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-.. . II - F' -C-- r -~ I I' II~~! f .f IIi LIBRARY THE ADVENTURES OF PINOCCHIO THE CHILDREN'S LIBRARY. THE BROWN OWL. THE CHINA CUP, AND OTHER STORIES. STORIES FROM FAIRYLAND. THE ADVENTURES OF PINOCCHIO. THE LITTLE PRINCESS. THE STORY OF A PUPPET THE ADVENTURES OF PINOCCHIO BY C. COLLODI TRANSLATED FROM THE ITALIAN BY M. A. MURRAY ILLUSTRATED BY C. MAZZANTI LONDON T. FISHER UNWIN 1892 .0 How it came to fass that Master Cherry the carpenter found a piece of wood that laughed and cried like a child. THERE was once upon a time . . 'A king I' my little readers will instantly exclaim. No, children, you are wrong. There was once upon a time a piece of wood. This wood was not valuable: it was only a common log like those that are burnt in winter in the stoves and fireplaces to make a cheerful blaze and warm the rooms. I cannot say how it came about, but the fact is, that one fine day this piece of wood was lying in the shop of an old carpenter of B 2 ADVENTURES OF PINOCCHIO the name of Master Antonio. He was, how- ever, called by everybody Master Cherry, on account of the end of his nose, which was always as red and polished as a ripe cherry. No sooner had Master Cherry set eyes on the piece of wood than his face beamed with delight; and, rubbing his hands together with satisfaction, he said softly to himself: 'This wood has come at the right mo- ment it will just do to make the leg of a little table.' Having said this he immediately took a sharp axe with which to remove the bark and the rough surface. Just, however, as he was going to give.the first stroke he remained with his arm suspended in the air, for he heard a veiy 'small voice saying imploringly, 'Do not strike me so hard I' Picture to yourselves the astonishment of good old Master Cherry He turned his terrified eyes all round the room to try and discover where the little voice could possibly have come from, but he saw nobody I He looked under the bench- nobody; he looked into a cupboard that was always shut-nobody; helooked into a basket of shavings and sawdust-nobody; he even opened the door of the shop and gave a glance into the street-and still nobody. Who, then, could it be? 'I see how it'is,' he said, laughing and scratching-his wig; evidently that little voice ADVENTURES OF PINOCCHIO 3 was all my imagination. Let us set to work again.' And taking up the axe he struck a tremen- dous blow on the piece of wood. 'Oh oh I you have hurt me !' cried the same little voice dolefully. This time Master Cherry was petrified. His eyes started out of his head with fright, his mouth remained open, and his tongue hung out almost to the end of his chin, like a mask on a fountain. As soon as he had recovered the use of his speech, he began to say, stuttering and trembling with fear: 'But where on earth can that little voice have come from that said Oh oh !? . Here there is certainly not a living soul. Is it possible that this piece of wood can have learnt to cry and to lament like a child ? I cannot believe it. This piece of wood, here it is ; a log for fuel like all the others, and thrown on the fire it would about suffice to boil a saucepan of beans. . How then ? Can any one be hidden inside it? If any one is hidden inside, so much the worse for him. I will settle him at once.' So saying, he seized the poor piece of wood and commenced beating it without mercy against the walls of the room. Then he stopped to listen if he could hear any little voice lamenting. He waited two minutes-nothing; five minutes-nothing; ten minutes-still nothing ! 4 ADVENTURES OF PINOCCHIO I see how it is,' he then said, forcing himself to laugh and pushing up his wig; evidently the little voice that said Oh oh ! was all my imagination Let us set to work again.' But as all the same he was in a great fright, he tried to sing to give himself a little courage. Putting the axe aside he took his plane, to plane and polish the bit of wood; but whilst he was running it up and down he heard the same little voice say, laughing: 'Have done! you are tickling me all over ' This time poor Master Cherry fell down as if he had.been struck by lightning. When he at last opened his eyes he found himself seated on the floor. His face was quite changed, even the end of his nose, instead of being crimson, as it was nearly always, had become blue from fright. Master Cherry makes a present of the piece of- wood to his friend Gepletto, who takes it to make for himself a wonderful puppjet, that shall know how to dance, and to fence, and to leap like an acrobat. AT that moment some one knocked at the door. '-Come in,' said the "carpenter, without having the strength to rise to his feet. A lively little old man immediately walked into the shop. His name was Geppetto, but when the boys of the neighbourhood wished to put him in a passion they called him by the nickname of Polendina,1 because SPolendina. In Italian, pudding of Indian corn. 6 ADVENTURES OF PINOCCHIO his yellow wig greatly resembled a pudding made of Indian corn. Geppetto was very fiery. Woe to him who called him Polendinal He became furious, and there was no holding him. 'Good day, Master Antonio,' said Geppetto; 'what are you doing there on the floor?' 'I am teaching the alphabet to the ants.' 'Much good may that do you.' 'What has brought you to me, neighbour Geppetto? ' My legs. But to say the truth, Master Antonio, I am come to ask a favour of you. 'Here I am, ready to serve you,' replied the carpenter, getting on to his knees. 'This morning an idea came into my head.' 'Let us hear it.' 'I thought I would make a beautiful wooden puppet; but a wonderful puppet that should know how to dance, to fence, and to leap like an acrobat. With this puppet I would travel about the world to earn a piece of bread and a glass of wine. What do you think of it ?' 'Bravo, Polendina I' exclaimed the same little voice, and it was impossible to say where it came from. Hearing himself called Polendina Gep- petto became as red as a turkey-cock from ADVENTURES OF PINOCCHIO 7 rage, and turning to the carpenter he said in a fury: 'Why do you insult me ?' S' Who insults you ? ' 'You called me Polendina! . . 'It was not I I'- 'Would you have it, then, that it was I ? It was you, I say i' 'Nol' 'Yes I' 'No!' 'Yes!' And becoming more and more angry, from words they came to blows, and flying at -each other they bit, and fought, and scratched manfully. When the fight was over Master Antonio was in possession of Geppetto's yellow wig, and Geppetto discovered that the gray wig belonging to the carpenter had remained between his teeth. 'Give me back my wig,' screamed Master Antonio. And you, return me mine, and let us make friends.' The two old men having each recovered his own wig shook hands, and swore that they would remain friends to the end of their lives. Well then, neighbour Geppetto,' said the carpenter, to prove that peace was made, 'what is the favour that you wish of me ?' 8 ADVENTURES OF PINOCCHIO 'I want a little wood to make my puppet; will you give me some ?' Master Antonio was delighted, and he immediately went to the bench and fetched the piece of wood that had caused him so much fear. But just as he was going to give it to his friend the piece of wood gave a shake, and wriggling violently out of his hands struck with all its force against the dried-up shins of poor Geppetto. Ah is that the courteous way in which you make your presents, Master Antonio ? You have almost lamed me! . . 'I swear to you that it was not II . . 'Then you would have it that it was I ? . .' 'The wood is entirely to blame . 'I know that it was the wood; but it was you that hit my legs with it! .' 'I did not hit you with it! . .' S Liar l' 'Geppetto, don't insult me or I will call you Polendina . .' Ass !' 'Polenaina I' Donkey ' 'Polendina 1' 'Baboon.I' 'Polendina!' On hearing himself called Polendina for the third time Geppetto, blind with rage, fell upon the carpenter and they fought desperately. V : ' ADVENTURES OF PINOCCHIO 9 When the battle was over, Master Antonio had two more scratches on his nose, and his adversary had. two buttons too little on his waistcoat. Their accounts being thus squared they shook hands, and swore to remain good friends for the rest of their lives. Geppetto carried off his fine piece of wood, -and thanking Master Antonio re- turned limping to his house. I I .. . I J 1 1f !.j. n-le Gepietto having returned home begins at once to make a fufpfet, to which he gives the name of Pinocchio. The first tricks played by the fuffpet. . GEPPETTO lived in a small ground-floor room that was only lighted' from the stair- case. The furniture could not have been simpler,-a bad chair, a poor bed, and a broken-down table. At the end of the room there was a fireplace with a lighted fire; but 4 the fire was painted, and by the fire was a painted saucepan that was boiling cheerfully, and sending out a cloud of smoke that looked exactly like real smoke. As. soon as he reached home Geppetto took his tools and set to work to cut out and model his puppet. 'What name shall I give him ?' he said to himself; 'I think I will call him Pinocchio. It is a name that will bring him luck. I once knew a whole family so called. There was Pinocchio the father, Pinocchia the mother, ADVENTURES OF PINOCCHIO zi and Pinocchi the children, and all of them did well. The richest of them was a beggar.' Having found a name for his puppet he Began to work in good earnest, and he first made his hair, then his forehead, and then his eyes. The eyes being finished, imagine his astonishment when he perceived that they moved and looked fixedly at him. Geppetto seeing himself stared at by those two wooden eyes took it almost in bad part, and said in an angry voice: Wicked wooderi eyes, why do you look at me ?' . No one answered. He then proceeded to carve the nose; but no sooner had he made it than it began to grow. And it grew, and grew, and grew, until in a few minutes it had become an immense nose .that seemed as if it would never end. Poor Geppetto tired himself out with cut- ting it off; but the more he cut and shortened it; the longer did that impertinent nose be- come! The mouth was not even completed when it began to laugh and deride him. Stop laughing!' said Geppetto, provoked; but he might as well have spoken to the wall. 'Stop laughing, I say l' he roared in a threatening tone. Ia ADVENTURES OF PINOCCHIO The mouth then ceased laughing, but put out its tongue as far as it would go. Geppetto, not to spoil his handiwork, pre- tended not to see, and continued his labours. After the mouth he fashioned the chin, then the throat, then the shoulders, the stomach, the arms and the hands. The hands were scarcely finished when Geppetto felt his wig snatched from his head. He turned round, and what did he see ? He saw his yellow wig in the puppet's hand. 'Pinocchio! . Give me back my wig instantly I' But Pinocchio, instead of returning it, put it on his own head, and was in consequence nearly smothered. Geppetto at this insolent and derisive be- haviour felt sadder and more melancholy than he had ever been in his life before; Sand turning to Pinocchio he said to him: 'You young rascal! You are not yet completed, and you are already beginning to show want of respect to your father That is bad, my boy, very bad!' And he dried a tear. The legs and the feet remained to be done. When. Geppetto had finished the feet he received a kick on the point of his nose. 'I deserve it!' he said to himself; 'I should have thought of it sooner Now it is too late !' ADVENTURES OF PINOCCHIO 13 He then took the puppet under the arms and placed him on the floor to teach him to walk. Pinocchio's- legs were stiff and he could not move, but Geppetto led him by the hand and showed him how to put one foot before the other. When his legs became flexible Pinocchio began to walk by himself and to run about the room; until, having gone out of the house door, he jumped into the street and escaped. Poor Geppetto rushed after him but was not able to overtake him, for that rascal Pinocchio leapt in front of him like a hare, and knocking .his wooden .feet together against the pavement made as much clatter as twenty pairs of peasants' clogs. Stop him stop him !' shouted Geppetto; but the people in the street, seeing a wooden puppet running like a racehorse, stood still in astonishment to look at it, and laughed, 'and laughed, and laughed, until it beats description. At last, as good luck would have it, a carabineer arrived who, hearing the uproar, imagined that a colt had escaped from his master.. Planting himself courageously with his legs apart in the middle of the road, he waited with the determined purpose of stop- ping him, and thus preventing the chance of worse disasters, When Pinocchio, still at some distance, x4 ADVENTURES OF PINOCCHIO saw the carabineer barricading the whole street, he endeavoured to take him by sur- prise and to pass between his legs. But he failed signally. The carabineer without disturbing himself in the least caught him cleverly by the hose -it was an immense nose of ridiculous pro- portions that seemed 'made on purpose to be laid hold of by carabineers-and consigned him to Geppetto. Wishing to punish him, Geppetto intended to pull his ears at once. But imagine his feelings when he could not succeed in finding them. And do you know the reason ? It was that, in his hurry to model him, he had forgotten to make them. He then took him by the collar, and as he was leading him away he said to him, shaking his head threateningly: 'We will go home at once, and as soon as we arrive we will regulate our accounts, never doubt it.' At-this announcement Pinocchio threw himself on the ground and would not take another step. In the meanwhile a crowd of idlers and inquisitive people began to assemble and to make a ring round them. Some of them said one thing, some another. 'Poor puppet 1' said several, 'he is right not to wish to return home! Who knows how Geppetto, that bad old man, will beat him . .' ADVENTURES OF PINOCCHIO 5z And the others added maliciously: 'Geppetto seems a good man! but with boys he is a regular tyrant! If that poor puppet is left in his hands he is quite cap- able of tearing him in pieces . . It ended in so much being said and done that the carabineer at last set Pinocchio at liberty and conducted Geppetto to prison. The poor man not being ready with words to defend himself cried like a calf, and as he was being led away to prison sobbed out: 'Wretched boy! And to think how I have laboured to make him a well-conducted puppet I But it serves me right! I should have thought of it sooner! . .' What happened afterwards is a story that really is past all belief, but I will relate it to you in the following chapters. The story of Pinocchio and the Talking- cricket, from which we see that naughty boys cannot endure to be corrected by those who know more than they do. \ WELL then, children, I must tell you that whilst poor Geppetto was being taken to prison for no fault of his, that imp Pinocchio, finding him- self free from the clutches of the carabineer, ran off S as fast as his legs could carry him. That he S might reach home the S quicker he rushed across the fields, and in his mad I hurry he jumped high banks, thorn hedges, and ditches full of water, exactly as a kid or a leveret would have done if pursued by hunters. ADVENTURES OF PINOCCHIO 17 Having arrived at the house he found the street door ajar. He pushed it open, went in, and having secured the latch threw himself seated on the ground and gave a great sigh of satisfaction. But his satisfaction did not last long, for he heard some one in the room who was saying : Cri-cri-cri I ' 'Who calls me?' said Pinocchio in a fright. 'It is I!' Pinocchio turned round and saw a big cricket crawling slowly up the wall. 'Tell me, Cricket, who may you be?' 'I am the Talking-cricket, and I have lived in this room a hundred years and more.' Now, however, this room is mine,' said the puppet, 'and if you would do me a pleasure go away at once, without even turn- ing round.' I will not go,' answered the Cricket, until I have told you a great truth.' 'Tell it me, then, and be quick about it.', 'Woe to those boys who rebel against their parents, and run away capriciously from home. They will never come to any go6d in the world, and sooner or later they will repent bitterly.' 'Sing away, Cricket, as you please, and as long as you please. For me, I have 18 ADVENTURES OF PINOCCHIO made up my mind to run away to-morrow at daybreak, because if I remain I shall not escape the fate of all other boys; I shall be sent to school and shall be made to study either by love or.by force. To tell you in confidence, I have no wish to learn; it is much more amusing to run after butterflies, or to climb trees and to take the young birds out of their nests.' Poor. little goose !. But do you not know that in that way you will grow up a perfect donkey, and that every one will make game' of.you ?' Hold your.tongue, you wicked ill-omened croaker !' shouted Pinocchio. -.But the .Cricket, who was patient and philosophical, instead of. becoming angry at this impertinence, continued in the same tone: - But if you do not wish to go to school why not at least learn a trade, if only to enable you to earn honestly a piece of :bread !'... . 'Do you want me. to. tell you ? replied Pinocchio,'. who:: was .beginning to lose patience. 'Amongst all the trades in the world there is only one that really takes my fancy.' - 'And.that trade-what is it ?' It is to eat, drink, sleep, and amuse myself, and:to lead a vagabond life from morning to night.' ADVENTURES OF PINOCCHIO 19 'As a rule,' said the Talking-cricket with the same composure, 'all those who follow that trade end almost always either in a hospital or in prison.' 'Take care, you wicked ill omened croaker . Woe to you if I fly into a passion! . .' 'Poor Pinocchio I really pity you I ...' 'Why do you pity me ?' 'Because you are a puppet and, what is worse, because you have a wooden head.' At these last words Pinocchio jumped up in a rage, and snatching a wooden hammer from the bench he threw it at the Talking-cricket. Perhaps he never meant to hit him; but unfortunately it struck him exactly on the head, so that the poor Cricket had scarcely breath to cry cri-cri-cri, and then he remained dried up and flattened against the wall. ,.*li .-i Pinocchio is hungry and searches for an egg to make himself an omelet; but just at the most interesting moment the omelet flies out of the window. NIGHT was coming on, and Pinocchio, re- membering that he had eaten nothing all day, began to feel a gnawing in his stomach that very much resembled appetite. But appetite with boys travels quickly, and in fact after a few minutes his appetite had become hunger, and in no time his hunger became ravenous-a hunger that was really quite insupportable. Poor Pinocchio ran quickly to the fire- place where a saucepan was boiling, and was going to take off the lid to see what was in it, but the saucepan was only painted on the wall. You can imagine his feelings. His nose, which was already long, became longer by at least three fingers. He then began to run about the room, searching in the drawers and in every AD VENTURES OF PINOCCHIO. 21 imaginable place, in hopes of finding a bit of bread. If it was only a bit of dry bread, a crust, a bone left by a dog, a little mouldy pudding of Indian corn, a fish bone, a cherry stone-in fact anything that he could gnaw. But he could find nothing, nothing at all, absolutely nothing. And in the meanwhile his hunger grew and grew; and poor Pinocchio had no other relief than yawning, and his yawns were so tremendous that sometimes his mouth almost reached his ears. And after he had yawned he spluttered, and felt as if he was going to faint. Then he began to cry desperately, and he said: 'The Talking-cricket was right. I did wrong to rebel against my papa and to run away from home. . If my papa was here I should not now be dying of yawning Oh ! what a dreadful illness hunger is !' Just theri he thought he saw something in the dust-heap-something round and white that looked like a hen's egg. To give a spring and seize hold of it was the affair of a moment. It was indeed an egg. Pinocchio's joy beats description; it can only be imagined. Almost believing it must be a dream he kept turning the egg over in his hands, feeling it and kissing it. And as he kissed it he said: And now, how shall I cook it? Shall I 22 ADVENTURES OF PINOCCHIO make an omelet? . No, it would be better to cook it in a saucer .. Or would it not be more savoury to fry it in the frying- pan ? Or shall I simply boil it? No, the quickest way of all is to cook it in a saucer: I am in such a hurry to eat it I' Without'loss of time he placed an earthen- ware saucer on a brazier full of red-hot embers. Into the saucer instead of oil or butter he poured a little water; and when the water began to smoke, tac ... he broke the egg-shell over it that the contents might drop in. But instead of the white and the yolk a -little chicken popped out very gay and polite. Making a beautiful courtesy it said to him: * A thousand thanks, Master Pinocchio, for saving me the trouble of breaking the shell. Adieu until we meet again. Keep well, and my best compliments to all at home!' Thus saying it spread its wings, darted through the open window, and flying away was lost to sight. The poor puppet stood as if he had been bewitched, with his eyes fixed, his mouth open, and the egg-shell in.his hand. Re- covering, however, from his first stupefaction, he began to cry and scream, and to stamp his feet on the floor in desperation, .and amidst his sobs he said: Ah I indeed the Talking cricket was right. If I had not run away from home, ADVENTURES OF PINOCCHIO 23 and if my papa was here, I should not now be dying of hunger! Oh what a dreadful illness hunger is I .. And as his stomach cried out more than ever and he did not know how to quiet it, he thought he would leave the house and make an excursion in the neighbourhood in hopes of finding some charitable person who would give him a piece of bread. Pinocchio falls asleep with his feet on the brazier, and wakes in the morning to find them burnt of. IT was a wild and stormy winter's night. The thunder was tremendous and the light- ning so vivid that the sky seemed on fire. A bitter blusterous wind whistled- angrily, and raising clouds of dust swept over the country, causing the trees to creak and groan as it passed. Pinocchiq had a great fear of thunder, but hunger was stronger than fear. He therefore closed the house door and made a rush for the village, which he reached in a hundred bounds, with his tongue hanging out and panting for breath, like a dog after game. But he found it. all dark an'd- deserted. The shops were closed, the windows shut, and there was not so much as a dog in the street. It seemed the land of the dead. ADVENTURES OF PINOCCHIO 25 Pinocchio, urged by desperation and hunger, laid hold of the bell of a house and began to peal it with all his might, saying to himself : 'That will bring somebody.' And so it did. A little old man appeared at a window with a nightcap on his head, and called to him angrily: What do you want at such an hour ?' 'Would you be kind enough to give me a little bread ? ' 'Wait there, I will be back directly,' said the little old man, thinking he had to do with one of those rascally boys who amuse them- selves at night by ringing the house bells to rouse respectable people who are sleeping quietly. After half a minute the window was again opened, and the voice of the same little old man shouted to Pinocchio: 'Come underneath and hold out your cap.' Pinocchio pulled off his cap; but just as he held it out an enormous basin of water was poured down on him, watering him from head to foot as if he had been a pot of dried- up geraniums. He returned home like a wet chicken quite exhausted with fatigue and hunger; and having no longer strength to stand, he sat down and rested his damp and muddy feet on a brazier full of burning embers. 26 ADVENTURES OF PINOCCHIO And then he fell asleep; and whilst he slept his feet, which were wooden, took fire, and little by little they burnt away and be- came cinders. Pinocchio continued to sleep and to snore as if his feet belonged to some one else. At last about daybreak he awoke because some one was knocking, at the door. Who is there ?' he asked, yawning and rubbing his eyes. 'It is I I' answered a voice. And the voice was Geppetto's voice. Gefietto returns home, makes the puifpet new feet, and gives him the breakfast that the poor man had brought for himself. POOR Pinocchio, whose eyes were still half shut from sleep, had not as yet discovered that his feet were burnt off. The moment, therefore, that he heard his father's voice he slipped off his stool to run and open the door; but after stumbling two or three times he fell his whole length/on the floor. And the noise he made in falling was as if a sack of wooden ladles had been thrown from a fifth story. 28 ADVENTURES OF PINOCCHIO 'Open the door !' shouted Geppetto from the street. 'Dear papa, I cannot,' answered the puppet, crying and rolling about on the ground. 'Why cannot you ?' 'Because my feet have been eaten.' 'And who has eaten your feet ?' 'The 'cat,' said Pinocchio, seeing the cat, who was amusing herself by making some shavings dance with her forepaws. 'Open the door, I tell you!' repeated Geppetto. If you don't, when I get into the house you shall have the cat from me I' I cannot stand up, believe me. Oh, poor me poor me I shall have to walk on my knees for the rest of my life . . Geppetto, believing that all this lamenta- tion was only another of the puppet's tricks, thought of a means of putting an end to it, and climbing up the wall he got in at the window. He was very angry, and at first he did nothing but scold; but when he saw his Pinocchio lying on the ground and really without feet he was quite overcome. He took him in his arms and began to kiss and caress him and to say a thousand endearing things to him, and as the big tears ran down his cheeks he said, sobbing: 'My little Pinocchio! how did you manage to burn your feet ?' I don't know, papa, but believe me it ADVENTURES OF PINOCCHIO 29 has been an infernal night that I shall remember as long as I live. It thundered and lightened, and I was very hungry, and then the Talking-cricket said to me: "It serves you right; you have been wicked and you deserve it," and I said to him: "Take care, Cricket!" . and he said: "You are a puppet and you have a wooden head," and I threw the handle of a hammer at him, and he died, but the fault was his, for I didn't wish to kill him, and the proof of it is that I put an earthenware saucer on a brazier of burning embers, but a chicken flew out and said: "Adieu until we meet again, and many compliments to all at home" : and I got still more hungry, for which reason that little old man in a nightcap opening the window said to me: Come underneath and hold out your hat," and poured a basin- ful of water on my head, because asking for a little bread isn't a disgrace, is it ? and I returned home at once, and because I was always very hungry I put my feet on the brazier to dry them, and then you returned, and I found they were burnt off, and I am always hungry, but I have no longer any feet! Ih Ih! Ih! Ih! . .' And poor Pinocchio began to cry and to roar so loudly that he was heard five miles off. Geppetto, who from all this jumbled account had only understood one thing, which was that the puppet was dying of 30 ADVENTURES OF PINOCCHIO . hunger, drew from his pocket, three pears, and giving them to him said: These three pears were intended for my breakfast; but I will give them to you willingly. Eat them, and I hope they will do you good.' If you wish me to eat them, be kind enough to peel them for me.' Peel them ?' said Geppetto, astonished. 'I should never have thought, my boy that you were so dainty and fastidious. That is bad I In this world we should accustom ourselves from childhood to like and to eat everything, for there is no saying to what we may be brought. There are so many chances I . .' 'You are no doubt right,' interrupted Pinocchio, 'but I will never eat fruit that has not been peeled. I cannot bear rind.' So that good Geppetto fetched a knife, and arming himself with patience peeled the three pears, and put the rind on a corner of the table. Having eaten the first pear in two mouth- fuls, Pinocchio was about to throw away the core; but Geppetto caught hold of his arm and said to him: 'Do not throw it away; in this world everything may be of use.' 'But core I am determined I will not eat,' shouted the puppet, turning upon him like a viper. ADVENTURES OF PINOCCHIO 31 'Who knows there are so many chances . .' repeated Geppetto without losing his temper. And so the three cores, instead of being thrown out of the window, were placed on the corner of the table together with the three rinds. Having eaten, or rather having devoured the three pears, Pinocchio yawned tremen- dously, and then said in a fretful tone: 'I am as hungry as ever I' 'But, my boy, I have nothing more to give you 1' 'Nothing, really nothing ?' 'I have only the rind and the cores of the three pears.' 'One must have patience!' said Pinocchio; 'if there is nothing else I will eat a rind.' And he began to chew it. At first he made a wry face; but then one after another he quickly disposed of the rinds: and after the rinds even the cores, and when he had eaten up everything he clapped his hands on his sides in his satisfaction, and said joyfully : 'Ah now I feel comfortable.' 'You see now,' observed Geppetto, 'that I was right when I said to you that it did not do to accustom ourselves to be too particular or too dainty in our tastes. We can never know, my dear boy, what may happen to us. There are so many chances I .' VIII Gefibetto makes Pinocchio new feet, and sells his own coat to buy him a SVelling-book. No sooner had the puppet appeased his hunger than he began to cry and to grumble because he wanted a pair of new feet. But Geppetto, to punish him for his naughtiness, allowed him to cry and to despair for half the day. He then said to him: 'Why should I make you new feet? To enable you, perhaps, to escape again from home ?' I promise you,' said the puppet, sobbing, 'that for the future I will be good.' -'--C ADVENTURES OF PINOCCHIO 33 'All boys,' replied Geppetto, when they are bent upon obtaining something, say the same thing.' 'I promise you that I will go to school, and that I will study and earn a good character.' All boys, when they are bent on obtaining something, repeat the same story.' 'But I am not like other.boys! I am better than all of them and I always speak the truth. I promise you, papa, that I will learn a trade, and that I will be the consola- tion and the staff of your old age.' Geppetto, although he put on a severe face, had his eyes full of tears and his heart big with sorrow at seeing his poor Pinocchio in such a pitiable state. He did not say an- other word, but taking his tools and two small pieces of well-seasoned wood he set to work with great diligence. In less than an hour the feet were finished: two little feet-swift, well-knit, and nervous. They might have been modelled by an artist of genius. Geppetto then said to the puppet: Shut your eyes and go to sleep !' And Pinocchio shut his eyes and pretended to be asleep. And whilst he pretended to sleep, Geppetto, with a little glue which he had melted in an egg-shell, fastened his feet in their place, and it was so well done that not even a 34 ADVENTURES OF PINOCCHIO trace could be seen of where they were joined. No sooner had the puppet discovered that he had feet than he jumped down from the table on which he was lying, and began to spring and to cut a thousand capers about the room, as if he had gone mad with the greatness of his delight. 'To reward you for what you have done for me,' said Pinocchio to his father, I will go to school at once.' 'Good boy.' 'But to go to school I shall want some clothes.' Geppetto, who was poor, and who had not so much as. a farthing in his pocket, then made him a little dress of flowered paper, a pair of shoes from the bark of a tree, and a cap of the crumb of bread. Pinocchio ran immediately to look at him- self in a crock of water, and he was so pleased with his appearance that he said, strutting about like a peacock: I look quite like a gentleman !' 'Yes indeed,' answered Geppetto, 'for bear in mind that it is not fine clothes that make the gentleman, but rather clean clothes.' 'By the bye,' added the puppet, 'to go to school I am still in want-indeed I am with- out the best thing, and the most important.' And what is it ? ' ADVENTURES OF PINOCCHIO 35 'I have no Spelling-book.' 'You are right: but what shall we do to get one ?' It is quite easy. We have only to go to the bookseller's and buy it.' 'And the money ?' 'I have got none.' 'No more have I,' added the good old man very sadly. And Pinocchio, although he was a very merry boy, became sad also ; because poverty when it is real poverty is understood by everybody-even by boys. Well, patience exclaimed Geppetto, all at once rising to his feet, and putting on his old fustian coat, all patched and darned, he ran out of the house. He returned shortly, holding in his hand a Spelling-book for Pinocchio, but the old coat was gone. The poor man was in his shirt sleeves, and out of doors it was snow- ing. 'And the coat, papa ?' 'I have sold it.' 'Why did you sell it?' 'Because I found it too hot.' Pinocchio understood this answer in an instant, and unable to restrain the impulse of his good heart.he sprang up, and throw- ing his arms round Geppetto's neck he began kissing him again and again. Pinocchio sells his Spelling-book that he may go and see a puppet-show. As soon as it had done snowing Pinocchio set out for school with his fine Spelling-book under his arm. As he went along he began to imagine a thousand things in his little brain, and to build a thousand castles in the air, one more beautiful than the other. And talking to himself he said : 'To-day at school I will learn to read at once; then to-morrow I will begin to write, and the day after to-morrow to cipher. Then with my acquirements I will earn a great deal of money, and with the first money I have in my pocket I will im- mediately buy for my papa a beautiful new cloth coat. But what am I saying ? Cloth, ADVENTURES OF PINOCCHIO 37 indeed It shall be all made of gold and silver, and it shall have diamond buttons. That poor man really deserves it; for to buy me books and have me taught he has remained in his shirt sleeves. . And in this cold! It is only fathers who are capable of such sacrifices . .' Whilst he was saying this with great emotion he thought that- he heard music in the distance that sounded like fifes and the beating of a big drum: fi-fi-fi, fi-fi-fi, zum, zum, zum, zum. He stopped and listened. The sounds came from the end of a cross street that took to a little village on the seashore. 'What can that music be? What a pity that I have to go to school, or else .. And he remained irresolute. It was, however, necessary to come to a decision. Should he go to school? or should he go after the fifes ? 'To-day' I will go and hear the fifes, and to-morrow I will go to school,' finally decided the young scapegrace, shrugging his shoulders. The more he ran the nearer came the sounds of the fifes and the beating of the big drum: fi-fi-fi, zum, zum, zum, zum. At last he found himself in the middle of a square quite full of people, who were all crowding round a building made of wood and canvas, and painted a thousand colours. 38 ADVENTURES OF PINOCCHIO What is that building ?' asked Pinocchio, turning to a little boy who belonged to the place. 'Read the placard-it is all written-and then you will know.' I would read it willingly, but it so happens that to-day I don't know how to read.' Bravo, blockhead Then I will read it to you. The writing on that placard in those letters red as fire is: 'GREAT PUPPET THEATRE.' Has the play begun long ?' It is beginning now.' 'How much does it cost to go in ?' 'Twopence.' Pinocchio, who was in a fever of curiosity, lost all control of himself, and without any shame he said to the little boy to whom he was talking: 'Would you lend me twopence until to-morrow?' I would lend them to you willingly,' said the other, taking him off, 'but it so happens that to-day I cannot give them to you.' I will sell you my jacket for twopence,' the puppet then said to him. What do you think that I could do with a jacket of flowered paper ? If there was rain and it got wet, it would be impossible to get it off my back.' ADVENTURES OF PINOCCHIO 39 'Will you buy my shoes ?' 'They would only be of use to light the fire.' 'How much will you give me for my cap ?' 'That would be a wonderful acquisition indeed! A cap of bread crumb There would be a risk of the mice coming to eat it whilst it was on my head.' Pinocchio was on thorns. He was on the point of making another offer, but he had not the courage. He hesitated, felt irresolute and remorseful. At last he said: 'Will you give me twopence for this new Spelling-book?' I am a boy and I don't buy from boys, replied his little interlocutor, who had much more sense than he had. 'I will buy the Spelling-book for two- pence,' called out a hawker of old clothes, who had been listening to the conversation. And the book was sold there and then. And to think that poor Geppetto had remained at home trembling with cold in his shirt sleeves, that he might buy his son a Spelling-book! The puppiets recognize their brother Pinocchio, and receive'him with delight; but at that moment their master Fire-eater makes his appearance and Pinocchio is in danger of coming to a bad end. WHEN Pinocchio came into the little puppet theatre, an incident occurred that almost produced a revolution. I must tell you that the curtain was drawn up, and the play had already begun. On the stage Harlequin and Punchinello were as usual quarrelling with each other, and threatening every moment to come to blows. The audience, all attention, laughed till they were ill as they listened to the bicker- ADVENTURES OF PINOCCHIO 41 ings of these two puppets, who gesticulated and abused each other so naturally that they might have been two reasonable beings, and two persons of the world. All at once Harlequin stopped short, and turning to the public he pointed with his hand to some one far down in the pit, and exclaimed in a dramatic tone: Gods of the firmament! do I dream, or am I awake ? But surely that is Pinocchio I . .' 'It is indeed Pinocchio!' cried Punchinello. 'It is indeed himself!' screamed Miss Rose, peeping from behind the scenes. 'It is Pinocchio! it is Pinocchio!' shouted all the puppets in chorus, leaping from all sides on to the stage. 'It is Pinocchio! It is our brother Pinocchio! Long live Pinocchio I . . 'Pinocchio, come up here to me,' cried Harlequin,' and throw yourself into the arms of your wooden brothers !' At this affectionate invitation Pinocchio made a leap from the end of the pit into the reserved seats; another leap landed him on the head of the leader of the orchestra, and he then sprang upon the stage. The embraces, the hugs, the friendly pinches, and the demonstrations of warm brotherly affection that Pinocchio received from the excited crowd of actors and actresses of the puppet dramatic company beat de- scription. 42 ADVENTURES OF PINOCCHIO The sight was doubtless a moving one, but the public in the pit, finding that the play was stopped, became impatient, and began to shout: We will have the play-go on with the play !' It was all breath thrown away. The puppets, instead of continuing the recital, redoubled their noise and outcries, and put- ting Pinocchio on their shoulders they carried him in triumph before the footlights. At that moment out came the showman. He was very big, and so ugly that the sight of him was enough to frighten any one. His beard was as black as ink, and so long that it reached from his chin to the ground. I need only say that he trod upon it when he walked. His mouth was as big as an oven, and his eyes were like two lanterns of red glass with lights burning inside them. He carried a large whip made of snakes and foxes' tails twisted together, which he cracked constantly. At his unexpected appearance there was a profound silence: no one dared to breathe. A fly might have been heard in the stillness. The poor puppets of both sexes trembled like so many leaves. 'Why have you come to raise a disturb- ance in my theatre?' asked the showman of Pinocchio, in the gruff voice of a hob- goblin suffering from a severe cold in the head. ADVENTURES OF PINOCCHIO 43 'Believe me, honoured sir, that it was not my fault! . . That is enough To-night we will settle our accounts.' As soon as the play was over the show- man went into the kitchen where a fine sheep, preparing for his supper, was turning slowly on the spit in front of the fire. As there was not enough wood to finish roasting and browning it, he called Harlequin and Pun- chinello, and said to them : 'Bring that puppet here: you will find him hanging on a nail. It seems to me that he is made of very dry wood, and I am sure that if he was thrown on the fire he would make a beautiful blaze for the roast.' At first Harlequin and Punchinello hesi- tated; but, appalled by a severe glance from their master, they obeyed. In a short time they returned to the kitchen carrying poor Pinocchio, who was wriggling like an eel taken out of water, and screaming desper- ately: 'Papa! papa! save me! I will not die, I will not die .. XI Fire-eater sneezes and pardons Pinocchio, who then saves the life of his friend Harlequin. THE showman Fire-eater-for that was his name-looked, I must say, a terrible man, especially with his black beard that covered his chest and legs like an apron. On the whole, however, he had not a bad heart. In proof of this, when he saw poor Pinocchio brought before him, struggling and scream- ing I will not die, I will not die !' he was quite moved and felt very sorry for him. He tried to hold out, but after a little he could stand it no longer and he sneezed violently. When he heard the sneeze, Har- ADVENTURES OF PINOCCHIO 45 lequin, who up to that moment had been in the deepest affliction, and bowed down like a weeping willow, became quite cheerful, and leaning towards Pinocchio he whispered to him softly: Good news, brother. The showman has sneezed, and that is a sign that he pities you, and consequently you are saved.' For you must know that whilst most men when they feel compassion for somebody either weep, or at least pretend to dry their eyes, Fire-eater on the contrary, whenever he was really overcome, had the habit of sneez- ing. After he had sneezed the showman, still acting the ruffian, shouted to Pinocchio: 'Have done crying! Your lamentations have given me a pain in my stomach. . . I feel a spasm, that almost . Etci etci !' and he sneezed again twice. 'Bless you!' said Pinocchio. 'Thank you! And your papa and your mamma, are they still alive ?' asked Fire- eater. 'Papa, yes: my mamma I have never known.' 'Who can say what a sorrow it would be for your poor old father if I was to have you thrown amongst those burning coals Poor old man I compassionate him .. Etci ! etcil etci 1' and he sneezed again three times. 'Bless you !' said Pinocchio. 46 ADVENTURES OF PINOCCHIO 'Thank you !All the same, some compas- sion is due to me, for as you see I have no more wood with which to finish roasting my mutton, and to tell you the truth, under the circumstances you would have been of great use to me However, I have had pity on you, so I must have patience. Instead of you I will bur under the spit one of the puppets belonging to my company. Ho there, gendarmes !' At this call two wooden gendarmes im- mediately appeared. They were very long and very thin, and had on cocked hats, and held unsheathed swords in their hands. The showman said to them in a hoarse voice: Take Harlequin, bind him securely, and then throw him on the fire to burn. I am determined that my mutton shall be well roasted.' Only imagine that poor Harlequin His terror was so great that his legs bent under him, and he fell with his face on the ground. At this agonising sight Pinocchio, weeping bitterly, threw himself at the showman's feet, and bathing his long beard with his tears he began to say in a supplicating voice: Have pity, Sir Fire-eater . 'Here there are no sirs,' the showman answered severely. Have pity, Sir Knight .. 'Here there are no knights !' ADVENTURES OF PINOCCHIO 47 'Have pity, Commander I.. .' 'Here there are no commanders!' 'Have pity, Excellence . Upon hearing himself called Excellence the showman began to smile, and became at once kinder and more tractable. Turning to Pinocchio he asked: 'Well, what do you want from me?' 'I implore you to pardon poor Harlequin.' 'For him there can be no pardon. As I have spared you he must be put on the fire, for I am determined that my mutton shall be well roasted.' 'In that case,' cried Pinocchio proudly, rising and throwing away his cap of bread crumb-'in that case I know my duty. Come on, gendarmes! Bind me and throw me amongst the flames. No, it is not just that poor Harlequin, my true friend, should die for me . These words, pronounced in a loud heroic voice, made all the puppets who were present cry. Even the gendarmes, although they were made of wood, wept like two newly-born lambs. Fire-eater at first remained as hard and unmoved as ice, but little by little he began to melt and to sneeze. And having sneezed four or five times, he opened his arms affectionately, and said to Pinocchio : You are a good brave boy Come here and give me a kiss.' 48 ADVENTURES OF PINOCCHIO Pinocchio ran at once, and climbing like a squirrel up the showman's beard he de- posited a hearty kiss on the point of his nose. 'Then the pardon is granted ?' asked poor Harlequin in a faint voice that was scarcely audible. The pardon is granted !' answered Fire- eater: he then added, sighing and shaking his head: 'I must have patience To-night I shall have to resign myself to eat the mutton half raw; but another time, woe to him who chances . .' At the news of the pardon the puppets all ran to the stage, and having lighted the lamps and chandeliers as if for a full-dress per- formance, they began to leap and to dance merrily. At dawn they were still dancing. -- - The showman Fire-eater makes Pinocchio a present of fve gold pieces to take home to his father Gefpetto: but Pinocchio instead allows himself to be taken in by the Fox and the Cat, and goes with them. THE following day Fire-eater called Pin- occhio on one side and asked him: 'What is your father's name ?' 'Geppetto.' 'And what trade does he follow ?' 'He is a beggar.' 'Does he gain much ? ' 'Gain much? Why, he has never a penny in his pocket. Only think, to buy a Spelling-book for me to go to school, he was obliged to sell the only coat he had to wear-a coat that between patches and ~dars was not fit to be seen.' Poor devil I I feel almost sorry for him ! E o5 ADVENTURES OF PINOCCHIO 6 ' Here are five gold pieces. Go at once and take them to him with my compliments:' You can easily understand that Pinocchio thanked the showman a thousand times. He embraced all the puppets of the company ohe by one, even to the gendarmes, and beside himself with delight set out tq return home. But he had not gone far when he met on the road a Fox lame of one foot, and a Cat blind of both eyes, who were going along helping each other like good companions in misfortune. The Fox who was lame walked leaning on the Cat, and the Cat who was blind was guided by the Fox. 'Good day, Pinocchio,' said the Fox, accosting him politely. 'How do you come to know my name ?' asked the puppet. 'I know your father well.' 'Where did you see him ?' 'I saw him yesterday at the door of his house.' 'And what was he doing?' 'He was in his shirt sleeves and shiver- ing with cold.' 'Poor papa! But that is over; for the future h'e shall shiver no more . 'Why?' 'Because I am become a gentleman.' 'A gentleman-you !' said the Fox, and he began to laugh rudely and scornfully ADVENTURES OF PINOCCHIO 5 The Cat also began to laugh, but to conceal it she combed her Whiskers with her fore- paws. 'There is little to laugh at,' cried Pin- occhio angrily. 'I am really sorry to make your mouths water, but if you know any- thing about it, you can see that these here are five gold pieces.' And he pulled out the money that Fire- eater had made him a present of. At the sympathetic ring of the money the Fox with an involuntary movement stretched out the paw that had seemed crippled, and the cat opened wide two eyes that looked like two green lanterns. It is true that she shut them again, and so quickly that Pinocchio observed nothing. And now,' asked the Fox, what are you going to do with all that money ?' 'First of all,' answered the puppet, 'I intend to buy a new coat for my papa, made of gold and silver, and with diamond buttons; and then I will buy a Spelling- book for myself.' 'For yourself?' 'Yes indeed: for I wish to go to school to study in .earnest.' Look at me !' said the Fox. Through my foolish passion for study I have lost a leg.' Look at me !' said the Cat. Through my foolish passion for study I have lost the sight of both my eyes.' 52 ADVENTURES OF PINOCCHIO At that moment a white Blackbird, that was perched on the hedge by the road, began his usual song, and said: Pinocchio, don't listen-to the advice of bad companions : if you do you will repent it . . Poor Blackbird I If only he had not spoken The Cat with a great leap sprang upon him, and without even giving him time to say Oh I ate him in a mouthful, feathers and all. Having eaten him and cleaned her mouth she shut her eyes again and feigned blind- ness as before. 'Poor Blackbird 1' said Pinocchio to the Cat, why did you treat him so badly ?' I did it to give him a lesson. He will learn another time not to meddle in other people's conversation.' They had gone almost half-way when the Fox, halting suddenly, said to the puppet: 'Would you like to double your money ? ' 'In what way ? ' 'Would you like to make out of your five miserable sovereigns, a hundred, a thousand, two thousand ? ' 'I should think so! but in what way ?' 'The way is easy enough. Instead of returning home you must go with us.' 'And where do you wish to take me.' 'To the land of the Owls.' ADVENTURES OF PINOCCHIO 53 Pinocchio reflected a moment, and then he said resolutely : 'No, I will not go. I am already close to the house, and I will return home to my papa who is waiting for me. .Who can tell how often the poor old man must have sighed yesterday when I did not come back! I have indeed been a bad son, and the Talking-cricket was right when he said: "' Disobedient boys never come to any good in the world." I have found .it to my cost, for many misfortunes have happened to me. Even yesterday in Fire-eater's house I ran the risk .. Oh! it makes me shudder only to think of it !' 'Well, then,' said the Fox, 'you are quite decided to go home? Go, then, and so much the worse for you.' So much the worse for you I repeated the Cat. Think well of it, Pinocchio, for you are giving a kick to fortune.' 'To fortune !' repeated the Cat. 'Between to-day and to-morrow your five sovereigns would have become two thousand.' 'Two thousand !' repeated the Cat. 'But how is it possible that they could have become so many ?' asked Pinocchio, remaining with his mouth open from astonishment. I will explain it to you at once,' said the Fox. 'You must know that in the land of 54 ADVENTURES OF PINOCCHIO the Owls there is a sacred field called by everybody the Field of miracles. In this field you must dig a little hole, and you put into it; we will say, one gold sovereign. You then cover up the hole with a little earth: you must water it with two pails of water from the fountain, then sprinkle it with two pinches of salt, and when night comes you can go quietly to bed. In the meanwhile, during the night, the gold piece will grow and flower, and in the morning when you get up.and return to the field, what do you find? You find a beautiful tree laden with as many gold sovereigns as a fine ear of corn has grains in the month of June.' 'So that,' said Pinocchio, more and more bewildered, 'supposing I buried my five sovereigns in that field, how many should I find there the following morning ?' That is an exceedingly easy calculation,' replied the Fox, 'a calculation that you can make on the ends of your fingers. Put that every sovereign gives you an increase of five hundred: multiply five hundred by five, and the following morning will find you with two thousand five hundred shining gold pieces in your pocket.' Oh how delightful !' cried Pinocchio, dancing for joy. As soon as ever I have obtained those sovereigns, I will keep two thousand for myself, and the other five AD VENTURES OF PINOCCHIO 55 hundred I will make a present of to you two.' 'A present to us?' cried the Fox with indignation, and appearing much offended. 'What are you dreaming of?' What are you dreaming of ?' repeated the Cat. 'We do not work,' said the Fox, 'for dirty interest: we work solely to enrich others.' 'Others !' repeated the Cat. 'What good people !' thought Pinocchio to himself: and forgetting there and then his papa, the new coat, the Spelling-book, and all his good resolutions, he said to the Fox and the Cat: 'Let us be off at once. I will go with you. ./ XIII The inn of The Red Craw-fish. THEY walked, and walked, and walked, until at last, towards evening, they arrived dead tired at the inn of The Red Craw-fish. 'Let us stop here a little,' said the Fox, 'that we may have something to eat and rest ourselves for an hour or two. We will start again at midnight, so as to arrive at the Field of miracles by dawn to-morrow morning.' Having gone into the inn they all three sat down to table: but none of them had any appetite. The Cat, who was suffering from indigestion and feeling seriously indisposed, could only - eat thirty five mullet with tomato sauce, and four portions of tripe with Parmesan cheese; and because she thought the tripe ADVENTURES OF PINOCCHIO 57 was not seasoned enough, she asked three times for the butter and grated cheese ! The Fox.would also willingly have picked a little, but as his doctor had ordered hint a strict diet, he was forced to content himself simply with a hare dressed with a sweet and sour sauce, and garnished lightly with fat chickens and early pullets. After the hare he sent for a made dish of partridges, rabbits, frogs, lizards, and other delicacies; he could not touch anything else. He had such a disgust to food, he said, that he could put nothing to his lips. The one who ate the least was Pinocchio. He asked for some walnuts and a hunch of bread, and left everything on his plate. The poor boy, whose thoughts were continually fixed on the Field of miracles, had got in anticipation an indigestion of gold pieces. When they had supped, the Fox said to the host: Give us two good rooms, one for Mr. Pinocchio, and the other for me and my companion. We will snatch a little sleep before we leave. Remember, however, that at midnight we wish to be called to continue our journey.' 'Yes, gentlemen,' answered the host, and he winked at the Fox and the Cat as much as to say: I know what you are up to. We understand one another ! No sooner had Pinocchio got into bed 58 ADVENTURES OF PINOCCHIO than he fell asleep at once and began to dream. And he dreamt that he was in the middle of a field, and the field-was full of shrubs covered with clusters of gold sover- eigns, and as they swung in the wind they went zin, zin, zin, almost as if they would say: Let who will, come and take us.' But when Pinocchio was at the most interesting moment, that is, just as he was stretching out his hand to pick handfuls of those beau- tiful gold pieces and to put them in his pocket, he was suddenly wakened by three violent blows on the door of his room. It was the host who had come to tell him that midnight had struck. 'Are my companions ready?' asked the puppet. 'Ready! Why, they left two hours ago.' 'Why were they in such a hurry ?' 'Because the Cat had received a message to say that her eldest kitten was ill with chilblains on his feet, and was in danger of death.' Did they pay for the supper ?' 'What are you thinking of? They are much too well educated to dream of offering such an insult to a gentleman like you.' 'What a pity It is an insult that would have given me so much pleasure!' said Pinocchio, scratching his head. He then asked: ADVENTURES OF PINOCCHIO 59 'And where did my good friends say they would wait for me ?' 'At the Field of miracles, to-morrow morning at daybreak.' Pinocchio paid a sovereign for his supper and that of his companions, and then left. Outside the inn it was so pitch dark that he had almost to grope his way, for it was impossible to see a hand's breadth in front of him. In the adjacent country not a leaf moved. Only some night-birds flying across the road from one hedge to the other brushed Pinocchio's nose with their wings as they passed, which caused him so much terror that, springing back, he shouted : Who goes there ?' and the echo in the surrounding hills repeated in the distance : Who goes there ? Who goes there-? Who goes there ?' As he was walking along he saw a little insect shining dimly on the trunk of a tree, like a night-light in a lamp of transparent 'china. 'Who are you ?' asked Pinocchio. 'I am the ghost of the Talking-cricket,' answered the insect in a low voice, so weak and faint that it seemed to come from the other world. 'What do you want with me ?' said the puppet. 'I want to give you some advice. Go back, and take the four sovereigns that you have left to your poor father, who is weeping 6o ADVENTURES OF PINOCCHIO and in despair because you have never re- turned to him.' By to-morrow my papa will be a gentle- man, for these four sovereigns will have become two thousand.' 'Don't trust, my boy, to those who promise to make you rich in a day. Usually they are either mad or rogues Give ear to me, and go back.' 'On the contrary, I am determined to go on.' 'The hour is late! .. 'I am determined to go on.' 'The night is dark! . .' 'I am determined to go on.' 'The road is dangerous . . 'I am determined to go on.' 'Remember that boys who are bent on following their caprices, and will have their own way, sooner or later repent it.' 'Always the same stories. Good-night, Cricket.' Good-night, Pinocchio, and may Heaven preserve you from dangers and from assas- sins.' No sooner had he said these words than Sthe Talking-cricket vanished suddenly like a light that has been blown out, and the road became darker than ever. XIV Pinocchio, because he would not heed the good counsels of the Talking-cricket,falls amongst assassins. REALLY,' said the S puppet to himself S as he resumed his Journey, 'how un- fortunate we poor boys are. Every- body scolds us, Everybody admon- ishes us, everybody S .. gives us good ad- vice. To let them S talk, they would all take it into their S heads to be our ii -- fathers and our masters-all: even the Talking-cricket. See .c-,` .. r-. U--- S 62 ADVENTURES OF PINOCCHIO now: because I don't choose to listen to that tiresome Cricket, who knows, according to him, how many misfortunes are to happen to me I I am even to meet with assassins 1 That is, however, of little consequence, for I don't believe in assassins-I have never believed in them. For me, I think that assassins have been invented purposely by papas to frighten boys who want to go out at night. Besides, supposing I was to come across them here in the road, do you imagine they would frighten me ? not the least in the world. I should go to meet them and cry: "Gentlemen assassins, what do you want with me ? Remember that with me there is no joking. Therefore go about your business and be quiet !" At this speech, said in a deter- mined tone, those poor assassins-I think I see them-would run away like the wind. If, however, they were so badly educated as not to run away, why, then, I would run away my- self, and there would be an end of it. . .' But Pinocchio had not time to finish his reasoning, for at that moment he thought that he heard a slight rustle of leaves behind him. He turned to look, and saw in the gloom two evil-looking black figures completely enveloped in charcoal sacks. They were running after him on tiptoe, and making great leaps like two phantoms. Here they are in reality !' he said to him- ADVENTURES OF PINOCCHIO 63 self, and not knowing where to hide his gold pieces he put them in his mouth precisely under his tongue. Then he tried to escape. But he had not gone a step when he felt himself seized by the arm, and heard two horrid sepulchral voices saying to him: 'Your money or your life !' Pinocchio, not being able to answer in words, owing to the money that was in his mouth, made a thousand low bows and a thousand pantomimes. He tried thus to make the two muffled figures, whose eyes were only visible through the holes in their sacks, understand that he was a poor puppet, and that he had not as much as a false far- thing in his pocket. 'Come now! Less nonsense and out with the money!' cried the two brigands threateningly. And the puppet made a gesture with his hands to signify: I have got none.' Deliver up your money or you are dead,' said the tallest of the brigands. 'Dead!' repeated the other. 'And after we have killed you, we will also kill your father.' Also your father ! 'No, no, no, not my poor papa!' cried Pinocchio in a despairing tone; and as he said it, the sovereigns clinked in his mouth. 'Ah! you rascal! Then you have hidden 64 ADVENTURES OF PINOCCHIO your money under your tongue Spit it out at once ' But Pinocchio was obdurate. 'Ah you pretend to be deaf, do you ? Wait a moment, leave it to us to find a means to make you spit it out.' And one of them seized the puppet by the end of his nose, and the other took him by the chin, and began to pull them brutally, the one up and the other down, to constrain him to open his mouth. But it was all to no purpose. Pinocchio's mouth seemed to be nailed and riveted together. Then the shortest assassin drew out an ugly knife and tried to force it between his lips like a lever or chisel. But Pinocchio as quick as lightning caught his hand with his teeth, and with one bite bit it clean off and spat it out. Imagine his astonishment when instead of a hand he perceived that he had spat a cat's paw on to the ground. Encouraged by this first victory he used his nails to such purpose that he succeeded in liberating himself from his assailants, and jumping the hedge by the roadside he began to fly across country. The assassins ran after him like two dogs chasing a hare: and the one who had lost a paw ran on one leg, and no one ever knew how he managed it. After a race of some miles Pinocchio could do no more. Giving himself up for lost he climbed the stem of a very high pine- ADVENTURES OF PINOCCHIO 65 tree and seated himself in the topmost branches. The assassins attempted to climb after him, but when they had reached half- way up the stem they slid down again, and arrived on the ground with the skin grazed from their hands and knees. SBut they were not to be beaten by so jttle: collecting a quantity of dry wood they .piled it beneath the pine and set fire to it. In less time than it takes to tell the pine began to burn and to flame like a candle blown by the wind. Pinocchio, seeing that the flames were mounting higher every instant, and not wishing to end his life like a roasted pigeon, made a stupendous leap from the top of the tree and started afresh across the fields and vineyards. The assas- sins followed him, and kept behind him with- out once giving in. The day began to break and they were still pursuing him. Suddenly Pinocchio found his way barred by a wide deep ditch full of dirty water the colour of coffee. What was he to do ? 'One! two I three !' cried the puppet, and making a rush he sprang to the other side. The assassins also jumped, but not having measured the distance properly-splash, splash . they fell into the very middle of the ditch. Pin- occhio, who heard the plunge and the splash- ing of the water, shouted out, laughing, and without stopping: 66 AD VENTURES OF PINOCCHIO 'A fine bath to you, gentleman assassins.' And he felt convinced that they were drowned, when, turning to look, he perceived that on the contrary they were both running after him, still enveloped in their sacks, with the water dripping from them as if they had been two hollow baskets. ~a -c- ~ki XV The assassins pursue Pinocchio; and having overtaken him hang him to a branch of the Big Oak. AT this sight the puppet's courage failed him, and he was on the point of throwing himself on the ground and giving himself over for lost. Turning, however, his eyes in every direction, he saw at some distance, standing out amidst the dark green of the trees, a small house as white as snow. If I had only breath to reach that house,' he said to himself, 'perhaps I should be saved.' -And without delaying an instant, he recommended running for his life through the wood, and the assassins after him. At last, after a desperate race of nearly two hours, he arrived quite breathless at the door of the house, and knocked. No one answered. He knocked again with great violence, for he heard the sound of steps approach- 68 ADVENTURES OF PINOCCHIO ing him, and the heavy panting of his persecutors. The same silence. Seeing that knocking was useless he began in desperation to kick and pommel the door with all his might. The window then opened and a beautiful Child appeared at it. She had blue hair and a face as white as a waxen image; her eyes were closed and her hands were crossed on her breast. Without moving her lips in the least, she said in a voice that seemed to come from the other world: 'In this house there is no one. They are all dead.' 'Then at least open the door for me yourself,' shouted Pinocchio, crying and imploring. 'I am dead also.' 'Dead? then what are you doing there at the window?' I am waiting for the bier to come to carry me away.' Having said this she immediately dis- appeared, and the window was closed again without the slightest noise. 'Ohf beautiful Child with blue hair,' cried Pinocchio, 'open the door for pity's sake! Have compassion on a poor boy pursued by assas . .' But he could not finish the word, for he felt himself seized by the collar, and the same two horrible voices said to him threateningly: ADVENTURES OF PINOCCHIO 69 'You shall not escape from us again I' The puppet, seeing death staring him in the face, was taken with such a violent fit of trembling that the joints of his wooden legs began to creak, and the sovereigns hidden under his tongue to clink. 'Now then,' demanded the assassins, 'will you open your mouth, yes or no ? Ah ! no answer? . Leave it to us: this time we will force you to open it! . . And drawing out two long horrid knives as sharp as razors, clash . they attempted to stab him twice. But the puppet, luckily for him, was made of very hard wood; the knives therefore broke into a thousand pieces, and the assassins were left with the handles in their hands staring at each other. I see what we must do,' said one of them. 'He must be hung! let us hang him!' Let us hang him !' repeated the other. Without loss of time they tied his arms behind him, passed a running noose round his throat, and then hung him to the branch of a tree called the Big Oak. They then sat down on the grass and waited for his last struggle. But at the end of three hours the puppet's eyes were still open, his mouth closed, and he was kicking more than ever. Losing patience they turned to Pinocchio and said in a bantering tone : 70 ADVENTURES OF PINOCCHIO 'Good-bje till to-morrow. Let us hope that "when we return you will be polite enough to allow yourself to be found quite dead, and with your mouth wide open.' And they walked off. In the meantime a tempestuous northerly wind began to blow and roar angrily, and it beat the poor puppet as he hung from side to side, making him swing violently like the clapper of a bell ringing for a wedding. And the swinging gave him atrocious spasms, and the running noose, becoming still tighter round his throat, took away his breath. Little by little his eyes began to grow dim, but although he felt that death was near he still continued to hope that some charitable person would come to his assist- ance before it was too late. But when, after waiting and waiting, he found that no one came, absolutely no one, then he remembered his poor father, and thinking he was dying . he stammered out: Oh, papa! papa! if only you were here !' His breath failed him and he could say no more. He shut his eyes, opened his mouth, stretched his legs, gave a long shudder, and hung stiff and insensible. XVI The beautiful Child with blue hair has the pufpet taken down: has him fput to bed and calls in three doctors to know if he is alive or dead. WHILST poor Pinocchio, suspended to a branch of the Big Oak, was apparently more dead than alive, the beautiful Child with the blue hair came again to the window. When she saw the unhappy puppet hanging by his throat, and dancing up and down in the gusts of the north wind, she was moved by compassion. Striking her hands together she made three little claps. At this signal there came a sound of the sweep of wings flying rapidly, and a large Falcon flew on to the window-sill. What are your orders, gracious Fairy ?' he asked, inclining his beak in sign of reverence-for I must tell you that the Child with blue hair was no more and no less than a beautiful Fairy, who for more than a thousand years had lived in the wood 72 ADVENTURES OF PINOCCHIO 'Do you see that puppet dangling from a branch of the Big Oak ?' 'I see him.' 'Very well. Fly there at once : with your strong beak break the knot that keeps him suspended in the air, and lay him gently on the grass at the foot of the tree.' The Falcon flew away, and after two minutes he returned, saying: 'I have done as you commanded.' 'And how did you find him ?' To see him he appeared dead, but he cannot really be quite dead, for I had no sooner loosened the running noose that tightened his throat than, giving a sigh, he muttered in a faint voice: "Now I feel better . ." The Fairy then striking her hands to- gether made two little claps, and a magnifi- .cent Poodle appeared, walking upright on his hind-legs exactly as if he had been a man. He was in the full-dress livery of a coach- man. On his head he had a three-cornered cap braided with gold, his curly white wig came down on to his shoulders, he had a chocolate-coloured waistcoat with diamond buttons, and two large pockets to contain the bones that his mistress gave him at dinner. He had besides a pair of short crimson velvet breeches, silk stockings, cut- down shoes, and hanging behind him a ADVENTURES OF PINOCCHIO 73 species of umbrella-case made of blue satin, to put his tail intowhen the weatherwas rainy. 'Be quick, Medoro, like a good dog !' said the Fairy to the Poodle. 'Have the most, beautiful carriage in my coach-house put to, and take the road to the wood. When you come to the Big Oak you will find a poor puppet stretched on the grass half dead. Pick him up gently, and lay him flat on the cushions of the carriage and bring him here to me. Have you understood ?' The Poodle, to show that he had under- stood, shook the case of blue satin that he had on three or four times, and ran off like a racehorse. Shortly afterwards a beautiful little carriage came out of the coach-house. The cushions were stuffed with canary feathers, and it was lined in the inside with whipped cream, custard, and Savoy biscuits. The little carriage was drawn by a hundred pairs of white mice, and the Poodle, seated on the coach-box, cracked his whip from side to side like a driver when he is afraid that he is behind time. A quarter of an hour had not passed when the carriage returned. The Fairy, who was waiting at the door of the house, took the poor puppet in her arms, and carried him into a little room that was wainscotted with mother-of-pearl, and sent at once to summon the most famous doctors in theneighbourhood. 74 ADVENTURES OF PINOCCHIO The doctors came immediately one after the other: namely a Crow, an Owl, and a Talking-cricket. 'I wish to know from you gentlemen,' said the Fairy, turning to the three doctors who were assembled round Pinocchio's bed- 'I wish to know from you gentlemen, if this unfortunate puppet is alive or dead . At this request the Crow, advancing first, felt Pinocchio's pulse; he then felt his nose, and then the little toe of his foot: and having done this carefully, he pronounced solemnly the following words : To my belief the puppet is already quite dead; but if unfortunately he should not be dead, then, it would be a sign that he is still alive I' I regret,' said the Owl, to be obliged to contradict the Crow, my illustrious friend and colleague; but in my opinion the puppet is still alive: but if unfortunately he should not be alive, then it would be a sign that he is dead indeed !' 'And you-have you nothing to say?' asked the Fairy of the Talking-cricket. 'In my opinion the wisest thing a prudent doctor can do, when he does not know what he is talking about, is to be silent. For the rest, that puppet there has a face that is not new to me. I have known him for some time I . . Pinocchio, who up to that moment had lain ADVENTURES OF PINOCCHIO 75 immovable, like a real piece of wood, was seized with a fit of convulsive trembling that shook the whole bed. That puppet there,' continued the Talk- ing-cricket, is a confirmed rogue .. . Pinocchio opened his eyes, but shut them again immediately. 'He is a ragamuffin, a do-nothing, a vagabond. . . Pinocchio hid his face beneath the clothes. That puppet there is a disobedient son who will make his poor father die of a broken heart . . At that instant a suffocated sound of sobs and crying was heard in the room. Ima- gine everybody's astonishment when, having raised the sheets a little, it was discovered that the sounds came from Pinocchio. 'When the dead person cries, it is a sign that he is on the road to get well,' said the Crow solemnly. 'I grieve to contradict my illustrious friend and colleague,' added the Owl; 'but for me, when the dead person cries, it is a sign that he is sorry to die.' XVII Pinocchio eats the sugar, but will not take his medicine: when, however, he sees the grave-diggers, who have arrived to carry him away, he takes it. He then tells a lie, and as a punishment his nose grows longer. As soon as the three doctors had left the room the Fairy approached Pinocchio, and having touched his forehead she perceived that he was in a high fever that was not to be trifled with. She therefore dissolved a certain white powder in half a tumbler of water, and offering it to the puppet she said to him lovingly: Drink it, and in a few days you will be cured.' ADVENTURES OF PINOCCHIO 77 Pinocchio looked at the tumbler, made a wry face, and then asked in a plaintive voice : 'Is it sweet or bitter ?' 'It is bitter, but it will do you good.' 'If it is bitter, I will not take it.' 'Listen to me: drink it' 'I don't like anything bitter.' 'Drink it, and when you have drunk it I will give you a lump of sugar to take away the taste.' 'Where is the lump of sugar ?' 'Here it is,' said the Fairy, taking a piece from a gold sugar-basin. 'Give me first the lump of sugar, and then I will drink that bad bitter water. .. 'Do you promise me ?' 'Yes. . . The Fairy gave him the sugar, and Pinocchio, having crunched it up and swallowed it in a second, said, licking his lips : It would be a fine thing if sugar was medicine . I would take it every day.' Now keep your promise and drink these few drops of water, which will restore you to health.' Pinocchio took the' tumbler unwillingly in his hand and put the point of his nose to it: he then approached it to his lips: he then again put his nose to it, and at last said: 78 ADVENTURES OF PINOCCHIO 'It is too bitter! too bitter! I cannot drink it.' 'How can you tell that, when you have not even tasted it ?' I can imagine it I know it from the smell. I want first another lump of sugar . and then I will drink it! . .' The Fairy then, with all the patience of a good mamma, put another lump of sugar in his mouth, and then again presented the tumbler to him. 'I cannot drink it so!' said the puppet, making a thousand grimaces. 'Why ?' 'Because that pillow that is down there on my feet bothers me.' The Fairy removed the pillow. 'It is useless. Even so I cannot drink it. . . 'What is the matter now ?' 'The door of the room, which is half open, bothers me.' The Fairy went and closed the door. In short,' cried Pinocchio, bursting into tears, 'I will not drink that bitter. water- no, no, no! ..' 'My boy, you will repent it. .. . 'I don't care. . . 'Your illness is serious. . . 'I don't care. .. 'The fever in a few hours will carry you into the other world. . . ADVENTURES OF PINOCCHIO 79 I don't care . .' 'Are you not afraid of death ?' 'I am not in the least afraid! .. I would rather die than drink that bitter medicine.' At that moment the. door of the room flew open, and four rabbits as black as ink entered carrying on their shoulders a little bier. 'What do you want with me?' cried Pinocchio, sitting up in bed in a great fright. 'We are come to take you,' said the biggest rabbit. 'To take me? . But I am not yet dead . . No, not yet: but you have only a few minutes to live, as you have refused the 8o ADVENTURES OF PINOCCHIO medicine that would have cured you of the fever.' 'Oh, Fairy, Fairy !' the puppet then began to scream, give me the tumbler at once . . be quick, for pity's sake, for I will not die-no . I will not die. .. .' And taking the tumbler in both hands he emptied it at a draught. 'We must have patience!' said the rabbits; 'this time we have made our journey in vain.' And taking the little bier again on their shoulders they left the room, grumbling and murmuring between their teeth. In fact, a few minutes afterwards Pin- occhio jumped down from the bed quite well: because you must know that wooden puppets have the privilege of being seldom ill and of being cured very quickly. The Fairy, seeing him running and rush- ing about the room as gay and as lively as a young cock, said to him: Then my medicine has really done you good ?' 'Good, I should think so! It has restored me to life .' 'Then why on earth did you require so much persuasion to take it ?' 'Because you see that we boys are all like that We are more afraid of medicine than of the illness.' 'Disgraceful 1 Boys ought to know that I * ADVENTURES OF PINOCCHIO 81 a good remedy taken in time may save them from a serious illness, and perhaps even from death. .' 'Oh! but another time I shall not require so much persuasion. I shall re- member those black rabbits with the bier on their shoulders . and then I shall immediately take the tumbler in my hand, and down it will go . . 'Now come here to me, and tell me how it came about that you fell into the hands of those assassins.' It came about that the showman Fire- eater gave me some gold pieces and said to me: Go, and take them to your father I" and instead I met on the road a Fox and a Cat, two very respectable persons, who said to me: "Would you like those pieces of gold to become a thousand or two? Come with us and we will take you to the Field of miracles," and I said: "Let us go." And they said: "Let us stop at the inn of the Red Craw-fish and after mid- night they left. And when I awoke I found that they were no longer there, because they had gone away. Then I began to travel by night, for you cannot imagine how dark it was; and on that account I met on the road two assassins in charcoal sacks who said to me: "Out with your money," and I said to them: I have got none," because I had .hidden the 82 ADVENTURES OF PINOCCHIO four gold pieces in my mouth, and one of the assassins tried to put his hand in my mouth, and I bit his hand off and spat it out, but instead of a hand I spat out a cat's paw. And the assassins ran after me, and I ran, and ran, until at last they caught me, and tied me by the neck to a tree in this wood, and said to me: "To-morrow we shall return here, and then you will be dead with your mouth open, and we shall be able to carry off the pieces of gold that you have hidden under your tongue."' 'And the four pieces-where have you put them ?' asked the Fairy. I have lost them !' said Pinocchio; but he was telling a lie, for he had them in his pocket. He had scarcely told the lie when his nose, which was already long, grew at once two fingers longer. And where did you lose them ? 'In the wood near here.' At this second lie his nose went on growing. If you have lost them in the wood near here,' said the Fairy, 'we will look for them, and we shall find them: because everything that is lost in that wood is always found.' 'Ah! now I remember all about it,' re- plied the puppet, getting quite confused; I didn't lose the four gold pieces, I swallowed ADVENTURES OF PINOCCHIO 83 them inadvertently whilst I was drinking your medicine.' At this third lie his nose grew to such an extraordinary length that poor Pinocchio could not move in any direction. If he turned to one side he struck his nose against the bed or the window-panes, if he turned to the other he struck it against the walls or the door, if he raised his head a little he ran the risk of sticking it into one of the Fairy's eyes. And the Fairy looked at him and laughed. 'What are you laughing at?' asked the puppet, very confused and anxious at find- ing his nose growing so prodigiously. I am laughing at the lie you have told.' 'And how can you possibly know that I have told a lie ?' Lies, my dear boy, are found out im- mediately, because they are of two sorts. There are lies that have short legs, and 84 ADVENTURES OF PINOCCHIO lies that have long noses. Your lie, as it happens, is one .of those that have a long nose.' Pinocchio, not knowing where to hide himself for shame, tried to run out of the room; but he did not succeed, for his nose had increased so much that it could no longer pass through the door. XVIII Pinocchio meets again the Fox and the Cat, and goes with them to bury his money in the Field of miracles. THE Fairy, as you can imagine, allowed the puppet to cry and to roar for a good half-hour over his nose, which could no longer pass through the door of the room. This she did to give him a severe lesson, and to correct him of the disgraceful fault of telling lies-the most disgraceful fault that a boy can have. But when she saw him quite disfigured, and his eyes swollen out of his head from weeping, she felt full of compassion for him. She therefore beat her hands together, and at that signal a thousand large birds called Wood- peckers flew in at the window. They im- mediately perched on Pinocchio's nose, and began to peck at it with such zeal that in a few minutes his enormous and ridiculous nose was reduced to its usual dimensions. -- ----L--~-- ---rrr-~--_ -L--i------ II 86 ADVENTURES OF PINOCCHIO 'What a good Fairy you are,' said the puppet, drying his eyes, 'and how much I love you 1' 'I love you also,' answered the Fairy; 'and if you will remain with me, you shall be my little brother and I will be your good little sister. . .' 'I would remain willingly . but my poor papa ?' 'I have thought of everything. I have already let your father know, and he will be here to-night.' 'Really ?' shouted Pinocchio, jumping for joy. 'Then, little Fairy, if you consent, I should like to go and meet him. I am so anxious to give a kiss to that poor old man who has suffered so much on my account, that I am counting the minutes.' Go, then, but be careful not to lose your- self. Take the road through the wood and I am sure that you will meet him.' Pinocchio set out; and as soon as he was in the wood he began to run like a kid. But when he had reached a certain spot, almost in front of the Big Oak, he stopped, because he thought that he heard people amongst the bushes. In fact, two persons came out on to the road. Can you guess who they were? . His two travelling companions, the Fox and the Cat, with whom he had supped at the inn of the Red Craw-fish. ADVENTURES OF PINOCCHIO 87 'Why, here is our.dear Pinocchio !' cried the Fox, kissing and embracing him. How come you to be here ?' 'How come you to be here ?' repeated the Cat. 'It is a long story,' answered the puppet, 'which I will tell you when I have time. But do you know that the other night, when you left me alone at the inn, I met with assassins on the road. .. 'Assassins! . Oh, poor Pinocchio! And what did they want ?' 'They wanted to rob me of my gold pieces.' 'Villains! . .' said the Fox. 'Infamous villains!' repeated the Cat. 'But I ran away from them,' continued the puppet, and they followed me: and at last they overtook me and hung me to a branch of that oak-tree. . . And Pinocchio pointed to the Big Oak, which was two steps from them. Is it possible to hear of anything more dreadful ?' said the Fox. In what a world we are condemned to live! Where can respectable peoplelike us find a safe refuge ?' Whilst they were thus talking Pinocchio observed that the Cat was lame of her front right leg, for in fact she had lost her paw with all its claws. He therefore asked her : What have you done with your paw ? The Cat tried to answer but became 88 ADVENTURES OF PINOCCHIO confused. Therefore the Fox said im- mediately : My friend is too modest, and that is why she doesn't speak. I will answer for her. I must tell you that an hour ago we met an old wolf on the road, almost fainting from want of food, who asked alms of us. Not having so much as a fish-bone to give him, what did my friend, who has really the heart of a Caesar, do ? She bit off one of her fore paws, and threw it to that poor beast that he might appease his hunger.' And the Fox, in relating this, dried a tear. Pinocchio was also touched, and approach- ing the Cat. he whispered into her ear : If all cats resembled you, how fortunate the mice would be !' 'And now, what are you doing here ?' asked the Fox of the puppet. 'I am waiting for my papa, whom I expect to arrive every moment.' 'And your gold pieces ?' 'I have got them in my pocket, all but one that I spent at the inn of the Red Craw-fish.' 'And to think that, instead of four pieces, by to-morrow they might become one or two thousand! Why do you not listen to my advice ? why will you not go and bury them in the Field of miracles ?' 'To-day it is impossible: I will go another day.' ADVENTURES OF PINOCCHIO 89 'Another day it will be too late! . .' said the Fox. 'Why ?' 'Because the field has been bought by a gentleman, and after to-morrow no one will be allowed to bury money there.' 'How far off is the Field of miracles ?' Not two miles. Will you come with us? In half an hour you will be there. You can bury your money at once, and in a few minutes you will collect two thousand, and this evening you will return with your pockets full. Will you come with us ?' Pinocchio thought of the good Fairy, old Geppetto, and the warnings of the Talking-cricket, and he hesitated a little before answering. He ended, however, by doing as all boys do who have not a grain of sense and who have no heart-he ended by giving his head a little shake, and saying to the Fox and the Cat: Let us go: I will come with you.' And they went. After having walked half the day they reached a town that was called 'Trap for blockheads.' As soon as Pinocchio entered this town, he saw that the streets were crowded with dogs who had lost their coats and who were yawning from hunger, shorn sheep trembling with cold, cocks without combs or crests who were begging for a grain of Indian corn, large butterflies who 90 ADVENTURES OF PINOCCHIO could no longer fly because they had sold their beautiful coloured wings, peacocks who had no tails and were ashamed to be seen, and pheasants who went scratching about in a subdued fashion, mourning for their brilliant gold and silver feathers gone for ever. In the midst of this crowd of beggars and shame-faced creatures, some lordly carriage passed from time to time contain- ing a Fox, or a thieving Magpie, or some other ravenous bird of prey. 'And where is the Field of miracles?' asked Pinocchio. 'It is here, not two steps from us.' SThey crossed the town, and having gone beyond the walls they came to a solitary field which to look at resembled all other fields. 'We are arrived,' said the Fox to the puppet. 'Now stoop down and dig with your hands a little hole in the ground and put your gold pieces into it.' Pinocchio obeyed. He dug a hole, put into it the four gold pieces that he had left, and then filled up the hole with a little earth. 'Now, then,' said the Fox, 'go to that canal close to us, fetch a can of water, and water the ground where you have sowed them.' Pinocchio went to the canal, and as he had no can he took off one of his old shoes ADVENTURES OF PINOCCHIO 91 and filling it with water he watered the ground over the hole. He then asked: Is- there anything else to be done ?' 'Nothing else,' answered the Fox. 'We can now go away. You can return in about twenty minutes, and you will find a shrub already pushing through the ground, with its branches quite loaded with money.' The poor puppet, beside himself with joy, thanked the Fox and the Cat a thousand times, and promised them a beautiful present. We wish for no presents,' answered the two rascals. 'It is enough for us to have taught you the way to enrich yourself with- out undergoing hard work, and we are as happy as folk out for a holiday.' Thus saying they took leave of Pinocchio, and wishing him a good harvest went about their business. XIX Pinocchio is robbed of his money, and as a punishment he is sent to prison for four months. THE puppet returned to the town and began to count the minutes one by one ; and when he thought that it must be time he took the road leading to the Field of miracles. And as he walked along with hurried steps his heart beat fast tic, tac, tic, tac, like a drawing-room clock when it is really going well. Meanwhile he was thinking to himself: 'And if instead of a thousand gold pieces, I was to.find on the branches of the tree two thousand ? . .And instead of two f |