At dawn, he saw, not far away from him, a long stretch of sand. It wasan island in the middle of the sea.
Pinocchio tried his best to get there, but he couldn't. The waves playedwith him and tossed him about as if he were a twig or a bit of straw. Atlast, and luckily for him, a tremendous wave tossed him to the very spotwhere he wanted to be. The blow from the wave was so strong that, as hefell to the ground, his joints cracked and almost broke. But, nothingdaunted, he jumped to his feet and cried:
"Once more I have escaped with my life!"
Little by little the sky cleared. The sun came out in full splendor andthe sea became as calm as a lake.
Then the Marionette took off his clothes and laid them on the sand todry. He looked over the waters to see whether he might catch sight ofa boat with a little man in it. He searched and he searched, but he sawnothing except sea and sky and far away a few sails, so small that theymight have been birds.
"If only I knew the name of this island!" he said to himself. "If I evenknew what kind of people I would find here! But whom shall I ask? Thereis no one here."
The idea of finding himself in so lonesome a spot made him so sad thathe was about to cry, but just then he saw a big Fish swimming near-by,with his head far out of the water.
Not knowing what to call him, the Marionette said to him:
"Hey there, Mr. Fish, may I have a word with you?"
"Even two, if you want," answered the fish, who happened to be a verypolite Dolphin.
"Will you please tell me if, on this island, there are places where onemay eat without necessarily being eaten?"
"Surely, there are," answered the Dolphin. "In fact you'll find one notfar from this spot."
"And how shall I get there?"
"Take that path on your left and follow your nose. You can't go wrong."
"Tell me another thing. You who travel day and night through the sea,did you not perhaps meet a little boat with my father in it?"
"And who is you father?"
"He is the best father in the world, even as I am the worst son that canbe found."
"In the storm of last night," answered the Dolphin, "the little boatmust have been swamped."
"And my father?"
"By this time, he must have been swallowed by the Terrible Shark, which,for the last few days, has been bringing terror to these waters."
"Is this Shark very big?" asked Pinocchio, who was beginning to tremblewith fright.
"Is he big?" replied the Dolphin. "Just to give you an idea of his size,let me tell you that he is larger than a five story building and thathe has a mouth so big and so deep, that a whole train and engine couldeasily get into it."
"Mother mine!" cried the Marionette, scared to death; and dressinghimself as fast as he could, he turned to the Dolphin and said:
"Farewell, Mr. Fish. Pardon the bother, and many thanks for yourkindness."
This said, he took the path at so swift a gait that he seemed to fly,and at every small sound he heard, he turned in fear to see whether theTerrible Shark, five stories high and with a train in his mouth, wasfollowing him.
After walking a half hour, he came to a small country called the Landof the Busy Bees. The streets were filled with people running to and froabout their tasks. Everyone worked, everyone had something to do. Evenif one were to search with a lantern, not one idle man or one trampcould have been found.
"I understand," said Pinocchio at once wearily, "this is no place forme! I was not born for work."
But in the meantime, he began to feel hungry, for it was twenty-fourhours since he had eaten.
What was to be done?
There were only two means left to him in order to get a bite to eat. Hehad either to work or to beg.
He was ashamed to beg, because his father had always preached to himthat begging should be done only by the sick or the old. He had saidthat the real poor in this world, deserving of our pity and help, wereonly those who, either through age or sickness, had lost the means ofearning their bread with their own hands. All others should work, and ifthey didn't, and went hungry, so much the worse for them.
Just then a man passed by, worn out and wet with perspiration, pulling,with difficulty, two heavy carts filled with coal.
Pinocchio looked at him and, judging him by his looks to be a kind man,said to him with eyes downcast in shame:
"Will you be so good as to give me a penny, for I am faint with hunger?"
"Not only one penny," answered the Coal Man. "I'll give you four if youwill help me pull these two wagons."
"I am surprised!" answered the Marionette, very much offended. "I wishyou to know that I never have been a donkey, nor have I ever pulled awagon."
"So much the better for you!" answered the Coal Man. "Then, my boy, ifyou are really faint with hunger, eat two slices of your pride; and Ihope they don't give you indigestion."
A few minutes after, a Bricklayer passed by, carrying a pail full ofplaster on his shoulder.
"Good man, will you be kind enough to give a penny to a poor boy who isyawning from hunger?"
"Gladly," answered the Bricklayer. "Come with me and carry some plaster,and instead of one penny, I'll give you five."
"But the plaster is heavy," answered Pinocchio, "and the work too hardfor me."
"If the work is too hard for you, my boy, enjoy your yawns and may theybring you luck!"
In less than a half hour, at least twenty people passed and Pinocchiobegged of each one, but they all answered:
"Aren't you ashamed? Instead of being a beggar in the streets, why don'tyou look for work and earn your own bread?"
Finally a little woman went by carrying two water jugs.
"Good woman, will you allow me to have a drink from one of your jugs?"asked Pinocchio, who was burning up with thirst.
"With pleasure, my boy!" she answered, setting the two jugs on theground before him.
When Pinocchio had had his fill, he grumbled, as he wiped his mouth:
"My thirst is gone. If I could only as easily get rid of my hunger!"
On hearing these words, the good little woman immediately said:
"If you help me to carry these jugs home, I'll give you a slice ofbread."
Pinocchio looked at the jug and said neither yes nor no.
"And with the bread, I'll give you a nice dish of cauliflower with whitesauce on it."
Pinocchio gave the jug another look and said neither yes nor no.
"And after the cauliflower, some cake and jam."
At this last bribery, Pinocchio could no longer resist and said firmly:
"Very well. I'll take the jug home for you."
The jug was very heavy, and the Marionette, not being strong enough tocarry it with his hands, had to put it on his head.
When they arrived home, the little woman made Pinocchio sit down at asmall table and placed before him the bread, the cauliflower, andthe cake. Pinocchio did not eat; he devoured. His stomach seemed abottomless pit.
His hunger finally appeased, he raised his head to thank his kindbenefactress. But he had not looked at her long when he gave a cry ofsurprise and sat there with his eyes wide open, his fork in the air, andhis mouth filled with bread and cauliflower.
"Why all this surprise?" asked the good woman, laughing.
"Because--" answered Pinocchio, stammering and stuttering, "because--youlook like--you remind me of--yes, yes, the same voice, the same eyes,the same hair--yes, yes, yes, you also have the same azure hair shehad--Oh, my little Fairy, my little Fairy! Tell me that it is you! Don'tmake me cry any longer! If you only knew! I have cried so much, I havesuffered so!"
And Pinocchio threw himself on the floor and clasped the knees of themysterious little woman.
CHAPTER 25
Pinocchio promises the Fairy to be good and to study, as he is growingtired of being a Marionette, and wishes to become a real boy.
If Pinocchio cried much longer, the little woman thought he would meltaway, so she finally admitted that she
was the little Fairy with AzureHair.
"You rascal of a Marionette! How did you know it was I?" she asked,laughing.
"My love for you told me who you were."
"Do you remember? You left me when I was a little girl and now you findme a grown woman. I am so old, I could almost be your mother!"
"I am very glad of that, for then I can call you mother instead ofsister. For a long time I have wanted a mother, just like other boys.But how did you grow so quickly?"
"That's a secret!"
"Tell it to me. I also want to grow a little. Look at me! I have nevergrown higher than a penny's worth of cheese."
"But you can't grow," answered the Fairy.
"Why not?"
"Because Marionettes never grow. They are born Marionettes, they liveMarionettes, and they die Marionettes."
"Oh, I'm tired of always being a Marionette!" cried Pinocchiodisgustedly. "It's about time for me to grow into a man as everyone elsedoes."
"And you will if you deserve it--"
"Really? What can I do to deserve it?"
"It's a very simple matter. Try to act like a well-behaved child."
"Don't you think I do?"
"Far from it! Good boys are obedient, and you, on the contrary--"
"And I never obey."
"Good boys love study and work, but you--"
"And I, on the contrary, am a lazy fellow and a tramp all year round."
"Good boys always tell the truth."
"And I always tell lies."
"Good boys go gladly to school."
"And I get sick if I go to school. From now on I'll be different."
"Do you promise?"
"I promise. I want to become a good boy and be a comfort to my father.Where is my poor father now?"
"I do not know."
"Will I ever be lucky enough to find him and embrace him once more?"
"I think so. Indeed, I am sure of it."
At this answer, Pinocchio's happiness was very great. He grasped theFairy's hands and kissed them so hard that it looked as if he had losthis head. Then lifting his face, he looked at her lovingly and asked:"Tell me, little Mother, it isn't true that you are dead, is it?"
"It doesn't seem so," answered the Fairy, smiling.
"If you only knew how I suffered and how I wept when I read 'Herelies--'"
"I know it, and for that I have forgiven you. The depth of your sorrowmade me see that you have a kind heart. There is always hope for boyswith hearts such as yours, though they may often be very mischievous.This is the reason why I have come so far to look for you. From now on,I'll be your own little mother."
"Oh! How lovely!" cried Pinocchio, jumping with joy.
"You will obey me always and do as I wish?"
"Gladly, very gladly, more than gladly!"
"Beginning tomorrow," said the Fairy, "you'll go to school every day."
Pinocchio's face fell a little.
"Then you will choose the trade you like best."
Pinocchio became more serious.
"What are you mumbling to yourself?" asked the Fairy.
"I was just saying," whined the Marionette in a whisper, "that it seemstoo late for me to go to school now."
"No, indeed. Remember it is never too late to learn."
"But I don't want either trade or profession."
"Why?"
"Because work wearies me!"
"My dear boy," said the Fairy, "people who speak as you do usually endtheir days either in a prison or in a hospital. A man, remember,whether rich or poor, should do something in this world. No one canfind happiness without work. Woe betide the lazy fellow! Laziness is aserious illness and one must cure it immediately; yes, even from earlychildhood. If not, it will kill you in the end."
These words touched Pinocchio's heart. He lifted his eyes to his Fairyand said seriously: "I'll work; I'll study; I'll do all you tell me.After all, the life of a Marionette has grown very tiresome to me and Iwant to become a boy, no matter how hard it is. You promise that, do younot?"
"Yes, I promise, and now it is up to you."
CHAPTER 26
Pinocchio goes to the seashore with his friends to see the TerribleShark.
In the morning, bright and early, Pinocchio started for school.
Imagine what the boys said when they saw a Marionette enter theclassroom! They laughed until they cried. Everyone played tricks on him.One pulled his hat off, another tugged at his coat, a third tried topaint a mustache under his nose. One even attempted to tie strings tohis feet and his hands to make him dance.
For a while Pinocchio was very calm and quiet. Finally, however, helost all patience and turning to his tormentors, he said to themthreateningly:
"Careful, boys, I haven't come here to be made fun of. I'll respect youand I want you to respect me."
"Hurrah for Dr. Know-all! You have spoken like a printed book!" howledthe boys, bursting with laughter. One of them, more impudent than therest, put out his hand to pull the Marionette's nose.
But he was not quick enough, for Pinocchio stretched his leg under thetable and kicked him hard on the shin.
"Oh, what hard feet!" cried the boy, rubbing the spot where theMarionette had kicked him.
"And what elbows! They are even harder than the feet!" shouted anotherone, who, because of some other trick, had received a blow in thestomach.
With that kick and that blow Pinocchio gained everybody's favor.Everyone admired him, danced attendance upon him, petted and caressedhim.
As the days passed into weeks, even the teacher praised him, for he sawhim attentive, hard working, and wide awake, always the first to come inthe morning, and the last to leave when school was over.
Pinocchio's only fault was that he had too many friends. Among thesewere many well-known rascals, who cared not a jot for study or forsuccess.
The teacher warned him each day, and even the good Fairy repeated to himmany times:
"Take care, Pinocchio! Those bad companions will sooner or later makeyou lose your love for study. Some day they will lead you astray."
"There's no such danger," answered the Marionette, shrugging hisshoulders and pointing to his forehead as if to say, "I'm too wise."
So it happened that one day, as he was walking to school, he met someboys who ran up to him and said:
"Have you heard the news?"
"No!"
"A Shark as big as a mountain has been seen near the shore."
"Really? I wonder if it could be the same one I heard of when my fatherwas drowned?"
"We are going to see it. Are you coming?"
"No, not I. I must go to school."
"What do you care about school? You can go there tomorrow. With a lessonmore or less, we are always the same donkeys."
"And what will the teacher say?"
"Let him talk. He is paid to grumble all day long."
"And my mother?"
"Mothers don't know anything," answered those scamps.
"Do you know what I'll do?" said Pinocchio. "For certain reasons ofmine, I, too, want to see that Shark; but I'll go after school. I cansee him then as well as now."
"Poor simpleton!" cried one of the boys. "Do you think that a fish ofthat size will stand there waiting for you? He turns and off he goes,and no one will ever be the wiser."
"How long does it take from here to the shore?" asked the Marionette."One hour there and back."
"Very well, then. Let's see who gets there first!" cried Pinocchio.
At the signal, the little troop, with books under their arms, dashedacross the fields. Pinocchio led the way, running as if on wings, theothers following as fast as they could.
Now and again, he looked back and, seeing his followers hot and tired,and with tongues hanging out, he laughed out heartily. Unhappy boy! Ifhe had only known then the dreadful things that were to happen to him onaccount of his disobedience!
CHAPTER 27
The great battle between Pinocchio and his playmates. One is woun
ded.Pinocchio is arrested.
Going like the wind, Pinocchio took but a very short time to reach theshore. He glanced all about him, but there was no sign of a Shark. Thesea was as smooth as glass.
"Hey there, boys! Where's that Shark?" he asked, turning to hisplaymates.
"He may have gone for his breakfast," said one of them, laughing.
"Or, perhaps, he went to bed for a little nap," said another, laughingalso.
From the answers and the laughter which followed them, Pinocchiounderstood that the boys had played a trick on him.
"What now?" he said angrily to them. "What's the joke?"
"Oh, the joke's on you!" cried his tormentors, laughing more heartilythan ever, and dancing gayly around the Marionette.
"And that is--?"
"That we have made you stay out of school to come with us. Aren't youashamed of being such a goody-goody, and of studying so hard? You neverhave a bit of enjoyment."
"And what is it to you, if I do study?"
"What does the teacher think of us, you mean?"
"Why?"
"Don't you see? If you study and we don't, we pay for it. After all,it's only fair to look out for ourselves."
"What do you want me to do?"
"Hate school and books and teachers, as we all do. They are your worstenemies, you know, and they like to make you as unhappy as they can."
"And if I go on studying, what will you do to me?"