the adventures of pinocchio-第17章

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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　that　Pinocchio　had　turned　into　a　porpoise　playing　in　the　sun。

After　swimming　for　a　long　time；　Pinocchio　saw　a　large　rock　in　the　middle　of　the　sea；　a　rock　as　white　as　marble。　High　on　the　rock　stood　a　little　Goat　bleating　and　calling　and　beckoning　to　the　Marionette　to　come　to　her。

There　was　something　very　strange　about　that　little　Goat。　　Her　coat　was　not　white　or　black　or　brown　as　that　of　any　other　goat；　but　azure；　a　deep　brilliant　color　that　reminded　one　of　the　hair　of　the　lovely　maiden。

Pinocchio's　heart　beat　fast；　and　then　faster　and　faster。　He　redoubled　his　efforts　and　swam　as　hard　as　he　could　toward　the　white　rock。　　He　was　almost　halfway　over；　when　suddenly　a　horrible　sea　monster　stuck　its　head　out　of　the　water；　an　enormous　head　with　a　huge　mouth；　wide　open；　showing　three　rows　of　gleaming　teeth；　the　mere　sight　of　which　would　have　filled　you　with　fear。

Do　you　know　what　it　was？

That　sea　monster　was　no　other　than　the　enormous　Shark；　which　has　often　been　mentioned　in　this　story　and　which；　on　account　of　its　cruelty；　had　been　nicknamed　〃The　Attila　of　the　Sea〃　by　both　fish　and　fishermen。

Poor　Pinocchio！　　The　sight　of　that　monster　frightened　him　almost　to　death！　　He　tried　to　swim　away　from　him；　to　change　his　path；　to　escape；　but　that　immense　mouth　kept　coming　nearer　and　nearer。

〃Hasten；　Pinocchio；　I　beg　you！〃　bleated　the　little　Goat　on　the　high　rock。

And　Pinocchio　swam　desperately　with　his　arms；　his　body；　his　legs；　his　feet。

〃Quick；　Pinocchio；　the　monster　is　coming　nearer！〃

Pinocchio　swam　faster　and　faster；　and　harder　and　harder。

〃Faster；　Pinocchio！　　The　monster　will　get　you！　　There　he　is！　There　he　is！　　Quick；　quick；　or　you　are　lost！〃

Pinocchio　went　through　the　water　like　a　shotswifter　and　swifter。　He　came　close　to　the　rock。　　The　Goat　leaned　over　and　gave　him　one　of　her　hoofs　to　help　him　up　out　of　the　water。

Alas！　　It　was　too　late。　　The　monster　overtook　him　and　the　Marionette　found　himself　in　between　the　rows　of　gleaming　white　teeth。　　Only　for　a　moment；　however；　for　the　Shark　took　a　deep　breath　and；　as　he　breathed；　he　drank　in　the　Marionette　as　easily　as　he　would　have　sucked　an　egg。　　Then　he　swallowed　him　so　fast　that　Pinocchio；　falling　down　into　the　body　of　the　fish；　lay　stunned　for　a　half　hour。

When　he　recovered　his　senses　the　M