Pinocchio is in danger of being fried in a frying-pan like a fish.
THERE came a moment in this desperate race – a terrible moment when Pinocchio thought himself lost: for you must know that Alidoro – for so the mastiff was called – had run so swiftly that he had nearly come up with him.
The puppet could hear the panting of the dreadful beast close behind him; there was not a hand’s breadth between them, he could even feel the dog’s hot breath.
Fortunately the shore was close and the sea but a few steps off.
As soon as he reached the sands the puppet made a wonderful leap – a frog could have done no better – and plunged into the water.
Alidoro, on the contrary, wished to stop himself; but carried away by the impetus of the race he also went into the sea. The unfortunate dog could not swim, but he made great efforts to keep himself afloat with his paws; but the more he struggled the farther he sank head downwards under the water.
When he rose to the surface again his eyes were rolling with terror, and he barked out: “I am drowning! I am drowning!”
“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 half-minute 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 haying saved my life. You have done me a great service, and in this world what is given is returned. If an occasion offers I shall not forget it.”
Pinocchio swam on, keeping always near the land. At last he thought that he had reached a safe place. Giving a look along the shore he saw amongst the rocks a kind of cave from which a cloud of smoke was ascending.
“In that cave,” he said to himself, “there must be a fire. So much the better. I will go and dry and warm myself, and then?... and then we shall see.”