Stranica 86 [86]
XV
THE ASSASSINS PURSUE PINOCCHIO; AND HAVING
OVERTAKEN HIM HANG HIM TO A BRANCH OF
THE BIG OAK
x. this sight the puppet’s courage failed
him, and he was on the point of throw¬
ing himself on the ground and giving
himself over for lost. ‘Turning, however, his
eyes in every direction, he saw at some distance,
standing out amidst the dark green of the trees,
a small house as white as snow.
" If I had only breath to reach that house,”
he said to himself, " perhaps I should be saved.”
And without delaying an instant, he recom¬
menced running for his life through the wood,
and the assassins after him.
At last, after a desperate race of nearly
two hours, he arrived quite breathless at the
door of the house, and knocked.
No one answered.
He knocked again with great violence, for
he heard the sound of steps approaching him,
and the heavy panting of his persecutors. The
same silence.
Seeing that knocking was useless he began
in desperation to kick and pommel the door
with all his might. The window then opened
and a beautiful Child appeared at it. She had
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