Page:The adventures of Pinocchio (Cramp 1904).djvu/185

 “Look out then.” And Pinocchio began to count: “One, two, three!”

At the word “three,” the boys took off their caps and threw them into the air. And then they laughed and laughed and laughed until they were compelled to hold their sides. Suddenly Lamp Wick stopped and, changing color, said to his friend, “Help! oh, help me, Pinocchio!”

“What is the matter?”

“Oh, dear me! I cannot stand up any longer.”

“I cannot, either,” cried Pinocchio.

Even while they were speaking they fell on their hands and began to run around the room on all fours. And while they ran their arms became legs, their faces changed, and their bodies were covered with long hair. But the moment that was most horrible for each unfortunate was when he felt a tail swishing behind him. Overcome by shame and grief, they tried to talk. But they could not do it. Instead of sobs and lamentations there came the bray of a donkey and it sounded like “Y-a, y-a.”

In the meantime there was a knock on the door and they heard a voice outside saying: “Open the door! I am the driver of the carriage that brought you here. Open quickly, or woe be unto you!”