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PINOCCHIO 205 ““T am the little donkey!” said Pinocchio, laughing. pee Gi S ÍV c ( Ein " Ah, you young scamp! Do you dare to make game of me?” “'To make game of you? Quite the contrary, my dear master; I am speaking seriously." " But how can you, who, but a short time ago, were a little donkey, have become a wooden puppet, only from having been left in the water? ” " It must have been the effect of sea-water. The sea makes extraordinary changes.” “Beware, puppet, beware! . .. Don't imagine that you can amuse yourself at my expense. Woe to you, if I lose patience! .. .” “Well, master, do you wish to know the true story? If you will set my leg free I will tell it you.” The good man, who was curious to hear the true story, immediately untied the knot that kept him bound; and Pinocchio, finding himself as free as a bird in the air, commenced as follows: “You must know that I was once a puppet as I am now, and I was on the point of becoming a boy like the many that there are
