the adventures of pinocchio-第23章
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The Donkey lifted himself on his four feet and walked around the ring。 A few minutes passed and again the voice of the Manager called：
〃Quickstep！〃 and Pinocchio obediently changed his step。
〃Gallop！〃 and Pinocchio galloped。
〃Full speed！〃 and Pinocchio ran as fast as he could。 As he ran the master raised his arm and a pistol shot rang in the air。
At the shot； the little Donkey fell to the ground as if he were really dead。
A shower of applause greeted the Donkey as he arose to his feet。 Cries and shouts and handclappings were heard on all sides。
At all that noise； Pinocchio lifted his head and raised his eyes。 There； in front of him； in a box sat a beautiful woman。 Around her neck she wore a long gold chain； from which hung a large medallion。 On the medallion was painted the picture of a Marionette。
〃That picture is of me！ That beautiful lady is my Fairy！〃 said Pinocchio to himself； recognizing her。 He felt so happy that he tried his best to cry out：
〃Oh； my Fairy！ My own Fairy！〃
But instead of words； a loud braying was heard in the theater； so loud and so long that all the spectatorsmen； women； and children； but especially the childrenburst out laughing。
Then； in order to teach the Donkey that it was not good manners to bray before the public； the Manager hit him on the nose with the handle of the whip。
The poor little Donkey stuck out a long tongue and licked his nose for a long time in an effort to take away the pain。
And what was his grief when on looking up toward the boxes； he saw that the Fairy had disappeared！
He felt himself fainting； his eyes filled with tears； and he wept bitterly。 No one knew it； however； least of all the Manager； who； cracking his whip； cried out：
〃Bravo； Pinocchio！ Now show us how gracefully you can jump through the rings。〃
Pinocchio tried two or three times； but each time he came near the ring； he found it more to his taste to go under it。 The fourth time； at a look from his master he leaped through it； but as he did so his hind legs caught in the ring and he fell to the floor in a heap。
When he got up； he was lame and could hardly limp as far as the stable。
〃Pinocchio！ We want Pinocchio！ We want the little Donkey！〃 cried the boys from the orchestra； saddened by the accident。
No one saw Pinocchio again that evening。
The next morning the veterinarythat is； the animal doctor declared that he would be lame for the rest of his life。
〃What do I want with a lame donkey？〃 said the Manager to the stableboy。 〃Take him to the market and sell him。〃
When they reached the square； a buyer was soon found。
〃How much do you ask for that little lame Donkey？〃 he asked。
〃Four dollars。〃
〃I'll give you four cents。 Don't think I'm buying him for work。 I want only his skin。 It looks very tough and I can use it to make myself a drumhead。 I belong to a musical band in my village and I need a drum。〃
I leave it to you； my dear children； to picture to yourself the great pleasure with which Pinocchio heard that he was to become a drumhead！
As soon as the buyer had paid the four cents； the Donkey changed hands。 His new owner took him to a high cliff overlooking the sea； put a stone around his neck； tied a rope to one of his hind feet； gave him a push； and threw him into the water。
Pinocchio sank immediately。 And his new master sat on the cliff waiting for him to drown； so as to skin him and make himself a drumhead。
CHAPTER 34
Pinocchio is thrown into the sea； eaten by fishes； and becomes a Marionette once more。 As he swims to land； he is swallowed by the Terrible Shark
Down into the sea； deeper and deeper； sank Pinocchio； and finally； after fifty minutes of waiting； the man on the cliff said to himself：
〃By this time my poor little lame Donkey must be drowned。 Up with him and then I can get to work on my beautiful drum。〃
He pulled the rope which he had tied to Pinocchio's legpulled and pulled and pulled and； at last； he saw appear on the surface of the waterCan you guess what？ Instead of a dead donkey； he saw a very much alive Marionette； wriggling and squirming like an eel。
Seeing that wooden Marionette； the poor man thought he was dreaming and sat there with his mouth wide open and his eyes popping out of his head。
Gathering his wits together； he said：
〃And the Donkey I threw into the sea？〃
〃I am that Donkey；〃 answered the Marionette laughing。
〃You？〃
〃I。〃
〃Ah； you little cheat！ Are you poking fun at me？〃
〃Poking fun at you？ Not at all； dear Master。 I am talking seriously。〃
〃But； then； how is it that you； who a few minutes ago were a donkey； are now standing before me a wooden Marionette？〃
〃It may be the effect of salt water。 The sea is fond of playing these tricks。〃
〃Be careful； Marionette； be careful！ Don't laugh at me！ Woe be to you； if I lose my patience！〃
〃Well； then； my Master； do you want to know my whole story？ Untie my leg and I can tell it to you better。〃
The old fellow； curious to know the true story of the Marionette's life； immediately untied the rope which held his foot。 Pinocchio； feeling free as a bird of the air； began his tale：
〃Know； then； that； once upon a time； I was a wooden Marionette； just as I am today。 One day I was about to become a boy； a real boy； but on account of my laziness and my hatred of books； and because I listened to bad companions； I ran away from home。 One beautiful morning； I awoke to find myself changed into a donkeylong ears； gray coat； even a tail！ What a shameful day for me！ I hope you will never experience one like it； dear Master。 I was taken to the fair and sold to a Circus Owner； who tried to make me dance and jump through the rings。 One night； during a performance； I had a bad fall and became lame。 Not knowing what to do with a lame donkey； the Circus Owner sent me to the market place and you bought me。〃
〃Indeed I did！ And I paid four cents for you。 Now who will return my money to me？〃
〃But why did you buy me？ You bought me to do me harmto kill meto make a drumhead out of me！〃
〃Indeed I did！ And now where shall I find another skin？〃
〃Never mind； dear Master。 There are so many donkeys in this world。〃
〃Tell me； impudent little rogue； does your story end here？〃
〃One more word；〃 answered the Marionette； 〃and I am through。 After buying me； you brought me here to kill me。 But feeling sorry for me； you tied a stone to my neck and threw me to the bottom of the sea。 That was very good and kind of you to want me to suffer as little as possible and I shall remember you always。 And now my Fairy will take care of me； even if you〃
〃Your Fairy？ Who is she？〃
〃She is my mother； and； like all other mothers who love their children； she never loses sight of me； even though I do not deserve it。 And today this good Fairy of mine； as soon as she saw me in danger of drowning； sent a thousand fishes to the spot where I lay。 They thought I was really a dead donkey and began to eat me。 What great bites they took！ One ate my ears； another my nose； a third my neck and my mane。 Some went at my legs and some at my back； and among the others； there was one tiny fish so gentle and polite that he did me the great favor of eating even my tail。〃
〃From now on；〃 said the man； horrified； 〃I swear I shall never again taste fish。 How I should enjoy opening a mullet or a whitefish just to find there the tail of a dead donkey！〃
〃I think as you do；〃 answered the Marionette； laughing。 〃Still； you must know that when the fish finished eating my donkey coat； which covered me from head to foot； they naturally came to the bonesor rather； in my case； to the wood； for as you know； I am made of very hard wood。 After the first few bites； those greedy fish found out that the wood was not good for their teeth； and； afraid of indigestion； they turned and ran here and there without saying good…by or even as much as thank you to me。 Here； dear Master； you have my story。 You know now why you found a Marionette and not a dead donkey when you pulled me out of the water。〃
〃I laugh at your story！〃 cried the man angrily。 〃I know that I spent four cents to get you and I want my money back。 Do you know what I can do； I am goin
