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XXIV PINOCCHIO ARRIVES AT THE ISLAND OF THE " INDUSTRIOUS BEES,” AND FINDS THE FAIRY AGAIN [INOCCHIO, hoping to be in time to help his father, swam the whole night. And what a horrible night it was! The rain came down in torrents, it hailed, the thunder was frightful, and the flashes of lightning made it as light as day. Towards morning he saw a long strip of land not far off. It was an island in the midst of the sea. He tried his utmost to reach the shore: but it was all in vain. ‘The waves, racing and tumbling over each other, knocked him about as if he had been a stick or a wisp of straw. At last, fortunately for him, a billow rolled up with such fury and impetuosity that he was lifted up and thrown violently far on to the sands. He fell with such force that, as he struck the ground, his ribs and all his joints cracked, but he comforted himself, saying: “This time also I have made a wonderful escape! " Little by little the sky cleared, the sun shone out in all his splendour, and the sea became as quiet and smooth as oil. 123
