Приключения Пиноккио / The adventures of Pinocchio. Уровень 1

They gathered a bundle of wood, and set fire to it[18 - set fire to it – подожгли]. The tree began to sputter and burn. The flames climbed higher and higher. Pinocchio jumped quickly to the ground and ran away.

But soon Pinocchio saw a deep pool full of dirty water. With a “One, two, three!” he jumped clear across it. The Robbers jumped also, but-splash! – they fell right into the middle of the pool.

“A pleasant bath to you, signori!” Pinocchio cried.

Chapter 15

The Robbers chase Pinocchio and catch him

Suddenly the Marionette saw a little cottage among the trees of the forest.

He darted swiftly through the woods, the Robbers still after him.

Finally Pinocchio reached the door of the cottage and knocked. No one answered. He knocked again. The same silence followed.

Pinocchio, in despair, began to kick and bang against the door. At the noise, a window opened and a lovely maiden looked out. She had azure hair and a face white as wax. She whispered:

“No one lives in this house.

Everyone is dead.”

“Won’t you open the door for me?” cried Pinocchio.

“I also am dead.”

“Dead? What do you do here, then?”

“I wait for the coffin.”

After these words, the little girl disappeared and the window closed.

“Oh, Lovely Maiden with Azure Hair,” cried Pinocchio, “please, open the door! I’m just a poor boy and two Rob-”

He did not finish, for two powerful hands grasped him by the neck and the same two horrible voices growled:

“Now we have you!”

The Marionette trembled and the coins tinkled under his tongue.

“Well,” the Robbers asked, “will you open your mouth now or not? Ah! You do not answer? Very well, this time you will open it. We’ll hang you.”

They tied Pinocchio’s hands behind his shoulders and slipped the noose around his neck. Then they sat on the grass. But after three hours the Marionette’s eyes were still open, his mouth still shut.

The Robbers told him mockingly:

“Good-bye till tomorrow.

When we return in the morning, we hope you’ll be polite enough to open your mouth.”

With these words they went. A few minutes went by and then a wild wind started to blow. As it shrieked and moaned, the poor little sufferer went to and fro. The Marionette murmured to himself:

“Oh, Father, dear Father! Where are you?”

These were his last words. He closed his eyes, opened his mouth, and stretched out his legs.