PINOCCHIO IS CARRIED AWAY IN AN EGGSHELL
Pinocchio now found himself in a dense growth of shrubbery which made
his progress difficult. He pushed on among the thorny plants. They
would have stopped any one but a wooden marionette. His clothes were
torn, to be sure, but he did not mind that.
Soon I shall have a suit that will make me look like a prince. Goods
of the best quality, and tailoring that has never been equaled! The
gold, the silver, and the diamonds must be found. And he went on at a
brisk gait as if he had been on the highway.
Trees, shrubs, underbrush,nothing else! The scene would have grown
tiresome had it not been for a swarm of butterflies of the most
beautiful and brilliant colors. They flew here and there, now letting
themselves be carried by the wind, now hovering about in search of the
flowers hidden in the thick foliage.
From time to time a hare would run between Pinocchios feet, and after
a few bounds would turn sharply around to stare at him with curious
eyes, as much as to say that a marionette was a comical sight. Young
monkeys peeped through the leaves, laughed at him, and then scampered
away.
Pinocchio walked along fearlessly, caring little for what went on
around him, and thinking only of the treasures for which he was
seeking.
On and on he walked until at length he found himself at the edge of a
vast plain. He gave a great sigh of relief. The long march through the
woods had tired him. However, he kept his eyes open, now and then
looking down at his feet to see if any precious stones were lying
about. Presently his attention was drawn to a great hole or nest, in
which he saw some white objects shaped like hens eggs, but
considerably larger than his head.
Curious to see whether or not he could lift one, Pinocchio approached
the nest. Just then he heard a frightful noise behind him.
Turning quickly, the marionette saw a huge bird running toward him. The
next moment a powerful push sent him head over heels upon one of the
eggs! As he fell he heard a loud crash, and at almost the same instant
found himself carried through the air. What had befallen him?
Of course, the hole was the nest of an ostrich. Enraged at the sight of
the broken egg, the fierce bird had seized in its powerful beak that
part of the shell into which the unfortunate marionette had fallen, and
was now rushing across the plain with the swiftness of an express
train.
The marionette screamed in terror, and with the stick which he still
held in his hand rained blows upon the birds long neck. But the blows
had no effect whatever. The furious creature ran and ran and ran.
Pinocchio, gasping for breath, was certain that his end was near.
The mad race lasted for hours. Suddenly the marionette was thrown into
a muddy pool, in which he sank up to his neck like a frog. Having no
desire to be suffocated in the mud, he raised his head a little,
although he did not try to climb out. What he saw surprised him beyond
measure.