“Who is the Fairy?”
“She is my mamma, who is like all other mammas in this world. She liked me and tried to make me a good and studious boy. As soon as the good Fairy saw me in danger of drowning she sent a school of fishes, which, believing that I was really dead, began to eat me. And what mouthfuls they took! Some ate my ears; some my neck and mane; some the skin on my legs; some the hair on my back; and among them there was one big fish that ate my tail at one bite. When the fish had eaten everything they finally came to the bones,—or rather, they came to the wood. Finding that too hard for their teeth, they went away and did not even look back to say good-by.”
“I do not believe your silly story,” said the buyer, now very angry. “I know I have spent twenty-five cents and I want my money again. Do you know what I will do? I will carry you back to the square and sell you for a piece of kindling wood.”
“All right!” said Pinocchio. Thus saying, he jumped into the water and, swimming lightly, drew away from the coast, calling to the poor buyer: “Good-by, dear sir! If you want a drumhead, don’t forget me.” And then he laughed and kept on swimming.
