Chapter 28

           Duringthatwildchase,Pinocchiolivedthroughaterriblemomentwhenhealmostgavehimselfupaslost.ThiswaswhenAlidoro(thatwastheMastiff’sname),inafrenzyofrunning,camesonearthathewasontheverypointofreachinghim. 

           TheMarionetteheard,closebehindhim,thelaboredbreathingofthebeastwhowasfastonhistrail,andnowandagainevenfelthishotbreathblowoverhim. 

           Luckily,bythistime,hewasveryneartheshore,andtheseawasinsight;infact,onlyafewshortstepsaway. 

           Assoonashesetfootonthebeach,Pinocchiogavealeapandfellintothewater.Alidorotriedtostop,butashewasrunningveryfast,hecouldn’t,andhe,too,landedfaroutinthesea. Strangethoughitmayseem,theDogcouldnotswim.Hebeatthewaterwithhispawstoholdhimselfup,buttheharderhetried,thedeeperhesank. Ashestuckhisheadoutoncemore,thepoorfellow’seyeswerebulgingandhebarkedoutwildly, "Idrown!Idrown!" 

           "Drown!"answeredPinocchiofromafar,happyathisescape. 

           "Help,Pinocchio,dearlittlePinocchio!Savemefromdeath!" 

           Atthosecriesofsuffering,theMarionette,whoafterallhadaverykindheart,wasmovedtocompassion.Heturnedtowardthepooranimalandsaidtohim: 

           "ButifIhelpyou,willyoupromisenottobothermeagainbyrunningafterme?" 

           "Ipromise!Ipromise!Onlyhurry,forifyouwaitanothersecond,I’llbedeadandgone!"