the adventures of pinocchio(木偶奇遇记)-第17章

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performing　before　the　kings　and　queens　and　emperors　of
all　the　great　courts　of　Europe。

〃We　thank　you　for　your　attention！〃

This　speech　was　greeted　by　much　laughter　and
applause。　　And　the　applause　grew　to　a　roar　when　Pinocchio；
the　famous　Donkey；　appeared　in　the　circus　ring。　　He　was
handsomely　arrayed。　　A　new　bridle　of　shining　leather　with
buckles　of　polished　brass　was　on　his　back；　two　white
camellias　were　tied　to　his　ears；　ribbons　and　tassels　of　red
silk　adorned　his　mane；　which　was　divided　into　many
curls。　　A　great　sash　of　gold　and　silver　was　fastened　around
his　waist　and　his　tail　was　decorated　with　ribbons　of　many
brilliant　colors。　　He　was　a　handsome　Donkey　indeed！

The　Manager；　when　introducing　him　to　the　public；
added　these　words：

〃Most　honored　audience！　　I　shall　not　take　your　time
tonight　to　tell　you　of　the　great　difficulties　which　I　have
encountered　while　trying　to　tame　this　animal；　since　I
found　him　in　the　wilds　of　Africa。　　Observe；　I　beg　of　you；
the　savage　look　of　his　eye。　　All　the　means　used　by
centuries　of　civilization　in　subduing　wild　beasts　failed　in　this
case。　　I　had　finally　to　resort　to　the　gentle　language　of　the
whip　in　order　to　bring　him　to　my　will。　　With　all　my
kindness；　however；　I　never　succeeded　in　gaining　my　Donkey's
love。　　He　is　still　today　as　savage　as　the　day　I　found
him。　　He　still　fears　and　hates　me。　　But　I　have　found　in
him　one　great　redeeming　feature。　　Do　you　see　this　little
bump　on　his　forehead？　　It　is　this　bump　which　gives　him
his　great　talent　of　dancing　and　using　his　feet　as　nimbly
as　a　human　being。　　Admire　him；　O　signori；　and　enjoy
yourselves。　　I　let　you；　now；　be　the　judges　of　my　success　as　a
teacher　of　animals。　　Before　I　leave　you；　I　wish　to　state
that　there　will　be　another　performance　tomorrow　night。
If　the　weather　threatens　rain；　the　great　spectacle　will　take
place　at　eleven　o'clock　in　the　morning。〃

The　Manager　bowed　and　then　turned　to　Pinocchio　and　said：
〃Ready；　Pinocchio！　　Before　starting　your　performance；
salute　your　audience！〃

Pinocchio　obediently　bent　his　two　knees　to　the　ground
and　remained　kneeling　until　the　Manager；　with　the　crack
of　the　whip；　cried　sharply：　　〃Walk！〃

The　Donkey　lifted　himself　on　his　four　feet　and　walked
around　the　ring。　　A　few　minutes　passed　and　again　the
voice　of　the　Manager　called：

〃Quickstep！〃　and　Pinocchio　obediently　changed　his　step。

〃Gallop！〃　and　Pinocchio　galloped。

〃Full　speed！〃　and　Pinocchio　ran　as　fast　as　he　could。
As　he　ran　the　master　raised　his　arm　and　a　pistol　shot　rang
in　the　air。

At　the　shot；　the　little　Donkey　fell　to　the　ground　as　if
he　were　really　dead。

A　shower　of　applause　greeted　the　Donkey　as　he　arose　to　his　feet。
Cries　and　shouts　and　handclappings　were　heard　on　all　sides。

At　all　that　noise；　Pinocchio　lifted　his　head　and　raised
his　eyes。　　There；　in　front　of　him；　in　a　box　sat　a　beautiful
woman。　　Around　her　neck　she　wore　a　long　gold　chain；
from　which　hung　a　large　medallion。　　On　the　medallion
was　painted　the　picture　of　a　Marionette。

〃That　picture　is　of　me！　　That　beautiful　lady　is　my　Fairy！〃
said　Pinocchio　to　himself；　recognizing　her。　　He　felt　so　happy
that　he　tried　his　best　to　cry　out：

〃Oh；　my　Fairy！　　My　own　Fairy！〃

But　instead　of　words；　a　loud　braying　was　heard　in　the　theater；
so　loud　and　so　long　that　all　the　spectatorsmen；　women；
and　children；　but　especially　the　childrenburst　out　laughing。

Then；　in　order　to　teach　the　Donkey　that　it　was　not
good　manners　to　bray　before　the　public；　the　Manager
hit　him　on　the　nose　with　the　handle　of　the　whip。

The　poor　little　Donkey　stuck　out　a　long　tongue　and　licked
his　nose　for　a　long　time　in　an　effort　to　take　away　the　pain。

And　what　was　his　grief　when　on　looking　up　toward　the　boxes；
he　saw　that　the　Fairy　had　disappeared！

He　felt　himself　fainting；　his　eyes　filled　with　tears；
and　he　wept　bitterly。　　No　one　knew　it；　however；
least　of　all　the　Manager；　who；　cracking　his　whip；　cried　out：

〃Bravo；　Pinocchio！　　Now　show　us　how　gracefully　you　can
jump　through　the　rings。〃

Pinocchio　tried　two　or　three　times；　but　each　time　he
came　near　the　ring；　he　found　it　more　to　his　taste　to　go
under　it。　　The　fourth　time；　at　a　look　from　his　master　he
leaped　through　it；　but　as　he　did　so　his　hind　legs　caught
in　the　ring　and　he　fell　to　the　floor　in　a　heap。

When　he　got　up；　he　was　lame　and　could　hardly　limp　as
far　as　the　stable。

〃Pinocchio！　　We　want　Pinocchio！　　We　want　the　little　Donkey！〃
cried　the　boys　from　the　orchestra；　saddened　by　the　accident。

No　one　saw　Pinocchio　again　that　evening。

The　next　morning　the　veterinarythat　is；　the　animal　doctor
declared　that　he　would　be　lame　for　the　rest　of　his　life。

〃What　do　I　want　with　a　lame　donkey？〃　said　the　Manager
to　the　stableboy。　　〃Take　him　to　the　market　and　sell　him。〃

When　they　reached　the　square；　a　buyer　was　soon　found。

〃How　much　do　you　ask　for　that　little　lame　Donkey？〃　he　asked。

〃Four　dollars。〃

〃I'll　give　you　four　cents。　　Don't　think　I'm　buying　him
for　work。　　I　want　only　his　skin。　　It　looks　very　tough　and
I　can　use　it　to　make　myself　a　drumhead。　　I　belong　to　a
musical　band　in　my　village　and　I　need　a　drum。〃

I　leave　it　to　you；　my　dear　children；　to　picture　to
yourself　the　great　pleasure　with　which　Pinocchio　heard　that
he　was　to　become　a　drumhead！

As　soon　as　the　buyer　had　paid　the　four　cents；　the
Donkey　changed　hands。　　His　new　owner　took　him　to　a　high
cliff　overlooking　the　sea；　put　a　stone　around　his　neck；
tied　a　rope　to　one　of　his　hind　feet；　gave　him　a　push；　and
threw　him　into　the　water。

Pinocchio　sank　immediately。　　And　his　new　master　sat
on　the　cliff　waiting　for　him　to　drown；　so　as　to　skin　him
and　make　himself　a　drumhead。


CHAPTER　34

Pinocchio　is　thrown　into　the　sea；　eaten　by　fishes；
and　becomes　a　Marionette　once　more。　　As　he　swims　to　land；
he　is　swallowed　by　the　Terrible　Shark



Down　into　the　sea；　deeper　and　deeper；　sank　Pinocchio；　and
finally；　after　fifty　minutes　of　waiting；　the　man　on　the　cliff
said　to　himself：

〃By　this　time　my　poor　little　lame　Donkey　must　be
drowned。　　Up　with　him　and　then　I　can　get　to　work　on　my
beautiful　drum。〃

He　pulled　the　rope　which　he　had　tied　to　Pinocchio's
legpulled　and　pulled　and　pulled　and；　at　last；　he　saw
appear　on　the　surface　of　the　waterCan　you　guess　what？
Instead　of　a　dead　donkey；　he　saw　a　very　much　alive
Marionette；　wriggling　and　squirming　like　an　eel。

Seeing　that　wooden　Marionette；　the　poor　man　thought
he　was　dreaming　and　sat　there　with　his　mouth　wide　open
and　his　eyes　popping　out　of　his　head。

Gathering　his　wits　together；　he　said：

〃And　the　Donkey　I　threw　into　the　sea？〃

〃I　am　that　Donkey；〃　answered　the　Marionette　laughing。

〃You？〃

〃I。〃

〃Ah；　you　little　cheat！　　Are　you　poking　fun　at　me？〃

〃Poking　fun　at　you？　　Not　at　all；　dear　Master。
I　am　talking　seriously。〃

〃But；　then；　how　is　it　that　you；　who　a　few　minutes　ago
were　a　donkey；　are　now　standing　before　me　a　wooden　Marionette？〃

〃It　may　be　the　effect　of　salt　water。　　The　sea　is　fond　of
playing　these　tricks。〃

〃Be　careful；　Marionette；　be　careful！　　Don't　laugh　at　me！
Woe　be　to　you；　if　I　lose　my　patience！〃

〃Well；　then；　my　Master；　do　you　want　to　know　my　whole　story？
Untie　my　leg　and　I　can　tell　it　to　you　better。〃

The　old　fellow；　curious　to　know　the　true　story　of　the
Marionette's　life；　immediately　untied　the　rope　which　held　his　foot。
Pinocchio；　feeling　free　as　a　bird　of　the　air；　began　his　tale：

〃Know；　then；　that；　once　upon　a　time；　I　was　a　wooden
Marionette；　just　as　I　am　today。　　One　day　I　was　about　to
become　a　boy；　a　real　boy；　but　on　account　of　my　laziness
and　my　hatred　of　books；　and　because　I　listened　to　bad
companions；　I　ran　away　from　home。　　One　beautiful　morning；
I　awoke　to　find　myself　changed　into　a　donkeylong
ears；　gray　coat；　even　a　tail！　　What　a　shameful　day　for　me！
I　hope　you　will　never　experience　one　like　it；　dear　Master。
I　was　taken　to　the　fair　and　sold　to　a　Circus　Owner；　who
tried　to　make　me　dance　and　jump　through　the　rings。　　One
night；　during　a　performance；　I　had　a　bad　fall　and　became
lame。　　Not　knowing　what　to　do　with　a　lame　donkey；　the　Circus
Owner　sent　me　to　the　market　place　and　you　bought　me。〃

〃Indeed　I　did！　　And　I　paid　four　cents　for　you。
Now　who　will　return　my　money　to　me？〃

〃But　why　did　you　buy　me？　　You　bought　me　to　do　me
harmto　kill　meto　make　a　drumhead　out　of　me！〃

〃Indeed　I　did！　　And　now　where　shall　I　find　another　skin？〃

〃Never　mind；　dear　Master。　　There　are　so　many　donkeys
in　this　world。〃

〃Tell　me；　impudent　little　rogue；　does　your　story　end　here？〃

〃One　more　word；〃　answered　the　Marionette；　〃and　I　am　through。
After　buying　me；　you　brought　me　here　to　kill　me。　　But　feeling
sorry　for　me；　you　tied　a　stone　to　my　neck　and　threw　me
to　the　bottom　of　the　sea。　　That　was　very　good　and　kind
of　you　to　want　me　to　suffer　as　little　as　possible
and　I　shall　remember　you　always。　　And　now　my　Fairy
will　take　care　of　me；　even　if　you〃

〃Your　Fairy？　　Who　is　she？〃

〃She　is　my　mother；　and；　like　all　other　mothers　who
love　their　children；　she　never　loses　sight　of　me；　even
though　I　do　not　deserve　it。　　And　today　this　good　Fairy
of　mine；　as　soon　as　she　saw　me　in　danger　of　drowning；
sent　a　thousand　fishes　to　the　spot　where　I　lay。　　They
thought　I　was　really　a　dead　donkey　and　began　to　eat　me。
What　great　bites　they　took！　　One　ate　my　ears；　another　my
nose；　a　third　my　neck　and　my　mane。　　Some　went　at　my
legs　and　some　at　my　back；　and　among　the　others；　there
was　one　tiny　fish　so　gentle　and　polite　that　he　did　me
the　great　favor　of　eating　even　my　tail。〃

〃From　now　on；〃　said　the　man；　horrified；　〃I　swear　I　shall
never　again　taste　fish。　　How　I　should　enjoy　opening　a　mullet
or　a　whitefish　just　to　find　there　the　tail　of　a　dead　donkey！〃

〃I　think　as　you　do；〃　answered　the　Marionette；
laughing。　　〃Still；　you　must　know　that　when　the　fish　finished
eating　my　donkey　coat；　which　covered　me　from　head　to
foot；　they　naturally　came　to　the　bonesor　rather；　in　my
case；　to　the　wood；　for　as　you　know；　I　am　made　of　very
hard　wood。　　After　the　first　few　bites；　those　greedy　fish
found　out　that　the　wood　was　not　good　for　their　teeth；　and；
afraid　of　indigestion；　they　turned　and　ran　here　and　there
without　saying　good…by　or　even　as　much　as　thank　you　to
me。　　Here；　dear　Master；　you　have　my　story。　　You　know
now　why　you　found　a　Marionette　and　not　a　dead　donkey
when　you　pulled　me　out　of　the　water。〃

〃I　laugh　at　your　story！〃　cried　the　man　angrily。　　〃I　know
that　I　spent　four　cents　to　get　you　and　I　want　my　money　back。
Do　you　know　what　I　can　do；　I　am　going　to　take　you　to　the　market
once　more　and　sell　you　as　dry　firewood。〃

〃Very　well；　sell　me。　　I　am　satisfied；〃　said　Pinocchio。
But　as　he　spoke；　he　gave　a　quick　leap　and　dived　into　the
sea。　　Swimming　away　as　fast　as　he　could；　he　cried　out；　laughing：

〃Good…by；　Master。　　If　you　ever　need　a　skin　for　your　drum；　remember　me。〃

He　swam　on　and　on。　　After　a　while；　he　turned　around　again
and　called　louder　than　before：

〃Good…by；　Master。　　If　you　ever　need　a　piece　of　good　dry　firewood；　remember　me。〃

In　a　few　seconds　he　had　gone　so　far　he　could　hardly　be　seen。
All　that　could　be　seen　of　him　was　a　very　small　black　dot　moving
swiftly　on　the　blue　surface　of　the　water；　a　little　black　dot
which　now　and　then　lifted　a　leg　or　an　arm　in　the　air。
One　would　have　thought