登陆注册
5190000000024

第24章

Pinocchio discovers the thieves and, as a reward for faithfulness, he regains his libertyEven though a boy may be very unhappy, he very seldom loses sleep over his worries.The Marionette, being no exception to this rule, slept on peacefully for a few hours till well along toward midnight, when he was awakened by strange whisperings and stealthy sounds coming from the yard.He stuck his nose out of the doghouse and saw four slender, hairy animals.They were Weasels, small animals very fond of both eggs and chickens.One of them left her companions and, going to the door of the doghouse, said in a sweet voice:

"Good evening, Melampo."

"My name is not Melampo," answered Pinocchio.

"Who are you, then?"

"I am Pinocchio."

"What are you doing here?"

"I'm the watchdog."

"But where is Melampo? Where is the old dog who used to live in this house?""He died this morning."

"Died? Poor beast! He was so good! Still, judging by your face, I think you, too, are a good-natured dog.""I beg your pardon, I am not a dog!"

"What are you, then?"

"I am a Marionette."

"Are you taking the place of the watchdog?""I'm sorry to say that I am.I'm being punished.""Well, I shall make the same terms with you that we had with the dead Melampo.I am sure you will be glad to hear them.""And what are the terms?"

"This is our plan: We'll come once in a while, as in the past, to pay a visit to this henhouse, and we'll take away eight chickens.Of these, seven are for us, and one for you, provided, of course, that you will make believe you are sleeping and will not bark for the Farmer.""Did Melampo really do that?" asked Pinocchio.

"Indeed he did, and because of that we were the best of friends.Sleep away peacefully, and remember that before we go we shall leave you a nice fat chicken all ready for your breakfast in the morning.Is that understood?""Even too well," answered Pinocchio.And shaking his head in a threatening manner, he seemed to say, "We'll talk this over in a few minutes, my friends."As soon as the four Weasels had talked things over, they went straight to the chicken coop which stood close to the doghouse.Digging busily with teeth and claws, they opened the little door and slipped in.But they were no sooner in than they heard the door close with a sharp bang.

The one who had done the trick was Pinocchio, who, not satisfied with that, dragged a heavy stone in front of it.That done, he started to bark.And he barked as if he were a real watchdog: "Bow, wow, wow! Bow, wow!"The Farmer heard the loud barks and jumped out of bed.

Taking his gun, he leaped to the window and shouted:

"What's the matter?"

"The thieves are here," answered Pinocchio.

"Where are they?"

"In the chicken coop."

"I'll come down in a second."

And, in fact, he was down in the yard in a twinkling and running toward the chicken coop.

He opened the door, pulled out the Weasels one by one, and, after tying them in a bag, said to them in a happy voice:

"You're in my hands at last! I could punish you now, but I'll wait! In the morning you may come with me to the inn and there you'll make a fine dinner for some hungry mortal.It is really too great an honor for you, one you do not deserve; but, as you see, I am really a very kind and generous man and I am going to do this for you!"Then he went up to Pinocchio and began to pet and caress him.

"How did you ever find them out so quickly? And to think that Melampo, my faithful Melampo, never saw them in all these years!"The Marionette could have told, then and there, all he knew about the shameful contract between the dog and the Weasels, but thinking of the dead dog, he said to himself: "Melampo is dead.What is the use of accusing him?

The dead are gone and they cannot defend themselves.

The best thing to do is to leave them in peace!""Were you awake or asleep when they came?" continued the Farmer.

"I was asleep," answered Pinocchio, "but they awakened me with their whisperings.One of them even came to the door of the doghouse and said to me, `If you promise not to bark, we will make you a present of one of the chickens for your breakfast.' Did you hear that? They had the audacity to make such a proposition as that to me!

For you must know that, though I am a very wicked Marionette full of faults, still I never have been, nor ever shall be, bribed.""Fine boy!" cried the Farmer, slapping him on the shoulder in a friendly way."You ought to be proud of yourself.And to show you what I think of you, you are free from this instant!"And he slipped the dog collar from his neck.

同类推荐
  • 坚瓠集

    坚瓠集

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 弘道书

    弘道书

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 雅述

    雅述

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 七佛父母姓字经

    七佛父母姓字经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • On the First Principles of Government

    On the First Principles of Government

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 天才少女穿越:枪火皇后

    天才少女穿越:枪火皇后

    初次与他相见,她在院子里拿着烧焦的炭火蹲在地上画图,满脸黑炭,把身为王爷的他给轰了出去。再见时,她拆了他的王府,毁了他的寝宫,磨刀霍霍,火光冲天,让他头疼不已。她把他随身携带的蚩尤神剑当成了试验品,三两下切成了麻花,令他几欲吐血。她把他的名字做成烟火,点亮了除夕的夜空,让他登基为皇成为上天的神谕。她大逆不道:皇帝老儿有什么了不起,只要我愿意,他的皇位也未必坐得安稳!她强势霸道:轩辕遥,你最好老老实实地爱我一个人,胆敢三宫六院七十二妃嫔,惹毛了我,我用炸药把你送上天!她还口出狂言:胆敢欺负我想保护的人,你丫的就是找抽!情不知所起,一往而深。就在两颗心越走越近之时,她的灵魂意外地回到了现代。他的宠溺和疼爱,终究成了一场遥不可及的梦。醒来后,她几度哭死过去,梦里梦外都是他的身影。而为了忘记她,他将河山拱手他人,御驾亲征,只求速死……
  • 中国近代史

    中国近代史

    本书为史学大师吕思勉先生沥血巨作,从1848年鸦片战争爆发,一直写到抗战的结束,举凡近代史的重大事件、重要人物、社会制度、世态风貌无不细致入微,丝丝入扣,是历史爱好者和史学研究者了解和剖析中国近代史的最佳范例作品。
  • 血妖姬

    血妖姬

    她是谁,吸血鬼?妖精?还是未知的神秘种族?上古时候的残忍灭杀让她的种族完全破碎,她要恢复实力,她要恢复记忆,灵魂;但残破的记忆碎片让她只能在各个世界中寻觅自己的一部分一部分。只有当危险来临,当致命来临,血妖姬之力才会暂时苏醒拯救;一步步走过修炼成长,看血妖姬如何找回完美。
  • 墨先生家有矿

    墨先生家有矿

    【正文已完结,系列新书《墨少他每天都想娶我》】上一世,她是天之骄女,更是当红小花旦,然而一次意外,却是让她红颜薄命死于非命。重活一世,她凭借着自己的高颜值以及上一世的演技,一步一步自己慢慢回到了娱乐圈巅峰。
  • 神偷王妃

    神偷王妃

    为什么人家穿越就是集三千宠爱于一身,轮到她就是被侵犯而死的痴情大小姐?陆荨表示不服!好吧,好吧,既来之则安之。看妙手空空大盗怎么替你活出一个不一样的自己!只不过,哎,帅锅,密谋杀人也找个隐蔽地方啊,本小姐可是眼里不揉沙子啊!--情节虚构,请勿模仿
  • 占察善恶业报经

    占察善恶业报经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 森林里的怪歌

    森林里的怪歌

    倒霉蛋儿虽然他和娘生活的十分艰辛,但仍逃脱不了被人追杀厄运……他娘被施魔法变成个双目失明的瞎子。倒霉蛋听说七仙山上有一种启明草能治娘的眼睛,他一个人冒险来到处处是陷阱的神秘的七仙山上采药。一路上历经坎坷,重重磨难,在芦花仙姑、大馋鬼、鼠五爷和狼三等仙人的帮助下,战胜了花蘑菇精、天牛怪等一个又一个的妖魔鬼怪。最后,找到了那颗神奇的启明草,治好了母亲的眼睛。故事整篇贯穿着惊险刺激,耐人寻味。是青少年朋友闲暇时最好的读物。
  • The Monk

    The Monk

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 这样说孩子才肯听 这样听孩子才会说

    这样说孩子才肯听 这样听孩子才会说

    家庭教育最重要的是家长与孩子之间的对话、沟通、交流,父母的语言是雕琢孩子成才的最锐利的刻刀。语言的力量无穷大,足以影响孩子一生。父母说话得体,每句话都能说到孩子心里去,孩子离成才的距离就会更近一步。
  • 风华夫君锦绣妻

    风华夫君锦绣妻

    前世,渣爹告诉她,“小夏呀,你母亲过世,这府上总不能没有主母持家吧?别人为父也不放心,你觉得你姨母如何?”就这样,她的亲姨母,成为了她的继母。前世,继母告诉她,“小夏呀,我听说,你舅舅的产业,竟然是被安平侯府给收入囊中了,这是怎么回事?”继妹告诉她,“姐姐,我,我说了你可千万别生气,我今日看到姐夫和娄家的小姐亲昵地很,言词间,似乎是还提及了我的那个已经夭折的小外甥。而且,还听说要娶她为平妻呢。”于是,她费尽了心思,将自己的夫君送入了牢狱,以为自己处事聪明,最终胜出一筹,哪知,意外得知,自己才是那个最蠢,且被人利用得最彻底地一个!当她再次运用了一切手段将自己的夫君救出来后,自己亲手毒死了继母继妹,已是无颜再苟活上。死后才知,原来真正的幕后推手,竟然是另有其人?怨气太重,阴魂不散!九华山上,却是意外地被人推动了命盘,将其魂魄吸纳其中,一时风云色变,时空逆转!重生后的她,温暖、娴雅、知书达理!这是表面。腹黑、阴毒、手段狠辣,这是事实!渣爹,渣妹,渣姨母?不狠狠地踩一踩,跺一跺,再辗一辗,怎么能叫渣渣?母亲尚在人世,怎能再重蹈前世覆辙?美男再度求亲,只是,前世之缘,今生如何再续?等一下,这个不知道从哪儿冒出来的美男妖孽,要不要长这么美?咦,怎么瞧着有些眼熟呢?小剧场一:繁华的街道上,某白莲花将一辆华丽精致的马车拦下,万分娇弱道,“姐姐,我是妹妹呀,您怎么能不认我了?”于是,街上行人纷纷侧目,暗自揣测,这是哪家的小姐没有良心,连妹妹都不认了?一道清冷女声传出,“这位小姐认错人了吧?我家夫人只有一弟弟,何来妹妹?”某白莲花咬着嘴唇,极为卑微道,“姐,呃,表姐,我是你表妹呀。”“表妹?我家夫人只有一兄,舅老爷膝下只得三子。不知你又是从哪儿冒出来的表妹?”某白莲花的脸色大变,再次颤抖着身子道,“表姐,我知道我的母亲是庶出的,不及姨母嫡出尊贵,可是你也不能不承认你就是我的表姐呀。”说着,嘤嘤轻泣。不想那车的帘子猛然掀起,一名侍女模样的小姑娘将其上下打量了一番后,笑道,“原来你就是那位被赶出了王家族谱的庶女的女儿呀?听说当年你母亲守寡在家,竟然是不甘寂寞,还敢勾引了自己的姐夫,宗族的族老们一怒之下,将其赶出了王家,敢问这位小姐,你又是哪儿来的表姐呀?”语毕,某白莲花顿时石化当场。小剧场二: