Oldal 243 [243]
PINOCCHIO 219
swimmer, and you can get on my shoulders and
I will carry you safely to shore."
‘ All illusions, my boy!” replied Geppetto,
shaking his head, with a melancholy smile.
‘Do you suppose it possible that a puppet like
you, scarcely a metre high, could have the
strength to swim with me on his shoulders! ”
“Try it and you will see!”
Without another word Pinocchio took the
candle in his hand, and going in front to light
the way, he said to his father:
“ Follow me, and don’t be afraid.”
And they walked for some time and
traversed the body and the stomach of the Dog¬
fish. But when they had arrived at the point
where the monster’s big throat began, they
thought it better to stop to give a good look
round and to choose the best moment for
escaping.
Now I must tell you that the Dog-fish,
being very old, and suffering from asthma and
palpitation of the heart, was obliged to sleep
with his mouth open. Pinocchio, therefore,
having approached the entrance to his throat
and, looking up, could see beyond the enormous
gaping mouth a large piece of starry sky and
beautiful moonlight.
“This is the moment to escape,” he whis¬
pered, turning to his father; “ the Dog-fish is