Page:Collodi - The Story of a Puppet, translation Murray, 1892.djvu/160

 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,