I have seen your father who was building a little boat to
go in search of you,' and I said to him, 'Oh! if I also had wings,' and
he said to me, 'Do you want to go to your father?' and I said, 'Without
doubt! but who will take me to him?' and he said to me, 'I will take
you,' and I said to him, 'How?' and he said to me, 'Get on my back,' and
so we flew all night, and then in the morning all the fishermen who were
looking out to sea said to me, 'There is a poor man in a boat who is on
the point of being drowned,' and I recognized you at once, even at that
distance, for my heart told me, and I made signs to you to return to
land."

"I also recognized you," said Geppetto, "and I would willingly have
returned to the shore, but what was I to do! The sea was tremendous and
a great wave upset my boat. Then a horrible Dog-Fish, who was near, as
soon as he saw me in the water, came towards me, and, putting out his
tongue, took hold of me and swallowed me as if I had been a little apple
tart."

"And how long have you been shut up here?" asked Pinocchio.

[Illustration: They Thought It Would Be More Comfortable to Get on the
Tunny's Back]

"Since that day--it must be nearly two years ago; two years, my dear
Pinocchio, that have seemed like two centuries!"

"And how have you managed to live? And where did you get the candle? And
the matches to light it? Who gave them to you?"

"Stop, and I will tell you everything. You must know, then, that in the
same storm in which my boat was upset a merchant vessel foundered. The
sailors were all saved, but the vessel went to the bottom, and the
Dog-Fish, who had that day an excellent appetite, after he had swallowed
me, swallowed also the vessel."

"How?"

"He swallowed it in one mouthful, and the only thing that he spat out
was the mainmast, that had stuck between his teeth like a fish-bone.
Fortunately for me, the vessel was laden with preserved meat in tins,
biscuit, bottles of wine, dried raisins, cheese, coffee, sugar, candles,
and boxes of wax matches. With this providential supply I have been able
to live for two years. But I have arrived at the end of my resources;
there is nothing left in the larder, and this candle that you see
burning is the last that remains."

"And after that?"

"After that, dear boy, we shall both remain in the dark."

"Then, dear little papa," said Pinocchio, "there is no time to lose. We
must think of escaping."

"Of escaping? How?"

"We must