友情提示:如果本网页打开太慢或显示不完整,请尝试鼠标右键“刷新”本网页!
恐怖书库 返回本书目录 加入书签 我的书架 我的书签 TXT全本下载 『收藏到我的浏览器』

the adventures of pinocchio(木偶奇遇记)-第13部分

快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完,想下次继续接着阅读,可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能!


children; you must know that it happened just then that
the young emperor who ruled over the City of Simple
Simons had gained a great victory over his enemy; and in
celebration thereof; he had ordered illuminations; fireworks;
shows of all kinds; and; best of all; the opening of all prison doors。

〃If the others go; I go; too;〃 said Pinocchio to the Jailer。

〃Not you;〃 answered the Jailer。  〃You are one of those〃

〃I beg your pardon;〃 interrupted Pinocchio; 〃I; too; am a thief。〃

〃In that case you also are free;〃 said the Jailer。  Taking
off his cap; he bowed low and opened the door of the prison;
and Pinocchio ran out and away; with never a look backward。


CHAPTER 20

Freed from prison; Pinocchio sets out to return to the Fairy;
but on the way he meets a Serpent and later is caught in a trap



Fancy the happiness of Pinocchio on finding himself free!
Without saying yes or no; he fled from the city and set
out on the road that was to take him back to the house of
the lovely Fairy。

It had rained for many days; and the road was so muddy
that; at times; Pinocchio sank down almost to his knees。

But he kept on bravely。

Tormented by the wish to see his father and his fairy
sister with azure hair; he raced like a greyhound。  As he
ran; he was splashed with mud even up to his cap。

〃How unhappy I have been;〃 he said to himself。  〃And
yet I deserve everything; for I am certainly very stubborn
and stupid!  I will always have my own way。  I won't
listen to those who love me and who have more brains
than I。  But from now on; I'll be different and I'll try to
become a most obedient boy。  I have found out; beyond
any doubt whatever; that disobedient boys are certainly
far from happy; and that; in the long run; they always
lose out。  I wonder if Father is waiting for me。  Will I
find him at the Fairy's house?  It is so long; poor man;
since I have seen him; and I do so want his love and his
kisses。  And will the Fairy ever forgive me for all I have
done?  She who has been so good to me and to whom I
owe my life!  Can there be a worse or more heartless
boy than I am anywhere?〃

As he spoke; he stopped suddenly; frozen with terror。

What was the matter?  An immense Serpent lay stretched
across the roada Serpent with a bright green skin;
fiery eyes which glowed and burned; and a pointed tail
that smoked like a chimney。

How frightened was poor Pinocchio!  He ran back
wildly for half a mile; and at last settled himself atop a
heap of stones to wait for the Serpent to go on his way
and leave the road clear for him。

He waited an hour; two hours; three hours; but the
Serpent was always there; and even from afar one could
see the flash of his red eyes and the column of smoke
which rose from his long; pointed tail。

Pinocchio; trying to feel very brave; walked straight up
to him and said in a sweet; soothing voice:

〃I beg your pardon; Mr。 Serpent; would you be so
kind as to step aside to let me pass?〃

He might as well have talked to a wall。  The Serpent
never moved。

Once more; in the same sweet voice; he spoke:

〃You must know; Mr。 Serpent; that I am going home
where my father is waiting for me。  It is so long since I
have seen him!  Would you mind very much if I passed?〃

He waited for some sign of an answer to his questions;
but the answer did not come。  On the contrary; the green
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 smoking。

〃Is he dead; I wonder?〃 said Pinocchio; rubbing his
hands together happily。  Without a moment's hesitation;
he started to step over him; but he had just raised one leg
when the Serpent shot up like a spring and the Marionette
fell head over heels backward。  He fell so awkwardly
that his head stuck in the mud; and there he stood with
his legs straight up in the air。

At the sight of the Marionette kicking and squirming
like a young whirlwind; the Serpent laughed so heartily
and so long that at last he burst an artery and died on the spot。

Pinocchio freed himself from his awkward position and
once more began 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 them; he jumped into
a field to pick a few grapes that tempted him。  Woe to him!

No sooner had he reached the grapevine thancrack!
went his legs。

The poor Marionette was caught in a trap set there by
a Farmer for some Weasels which came every night to
steal his chickens。



CHAPTER 21

Pinocchio is caught by a Farmer;
who uses him as a watchdog for his chicken coop



Pinocchio; as you may well imagine; began to scream
and weep and beg; but all was of no use; for no houses
were to be seen and not a soul passed by on the road。

Night came on。

A little because of the sharp pain in his legs; 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 Glowworm flickering by。  He called to her
and said:

〃Dear little Glowworm; will you set me free?〃

〃Poor little fellow!〃 replied the Glowworm; stopping
to look at him with pity。  〃How came you to be caught
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; my boy; is no reason for taking something
which belongs 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;
who was coming on tiptoes to see if; by chance; he had caught
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 Farmer in an angry
voice。  〃So you are the one who steals my chickens!〃

〃Not I!  No; no!〃 cried Pinocchio; sobbing bitterly。
〃I came here only to take a very few grapes。〃

〃He who steals grapes may very easily steal chickens also。
Take my word for it; I'll give you a lesson that you'll remember
for a long while。〃

He opened the trap; grabbed 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 him to the ground; put a foot on his neck; and said
to him roughly:  〃It is late now and it's time for bed。
Tomorrow we'll settle matters。  In the meantime; since my
watchdog died today; you may take his place and guard
my henhouse。〃

No sooner said than done。  He slipped a dog collar
around Pinocchio's neck and tightened it so that it would
not come off。  A long 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 Farmer;
〃you can sleep in that little doghouse near…by; where you
will find plenty of straw for a soft bed。  It has been
Melampo's bed for three years; and it will be good enough
for you。  And if; by any chance; any t
返回目录 上一页 下一页 回到顶部 2 1
快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部!
温馨提示: 温看小说的同时发表评论,说出自己的看法和其它小伙伴们分享也不错哦!发表书评还可以获得积分和经验奖励,认真写原创书评 被采纳为精评可以获得大量金币、积分和经验奖励哦!