Page:The adventures of Pinocchio (Cramp 1904).djvu/55

 feel moved to pity, Fire Eater, instead, had the habit of sneezing. It was his way of letting others know the tenderness of his heart.

After having sneezed, the manager, appearing still cross, cried to Pinocchio, “Stop crying! Your sobs make me feel squeamish at the pit of my stomach. I feel a spasm that nearly—etchi-etchi—” and he sneezed twice more.

“God bless you!” said Pinocchio.

“Thanks. And your papa and mamma are still living?” asked Fire Eater.

“My papa, yes; but I have never seen my mother.”

“Oh, what a terrible thing it would have been for your papa if I had thrown you on the fire! Poor old man! I pity him—etchi-etchi-etchi—” and he sneezed three times more.

“God bless you!” said Pinocchio.

“Thanks. But some one must also pity me, because you see I have no more wood with which I can cook my meat; and you would have made a fine fire. But now that I am moved to pity for you, I must have patience. Instead of you I shall have to burn some one of my company. Ho! guards, come here!”

At this command two guards of wood appeared with soldier caps on their heads and swords by their