“It is late and I want to go to bed; we will settle our accounts tomorrow.  In the meanwhile, as the dog who kept guard at night died today, you shall take his place at once.  You shall be my watch-dog.”

And, taking a great collar covered with brass knobs, he strapped it so tightly round his throat that he was not able to draw his head out of it.  A heavy chain attached to the collar was fastened to the wall.

“If it should rain tonight,” he then said to him, “you can go and lie down in the kennel; the straw that has served as a bed for my poor dog for the last four years is still there.  If unfortunately robbers should come, remember to keep your ears pricked and to bark.”

After giving him this last injunction the man went into the house, shut the door, and put up the chain.

Poor Pinocchio remained lying on the ground more dead than alive from the effects of cold, hunger and fear.  From time to time he put his hands angrily to the collar that tightened his throat and said, crying: 

“It serves me right!  Decidedly, it serves me right!  I was determined to be a vagabond and a good-for-nothing.  I would listen to bad companions, and that is why I always meet with misfortunes.  If I had been a good little boy, as so many are; if I had remained at home with my poor papa, I should not now be in the midst of the fields and obliged to be the watch-dog to a peasant’s house.  Oh, if I could be born again!  But now it is too late and I must have patience!”

Relieved by this little outburst, which came straight from his heart, he went into the dog-kennel and fell asleep.

[Illustration]

CHAPTER XXII

PINOCCHIO DISCOVERS THE ROBBERS

He had been sleeping heavily for about two hours when, towards midnight, he was aroused by a whispering of strange voices that seemed to come from the courtyard.  Putting the point of his nose out of the kennel, he saw four little beasts with dark fur, that looked like cats, standing consulting together.  But they were not cats; they were polecats—­carnivorous little animals, especially greedy for eggs and young chickens.  One of the polecats, leaving his companions, came to the opening of the kennel and said in a low voice: 

“Good evening, Melampo.”

“My name is not Melampo,” answered the puppet.

“Oh! then who are you?”

“I am Pinocchio.”

“And what are you doing here?”

“I am acting as watch-dog.”

“Then where is Melampo?  Where is the old dog who lived in this kennel?”

“He died this morning.”

“Is he dead?  Poor beast!  He was so good.  But, judging you by your face,
I should say that you were also a good dog.”

“I beg your pardon, I am not a dog.”

“Not a dog?  Then what are you?”

“I am a puppet.”

“And you are acting as watch-dog?”