the adventures of pinocchio(木偶奇遇记)-第6部分

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embraces；　the　knocks；　and　the　friendly　greetings　with
which　that　strange　company　of　dramatic　actors　and
actresses　received　Pinocchio。

It　was　a　heart…rending　spectacle；　but　the　audience；
seeing　that　the　play　had　stopped；　became　angry　and　began
to　yell：

〃The　play；　the　play；　we　want　the　play！〃

The　yelling　was　of　no　use；　for　the　Marionettes；　instead
of　going　on　with　their　act；　made　twice　as　much　racket　as
before；　and；　lifting　up　Pinocchio　on　their　shoulders；　carried
him　around　the　stage　in　triumph。

At　that　very　moment；　the　Director　came　out　of　his
room。　　He　had　such　a　fearful　appearance　that　one　look
at　him　would　fill　you　with　horror。　　His　beard　was　as
black　as　pitch；　and　so　long　that　it　reached　from　his　chin
down　to　his　feet。　　His　mouth　was　as　wide　as　an　oven；　his
teeth　like　yellow　fangs；　and　his　eyes；　two　glowing　red
coals。　　In　his　huge；　hairy　hands；　a　long　whip；　made　of
green　snakes　and　black　cats'　tails　twisted　together；　swished
through　the　air　in　a　dangerous　way。

At　the　unexpected　apparition；　no　one　dared　even　to
breathe。　　One　could　almost　hear　a　fly　go　by。　　Those　poor
Marionettes；　one　and　all；　trembled　like　leaves　in　a　storm。

〃Why　have　you　brought　such　excitement　into　my
theater；〃　the　huge　fellow　asked　Pinocchio　with　the　voice
of　an　ogre　suffering　with　a　cold。

〃Believe　me；　your　Honor；　the　fault　was　not　mine。〃

〃Enough！　　Be　quiet！　　I'll　take　care　of　you　later。〃

As　soon　as　the　play　was　over；　the　Director　went　to
the　kitchen；　where　a　fine　big　lamb　was　slowly　turning
on　the　spit。　　More　wood　was　needed　to　finish　cooking　it。
He　called　Harlequin　and　Pulcinella　and　said　to　them：

〃Bring　that　Marionette　to　me！　　He　looks　as　if　he　were
made　of　well…seasoned　wood。　　He'll　make　a　fine　fire　for
this　spit。〃

Harlequin　and　Pulcinella　hesitated　a　bit。　　Then；
frightened　by　a　look　from　their　master；　they　left　the
kitchen　to　obey　him。　　A　few　minutes　later　they　returned；
carrying　poor　Pinocchio；　who　was　wriggling　and　squirming
like　an　eel　and　crying　pitifully：

〃Father；　save　me！　　I　don't　want　to　die！　　I　don't　want　to　die！〃



CHAPTER　11

Fire　Eater　sneezes　and　forgives　Pinocchio；
who　saves　his　friend；　Harlequin；　from　death



In　the　theater；　great　excitement　reigned。

Fire　Eater　（this　was　really　his　name）　was　very　ugly；
but　he　was　far　from　being　as　bad　as　he　looked。　　Proof　of
this　is　that；　when　he　saw　the　poor　Marionette　being
brought　in　to　him；　struggling　with　fear　and　crying；　〃I
don't　want　to　die！　　I　don't　want　to　die！〃　he　felt　sorry　for
him　and　began　first　to　waver　and　then　to　weaken。　　Finally；
he　could　control　himself　no　longer　and　gave　a　loud　sneeze。

At　that　sneeze；　Harlequin；　who　until　then　had　been
as　sad　as　a　weeping　willow；　smiled　happily　and　leaning
toward　the　Marionette；　whispered　to　him：

〃Good　news；　brother　mine！　　Fire　Eater　has　sneezed
and　this　is　a　sign　that　he　feels　sorry　for　you。
You　are　saved！〃

For　be　it　known；　that；　while　other　people；　when　sad
and　sorrowful；　weep　and　wipe　their　eyes；　Fire　Eater；　on
the　other　hand；　had　the　strange　habit　of　sneezing　each
time　he　felt　unhappy。　　The　way　was　just　as　good　as　any
other　to　show　the　kindness　of　his　heart。

After　sneezing；　Fire　Eater；　ugly　as　ever；　cried　to　Pinocchio：

〃Stop　crying！　　Your　wails　give　me　a　funny　feeling
down　here　in　my　stomach　andEtchee！Etchee！〃
Two　loud　sneezes　finished　his　speech。

〃God　bless　you！〃　said　Pinocchio。

〃Thanks！　　Are　your　father　and　mother　still　living？〃
demanded　Fire　Eater。

〃My　father；　yes。　　My　mother　I　have　never　known。〃

〃Your　poor　father　would　suffer　terribly　if　I　were　to
use　you　as　firewood。　　Poor　old　man！　　I　feel　sorry　for
him！　　Etchee！　　Etchee！　　Etchee！〃　Three　more　sneezes
sounded；　louder　than　ever。

〃God　bless　you！〃　said　Pinocchio。

〃Thanks！　　However；　I　ought　to　be　sorry　for　myself；
too；　just　now。　　My　good　dinner　is　spoiled。　　I　have　no
more　wood　for　the　fire；　and　the　lamb　is　only　half　cooked。
Never　mind！　　In　your　place　I'll　burn　some　other　Marionette。
Hey　there！　Officers！〃

At　the　call；　two　wooden　officers　appeared；　long　and
thin　as　a　yard　of　rope；　with　queer　hats　on　their　heads
and　swords　in　their　hands。

Fire　Eater　yelled　at　them　in　a　hoarse　voice：

〃Take　Harlequin；　tie　him；　and　throw　him　on　the　fire。
I　want　my　lamb　well　done！〃

Think　how　poor　Harlequin　felt！　　He　was　so　scared
that　his　legs　doubled　up　under　him　and　he　fell　to　the　floor。

Pinocchio；　at　that　heartbreaking　sight；　threw　himself
at　the　feet　of　Fire　Eater　and；　weeping　bitterly；　asked
in　a　pitiful　voice　which　could　scarcely　be　heard：

〃Have　pity；　I　beg　of　you；　signore！〃

〃There　are　no　signori　here！〃

〃Have　pity；　kind　sir！〃

〃There　are　no　sirs　here！〃

〃Have　pity；　your　Excellency！〃

On　hearing　himself　addressed　as　your　Excellency；　the
Director　of　the　Marionette　Theater　sat　up　very　straight
in　his　chair；　stroked　his　long　beard；　and　becoming　suddenly
kind　and　compassionate；　smiled　proudly　as　he　said　to　Pinocchio：

〃Well；　what　do　you　want　from　me　now；　Marionette？〃

〃I　beg　for　mercy　for　my　poor　friend；　Harlequin；　who
has　never　done　the　least　harm　in　his　life。〃

〃There　is　no　mercy　here；　Pinocchio。　　I　have　spared
you。　　Harlequin　must　burn　in　your　place。　　I　am　hungry
and　my　dinner　must　be　cooked。〃

〃In　that　case；〃　said　Pinocchio　proudly；　as　he　stood
up　and　flung　away　his　cap　of　dough；　〃in　that　case；　my
duty　is　clear。　　Come；　officers！　　Tie　me　up　and　throw　me
on　those　flames。　　No；　it　is　not　fair　for　poor　Harlequin；
the　best　friend　that　I　have　in　the　world；　to　die　in　my　place！〃

These　brave　words；　said　in　a　piercing　voice；　made　all
the　other　Marionettes　cry。　　Even　the　officers；　who　were
made　of　wood　also；　cried　like　two　babies。

Fire　Eater　at　first　remained　hard　and　cold　as　a　piece
of　ice；　but　then；　little　by　little；　he　softened　and　began　to
sneeze。　　And　after　four　or　five　sneezes；　he　opened　wide
his　arms　and　said　to　Pinocchio：

〃You　are　a　brave　boy！　　Come　to　my　arms　and　kiss　me！〃

Pinocchio　ran　to　him　and　scurrying　like　a　squirrel　up　the
long　black　beard；　he　gave　Fire　Eater　a　loving　kiss　on　the
tip　of　his　nose。

〃Has　pardon　been　granted　to　me？〃　asked　poor
Harlequin　with　a　voice　that　was　hardly　a　breath。

〃Pardon　is　yours！〃　answered　Fire　Eater；　and　sighing
and　wagging　his　head；　he　added：　　〃Well；　tonight　I　shall
have　to　eat　my　lamb　only　half　cooked；　but　beware　the
next　time；　Marionettes。〃

At　the　news　that　pardon　had　been　given；　the
Marionettes　ran　to　the　stage　and；　turning　on　all　the　lights；
they　danced　and　sang　till　dawn。



CHAPTER　12

Fire　Eater　gives　Pinocchio　five　gold　pieces　for　his　father；　Geppetto；
but　the　Marionette　meets　a　Fox　and　a　Cat　and　follows　them



The　next　day　Fire　Eater　called　Pinocchio　aside　and　asked　him：

〃What　is　your　father's　name？〃

〃Geppetto。〃

〃And　what　is　his　trade？〃

〃He's　a　wood　carver。〃

〃Does　he　earn　much？〃

〃He　earns　so　much　that　he　never　has　a　penny　in　his
pockets。　　Just　think　that；　in　order　to　buy　me　an　A…B…C
book　for　school；　he　had　to　sell　the　only　coat　he　owned；　a
coat　so　full　of　darns　and　patches　that　it　was　a　pity。〃

〃Poor　fellow！　　I　feel　sorry　for　him。　　Here；　take　these
five　gold　pieces。　　Go；　give　them　to　him　with　my　kindest　regards。〃

Pinocc