the adventures of pinocchio-第7节

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〃Ah；　you　rascal！　　So　that's　the　game！　　You　have　the　money　hidden　under　your　tongue。　　Out　with　it！〃

But　Pinocchio　was　as　stubborn　as　ever。

〃Are　you　deaf？　　Wait；　young　man；　we'll　get　it　from　you　in　a　twinkling！〃

One　of　them　grabbed　the　Marionette　by　the　nose　and　the　other　by　the　chin；　and　they　pulled　him　unmercifully　from　side　to　side　in　order　to　make　him　open　his　mouth。

All　was　of　no　use。　　The　Marionette's　lips　might　have　been　nailed　together。　　They　would　not　open。

In　desperation　the　smaller　of　the　two　Assassins　pulled　out　a　long　knife　from　his　pocket；　and　tried　to　pry　Pinocchio's　mouth　open　with　it。

Quick　as　a　flash；　the　Marionette　sank　his　teeth　deep　into　the　Assassin's　hand；　bit　it　off　and　spat　it　out。　　Fancy　his　surprise　when　he　saw　that　it　was　not　a　hand；　but　a　cat's　paw。

Encouraged　by　this　first　victory；　he　freed　himself　from　the　claws　of　his　assailers　and；　leaping　over　the　bushes　along　the　road；　ran　swiftly　across　the　fields。　　His　pursuers　were　after　him　at　once；　like　two　dogs　chasing　a　hare。

After　running　seven　miles　or　so；　Pinocchio　was　well…　nigh　exhausted。　　Seeing　himself　lost；　he　climbed　up　a　giant　pine　tree　and　sat　there　to　see　what　he　could　see。　The　Assassins　tried　to　climb　also；　but　they　slipped　and　fell。

Far　from　giving　up　the　chase；　this　only　spurred　them　on。　They　gathered　a　bundle　of　wood；　piled　it　up　at　the　foot　of　the　pine；　and　set　fire　to　it。　　In　a　twinkling　the　tree　began　to　sputter　and　burn　like　a　candle　blown　by　the　wind。　　Pinocchio　saw　the　flames　climb　higher　and　higher。　　Not　wishing　to　end　his　days　as　a　roasted　　Marionette；　he　jumped　quickly　to　the　ground　and　off　he　went；　the　Assassins　close　to　him；　as　before。

Dawn　was　breaking　when；　without　any　warning　whatsoever；　Pinocchio　found　his　path　barred　by　a　deep　pool　full　of　water　the　color　of　muddy　coffee。

What　was　there　to　do？　　With　a　〃One；　two；　three！〃　he　jumped　clear　across　it。　　The　Assassins　jumped　also；　but　not　having　measured　their　distance　wellsplash！！！　they　fell　right　into　the　middle　of　the　pool。　　Pinocchio　who　heard　the　splash　and　felt　it；　too；　cried　out；　laughing；　but　never　stopping　in　his　race：

〃A　pleasant　bath　to　you；　signori！〃

He　thought　they　must　surely　be　drowned　and　turned　his　head　to　see。　　But　there　were　the　two　somber　figures　still　following　him；　though　their　black　sacks　were　drenched　and　dripping　with　water。



CHAPTER　15

The　Assassins　chase　Pinocchio；　catch　him；　and　hang　him　to　the　branch　of　a　giant　oak　tree



As　he　ran；　the　Marionette　felt　more　and　more　certain　that　he　would　have　to　give　himself　up　into　the　hands　of　his　pursuers。　　Suddenly　he　saw　a　little　cottage　gleaming　white　as　the　snow　among　the　trees　of　the　forest。

〃If　I　have　enough　breath　left　with　which　to　reach　that　little　house；　I　may　be　saved；〃　he　said　to　himself。

Not　waiting　another　moment；　he　darted　swiftly　through　the　woods；　the　Assassins　still　after　him。

After　a　hard　race　of　almost　an　hour；　tired　and　out　of　breath；　Pinocchio　finally　reached　the　door　of　the　cottage　and　knocked。　　No　one　answered。

He　knocked　again；　harder　than　before；　for　behind　him　he　heard　the　steps　and　the　labored　breathing　of　his　persecutors。　　The　same　silence　followed。

As　knocking　was　of　no　use；　Pinocchio；　in　despair；　began　to　kick　and　bang　against　the　door；　as　if　he　wanted　to　break　it。　　At　the　noise；　a　window　opened　and　a　lovely　maiden　looked　out。　　She　had　azure　hair　and　a　face　white　as　wax。　　Her　eyes　were　closed　and　her　hands　crossed　on　her　breast。　　With　a　voice　so　weak　that　it　hardly　could　be　heard；　she　whispered：

〃No　one　lives　in　this　house。　　Everyone　is　dead。〃

〃Won't　you；　at　least；　open　the　door　for　me？〃　cried　Pinocchio　in　a　beseeching　voice。

〃I　also　am　dead。〃

〃Dead？　　What　are　you　doing　at　the　window；　then？〃

〃I　am　waiting　for　the　coffin　to　take　me　away。〃

After　these　words；　the　little　girl　disappeared　and　the　window　closed　without　a　sound。

〃Oh；　Lovely　Maiden　with　Azure　Hair；〃　cried　Pinocchio；　〃open；　I　beg　of　you。　　Take　pity　on　a　poor　boy　who　is　being　chased　by　two　Assass〃

He　did　not　finish；　for　two　powerful　hands　grasped　him　by　the　neck　and　the　same　two　horrible　voices　growled　threateningly：　〃Now　we　have　you！〃

The　Marionette；　seeing　death　dancing　before　him；　trembled　so　hard　that　the　joints　of　his　legs　rattled　and　the　coins　tinkled　under　his　tongue。

〃Well；〃　the　Assassins　asked；　〃will　you　open　your　mouth　now　or　not？　　Ah！　　You　do　not　answer？　　Very　well；　this　time　you　shall　open　it。〃

Taking　out　two　long；　sharp　knives；　they　struck　two　heavy　blows　on　the　Marionette's　back。

Happily　for　him；　Pinocchio　was　made　of　very　hard　wood　and　the　knives　broke　into　a　thousand　pieces。　　The　Assassins　looked　at　each　other　in　dismay；　holding　the　handles　of　the　knives　in　their　hands。

〃I　understand；〃　said　one　of　them　to　the　other；　〃there　is　nothing　left　to　do　now　but　to　hang　him。〃

〃To　hang　him；〃　repeated　the　other。

They　tied　Pinocchio's　hands　behind　his　shoulders　and　slipped　the　noose　around　his　neck。　　Throwing　the　rope　over　the　high　limb　of　a　giant　oak　tree；　they　pulled　till　the　poor　Marionette　hung　far　up　in　space。

Satisfied　with　their　work；　they　sat　on　the　grass　waiting　for　Pinocchio　to　give　his　last　gasp。　　But　after　three　hours　the　Marionette's　eyes　were　still　open；　his　mouth　still　shut　and　his　legs　kicked　harder　than　ever。

Tired　of　waiting；　the　Assassins　called　to　him　mockingly：　〃Good…by　till　tomorrow。　　When　we　return　in　the　morning；　we　hope　you'll　be　polite　enough　to　let　us　find　you　dead　and　gone　and　with　your　mouth　wide　open。〃　With　these　words　they　went。

A　few　minutes　went　by　and　then　a　wild　wind　started　to　blow。　　As　it　shrieked　and　moaned；　the　poor　little　sufferer　was　blown　to　and　fro　like　the　hammer　of　a　bell。　The　rocking　made　him　seasick　and　the　noose；　becoming　tighter　and　tighter；　choked　him。　　Little　by　little　a　film　covered　his　eyes。

Death　was　creeping　nearer　and　nearer；　and　the　Marionette　still　hoped　for　some　good　soul　to　come　to　his　rescue；　but　no　one　appeared。　　As　he　was　about　to　die；　he　thought　of　his　poor　old　father；　and　hardly　conscious　of　what　he　was　saying；　murmured　to　himself：

〃Oh；　Father；　dear　Father！　　If　you　were　only　here！〃

These　were　his　last　words。　　He　closed　his　eyes；　opened　his　mouth；　stretched　out　his　legs；　and　hung　there；　as　if　he　were　dead。



CHAPTER　16

The　Lovely　Maiden　with　Azure　Hair　sends　for　the　poor　Marionette；　puts　him　to　bed；　and　calls　three　Doctors　to　tell　her　if　Pinocchio　is　dead　or　alive



If　the　poor　Marionette　had　dangled　there　much　longer；　all　hope　would　have　been　lost。　　Luckily　for　him；　the　Lovely　Maiden　with　Azure　Hair　once　again　looked　out　of　her　window。　　Filled　with　pity　at　the　sight　of　the　poor　little　fellow　being　knocked　helplessly　about　by　the　wind；　she　clapped　her　hands　sharply　together　three　times。

At　the　signal；　a　loud　whirr　of　wings　in　quick　flight　was　heard　and　a　large　Falcon　came　and　settled　itself　on　the　window　ledge。

〃What　do　you　command；　my　charming　Fairy？〃　asked　the　Falcon；　bending　his　beak　in　deep　reverence　（for　it　must　be　known　that；　after　all；　the　Lovely　Maiden　with　Azure　Hair　was　none　other　than　a　very　kind　Fairy　who　had　lived；　for　more　than　a　thousand　years；　in　the　vicinity　of　the　forest）。

〃Do　you　see　that　Marionette　hanging　from　the　limb　of　that　giant　oak　tree？〃

〃I　see　him。〃

〃Very　well。　　Fly　immediately　to　him。　　With　your　strong　beak；　break　the　knot　which　holds　him　tied；　take　him　down；　and　lay　him　softly　on　the　grass　at　the　foot　of　the　oak。〃

The　Falcon　flew　away　and　after　two　minutes　returned；　saying；　〃I　have　done　what　you　have　commanded。〃

〃How　did　you　find　him？　　Alive　or　dead？〃

〃At　first　glance；　I　thought　he　was　dead。　　But　I　found　I　was　wrong；　for　as　soon　as　I　loosened　the　knot　around　his　neck；　he　gave　a　long　sigh　and　mumbled　with　a　faint　voice；　‘Now　I　feel　better！'〃

The　Fairy　clapped　her　hands　twice。　　A　magnificent　Poodle　appeared；　walking　on　his　hind　legs　just　like　a　man。　　He　was　dressed　in　court　livery。　　A　tricorn　trimmed　with　gold　lace　was　set　at　a　rakish　angle　over　a　wig　of　white　curls　that　dropped　down　to　his　waist。　　He　wore　a　jaunty　coat　of　chocolate…colored　velvet；　with　diamond　buttons；　and　with　two　huge　pockets　which　were　always　filled　with　bones；　dropped　there　at　dinner　by　his　loving　mistress。　Breeches　of　crimson　velvet；　silk　stockings；　and　low；　silver…buckled　slippers　completed　his　costume。　　His　tail　was　encased　in　a　blue　silk　covering；　which　was　to　protect　it　from　the　rain。

〃Come；　Medoro；〃　said　the　Fairy　to　him。　　〃Get　my　best　coach　ready　and　set　out　toward　the　forest。　　On　reaching　the　oak　tree；　you　will　find　a　poor；　half…dead　Marionette　stretched　out　on　the　grass。　　Lift　him　up　tenderly；　place　him　on　the　silken　cushions　of　the　coach；　and　bring　him　here　to　me。〃

The　Poodle；　to　show　that　he　understood；　wagged　his　silk…covered　tail　two　or　three　times　and　set　off　at　a　quick　pace。

In　a　few　minutes；　a　lovely　little　coach；　made　of　glass；　with　lining　as　soft　as　whipped　cream　and　chocolate　pudding；　and　stuffed　with　canary　feathers；　pulled　out　of　the　stable。　　It　was　drawn　by　one　hundred　pairs　of　white　mice；　and　the　Poodle　sat　on　the　coachman's　seat　and　snapped　his　whip　gayly　in　the　air；　as　if　he　were　a　real　coachman　in　a　hurry　to　get　to　his　destination。

In　a　quarter　of　an　hour　the　coach　wa