He waited an hour; two hours; three hours; but the Serpent was alwaysthere, and even from afar one could see the flash of his red eyes andthe column of smoke which rose from his long, pointed tail.
Pinocchio, trying to feel very brave, walked straight up to him and saidin a sweet, soothing voice:
"I beg your pardon, Mr. Serpent, would you be so kind as to step asideto let me pass?"
He might as well have talked to a wall. The Serpent never moved.
Once more, in the same sweet voice, he spoke:
"You must know, Mr. Serpent, that I am going home where my father iswaiting for me. It is so long since I have seen him! Would you mind verymuch if I passed?"
He waited for some sign of an answer to his questions, but the answerdid not come. On the contrary, the green Serpent, who had seemed, untilthen, wide awake and full of life, became suddenly very quiet and still.His eyes closed and his tail stopped smoking.
"Is he dead, I wonder?" said Pinocchio, rubbing his hands togetherhappily. Without a moment's hesitation, he started to step over him, buthe had just raised one leg when the Serpent shot up like a spring andthe Marionette fell head over heels backward. He fell so awkwardly thathis head stuck in the mud, and there he stood with his legs straight upin the air.
At the sight of the Marionette kicking and squirming like a youngwhirlwind, the Serpent laughed so heartily and so long that at last heburst an artery and died on the spot.
Pinocchio freed himself from his awkward position and once more beganto run in order to reach the Fairy's house before dark. As he went, thepangs of hunger grew so strong that, unable to withstand them, he jumpedinto a field to pick a few grapes that tempted him. Woe to him!
No sooner had he reached the grapevine than--crack! went his legs.
The poor Marionette was caught in a trap set there by a Farmer for someWeasels which came every night to steal his chickens.
CHAPTER 21
Pinocchio is caught by a Farmer, who uses him as a watchdog for hischicken coop.
Pinocchio, as you may well imagine, began to scream and weep and beg;but all was of no use, for no houses were to be seen and not a soulpassed by on the road.
Night came on.
A little because of the sharp pain in his legs, a little because offright at finding himself alone in the darkness of the field, theMarionette was about to faint, when he saw a tiny Glowworm flickeringby. He called to her and said:
"Dear little Glowworm, will you set me free?"
"Poor little fellow!" replied the Glowworm, stopping to look at him withpity. "How came you to be caught in this trap?"
"I stepped into this lonely field to take a few grapes and--"
"Are the grapes yours?"
"No."
"Who has taught you to take things that do not belong to you?"
"I was hungry."
"Hunger, my boy, is no reason for taking something which belongs toanother."
"It's true, it's true!" cried Pinocchio in tears. "I won't do it again."
Just then, the conversation was interrupted by approaching footsteps.It was the owner of the field, who was coming on tiptoes to see if, bychance, he had caught the Weasels which had been eating his chickens.
Great was his surprise when, on holding up his lantern, he saw that,instead of a Weasel, he had caught a boy!
"Ah, you little thief!" said the Farmer in an angry voice. "So you arethe one who steals my chickens!"
"Not I! No, no!" cried Pinocchio, sobbing bitterly. "I came here only totake a very few grapes."
"He who steals grapes may very easily steal chickens also. Take my wordfor it, I'll give you a lesson that you'll remember for a long while."
He opened the trap, grabbed the Marionette by the collar, and carriedhim to the house as if he were a puppy. When he reached the yard infront of the house, he flung him to the ground, put a foot on his neck,and said to him roughly: "It is late now and it's time for bed. Tomorrowwe'll settle matters. In the meantime, since my watchdog died today, youmay take his place and guard my henhouse."
No sooner said than done. He slipped a dog collar around Pinocchio'sneck and tightened it so that it would not come off. A long iron chainwas tied to the collar. The other end of the chain was nailed to thewall.
"If tonight it should happen to rain," said the Farmer, "you can sleepin that little doghouse near-by, where you will find plenty of straw fora soft bed. It has been Melampo's bed for three years, and it will begood enough for you. And if, by any chance, any thieves should come, besure to bark!"
After this last warning, the Farmer went into the house and closed thedoor and barred it.
Poor Pinocchio huddled close to the doghouse more dead than alive fromcold, hunger, and fright. Now and again he pulled and tugged at thecollar which nearly choked him and cried out in a weak voice:
"I deserve it! Yes, I deserve it! I have been nothing but a truant anda vagabond. I have never obeyed anyone and I have always done as Ipleased. If I were only like so many others and had studied and workedand stayed with my poor old father, I should not find myself herenow, in this field and in the darkness, taking the place of a farmer'swatchdog. Oh, if I could start all over again! But what is done can't beundone, and I must be patient!"
After this little sermon to himself, which came from the very depths ofhis heart, Pinocchio went into the doghouse and fell asleep.
CHAPTER 22
Pinocchio discovers the thieves and, as a reward for faithfulness, heregains his liberty.
Even though a boy may be very unhappy, he very seldom loses sleep overhis worries. The Marionette, being no exception to this rule, slept onpeacefully for a few hours till well along toward midnight, when hewas awakened by strange whisperings and stealthy sounds coming from theyard. He stuck his nose out of the doghouse and saw four slender, hairyanimals. They were Weasels, small animals very fond of both eggs andchickens. One of them left her companions and, going to the door of thedoghouse, said in a sweet voice:
"Good evening, Melampo."
"My name is not Melampo," answered Pinocchio.
"Who are you, then?"
"I am Pinocchio."
"What are you doing here?"
"I'm the watchdog."
"But where is Melampo? Where is the old dog who used to live in thishouse?"
"He died this morning."
"Died? Poor beast! He was so good! Still, judging by your face, I thinkyou, too, are a good-natured dog."
"I beg your pardon, I am not a dog!"
"What are you, then?"
"I am a Marionette."
"Are you taking the place of the watchdog?"
"I'm sorry to say that I am. I'm being punished."
"Well, I shall make the same terms with you that we had with the deadMelampo. I am sure you will be glad to hear them."
"And what are the terms?"
"This is our plan: We'll come once in a while, as in the past, to paya visit to this henhouse, and we'll take away eight chickens. Of these,seven are for us, and one for you, provided, of course, that you willmake believe you are sleeping and will not bark for the Farmer."
"Did Melampo really do that?" asked Pinocchio.
"Indeed he did, and because of that we were the best of friends. Sleepaway peacefully, and remember that before we go we shall leave you anice fat chicken all ready for your breakfast in the morning. Is thatunderstood?"
"Even too well," answered Pinocchio. And shaking his head in athreatening manner, he seemed to say, "We'll talk this over in a fewminutes, my friends."
As soon as the four Weasels had talked things over, they went straightto the chicken coop which stood close to the doghouse. Digging busilywith teeth and claws, they opened the little door and slipped in. Butthey were no sooner in than they heard the door close with a sharp bang.
The one who had done the trick was Pinocchio, who, not satisfied withthat, dragged a heavy stone in front of it. That done, he started tobark. And he barked as if he were a real watchdog: "Bow,
wow, wow! Bow,wow!"
The Farmer heard the loud barks and jumped out of bed. Taking his gun,he leaped to the window and shouted: "What's the matter?"
"The thieves are here," answered Pinocchio.
"Where are they?"
"In the chicken coop."
"I'll come down in a second."
And, in fact, he was down in the yard in a twinkling and running towardthe chicken coop.
He opened the door, pulled out the Weasels one by one, and, after tyingthem in a bag, said to them in a happy voice: "You're in my hands atlast! I could punish you now, but I'll wait! In the morning you may comewith me to the inn and there you'll make a fine dinner for some hungrymortal. It is really too great an honor for you, one you do not deserve;but, as you see, I am really a very kind and generous man and I am goingto do this for you!"
Then he went up to Pinocchio and began to pet and caress him.
"How did you ever find them out so quickly? And to think that Melampo,my faithful Melampo, never saw them in all these years!"
The Marionette could have told, then and there, all he knew about theshameful contract between the dog and the Weasels, but thinking ofthe dead dog, he said to himself: "Melampo is dead. What is the use ofaccusing him? The dead are gone and they cannot defend themselves. Thebest thing to do is to leave them in peace!"
"Were you awake or asleep when they came?" continued the Farmer.
"I was asleep," answered Pinocchio, "but they awakened me with theirwhisperings. One of them even came to the door of the doghouse and saidto me, 'If you promise not to bark, we will make you a present of oneof the chickens for your breakfast.' Did you hear that? They had theaudacity to make such a proposition as that to me! For you must knowthat, though I am a very wicked Marionette full of faults, still I neverhave been, nor ever shall be, bribed."
"Fine boy!" cried the Farmer, slapping him on the shoulder in a friendlyway. "You ought to be proud of yourself. And to show you what I think ofyou, you are free from this instant!"
And he slipped the dog collar from his neck.
CHAPTER 23
Pinocchio weeps upon learning that the Lovely Maiden with Azure Hairis dead. He meets a Pigeon, who carries him to the seashore. He throwshimself into the sea to go to the aid of his father.
As soon as Pinocchio no longer felt the shameful weight of the dogcollar around his neck, he started to run across the fields and meadows,and never stopped till he came to the main road that was to take him tothe Fairy's house.
When he reached it, he looked into the valley far below him and therehe saw the wood where unluckily he had met the Fox and the Cat, and thetall oak tree where he had been hanged; but though he searched far andnear, he could not see the house where the Fairy with the Azure Hairlived.
He became terribly frightened and, running as fast as he could, hefinally came to the spot where it had once stood. The little house wasno longer there. In its place lay a small marble slab, which bore thissad inscription:
HERE LIES THE LOVELY FAIRY WITH AZURE HAIR WHO DIED OF GRIEF WHEN ABANDONED BY HER LITTLE BROTHER PINOCCHIO
The poor Marionette was heartbroken at reading these words. He fell tothe ground and, covering the cold marble with kisses, burst into bittertears. He cried all night, and dawn found him still there, though histears had dried and only hard, dry sobs shook his wooden frame. Butthese were so loud that they could be heard by the faraway hills.
As he sobbed he said to himself:
"Oh, my Fairy, my dear, dear Fairy, why did you die? Why did I not die,who am so bad, instead of you, who are so good? And my father--where canhe be? Please dear Fairy, tell me where he is and I shall never, neverleave him again! You are not really dead, are you? If you love me, youwill come back, alive as before. Don't you feel sorry for me? I'm solonely. If the two Assassins come, they'll hang me again from the giantoak tree and I will really die, this time. What shall I do alone in theworld? Now that you are dead and my father is lost, where shall I eat?Where shall I sleep? Who will make my new clothes? Oh, I want to die!Yes, I want to die! Oh, oh, oh!"
Poor Pinocchio! He even tried to tear his hair, but as it was onlypainted on his wooden head, he could not even pull it.
Just then a large Pigeon flew far above him. Seeing the Marionette, hecried to him:
"Tell me, little boy, what are you doing there?"
"Can't you see? I'm crying," cried Pinocchio, lifting his head towardthe voice and rubbing his eyes with his sleeve.
"Tell me," asked the Pigeon, "do you by chance know of a Marionette,Pinocchio by name?"
"Pinocchio! Did you say Pinocchio?" replied the Marionette, jumping tohis feet. "Why, I am Pinocchio!"
At this answer, the Pigeon flew swiftly down to the earth. He was muchlarger than a turkey.
"Then you know Geppetto also?"
"Do I know him? He's my father, my poor, dear father! Has he, perhaps,spoken to you of me? Will you take me to him? Is he still alive? Answerme, please! Is he still alive?"
"I left him three days ago on the shore of a large sea."
"What was he doing?"
"He was building a little boat with which to cross the ocean. Forthe last four months, that poor man has been wandering around Europe,looking for you. Not having found you yet, he has made up his mind tolook for you in the New World, far across the ocean."
"How far is it from here to the shore?" asked Pinocchio anxiously.
"More than fifty miles."
"Fifty miles? Oh, dear Pigeon, how I wish I had your wings!"
"If you want to come, I'll take you with me."
"How?"
"Astride my back. Are you very heavy?"
"Heavy? Not at all. I'm only a feather."
"Very well."
Saying nothing more, Pinocchio jumped on the Pigeon's back and, as hesettled himself, he cried out gayly:
"Gallop on, gallop on, my pretty steed! I'm in a great hurry."
The Pigeon flew away, and in a few minutes he had reached the clouds.The Marionette looked to see what was below them. His head swam and hewas so frightened that he clutched wildly at the Pigeon's neck to keephimself from falling.
They flew all day. Toward evening the Pigeon said:
"I'm very thirsty!"
"And I'm very hungry!" said Pinocchio.
"Let us stop a few minutes at that pigeon coop down there. Then we cango on and be at the seashore in the morning."
They went into the empty coop and there they found nothing but a bowl ofwater and a small basket filled with chick-peas.
The Marionette had always hated chick-peas. According to him, they hadalways made him sick; but that night he ate them with a relish. As hefinished them, he turned to the Pigeon and said:
"I never should have thought that chick-peas could be so good!"
"You must remember, my boy," answered the Pigeon, "that hunger is thebest sauce!"
After resting a few minutes longer, they set out again. The next morningthey were at the seashore.
Pinocchio jumped off the Pigeon's back, and the Pigeon, not wanting anythanks for a kind deed, flew away swiftly and disappeared.
The shore was full of people, shrieking and tearing their hair as theylooked toward the sea.
"What has happened?" asked Pinocchio of a little old woman.
"A poor old father lost his only son some time ago and today he built atiny boat for himself in order to go in search of him across the ocean.The water is very rough and we're afraid he will be drowned."
"Where is the little boat?"
"There. Straight down there," answered the little old woman, pointing toa tiny shadow, no bigger than a nutshell, floating on the sea.
Pinocchio looked closely for a few minutes and then gave a sharp cry:
"It's my father! It's my father!"
Meanwhile, the little boat, tossed about by the angry waters, appearedand disappeared in the waves. And Pinocchio, standing on a high rock,tired out with searching, waved to him with hand and cap
and even withhis nose.
It looked as if Geppetto, though far away from the shore, recognized hisson, for he took off his cap and waved also. He seemed to be trying tomake everyone understand that he would come back if he were able, butthe sea was so heavy that he could do nothing with his oars. Suddenly ahuge wave came and the boat disappeared.
They waited and waited for it, but it was gone.
"Poor man!" said the fisher folk on the shore, whispering a prayer asthey turned to go home.
Just then a desperate cry was heard. Turning around, the fisher folk sawPinocchio dive into the sea and heard him cry out:
"I'll save him! I'll save my father!"
The Marionette, being made of wood, floated easily along and swam likea fish in the rough water. Now and again he disappeared only to reappearonce more. In a twinkling, he was far away from land. At last he wascompletely lost to view.
"Poor boy!" cried the fisher folk on the shore, and again they mumbled afew prayers, as they returned home.
CHAPTER 24
Pinocchio reaches the Island of the Busy Bees and finds the Fairy oncemore.
Pinocchio, spurred on by the hope of finding his father and of being intime to save him, swam all night long.
And what a horrible night it was! It poured rain, it hailed, itthundered, and the lightning was so bright that it turned the night intoday.
The Adventures of Pinocchio Page 6