It seems
to me that he is made of very dry wood, and I am sure that if he was
thrown on the fire he would make a beautiful blaze for the roast."
At first Harlequin and Punchinello hesitated; but, appalled by a
severe glance from their master, they obeyed. In a short time they
returned to the kitchen carrying poor Pinocchio, who was wriggling
like an eel taken out of water, and screaming desperately, "Papa!
papa! save me! I will not die, I will not die!"
V.
FIRE-EATER SNEEZES AND PARDONS PINOCCHIO
The showman Fire-eater--for that was his name--looked, I must say, a
terrible man, especially with his black beard that covered his chest
and legs like an apron. On the whole, however, he had not a bad heart.
In proof of this, when he saw Pinocchio brought before him, struggling
and screaming "I will not die, I will not die!" he was quite moved and
felt sorry for him. He tried to hold out, but after a little he could
stand it no longer and he sneezed violently. When he heard the sneeze,
Harlequin, who up to that moment had been in the deepest affliction,
and bowed down like a weeping willow, became quite cheerful, and
leaning towards Pinocchio he whispered to him softly:
"Good news, brother.
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