Stranica 234 [234]
OCR
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 seamonster. 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 mentioned many times in this story, and who, for his slaughter and for his insatiable voracity, had been named the "Attila of fish and fishermen." 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
