Oldal 85 [85]
PINOCCHIO 73
than it takes to tell the pine began to burn and
to flame like a candle blown by the wind. Pin¬
occhio, seeing that the flames were mounting
higher every instant, and not wishing to end
his life like a roasted pigeon, made a stupendous
leap from the top of the tree and started afresh
across the fields and vineyards. ‘The assassins
followed him, and kept behind him without once
giving in.
The day began to break and they were still
pursuing him. Suddenly Pinocchio found his
way barred by a wide deep ditch full of dirty
water the colour of coffee. What was he to
do? “One! two! three!” cried the puppet, and
making a rush he sprang to the other side. The
assassins also jumped, but not having measured
the distance properly—splash, splash! .. . they
fell into the very middle of the ditch. Pinoc¬
chio, who heard the plunge and the splashing
of the water, shouted out, laughing, and with¬
out stopping:
“A fine bath to you, gentleman assassins.”’
And he felt convinced that they were
drowned, when, turning to look, he perceived
that on the contrary they were both running
after him, still enveloped in their sacks, with
the water dripping from them as if they had
been two hollow baskets.