Pinocchio returns to the Fairy's houseand she promises him that, on the morrow,he will cease to be a Marionette and become a boy.

　　A wonderful party of coffee-and-milk to celebratethe great eventMindful of what the Fisherman had said, Pinocchio knewthat all hope of being saved had gone. He closed his eyesand waited for the final moment.

　　Suddenly, a large Dog, attracted by the odor of theboiling oil, came running into the cave.

　　"Get out!" cried the Fisherman threateningly and stillholding onto the Marionette, who was all covered with flour.

　　But the poor Dog was very hungry, and whining andwagging his tail, he tried to say:

　　"Give me a bite of the fish and I'll go in peace.""Get out, I say!" repeated the Fisherman.

　　And he drew back his foot to give the Dog a kick.

　　Then the Dog, who, being really hungry, would takeno refusal, turned in a rage toward the Fisherman andbared his terrible fangs. And at that moment, a pitifullittle voice was heard saying: "Save me, Alidoro; if youdon't, I fry!"The Dog immediately recognized Pinocchio's voice.

　　Great was his surprise to find that the voice came fromthe little flour-covered bundle that the Fisherman heldin his hand.

　　Then what did he do? With one great leap, he graspedthat bundle in his mouth and, holding it lightly betweenhis teeth, ran through the door and disappeared like a flash!

　　The Fisherman, angry at seeing his meal snatched fromunder his nose, ran after the Dog, but a bad fit of coughingmade him stop and turn back.

　　Meanwhile, Alidoro, as soon as he had found the roadwhich led to the village, stopped and dropped Pinocchiosoftly to the ground.

　　"How much I do thank you!" said the Marionette.

　　"It is not necessary," answered the Dog. "You saved me once,and what is given is always returned. We are in this worldto help one another.""But how did you get in that cave?""I was lying here on the sand more dead than alive,when an appetizing odor of fried fish came to me. Thatodor tickled my hunger and I followed it. Oh, if I hadcome a moment later!""Don't speak about it," wailed Pinocchio, stilltrembling with fright. "Don't say a word. If you had comea moment later, I would be fried, eaten, and digested bythis time. Brrrrrr! I shiver at the mere thought of it."Alidoro laughingly held out his paw to the Marionette,who shook it heartily, feeling that now he and the Dogwere good friends. Then they bid each other good-byand the Dog went home.

　　Pinocchio, left alone, walked toward a little hut nearby, where an old man sat at the door sunning himself,and asked:

　　"Tell me, good man, have you heard anything of apoor boy with a wounded head, whose name was Eugene?""The boy was brought to this hut and now--""Now he is dead?" Pinocchio interrupted sorrowfully.

　　"No, he is now alive and he has already returned home.""Really? Really?" cried the Marionette, jumpingaround with joy. "Then the wound was not serious?""But it might have been--and even mortal," answeredthe old man, "for a heavy book was thrown at his head.""And who threw it?""A schoolmate of his, a certain Pinocchio.""And who is this Pinocchio?" asked the Marionette,feigning ignorance.

　　"They say he is a mischief-maker, a tramp, a street urchin--""Calumnies! All calumnies!""Do you know this Pinocchio?""By sight!" answered the Marionette.

　　"And what do you think of him?" asked the old man.

　　"I think he's a very good boy, fond of study, obedient,kind to his Father, and to his whole family--"As he was telling all these enormous lies about himself,Pinocchio touched his nose and found it twice as longas it should be. Scared out of his wits, he cried out:

　　"Don't listen to me, good man! All the wonderfulthings I have said are not true at all. I know Pinocchiowell and he is indeed a very wicked fellow, lazy anddisobedient, who instead of going to school, runs away withhis playmates to have a good time."At this speech, his nose returned to its natural size.

　　"Why are you so pale?" the old man asked suddenly.

　　"Let me tell you. Without knowing it, I rubbed myselfagainst a newly painted wall," he lied, ashamed tosay that he had been made ready for the frying pan.

　　"What have you done with your coat and your hatand your breeches?""I met thieves and they robbed me. Tell me, my goodman, have you not, perhaps, a little suit to give me, sothat I may go home?""My boy, as for clothes, I have only a bag in which Ikeep hops. If you want it, take it. There it is."Pinocchio did not wait for him to repeat his words.

　　He took the bag, which happened to be empty, and aftercutting a big hole at the top and two at the sides, heslipped into it as if it were a shirt. Lightly clad as he was,he started out toward the village.

　　Along the way he felt very uneasy. In fact he was sounhappy that he went along taking two steps forwardand one back, and as he went he said to himself:

　　"How shall I ever face my good little Fairy? Whatwill she say when she sees me? Will she forgive this lasttrick of mine? I am sure she won't. Oh, no, she w............