Page:Collodi - The Story of a Puppet, translation Murray, 1892.djvu/238

 'You can try me. . . .'

'Well, then, if you will draw a hundred buckets of water, I will give you in compensation a tumbler of milk.'

'It is a bargain.'

Giangio then led Pinocchio to the kitchen garden and taught him how to turn the pumping machine. Pinocchio immediately began to work; but before he had drawn up the hundred buckets of water the perspiration was pouring from his head to his feet. Never before had he undergone such fatigue.

'Up till now,' said the gardener, 'the labour of turning the pumping machine was performed by my little donkey; but the poor animal is dying.'

'Will you take me to see him?' said Pinocchio.

'Willingly.'

When Pinocchio went into the stable he saw a beautiful little donkey stretched on the straw, worn out from hunger and overwork. After looking at him earnestly he said to himself, much troubled:

'I am sure I know this little donkey! His face is not new to me.'

And bending over him he asked him in asinine language:

'Who are you?'

At this question the little donkey opened his dying eyes, and answered in broken words in the same language: