Page:The adventures of Pinocchio (Cramp 1904).djvu/202

 Imagine the fright of poor Pinocchio at the sight of the monster! He sought to avoid him,—to change his road. He tried to escape; but that immense open mouth came always toward him with the velocity of an arrow.

“Hurry, Pinocchio!” cried the Goat, bleating loudly. And Pinocchio swam desperately with his arms, with his chest, with his legs, and with his feet.

“Hurry, Pinocchio, for the monster approaches you!” And Pinocchio, gathering his force, redoubled his strokes.

“Take care! take care! He is gaining! Hurry! Oh, hurry, or you are lost!” Pinocchio swam faster than ever, and away they both raced, going as fast as bullet balls. As they approached the rock the Goat held out its two front paws to aid Pinocchio to land. But—

It was too late! The monster had been too quick. Drawing in a quantity of water, he drank Pinocchio just as if he were sucking an egg. He swallowed him with such violence that the marionette arrived at the stomach of the Dogfish with such force that he was stunned for a quarter of an hour.

When he regained consciousness after being swallowed he did not know where he was. All around him was darkness so intense that he