Page:Collodi - The Story of a Puppet, translation Murray, 1892.djvu/229

 'And after that?'

'After that, dear boy, we shall both remain in the dark.'

'Then, dear little papa,' said Pinocchio, 'there is no time to lose. We must think of escaping. . . .'

'Of escaping? . . . and how?'

'We must escape through the mouth of the Dog-fish, throw ourselves into the sea and swim away.'

'You talk well: but, dear Pinocchio, I don't know how to swim.'

'What does that matter? . . . I am a good 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