Part 9 (1/2)

Help!”At the first shout the two men who were holding him let him fall to the ground and started off in a great fright. All the others followed their example.

”What funny people!” said Pinocchio. ”If I had known that they would all run away like this, I should not have been so uneasy. However, I really do not know why I have come here. If I only knew where to find diamonds and gold, it would not be so hard. I might return home to my father, for who knows how much he is suffering because I am not there!”

At that moment he would have given up the whole trip, but he was too stupid to keep an idea in his head for more than a few seconds. Another thought flashed across his mind, and he forgot his poor father.

”If these people run away, it means that they are afraid, and if they are afraid, it means that they have no courage. Now then, I, being very brave, may in a short time come to rule over everything in Africa.

Perhaps - who knows! - I may become a king or an emperor!”

Pinocchio, you lazy dreamer, are you never going to learn wisdom?

Only a blockhead like you could be so foolish. A wooden emperor, indeed!

26. The Monkeys Stone The Marionette

FILLED with these hopes and forgetting his fright, Pinocchio set boldly forth without the least alarm at the difficulties of the journey. He was going merrily along, dreaming of all the great things he would do as emperor of Africa, when at a turn in the road there came flying after him a volley of stones. Had any struck him he would have been killed. Astonished and frightened at this strange turn of affairs, he glanced around, but saw no one. He looked up at the trees, and then from right to left, but n.o.body was in sight.

”This is pleasant!” exclaimed the marionette. ”Have those pebbles fallen from the sky?” And he started to go on his way.

He had taken only a few steps, when a second discharge drove him to the shelter of a large tree. Thence he looked carefully in the direction from which the stones continued to come. To his surprise he discovered among the bushes and twigs a large number of monkeys.

”Well! What is this?” cried the marionette. ”Those rogues must not be allowed to play such mean tricks. I had better be on my guard.”

He picked up a stout stick lying on the ground near by. To his amazement, the monkeys threw away the stones and began to pick up sticks likewise.

”I hope I shall get through this safely!” thought Pinocchio. He raised his stick and threatened the whole army of monkeys.

The monkeys, as if obeying his command, raised their sticks and held them erect, imitating exactly the action of the marionette. Then Pinocchio lowered his stick, and the monkeys lowered theirs. Again Pinocchio lifted his stick as high as he could, and the monkeys raised theirs, holding them stiffly like soldiers on drill.

”Arms rest!” cried Pinocchio.

All the monkeys, imitating the marionette, lowered their sticks in perfect order, just as soldiers do at the officer's command.

”That's a good idea,” thought Pinocchio, ”I might become the leader of the monkeys, and within a month conquer all Africa.” And he laughed at the joke.

The monkeys looked straight at him, standing erect and in line waiting for further orders.

”Ah! you wish to follow me!” said the marionette. ”This might suit your taste, but not mine, thank you! I will give you marching orders.

Then I shall be left in peace.”

Accordingly Pinocchio, who was determined to get away from these annoying beasts, moved two steps forward. The monkeys advanced two steps also. Then he took three steps to the rear, and the monkeys went back three steps.

”At - tention!” and facing about quickly, he started to run. All the monkeys also turned, and began to run in the direction opposite to that taken by the marionette. Pinocchio, laughing at his own cunning, went his way, only now and then turning to watch the dark forms as they disappeared in the distance.

”They all run away in this country,” he said to himself, and he too ran on, fearing that the worthy beasts would return for further orders.

27. Pinocchio Dreams Again

”IF these people are such cowards that they run at the sound of my voice, in a few days I shall be master of all Africa. I shall be a great man. However, this is a country of hunger and thirst and fatigue.

I must find a place where I can rest a little before I begin my career of conquest.”