The next day a proclamation was made throughout the empire.  His royal and imperial highness had become as black as the blackest of his subjects.The ministers were joyous, and they celebrated this happy event with a great feast.  That day they did nothing but eat and dance.

As a rule the emperor, of course, could not take part in such amusements.  It was his business to sit upon the throne while the ministers and the people danced and played before him.  This time, however, the ancient law was broken.  Pinocchio danced like a madman the entire night, while the faithful Marameho, clothed in the emperor’s garments, sat upon the throne.  No one even dreamed of the exchange.

38.  The Hippopotamus Hunt

The next day was set aside for a hunt in honor of the young emperor, Pinocchio the First.  He would have been content to stay home, but this would have been taken as a grave insult to the people.

A herd of hippopotamuses had been discovered a few miles from the capital.  His ministers agreed that the emperor must go.  There was nothing else for him to do.

Besides, the hunt was for scientific purposes.  As Pinocchio had made known his views on schools, he could do no less than encourage this expedition, which was the only educational training allowed in the country.

The hunters, in fact, were persons of high rank, who spent their time in searching for traces of wild animals.  It seemed strange to Pinocchio that these learned hunters did not study how to protect their animals, instead of trying to kill them.

   “I suppose it is the custom of the country,” thought the
   marionette.

Two hours before sunrise the leaders in the hunt, armed with bows, arrows, and javelins, stood before the royal palace waiting for the emperor.  He was to ride on the back of a bull, which the prime minister held by a rope.

They were not kept waiting long.  Pinocchio the First came forth with a pleasant smile upon his lips.  Inwardly, he was very angry, but little did his faithful subjects suspect how he felt.

“A fine time for a king to rise!” he thought.  “Am I or am I not emperor?  If I am emperor, I should sleep as long as I wish, eat what I please, and do anything I like.  It seems to me that I am the slave of my people rather than their ruler.  Wait, my dear subjects; I will soon prove to you what stuff I am made of.”

The people waited.  The ministers explained to the emperor that he was to ride on the bull.

“My dear subjects, have you lost your senses?” thought the marionette.  “I certainly will not ride on a bull.  How long have bulls been used as horses?  This beast will hurl me into the first ditch we come to.  A fine regard you have for your emperor!  I almost begin to believe that you want to get rid of me and have another king.”

However, there was no way of escape, and he decided to do as he was told.  He leaped squarely upon the bull, and calmly sat there.  The bull, fortunately, did not move.