Part 7 (1/2)

21. Pinocchio Travels With The Caravan

THE camels, refreshed by the large amount of water they had taken, stood up, proud of their loads. Even the donkey brayed. Yes, there was a donkey! And this fact displeased Pinocchio. He had for a long time felt a great dislike for these animals. In fact, he had once been a donkey, and his dislike was a natural one.

The donkey did not carry any load, and for that reason the marionette was asked to ride on its back. He hesitated. It was stupid to ride a donkey, and he would have preferred to walk, but he did not like to seem rude to the good people, and up he mounted.

They traveled all day along the narrow road which gradually wound around the slope of a mountain. The old man rode by the side of Pinocchio, asking him many questions about the studies he had taken up to prepare himself for this trip to Africa.

The marionette talked a great deal, and as might have been expected, made many blunders. He began to think that his companions were very simple, and that in Africa one could tell any kind of lie without being discovered. He even went so far as to a.s.sure the old man that he knew the very spot where they could find gold and diamonds, and ended by saying that within a week they should all be men of great wealth.

”You must walk straight ahead,” the saucy marionette was saying, ”then to the right, and you will arrive at the bottom of a valley, through which flows a beautiful brook of yellow water. By the side of this brook is a tree, and beneath the tree there is gold in plenty.”

The old man was amazed to hear the tales he told. Pinocchio himself felt ashamed of all these lies. He was afraid his nose would grow as it had done one day at home. But no, it was still its natural size!

”Well!” he thought, ”if it has not grown longer this time, it will never grow again, no matter how many lies I tell.”

22. He Is Offered For Sale

THEY went on until they met a second caravan resting at a well.

Every one admired Pinocchio, and the old man who had him in charge treated him as if he were his own son.

Pinocchio was greatly pleased. Yet to tell the truth he was worried.

Suppose they discovered that he had lied, and that he knew nothing about Africa, or the gold, or the diamonds! What would happen then?

The old man was talking to three or four men of the new caravan.

Pinocchio did not like their faces. Now and then they looked toward the marionette with open eyes of astonishment.

Pinocchio p.r.i.c.ked up his ears to listen to the good things the old man was saying about him. He felt highly flattered on hearing himself praised for his character, his intelligence, and his ability to eat and drink.

Then the men lowered their voices, and the marionette only now and then caught some stray words.

”How much do you want?”

”Come!” replied the good old man, ”between us there should not be so much talk. I cannot give him to you unless you give me twenty yards of English calico, thirty yards of iron wire, and four strings of gla.s.s beads.”

”It is too much. It is too much,” replied one.

”They are bargaining for the donkey,” said Pinocchio, and he felt sorry for the poor beast.

”I am sorry for you,” he went on, addressing the donkey, ”because you have made me quite comfortable. Now I must give you up and walk.”

”It is too much. It is too much,” the men were saying.

”Yes, yes, all you say is very true,” spoke one in a high voice, ”but, after all, he is made of wood.”

”Of wood? Who is made of wood? The donkey?” thought Pinocchio, looking at the animal, which stood still, its ears erect as if it also were listening.

”Here!” put in one of the men, ”the bargain is made if you will give him up for an elephant's tooth; if not, let us talk no more of it.”