pine-tree and seated
himself in the topmost branches. The assassins attempted to climb
after him, but when they had reached halfway up the stem they slid
down again, and arrived on the ground with the skin grazed from their
hands and knees.

But they were not to be beaten by so little; collecting a quantity of
dry wood they piled it beneath the pine and set fire to it. In less
time than it takes to tell the pine began to burn and flame like
a candle blown by the wind. Pinocchio, seeing that the flames were
mounting higher every instant, and not wishing to end his life like
a roasted pigeon, made a stupendous leap from the top of the tree and
started afresh across the fields and vineyards. The assassins followed
him, and kept behind him without once giving in.

The day began to break and they were still pursuing him. Suddenly
Pinocchio found his way barred by a wide, deep ditch full of dirty
water the color of coffee. What was he to do? "One! two! three!"
cried the puppet, and making a rush he sprang to the other side.
The assassins also jumped, but not having measured the distance
properly--splash, splash!... they fell into the very middle of the
ditch. Pinocchio who heard the plunge and the splashing of water,
shouted out, laughing and without stopping:

"A fine bath to you, gentlemen assassins."

He felt convinced that they were drowned, when, turning to look he
perceived that, on the contrary, they were both running after him,
still enveloped in their sacks with the water dripping from them as if
they had been two hollow baskets....

IX

THE FOX AND THE CAT

Pinocchio set out; and as soon as he was in the wood he began to run
like a kid. But when he had reached a certain spot, almost in front
of the Big Oak, he stopped because he thought that he heard people
amongst the bushes. In fact, two persons came out on the road. Can you
guess who they were?... His two traveling companions, the Fox and the
Cat, with whom he had supped at the Inn of the Red-Crawfish.

"Why here is our dear Pinocchio!" cried the Fox, kissing and embracing
him. "How come you to be here?"

"How come you to be here?" repeated the Cat.

"It is a long story," answered the puppet, "which I will tell you when
I have time. But do you know that the other night, when you left me
alone at the inn, I met with assassins on the road."

"Assassins!... Oh, poor Pinocchio! And what did they want?"

"They wanted to rob me of my gold pieces."