ere some
distance behind, and, seeing them panting for breath, covered with dust,
and their tongues hanging out of their mouths, he laughed heartily. The
unfortunate boy little knew what terrors and horrible disasters he was
going to meet with!

[Illustration]

CHAPTER XXVII

PINOCCHIO IS ARRESTED BY THE GENDARMES

When he arrived on the shore Pinocchio looked out to sea, but he saw no
Dog-Fish. The sea was as smooth as a great crystal mirror.

"Where is the Dog-Fish?" he asked, turning to his companions.

"He must have gone to have his breakfast," said one of them, laughing.

"Or he has thrown himself on to his bed to have a little nap," added
another, laughing still louder.

From their absurd answers and silly laughter Pinocchio perceived that
his companions had been making a fool of him, in inducing him to believe
a tale with no truth in it. Taking it very badly, he said to them
angrily:

"And now, may I ask what fun you could find in deceiving me with the
story of the Dog-Fish?"

"Oh, it was great fun!" answered the little rascals in chorus.

"And in what did it consist?"

"In making you miss school and persuading you to come with us. Are you
not ashamed of being always so punctual and so diligent with your
lessons? Are you not ashamed of studying so hard?"

"And if I study hard, what concern is it of yours?"

"It concerns us excessively, because it makes us appear in a bad light
to the master."

"Why?"

"Because boys who study make those who, like us, have no wish to learn,
seem worse by comparison. And that is too bad. We, too, have our pride!"

"Then what must I do to please you?"

"You must follow our example and hate school, lessons, and the
master--our three greatest enemies."

"And if I wish to continue my studies?"

"In that case we will have nothing more to do with you, and at the first
opportunity we will make you pay for it."

"Really," said the puppet, shaking his head, "you make me inclined to
laugh."

"Eh, Pinocchio" shouted the biggest of the boys, confronting him. "None
of your superior airs: don't come here to crow over us, for if you are
not afraid of us, we are not afraid of you. Remember that you are one
against seven of us."

"Seven, like the seven deadly sins," said Pinocchio, with a shout of
laughter.

"Listen to him! He has insulted us all! He called us the seven deadly
sins!"

"Take that to begin with and keep it for your supper tonight," said one