Stranica 169 [169]
OCR
PINOCCHIO 151 “Drown!” shouted Pinocchio from a distance, seeing himself safe from all danger. ‘Help me, dear Pinocchio! ... save me from death!...” At that agonising cry the puppet, who had in reality an excellent heart, was moved with compassion, and turning to the dog he said: " But if I save your life, will you promise to give me no further annoyance, and not to run after me?” " I promise! I promise! Be quick, for pity’s sake, for if you delay another halfminute I shall be dead.” Pinocchio hesitated: but remembering that his father had often told him that a good action is never lost, he swam to Alidoro, and taking hold of his tail with both hands brought him safe and sound on to the dry sand of the beach. The poor dog could not stand. He had drunk, against his will, so much salt water that he was like a balloon. The puppet, however, not wishing to trust him too far, thought it more prudent to Jump again into the water. When he had swum some distance from the shore he called out to the friend he had rescued: ‘Good-bye, Alidoro; a good journey to you, and take my compliments to all at home." ‘“ Good-bye, Pinocchio,” answered the dog; “a thousand thanks for having saved my life.
