Stranica 234 [234]
210 PINOCCHIO
the white rock; and he was already half-way
when he saw, rising up out of the water and
coming to meet him, the horrible head of a sea¬
monster. His wide-open cavernous mouth and’
his three rows of enormous teeth would have
been terrifying to look at even in a picture.
And do you know what this sea-monster
was?
This sea-monster was neither more nor less
than that gigantic Dog-fish who has been men¬
tioned many times in this story, and who, for
his slaughter and for his insatiable voracity,
had been named the "Attila of fish and fisher¬
men."
Only think of poor Pinocchios terror at
the sight of the monster. He tried to avoid it,
to change his direction; he tried to escape; but
that immense wide-open mouth came towards
him with the velocity of an arrow.
‘ Be quick, Pinocchio, for pity’s sake,” cried
the beautiful little goat, bleating.
And Pinocchio swam desperately with his
arms, his chest, his legs, and his feet.
“ Quick, Pinocchio, the monster is close
upon you!...”
And Pinocchio swam quicker than ever, and
flew on with the rapidity of a ball from a gun.
He had nearly reached the rock, and the little