thy and the esteem of all the boys in the school. They all made
friends with him and liked him heartily.

And even the master praised him, for he found him attentive, studious
and intelligent--always the first to come to school, and the last to
leave when school was over.

But he had one fault: he made too many friends, and amongst them were
several young rascals well known for their dislike to study and love of
mischief.

The master warned him every day, and even the good Fairy never failed to
tell him and to repeat constantly:

"Take care, Pinocchio! Those bad school-fellows of yours will end sooner
or later by making you lose all love of study, and perhaps they may even
bring upon you some great misfortune."

"There is no fear of that!" answered the puppet, shrugging his shoulders
and touching his forehead as much as to say: "There is so much sense
here!"

Now it happened that one fine day, as he was on his way to school, he
met several of his usual companions who, coming up to him, asked:

"Have you heard the great news?"

"No."

"In the sea near here a Dog-Fish has appeared as big as a mountain."

"Not really? Can it be the same Dog-Fish that was there when my papa was
drowned?"

"We are going to the shore to see him. Will you come with us?"

"No; I am going to school."

"What matters school? We can go to school tomorrow. Whether we have a
lesson more or a lesson less, we shall always remain the same donkeys."

"But what will the master say?"

"The master may say what he likes. He is paid on purpose to grumble all
day."

"And my mamma?"

"Mammas know nothing," answered those bad little boys.

"Do you know what I will do?" said Pinocchio. "I have reasons for
wishing to see the Dog-Fish, but I will go and see him when school is
over."

"Poor donkey!" exclaimed one of the number. "Do you suppose that a fish
of that size will wait your convenience? As soon as he is tired of being
here he will start for another place, and then it will be too late."

"How long does it take to go from here to the shore?" asked the puppet.

"We can be there and back in an hour."

"Then away!" shouted Pinocchio, "and he who runs fastest is the best!"

Having thus given the signal to start, the boys, with their books and
copy-books under their arms, rushed off across the fields, and Pinocchio
was always the first--he seemed to have wings to his feet.

From time to time he turned to jeer at his companions, who w