Oldal 168 [168]
XXVIII
PINOCCHIO IS IN DANGER OF BEING FRIED IN A
FRYING-PAN LIKE A FISH
} ; \ HERE came a moment in this desper¬
ate race—a terrible moment when Pin¬
occhio thought himself lost: for you
must know that Alidoro—for so the mastiff
was called—had run so swiftly that he had
nearly come up with him.
The puppet could hear the panting of the
dreadful beast close behind him; there was
not a hand’s breadth between them; he could
even feel the dog’s hot breath.
Fortunately the shore was close and the sea
but a few steps off.
As soon as he reached the sands the puppet
made a wonderful leap—a frog could have done
no better—and plunged into the water.
Alidoro, on the contrary, wished to stop
himself; but carried away by the impetus of
the race he also went into the sea. The unfor¬
tunate dog could not swim, but he made great
efforts to keep himself afloat with his paws;
but the more he struggled the farther he sank
head downwards under the water.
When he rose to the surface again his eyes
were rolling with terror, and he barked out:
“Tam drowning! I am drowning!”
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