CHAPTER IX
_How Pinocchio Complained Because He Was No Longer a Wooden Puppet_
It was no easy matter for Ciampanella and Pinocchio to reach theircompany, which was intrenched about three miles away, on a declivityas sharp as a knife-blade, bordered by jagged precipices. They couldnot have held out against artillery up there, but the position waswell chosen from which to hammer the enemy's first trench that wasbuilt on a little slope two hundred yards lower down and less than twomiles away. Farther along there opened up a pass of great strategicimportance which the Austrians apparently were intending to defend atall costs. Yet it had seemed strange to Teschisso that the foe withits numerous exits should try to attack his Alpine troops in force,all the more that his first line of defense might be considered asirretrievably lost. For this reason he had restrained the impulse ofhis brave soldiers to fight and decided to intrench them on thedifficult slope to await a favorable moment for decisive action. Inthe mean time he had been able to hammer the enemy's position withfour large pieces of artillery which he had placed on a summit abovehis intrenchment. When Pinocchio related to him how, with the aid ofthe mess-cook, he had made Franz and Stolz sing, and repeated the fewwords which he had heard from their mouths, he had no longer any doubtregarding the foe's strange behavior.
"Heavens! Those scoundrels wanted to blow us up! Luckily I wasprudent, but you'll see what a joke I'll invent to play on those dogs!Call Corporal Scotimondo."
The most important duties were usually intrusted to this soldier witha face like a cab-driver's, with a large blond beard and full, ruddycheeks, who at first sight looked so good-natured. But he was a man ofexceptional energy and extraordinary courage. Calm and quiet whendanger raged, he could inspire in his comrades a boundlessconfidence.
"Corporal, from information received I have learned that we haveopposite us fifteen hundred men."
"All the better."
"And a mined zone."
"That's not so good, not good at all."
"I have determined to attack the foe from the rear and force him on tothe mined zone. I shall set off with the whole company, leaving onlyeight men in the trench, which they must hold at all costs and keep upa devilish fire to make the enemy think we are all here. Do youunderstand?"
"Certainly, certainly."
"You will command the squad."
"Thanks, Captain."
"I will leave you also Pinocchio and Ciampanella, so that there willbe ten of you. Choose the other eight quickly, because I am going togive immediate orders to depart."
"Draghetta, Senzaterra, Pulin, Cattaruzza, and the four Scagnolbrothers."
"All right! Go and tell them. Remember that I trust you. I amattempting a big coup, but if I succeed, Heavens, what a stroke!...They'll fly up like birds."
A little later Pinocchio was witness of a marvelous and fantasticscene. The narrow trench was alive with a mass of black figures thatmoved noiselessly. The Alpine troops armed themselves with rope andhatchets, filled up their canteens, and replenished theircartridge-belts, whispering quick, concise sentences, interrupted withlaughs, quickly smothered as the rattle of an officer's sword washeard. All these shadows grouped themselves in the depth of the trenchagainst a heap of huge stones and merged into the profound darkness.For a time still there was to be heard coming from down below asubdued rustle, then a profound silence. Pinocchio was strangelyaffected and was eager to find out what had happened. He ran to theend of the trench--there was not a soul there. Where had his Alpinetroops gone? Had they perhaps been swallowed up by the abyss whichyawned a few feet away? He was so terrified that he began to yelldesperately.
"Captain! Captain Teschis ..."
He didn't get the chance to finish; he felt two rough, heavy handsgrab him by the ears and lift him up three feet from the ground.
"Less racket here. Don't be such an idiot. Don't you know that in thetrenches you've got to be as quiet as in church, and ... here I'm incommand, and when I command anything I've got to be obeyed."
"I'll obey," Pinocchio grumbled, keeping back a cry of pain.
Corporal Scotimondo put him down gently on the ground, face to facewith himself, and then asked, sharply:
"What did you want with Captain Teschisso?"
"I? Nothing."
"Why did you call him, then?"
"I thought perhaps ... something terrible had happened.... He's gone... they're all gone."
"Gone? How gone? They haven't disappeared; they've only gone down ..."
"Where?"
"The precipice, and then they'll climb up again on the other side,will reach the first trench, will get the better of the enemy anddrive them on the mined zone. Then we'll see a fine sight. But untilthis minute comes we've got to keep quiet and not make a racket. Doyou understand? Now go to sleep because you have been mobilized andwill have to stand sentry also, and, besides, to-morrow there'll bethings to do. Now march!"
Scotimondo emphasized this command with a kick which made Pinocchiotake the first steps and showed him the direction he was to go. Theunexpected disappearance of the Alpine troops still seemed miraculousin spite of the simple explanation Scotimondo had given him, andPinocchio had a profound respect for everything that smacked ofmagic.
"Yes, gone down," he grumbled to himself while he was nearing theother end of the trench. "That's quickly said, but I'd just like toknow how it is possible for men of skin and bones to do such a thing.The precipice is so deep and so steep that if Ciampanella had notpulled me by the collar I should never have got here. And how willthey manage to get down it? Hum! I am almost beginning to believe thatthese Alpine soldiers are in league with the devil. I saw two of themyesterday with some kind of shoes a couple of yards long which flewover the snow like airplanes. I wanted to ask the mess-cook to explainit to me, but from fear he would make fun of me I kept quiet. But fromnow on I must keep my eyes more on those men. If I discover theyreally have any dealings with the devil I'll take myself off on thefirst occasion."
He stumbled and fell face downward into a soft warm mass from whichcame a dull grunt. Overcome with terror, he was about to take flightwhen he felt himself held fast by a leg as firmly as if by a trap.
"I wish you'd get killed. Couldn't you let me sleep a minute? You mustbe either a creditor or that tyrant of a picket officer going hisrounds.... If you are a creditor come back six months after peace isdeclared, because now I won't pay you a soldo even if I had one. Ifyou are the picket officer I tell you that when I have put out thefires I have a right to take my ease ... and now let me sleep ... Mayyou be ..."
"Oh, Ciampanella, let me go. Don't you recognize me? I am Pinocchio."
"Oh, it's you, youngster, is it? Did you intend to make me sing likeSpizzete Spazzete? I have nothing to tell you, but if you insist uponmy singing something for you at all costs, I will sing for you to getup off me."
Pinocchio, seeing that the mess-cook was in one of his "moments,"thought it prudent to leave him in peace, so he lay down on a heap ofstraw that was close by, intending to go to sleep.
But his sleep didn't last long. About four o'clock in the morning,when dawn was peeping over the horizon, he heard a shot that seemed tocome from a spot not far from the trench.
"Get your guns, boys!" yelled Scotimondo, rushing to a machine-gun,while the others, guns in hand, took their places before theloopholes. "It was Draghetta who saw the enemy. Boys, I count on you.We've got to make a racket, lots of noise as if all the company werehere, and don't expose yourselves ... let them have a continuous andintense fire."
His glance took in Pinocchio, who was gazing at him, his eyes wideopen with terror, and Ciampanella tranquilly dozing. With a bound hecaught up a gun and put it into the boy's hands.
"Ho, lad, stop standing there doing nothing or I'll break your neck!I'll smash your head before the potato-eaters knock it in."
With another spring he was on top of the cook, who was calmly dreaminga culinary dream, and gave him such a k
ick that he jumped up like ajack-in-the-box.
"I hope they'll eat you."
"Ready to fire! Fire! for Heaven's sake!" Scotimondo screamed at himand ran to take his post, grumbling, "but why doesn't the sentinelcome back? What's that scoundrel of a Draghetta doing?"
Ciampanella rubbed his eyes and discovered Pinocchio, who stood thereturning his gun round and round without having yet discovered whatexactly it was that he held.
"May the dogs eat you! Instead of standing there fiddling with yourweapon that you know as much about as I know about training fleas, youwould do better to give a look at the saucepan that it doesn't burninstead of making me get that kick from the corporal."
"But what saucepan? Are you still asleep?"
"Didn't you hear what he yelled at me when he kicked me? 'Fire!Fire!'"
"Certainly, but he meant the fire of the battery, not that of thestove. Don't you know that we are expecting an attack?"
"Who says so? There's no need to wait for it. You can wait if you wantto, but I'm off. I don't know anything about war and don't know how toshoot. When there are necks to wring or beasts to butcher I'm ready,because they are hens or lambs or such like beasts, but Christians I_can't_, and toward the enemy I have the respect ordered by oursuperiors. Listen, youngster, if two bullets hit me in the rear I'lltake them and won't protest, but I don't stay here at the front unlessthey tie me."
He was just getting away when Scotimondo, who had an eye on him,turned hurriedly and poked a revolver at his back.
"Oh, very well! There are certain arguments you can't dispute. I'llremain, but I'll find me a hole where I can be safe, because if I diethe _Manual of War Cookery_ won't be written," and he threw himselfdown on a big stone, signaling to the "youngster" to follow him.
A voice outside was calling for help, only a few feet away from thetrench.
"Stay where you are, all of you. I'll go," commanded Scotimondo, and,wriggling like a serpent, with his revolver in his hand, he set offand was lost in the darkness. Shortly after he returned, dragging inDraghetta.
"What's the matter? Are you wounded?"
"No, not exactly wounded, but I can't stand up. I'm afraid my feet arefrozen."
"Let's have a look," and he made him sit down and began to free himfrom his woolen puttees, his hobnailed boots, his waterproofstockings, and to rub his red, swollen feet with snow, all the timecontinuing to question him.
"Was it you who fired that shot?"
"Yes."
"Is the enemy in sight?"
"They tried to leave their trenches--two little groups--one of theirusual nasty little ways to draw us out, and as my superiors did notsee them, I thought it my duty to give the alarm signal."
"You were right."
"But I wasn't able to get back because my legs gave way, so I had totry to crawl on my hands and knees until I had only breath enough leftto call for help, certain and sure that ..."
"Heavens! Swine!" Scotimondo swore and stopped rubbing.
"What's the matter?"
"Nothing, nothing; take your place at the machine-gun; I'll take minein the trench."
"Why?"
"You have need of rest," and he went off, growling, "poor Draghetta!He tried to warn the rest of us and couldn't get away himself."
He again left the trench to reconnoiter. Half an hour later hereturned, assembled his men, and told them that the foe had retreatedto their trenches, but that as soon as it was lighter they would haveto make themselves heard, so as to keep the enemy from attempting anattack, which would undoubtedly be fatal to the little garrison. Theywould have to make a lot of noise, but must not waste ammunition,because when Captain Teschisso's company came into action they wouldprobably have to support it.
"And I impress upon you the importance of not exposing yourselves._The first who does so I'll send to the devil myself._ I have need ofevery one of you, and it's too much that out of ten one should bewithout feet, one a cook, and _one who isn't even a man_."
"Did you hear that, youngster?" Ciampanella asked Pinocchio, when thelaugh which followed Scotimondo's words had died down. "Did you hear?They want to send you to the firing-line. What do you think of that?"
But Pinocchio didn't reply. His wooden leg just then seemed to havenervous twinges and rattled like a rusty key in a lock. The sun hadscarcely begun to rise above the horizon and the snow to glisten inits rays when from the trench cut out of the slope narrow as aknife-blade came a sound of firing that was truly infernal. Themachine-gun was smoking, but poor Draghetta didn't let it rest aminute. The others kept up a tremendous fire and an accurate one,because they could see that the parapet of the enemy's trench wasmarked by little red clouds. Every now and then above the crackle ofthe musketry resounded the humming of larger projectiles that hadtheir own special tone. The Austrian commanders were evidently layingplans for the whole day because there was not even the shadow of anenemy to be seen. They contented themselves with replying with anoccasional shell. But what would they have done if they had known thatopposite them were only seven men, and one of them disabled, and thatthe formidable _ta-pum, ta-pum, ta-pum_ which rose above the whine ofthe musketry came from--the _mouths_ of Pinocchio and Ciampanella?
The coming of the twilight cast a veil of melancholy over the littlegarrison, wearied by the fatigues imposed by its continual vigilanceand the continual answer to the firing of the foe.
They were all expecting every moment to see Captain Teschisso'scompany come into action, the Austrians swept from their trenches withthe bayonets at their backs and thrown on the mined zone where theywould all be blown up. Yet nothing of the sort was taking place. Theenemy had never appeared more quiet and as sure of himself as to-day.What had happened to the company? It wasn't possible that it had beencaptured by superior forces. The Alpine troops would have fought likelions; the noise of their battle would have reached the trench, andsome one would certainly have returned to bring the news of thedisaster. It was more likely that Captain Teschisso, knowing that hewould have to engage a superior force, had decided to attack at night.The surprise and the impossibility of judging the number of theassaulting force would certainly keep the enemy from resisting. ButCorporal Scotimondo was not altogether satisfied with his captain'stactics.
"I'm not a Napoleon," he grumbled, in his patois, striding with longsteps through the narrow passageway of the trenches, every now andthen making a right-about face. "I'm not a Napoleon. It's easy to say'hold fast at all costs,' but in order to hold fast you have to havemen. My men are not made of iron; I am not made of iron; they needrest and yet even to let them rest I can't allow the trench to bewithout sentinels all night. If I change sentries every half-hour,nobody sleeps; if I make them stay at the posts for two hoursaccording to regulations, they'll come back to me with their feetfrozen like Draghetta, and then we couldn't hold fast. Plague take it!This is certainly a situation to upset a corporal. If ..."
He stopped suddenly because Pinocchio barred his way. He looked at himfor a minute in amazement, gestured with his head for him to move toone side, but, seeing that he stood there as firmly as if he had takenroot, he grunted, I don't know whether with anger or surprise.
"Skip, boy, skip. Don't you understand anything? Don't you understandI want you to get from under my feet?"
"Just a question, corporal."
"What is it?"
"You need a sentinel for to-night."
"Yes, a new one every half-hour."
"I have come to volunteer."
"Why not? I like the idea ... you, too, will take your half-hour'sturn, but this doesn't help me solve my problem of ..."
"But I have come to volunteer for the whole night."
"Really? Are you in earnest?"
"Yes, indeed. You see, Corporal Squassamondo, I should have liked toremind you this morning early that I have a wooden leg, but I preferto tell you now. Wood doesn't freeze and so I can stand guard for tenhours even without any danger, if you only give me enough to covermyself with and plenty to eat." br />
"And the other leg?"
"Ciampanella has told me that storks sleep all night standing on oneleg and don't fall over. I am a man 'that's not a man,' but if I wereno more good than a stork I shouldn't have got a wooden leg on thebattle-field."
The little lesson had sunk in and Scotimondo felt it like a pinch onthe shins. He tried to be furious, but didn't succeed. He let out aterrible "Good Heavens!" then was overcome with emotion, caughtPinocchio in his arms, pressed him to himself, and kissed him againand again.
* * * * *
It was a night blacker than a German conscience. Two shadows glidedover the snow and stopped in the shelter of a rock which dominated allthe narrow slope, the enemy's trenches, the awful mass of peaks andjagged ridges. At the side of the adversary's position the snow wasmarked with an enormous black streak which was lost in the depth ofthe mountains. It was the abyss, a frightful wedge-shaped crack whichlooked like an enormous interrogation point drawn with charcoal on animmense white sheet.
"You feel all right?"
"Fine as possible."
"Did they give you a good supper?"
"I'm so full that I can't draw a long breath with all this stuff I'vegot on me. I certainly sha'n't feel cold."
"In your right pocket you'll find a thermos bottle of hot coffee; inthe other, chocolate."
"Splendid."
"Do you want a gun?"
"What should I do with it? In case of alarm I'll keep sounding'_ta-pum_' like this morning."
"Then you understand. You must keep a lookout down there all the time,there where the white of the snow meets the black of the sky. If yousee anything white on black or black on white which moves give thealarm; if not, keep still. Take good care not to fall asleep, becauseif I should go the rounds and find you asleep I should be compelled tokill you at your post."
"In that case wake me up ... five minutes beforehand."
"Well, I'm off."
"Good luck."
"I want to impress it on you--no racket now."
"Good-by, Scrollamondo. Don't worry."
* * * * *
Pinocchio had the courage of a lion that night, and if the Austrianshad attempted an attack he would have felt equal to them all byhimself. As soon as he was alone he took out from the pockets of hiscloak, so full of food that they seemed a military depot, a thin ropea couple of yards long, knotted one end of it, stuck his head through,bending his good leg, put his foot on the rope, which he swung infront of him at the height of his knee, and, leaning against the rock,stood there still, resting on his wooden leg.
"And now I am ready," he muttered, contentedly; "now let them come on.I'm not afraid of any one, not even of the snow. There's no denyingit--my idea was magnificent. If that simpleton Toni Salandra had hadone as good he would have saved the Ministry. Two feet of rope and thetrench is saved. With two soldi's worth of soap he could have savedthe finest Parliament our poor country has ever seen.... It's queerthat I haven't the slightest sensation of fear.... It's dark, but Iseem to see as well as by day. It must be that a sentinel's dutyclears the sight. I could swear that I could see a flea a mile away.Besides, my duty is simple: I am to stay here and do nothing; I am notto get my feet frozen, and as far as that is concerned there's nodanger; and I am to look out for white moving on black or black onwhite. Then, _ta-pum_, _ta-pum_, _ta-pum_, like this morning, thenthrow myself on the ground and creep back to the trench like acat.... What a fire we kept up this morning, I and Ciampanella! Hefired so often and so vigorously that he ended by falling over withfright.... If he hadn't had to sleep off his fatigue I couldn't havedone the fine deed I'm doing. I am sure he wouldn't have let me getcold like this ... because ... I didn't feel it at first, but now Ifeel chills creeping up my spine!"
When Pinocchio stuck his hand into his pocket it touched the roundedform of the thermos bottle. He took it out, put it to his lips, anddrank a mouthful. Five minutes later the boy felt the heat mounting tohis brain as if he were at the mouth of a furnace.
"Ah-ha! That's good! When I am a general like Win-the-War I'll heatthe railway compartment with coffee instead of with a radiator. I wishthey'd 'murder' the garments I got on, as Ciampanella says: When Ithink that he made me run the risk of having eight bullets in mystomach I don't know what to do. But before I would have him burnedup, it would be nice to sleep here under this upholstered seat, withthe lullaby of the train that sounds as if my nurse were singing it.If he found me now I should like to drop into one of those dozes fromwhich even Ciampanella's _ta-pum_ wouldn't wake me.... If I go tosleep I'll be cold. That tyrant of a Scotimondo would just as liefwake me up with a revolver at my head.... I'd like to know what's thefun of keeping a poor sentinel out in the cold where there's nothingto watch, because I bet a soldo against a lira that the Austrians aresleeping soundly to-night--I seem to hear them snoring like so manysuckling pigs.... No, I said I wouldn't go to sleep, and to keep myword I won't go to sleep, but I can allow myself a nod, just a littlenod. There's no black on white, or white on black; it seems to me tobe getting more cloudy ... so that ... Scotimondo? But what is it? Iam no Napoleon ... he said it. But even Napoleon when he found asleeping sentinel took his gun and waited till he waked up. He woulddo the same ... with the difference that I haven't any gun ... so that... not so much noise ... Scotimon ...? but where is Scotmona ...Scoti ... mon ... do..."
* * * * *
Just at this moment the snow began to fall gently, so gently, and asdry as flour just from the mill. The corporal, who was about to setout on his usual tour of inspection, glanced at the sky, then growled,as he rubbed his hands: "The Austrians won't come out in such weather.It will be a foot thick in less than an hour. I'll go and sleep,myself."
* * * * *
Pinocchio woke up with a start. It was dawn!... He found himselfburied in the snow up to his chest. He looked about and could nolonger see the enemy's trench; he looked behind him and couldn'trecognize the Italian post. What under the heavens had happened? Hewas on the point of becoming despondent and ready to give the alarmwhen on the side of the enemy's position in the wide wedge-slopedcleft, which looked like an exclamation point drawn with charcoal onan immense white sheet, he thought he saw a curious movement like manyants. He fixed his eyes on it, and while his heart beat so loudly thathe thought he would suffocate, he concentrated all his attention, allhis mind, on the point there below. He saw the jagged rock swarmingwith Alpine troops, saw little clusters of men suspended over theabyss, and ropes hanging in space slowly lifting up soldiers; and atthe sight of this miracle of daring and dexterity he naturally forgotthe fear of his wakening. Anxiously he followed the maneuvers of thesebrave sons of Italy, saw them suddenly disappear.... Then a cry ofterror rose from the enemy's trench, a rattle of guns and almost atthe same moment two or three hundred Austrians were in flight andflinging themselves on the slope, pursued by a steady fire. It wastime to give the alarm. Pinocchio wanted to let out one of hisextraordinary _ta-pums_, but just then a terrible explosion shook theearth and clouded the sky.... A horrible yell, a cry from hundreds ofthroats struck him to the marrow ... then there was silence.
Captain Teschisso, returning victorious from his expedition, foundPinocchio there, and tenderly gave him first aid, but, seeing that hedidn't come to, he intrusted him to four soldiers, saying:
"Take him to the first ambulance, with Draghetta and the otherwounded, and tell the surgeon to care for him as my best friend. Pooryoungster, who will have to have another wooden leg! But we haveavenged him and given those dogs what they deserved. Heavens, what afight!"