Part 13 (1/2)

Before he had crossed the threshold Pinocchio had sprung to his feet, flung him two kisses with the tips of his fingers, and began to dance like mad with happiness. His wooden leg made a horrible noise. Fatina, fearing Cutemup's anger, begged him to behave.

”What? What? If Cutemup scolds me, woe to him. Did you hear? The King is an old acquaintance of mine. If he gets offended with me, I'll take out my paper and pen and inkstand and I will write: 'Dear King, you are the best and kindest man in the world, but do me the favor to cut off the head, or some other organ, from the major who amputated my leg without permission. In this world an eye for an eye, a head for a leg.

Many kisses from your Pinocchio.'”

CHAPTER VII

_How Pinocchio Came Face to Face with Our Alpine Troops_

If you had come across him unexpectedly in his new costume I a.s.sure you you would not have recognized him. On his head was a woolen helmet from which emerged only his eyes and the point of his nose; on his back was a short coat of goatskin which swelled him out like a German stuffed with beer and sausage; his legs were lost in a pair of big boots with lots of nails. Around his waist was a huge belt of leather from which hung a number of small rope ends, and in his hand he carried a splendid stick with an iron point. Captain Teschisso was a gentleman and wanted his new orderly to be magnificently equipped.

That odd creature of a mountaineer amused himself thoroughly with the rascal Pinocchio. It didn't seem real to see him struggling to conquer the mountain peaks and ready to fight those dogs of Austrians who were up there and with whom he had so many accounts to settle.

They had arrived one morning at Fort ---- (censor). Teschisso had been greeted like one raised from the dead. Finally the soldiers had thrown their arms about his neck and kissed and hugged him. They all seemed like one family, and for a fact they did all resemble one another a little: tall, with extraordinary beards, with muscular legs straight as a column and hands that seemed made to give vigorous blows.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

”Where is my company?”

”On ---- [oh, that censor!], at nine thousand feet alt.i.tude.”

”All well?”

”'Most all.”

”And the Boches, where are they?”

”Bah! We've got them on the run.”

”Send my things up to me with the first supply division; I'm off now at once.”

”Nine feet of snow and a biting wind.”

”Heavens! If I were sure of finding that dog who cut my beard I would go to h.e.l.l itself.”

”I am thinking less of you than of your little orderly.”

”Ha! That youngster has a wooden leg and is as hardy as a goat.”

Pinocchio, to show off, whirled his leg around and with a shy glance convinced himself that in a wink of the eye he had won the respect of the little garrison.

”Listen, Captain, if you give me something to eat I'll go ahead; if you don't, here's where I stay.”

”Indeed!”

”How indeed! Did you understand that I am hungry?”

”And I have nothing more to give you to eat.”