Page:Collodi - The Story of a Puppet, translation Murray, 1892.djvu/230

 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 whispered, turning to his father; 'the Dogfish is sleeping like a dormouse, the sea is calm, and it is as light as day. Follow me, dear papa, and in a short time we shall be in safety.'

They immediately climbed up the throat of the sea-monster, and having reached his immense mouth they began to walk on tiptoe down his tongue.

Before taking the final leap the puppet said to his father:

'Get on my shoulders and put your arms tight round my neck. I will take care of the rest.'

As soon as Geppetto was firmly settled on his son's shoulders, Pinocchio, feeling sure of himself, threw himself into the water and began to swim. The sea was as smooth as oil, the moon shone brilliantly, and the Dog-fish was sleeping so profoundly that even a cannonade would have failed to wake him.