“We are going to the shore to see him.  Will you come with us?”

“No; I am going to school.”

“What matters school?  We can go to school tomorrow.  Whether we have a lesson more or a lesson less, we shall always remain the same donkeys.”

“But what will the master say?”

“The master may say what he likes.  He is paid on purpose to grumble all day.”

“And my mamma?”

“Mammas know nothing,” answered those bad little boys.

“Do you know what I will do?” said Pinocchio.  “I have reasons for wishing to see the Dog-Fish, but I will go and see him when school is over.”

“Poor donkey!” exclaimed one of the number.  “Do you suppose that a fish of that size will wait your convenience?  As soon as he is tired of being here he will start for another place, and then it will be too late.”

“How long does it take to go from here to the shore?” asked the puppet.

“We can be there and back in an hour.”

“Then away!” shouted Pinocchio, “and he who runs fastest is the best!”

Having thus given the signal to start, the boys, with their books and copy-books under their arms, rushed off across the fields, and Pinocchio was always the first—­he seemed to have wings to his feet.

From time to time he turned to jeer at his companions, who were some distance behind, and, seeing them panting for breath, covered with dust, and their tongues hanging out of their mouths, he laughed heartily.  The unfortunate boy little knew what terrors and horrible disasters he was going to meet with!

[Illustration]

CHAPTER XXVII

PINOCCHIO IS ARRESTED BY THE GENDARMES

When he arrived on the shore Pinocchio looked out to sea, but he saw no Dog-Fish.  The sea was as smooth as a great crystal mirror.

“Where is the Dog-Fish?” he asked, turning to his companions.

“He must have gone to have his breakfast,” said one of them, laughing.

“Or he has thrown himself on to his bed to have a little nap,” added another, laughing still louder.

From their absurd answers and silly laughter Pinocchio perceived that his companions had been making a fool of him, in inducing him to believe a tale with no truth in it.  Taking it very badly, he said to them angrily: 

“And now, may I ask what fun you could find in deceiving me with the story of the Dog-Fish?”

“Oh, it was great fun!” answered the little rascals in chorus.

“And in what did it consist?”

“In making you miss school and persuading you to come with us.  Are you not ashamed of being always so punctual and so diligent with your lessons?  Are you not ashamed of studying so hard?”

“And if I study hard, what concern is it of yours?”

“It concerns us excessively, because it makes us appear in a bad light to the master.”