probably tell me my way. Why, I am not afraid. I would go to them and say, right to their faces, ‘Mr. Assassins, what do you want of me? Do not think that you can fool with me. Go away then about your own business, quick!’ At such talk the poor assassins—I can see them now—would run away like the wind. In case they might be clever enough not to run away, why then I would—and thus the thing would end—”
But Pinocchio was not able to finish his reasoning, because at that moment he thought he heard a rustling in the leaves behind him. He turned to look and saw in the dark two coal sacks covering two figures which ran toward him on the tips of their toes like ghosts.
“Here they are, truly!” said Pinocchio to himself. Not knowing what to do with the four gold pieces, he put them into his mouth and under his tongue. Then he tried to run away. But he had hardly started when his arms were seized and he heard two hollow voices say to him, “Your money or your life!”
Not being able to reply on account of the money in his mouth, Pinocchio made many bows and gestures in order to make his captors understand that he was a poor marionette and that he did not have a cent in his pockets. “Come on and stop
