel spring and the -tweezers for hands; he saw the large silver plate which supported the -breastbone--admired all this up-to-date mechanism, but was not in the -least satisfied. The poor little old man preferred his wooden puppet -_all of wood_ to the marrow ... and he no longer recognized _his_ old -Pinocchio. - -"Oh, Fatina!" he said, sighing, "who brought him to such a state?" - -"Our country, dear friend." - -"Our country?" and for a moment he stood there, his eyes wide open -with surprise. "Our country, did you say, Fatina?" Then he was lost in -thought again. - - [Illustration] - -While the old man was bending over Pinocchio, Fatina and -Bersaglierino quietly slipped out of the door. Papa Geppetto was again -alone with his beloved puppet in the same room where he had first -carved the little fellow out of pine wood. - -Don't you remember how Pinocchio first broke up everything before he -ran away? How he knocked over the chest, rummaged the wardrobe, broke -the mirror, upset the little table, turned over the chairs, pulled the -pictures off the walls, and tore down the window-curtains? And don't -you remember how he left everything in a mess and ran out into the -street wrapped in a flowered chintz curtain? - -Well, Pinocchio was home again, and Papa Geppetto had long ago -repaired the things Pinocchio had broken. Everything was in good order -except Pinocchio himself. That was what worried the old man. He did -not care much about the mirrors, wardrobes, or window-curtains, but he -_did_ care about his little puppet friend whom he loved. - -It was getting dark and old Geppetto sat down in a large armchair and -held Pinocchio on his lap. As the shadows began to gather and the room -to get darker, Papa Geppetto began to nod and soon closed his eyes. -With his arms clasped around Pinocchio, he went to sleep. - -If you could now step quietly into the room, you would see both of -them asleep. The old man's head was resting on Pinocchio's head, and -Pinocchio's on Geppetto's shoulder. - -The little puppet was sleeping quietly, but the old man was not. He -seemed to be having a bad dream, judging from his sighs and groans. - -"Oh, Pinocchio!" he said, aloud, in his sleep, "why did you run away -and go to the war? Just look at you! No legs, and one arm gone! I wish -you were my dear wooden puppet again." - -Then the old man sighed, but kept on sleeping. - -After about two hours Papa Geppetto awoke. It was now quite dark, but -not so dark that the old man could not see that some change had come -over Pinocchio. He looked down at the little sleeping puppet and what -do you think he saw? Not artificial legs and an arm. Oh no! Pinocchio -was just as he was when he was first made. Pinocchio was again the -little wooden puppet! - -Papa Geppetto was so overcome with joy that he caught up Pinocchio in -his arms and hugged him so tight he nearly smothered the little -fellow. And Pinocchio threw his arms around the old man's neck and -kissed the top of his bald head. - - -THE END - - - - - -End of Project Gutenberg's The Heart of Pinocchio, by Collodi Nipote - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE HEART OF PINOCCHIO *** - -***** This file should be named 41446-8.txt or 41446-8.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/4/1/4/4/41446/ - -Produced by Melissa McDaniel and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://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. Special rules, -set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to -copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to -protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project -Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you -charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you -do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the -rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose -such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and -research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do -practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is -subject to the trademark license, especially commercial -redistribution. - - - -*** START: FULL LICENSE *** - -THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE -PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK - -To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free -distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work -(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project -Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project -Gutenberg-tm License available with this file or online at - www.gutenberg.org/license. - - -Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic works - -1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to -and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property -(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all -the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy -all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. -If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the -terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or -entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. - -1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be -used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who -agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few -things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works -even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See -paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement -and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic -works. See paragraph 1.E below. - -1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" -or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the -collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an -individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are -located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from -copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative -works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg -are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project -Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by -freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of -this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with -the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by -keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project -Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. - -1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern -what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in -a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check -the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement -before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or -creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project -Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning -the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United -States. - -1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: - -1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate -access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently -whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the -phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project -Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, -copied or distributed: - -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 - -1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived -from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is -posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied -and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees -or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work -with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the -work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 -through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the -Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or -1.E.9. - -1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted -with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution -must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional -terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked -to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the -permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. - -1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm -License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this -work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. - -1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this -electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without -prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with -active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project -Gutenberg-tm License. - -1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, -compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any -word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or -distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than -"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version -posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), -you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a -copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon -request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other -form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm -License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. - -1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, -performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works -unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. - -1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing -access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided -that - -- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from - the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method - you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is - owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he - has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the - Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments - must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you - prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax - returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and - sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the - address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to - the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." - -- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies - you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he - does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm - License. You must require such a user to return or - destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium - and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of - Project Gutenberg-tm works. - -- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any - money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the - electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days - of receipt of the work. - -- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free - distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. - -1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set -forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from -both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael -Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the -Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. - -1.F. - -1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable -effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread -public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm -collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic -works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain -"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or -corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual -property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a -computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by -your equipment. - -1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right -of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project -Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project -Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all -liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal -fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT -LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE -PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE -TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE -LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR -INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH -DAMAGE. - -1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a -defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can -receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a -written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you -received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with -your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with -the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a -refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity -providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to -receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy -is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further -opportunities to fix the problem. - -1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth -in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS', WITH NO OTHER -WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO -WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. - -1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied -warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. -If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the -law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be -interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by -the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any -provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. - -1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the -trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone -providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance -with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, -promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, -harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, -that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do -or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm -work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any -Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. - - -Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm - -Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of -electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers -including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists -because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from -people in all walks of life. - -Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the -assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's -goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will -remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project -Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure -and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. -To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation -and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 -and the Foundation information page at www.gutenberg.org - - -Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive -Foundation - -The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit -501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the -state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal -Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification -number is 64-6221541. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg -Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent -permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. - -The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. -Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered -throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at 809 -North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887. Email -contact links and up to date contact information can be found at the -Foundation's web site and official page at www.gutenberg.org/contact - -For additional contact information: - Dr. Gregory B. Newby - Chief Executive and Director - gbnewby@pglaf.org - -Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg -Literary Archive Foundation - -Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide -spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of -increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be -freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest -array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations -($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt -status with the IRS. - -The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating -charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United -States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a -considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up -with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations -where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To -SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any -particular state visit www.gutenberg.org/donate - -While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we -have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition -against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who -approach us with offers to donate. - -International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make -any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from -outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. - -Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation -methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other -ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. -To donate, please visit: www.gutenberg.org/donate - - -Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic -works. - -Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm -concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared -with anyone. For forty years, he produced and distributed Project -Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. - -Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed -editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. -unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily -keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. - -Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: - - www.gutenberg.org - -This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, -including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to -subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. |