Page 246 [246]
OCR
222 PINOCCHIO panting for breath . .. he could do no more, and the shore was still far off. He swam until he had no breath left; then he turned his head to Geppetto and said in broken words: "Papa 4. help men, iT a dye) ig. The father and son were on the point of drowning when they heard a voice like a guitar out of tune saying: ‘Who is it that is dying?” “It is I, and my poor father!... " I know that voice! You are Pinocchio!” “Precisely: and you$ ” | " TIT am the Tunny, your prison companion in the body of the Dog-fish.” “And how did you manage to escape? ” " I followed your example. You showed me the road, and I escaped after you.” “'Tunny, you have arrived at the right moment! I implore you to help us, or we are lost.” “Willingly and with all my heart. You must, both of you, take hold of my tail and leave me to guide you. I will take you on shore in four minutes. " Geppetto and Pinocchio, as I need not tell you, accepted the offer at once; but instead of holding on by his tail they thought it would be 25
