Part 6 (1/2)

Pinocchio did not understand, and started to go on about his business, but the man took him roughly by the nose. Pinocchio shrieked. The crowd stopped. At last, he discovered that the man wanted water. Pinocchio placed the bag on the ground. Then he poured the water into a gla.s.s.

The man drank, paid, and went his way.

”What a thirst for water Africans have!” thought the marionette, as he remembered his companions of the circus. ”I like ices better, and I am going to try to get one with this penny.” At once he started off, leaving the leather bag behind.

17. A Ride On A Dog's Back

A CROWD of boys had by this time gathered in the street. They began, after the manner of boys in nearly every part of the world, to annoy one who was clearly a stranger. They did not know Pinocchio, however, nor the force of his feet and elbows. There came a shower of kicks and punches, and the boys scattered. Away flew Pinocchio. The people were astonished to see those tiny legs fly like the wind. They shouted and ran after him. Pinocchio resolved not to be caught. He turned into a side street that led into the open country. A large dog, stretched out upon the ground, was in his way. Pinocchio measured the distance and leaped.

At that very moment the dog sprang up, and hardly knowing how it happened, Pinocchio found himself astride his back. Barking furiously, the animal shot along like a cannon ball. The poor boy felt sure that he was going to break his neck and prayed for safety. On they rushed.

The dog jumped over rocks and ditches as if he had done nothing in all his life but carry marionettes on his back.

”Is it possible that he is a horse-dog?” thought Pinocchio. ”If he is, I shall ride him always, and when I return home, I shall present him to my father. My companions will die of envy when they see me riding to school like a gentleman. I shall make him a saddle like those I saw on the circus horses, and a pair of silver stirrups. A saddle is really necessary, because it is very uncomfortable to ride in this way.”

The came to a deep gully and the dog prepared to make the leap.

Pinocchio muttered to himself: ”This is the end. If I cross this in safety, I will surely return home and go to school.”

There was a leap, and a plunge into the black, empty air. When he opened his eyes, he found himself lying at the bottom of a precipice in total darkness. How long had he been in the air? The marionette did not know. He remembered only that while flying down he had heard a familiar voice call, ”Pinocchio! Pinocchio! Pinocchio!”

”Farewell to the world and to Africa,” said the marionette. ”Wooden marionettes will never learn. Here I shall stay forever. It serves me right.”

18.The Cave

IF I get out of this prison alive, it will be the greatest wonder I have ever known.” Pinocchio sat in the spot where he had fallen. He now began to suffer from thirst. There had been a great deal of excitement, and his throat was parched. He would have given anything for a sip of the water he had so carelessly left in the middle of the street only a little while before.

”I don't want to die here,” he said. ”I must get up and walk.”

So saying, he moved slowly about, groping with his hands and feet as if he were playing blindman's buff. The ground was soft, and the air seemed fresh. In fact, it was not so bad as he had at first thought.

Only four things worried him, darkness, hunger, thirst, and fear. Aside from these he was safe and sound.

He had gone but a short distance through the darkness when suddenly he thought he heard a faint murmur. He saw a gleam of light. The blood rushed through his veins. He walked on. The sound became clearer, and the light grew brighter. At length Pinocchio found himself in a cave lighted by soft rays. The murmuring sound was caused by a small stream of water coming out from a high rock and forming a little waterfall.

Pinocchio rushed toward the rocks, opened his mouth wide like a funnel, and drank his fill.

”I shall not die of thirst,” said the marionette. ”Unfortunately, I am still hungry. What a fate is mine! Why can we not live without eating? Some day I am going to find a way. If I succeed, I shall teach the poor people to live without food as I do. How happy they will be!”

Meanwhile he looked about for a means of escape. Soon he discovered the hole that lighted the cave, and walked out once more under the open sky.

19. The Caravan

HE saw nothing but rocks and sand; rocks that shone like mirrors, and sand that burned like fire. He walked on very sadly, without knowing where. Presently he found himself upon a hill, from which he could see a vast plain crossed by a wide highway. A long line of people and camels were on the march, but how strange they looked! They were going along with heads down and feet up. At first the marionette was filled with a strong desire to laugh; then he became frightened and rubbed his eyes, doubting what they told him.

”Am I dreaming?” he said to himself.

The line continued its march, and he distinctly heard the people laugh and joke as they all sat upside down on the backs of the inverted camels.

”I was not prepared for this! What a strange way of traveling they have in Africa! Maybe I too am walking on my head!” and he touched himself to make sure that his head was in its proper place.

Meanwhile the caravan pa.s.sed on, and Pinocchio stood still, his eyes fixed upon the camels as they disappeared at the turning of the road.