Pinocchio in Africa Part 4

"Farewell and many thanks," answered the stubborn marionette, and forthwith stepped into the sea.

"The water is like ice this morning. No wonder it makes me feel cold; but I know how to get rid of a chill. A good swim, and I am as warm as ever." Out shot his arms and he plunged into the water. The journey to Africa had begun.

At noon he still swam on. It grew dark and on he swam. Later the moon arose and grinned at him. He kept on swimming, without a sign of fatigue, of hunger, or of sleepiness. A marionette can do things that would tire a real boy, and to Pinocchio swimming was no task at all.

11. Pinocchio Lands On A Rock

THE moon grinned again and disappeared behind a cloud. The night grew dark. Pinocchio continued to swim through the black waters. He could see nothing ahead. He swam, swam, swam into the dark. Suddenly he felt something sc.r.a.pe his body, and he gave a start.

"Who goes there?" he cried. No one answered. "Perhaps it is my old friend the shark, who has recognized me," thought he; and he rapidly swam on to get away from the spot which reminded him of that terrible monster.

He had not gone more than fifty yards when his head ran against something rough and hard. "Oh!" cried the marionette, and he raised his hand to the injured part.

Then, as he noticed a large rock standing out of the water, he cried joyously; "I have arrived! I am in Africa!"

He got up on his feet and began to feel of himself all over, his ribs, his stomach, his legs. Everything was in order.

"Nothing broken!" he said. "The rocks on the way have been very kind. However, I hope that day will break soon, for I have no matches, and it seems to me that I am very hungry."

Then he began to move on carefully. First he put down one foot and then the other, and thus crept along till he found a comfortable spot.

"I seem to be very tired and sleepy also," he said.

With that, he lay down and went off in to a deep slumber.

When he awoke it was daylight. The sun shone red and hot. There was nothing to be seen but rocks and water.

"Is this Africa?" said the marionette, greatly troubled. "Even at dawn it seems to be very warm. When the sun gets a little higher I am likely to be baked." And he wiped the sweat from his brow on his coat sleeve. Presently clouds began to rise out of the water. They grew darker and darker, and the day, instead of being bright, gradually became gloomy and overcast.

The sun disappeared.

"This is funny!" said Pinocchio. "What jokes the sun plays in these parts! It s.h.i.+nes for a while and then disappears."

Poor marionette! It did not occur to him at first that he had slept the whole day, and that instead of the rising he saw the setting of the sun.

12. The First Night In Africa

"AND now I must pa.s.s another night here alone on these bare rocks!"

he thought.

The unhappy marionette began to tremble. He tried to walk, but the night was so dark that it was impossible to see where to go. The tears rolled down his wooden cheeks. He thought of his disobedience and of his stubbornness. He remembered the warnings his father had given him, the advice of his teacher, and the kindly words of the good Fairy. He remembered the promises he had made to be good, obedient, and studious.

How happy he had been! He recalled the day when his father's face beamed with pleasure at his progress. He saw the happy smile with which his protecting Fairy greeted him. His tears fell fast, and sobs rent his heart.

"If I should die, here in this gloomy place! If I should die of weariness, of hunger, of fear! To die a marionette without having had the happiness of becoming a real boy!"

He wept bitterly, and yet his troubles had scarcely begun. Even while his tears were flowing down his cheeks and into the dark water, he heard prolonged howls. At the same time he saw lights moving to and fro, as if driven by the wind.

"What in the world is this? Who is carrying those lanterns? asked Pinocchio, continuing to sob.

As if in answer to his questions, two lights came down the rocky coast and drew nearer to him.

Along with the lights came the howls, which sounded like those he had heard at the circus, only more natural and terrible.

"I hope this will end well," the marionette said to himself, "but I have some doubt about it."

He threw himself on the ground and tried to hide between the rocks.

A minute later and he felt a warm breath on his face. There stood the shadowy form of a hyena, its open mouth ready to devour the marionette at one gulp.

"I am done for!" and Pinocchio shut his eyes and gave a last thought to his dear father and his beloved Fatina. But the beast, after sniffing at him once or twice from head to foot, burst into aloud, howling laugh and walked away. He had no appet.i.te for wooden boys.

"May you never return! said Pinocchio, raising his head a little and straining his eyes to pierce the darkness about him. "Oh, if there were only a tree, or a wall, or anything to climb up on!"The marionette was right in wis.h.i.+ng for something to keep him far above the ground. During the whole night these visitors were coming and going. They came around him howling, sniffing, laughing, mocking. As each one ran off, Pinocchio would say, "May you never return!" He lay there s.h.i.+vering in the agony of his terror. If the night had continued much longer, the poor fellow would have died of fright. But the dawn came at last. All these strange night visitors disappeared. Pinocchio tried to get up. He could not move. His legs and arms were stiff. A terrible weakness had seized him, and the world swam around him. Hunger overpowered him. The poor marionette felt that he should surely die. "How terrible," he though, "to die of hunger! What would I not eat! Dry beans and cherry stems would be delicious." He looked eagerly around, but there was not even a cricket or a snail in sight. There was nothing, nothing but rocks.

Suddenly, however, a faint cry came from his parched throat. Was it possible? A few feet from him there was something between the rocks which looked like food. The marionette did not know what it was. He dragged himself along on hands and knees, and commenced to eat it. His nose wished to have nothing to do with it, and would even have drawn back, but the marionette said; "It is necessary to accustom yourself to all things, my friends. One must have patience. Don't be afraid; if I find any roses, I promise to gather them for you."

The nose became quiet, the mouth ate, the hunger was satisfied, and when the meal was finished Pinocchio jumped to his feet and shouted joyously; "I have had my first meal in Africa. Now I must begin my search for wealth." He forgot the night, his father, and Fatina. His only thought was to get farther away from home.

What an easy thing life is to a wooden marionette!

13. Pinocchio Is Well Received

"FIRST of all," he said, "I must go to the nearest castle I can find. The master will not refuse me shelter and food. Some soup, a leg of roast chicken, and a gla.s.s of milk will put me in fine spirits."

The journey across the rocks was full of difficulties, but the marionette overcame them readily, leaping from rock to rock like a goat. He walked, walked, walked! The rocks seemed to have no ending, and the castle, which he imagined he saw in the distance, appeared to be always farther and farther away. As the marionette drew nearer, the towers began to disappear and the walls to crumble. He walked on broken-hearted. Finally he sat down I despair and put his head in his hands. "Farewell, castle! good-by, roast chicken and soup!" He was about to weep again when he saw in the distance a village of great beauty lying at the foot of a gentle slope.

At the sight he gave a cry of joy and without a moment's delay set out in that direction. He leaped over the rocks and bushes, putting to flight several flocks of birds in his haste. Of course only a marionette could go as fast as he did. "How beautiful Africa is! said he. "If I had known this I would have come here long ago."

In a short time he reached the main square of the town. Men, women, and children were lounging about, gossiping, buying, and selling. When they saw the marionette they gathered around him, and many began to shout: "It is Pinocchio! Look, here is Pinocchio! Pinocchio!

Pinocchio!"

"Well, this is strange!" said the marionette to himself. "I am known even in Africa. Surely I am a great person."

Like most great men, Pinocchio was annoyed at his noisy reception.

In some anger he made his way through the crowd, pus.h.i.+ng people right and left with his elbows. He ran down a side street and finally stopped before a restaurant, over which was the sign printed in huge letters:MARIONETTES SERVED HERE."This is what I have been looking for,"

said Pinocchio, and he went in.

14. Pinocchio Is Arrested

PINOCCHIO found himself facing a man of about fifty years of age. He was stout and good-natured, and like all good hosts, asked what the gentleman would have to eat. Pinocchio, hearing himself called "gentleman," swelled with pride, and very gravely gave his order. He was served promptly, and devoured everything before him in a way known only to hungry marionettes.

In the meantime the innkeeper eyed his customer from head to foot.

He addressed Pinocchio in a very respectful manner, but the marionette gave only short answers. Persons of rank ate here, and to appear like one of them he could not allow himself to waste words on common folk.

Having finished his meal, the marionette asked for something to drink.

"What is this drink called?" he asked, as he put down the gla.s.s and thrust his thumb into his vest pocket after the manner of a gentleman.