Part 7 (2/2)

Pinocchio, trying to feel very brave, walked straight up to hi your pardon, Mr Serpent, would you be so kind as to step aside to let ht as well have talked to a wall The Serpent never moved

Once more, in the same sweet voice, he spoke: ”Youho since I have seen him! Would you n of an answer to his questions, but the answer did not coreen Serpent, who had seemed, until then, wide awake and full of life, became suddenly very quiet and still His eyes closed and his tail stopped s his hands together happily Without a moment's hesitation, he started to step over hi when the Serpent shot up like a spring and the Marionette fell head over heels backward He fell so aardly that his head stuck in the ht up in the air

At the sight of the Marionette kicking and squirhed so heartily and so long that at last he burst an artery and died on the spot

Pinocchio freed hian to run in order to reach the Fairy's house before dark As he went, the pangs of hunger grew so strong that, unable to withstand therapes that terapevine than--crack! went his legs

The poor Marionette was caught in a trap set there by a Farht to steal his chickens

CHAPTER 21

Pinocchio is caught by a Far for his chicken coop

Pinocchio, as you ; but all was of no use, for no houses were to be seen and not a soul passed by on the road

Night cas, a little because of fright at finding himself alone in the darkness of the field, the Marionette was about to faint, when he saw a tiny Gloor by He called to her and said: ”Dear little Gloorm, will you set me free?”

”Poor little fellow!” replied the Gloorht in this trap?”

”I stepped into this lonely field to take a few grapes and--”

”Are the grapes yours?”

”No”

”Who has taught you to take things that do not belong to you?”

”I was hungry”

”Hunger, s to another”

”It's true, it's true!” cried Pinocchio in tears ”I won't do it again”

Just then, the conversation was interrupted by approaching footsteps It was the owner of the field, as coht the Weasels which had been eating his chickens

Great was his surprise when, on holding up his lantern, he saw that, instead of a Weasel, he had caught a boy!

”Ah, you little thief!” said the Farry voice ”So you are the one who stealsbitterly ”I carapes”

”He who steals grapes may very easily steal chickens also Take ive you a lesson that you'll rerabbed the Marionette by the collar, and carried him to the house as if he were a puppy When he reached the yard in front of the house, he flung hihly: ”It is late now and it's time for bed Tomorroe'll settledied today, you uardcollar around Pinocchio's neck and tightened it so that it would not co iron chain was tied to the collar The other end of the chain was nailed to the wall

”If tonight it should happen to rain,” said the Farhouse near-by, where you will find plenty of straw for a soft bed It has been Melah for you And if, by any chance, any thieves should co, the Farmer went into the house and closed the door and barred it

Poor Pinocchio huddled close to the doghouse ain he pulled and tugged at the collar which nearly choked him and cried out in a weak voice: ”I deserve it! Yes, I deserve it! I have been nothing but a truant and a vagabond I have never obeyed anyone and I have always done as I pleased If I were only like so many others and had studied and worked and stayed with my poor old father, I should not findthe place of a farain! But what is done can't be undone, and I must be patient!”

After this little sermon to himself, which came frohouse and fell asleep

CHAPTER 22

Pinocchio discovers the thieves and, as a reward for faithfulness, he regains his liberty

Even though a boy may be very unhappy, he very seldo no exception to this rule, slept on peacefully for a few hours till well along toward s and stealthy sounds cohouse and saw four slender, hairy anis and chickens One of thehouse, said in a sweet voice: ”Good evening, Melampo”

”My name is not Melampo,” answered Pinocchio

”Who are you, then?”

”I a here?”

”I'”

”But where is Mela who used to live in this house?”

”He died this ing by your face, I think you, too, are a good-natured dog”

”I beg your pardon, I a!”