They went on until they met a second caravan resting at a well. Every one admired Pinocchio, and the old man who had him in charge treated him as if he were his own son.
Pinocchio was greatly pleased. Yet to tell the truth he was worried. Suppose they discovered that he had lied, and that he knew nothing about Africa, or the gold, or the diamonds! What would happen then?
The old man was talking to three or four men of the new caravan. Pinocchio did not like their faces. Now and then they looked toward the marionette with open eyes of astonishment.
Pinocchio pricked up his ears to listen to the good things the old man was saying about him. He felt highly flattered on hearing himself praised for his character, his intelligence, and his ability to eat and drink.
Then the men lowered their voices, and the marionette only now and then caught some stray words.
“How much do you want?”
“Come!” replied the good old man, “between us there should not be so much talk. I cannot give him to you unless you give me twenty yards of English calico, thirty yards of iron wire, and four strings of glass beads.”
“It is too much. It is too much,” replied one.
“They are bargaining for the donkey,” said Pinocchio, and he felt sorry for the poor beast.
“I am sorry for you,” he went on, addressing the donkey, “because you have made me quite comfortable. Now I must give you up and walk.”
“It is too much. It is too much,” the men were saying.
“Yes, yes, all you say is very true,” spoke one in a high voice, “but, after all, he is made of wood.”
“Of wood? Who is made of wood? The donkey?” thought Pinocchio, looking at the animal, which stood still, its ears erect as if it also were listening.
“Here!” put in one of the men, “the bargain is made if you will give him up for an elephant’s tooth; if not, let us talk no more of it.”
The old man was silent. He looked at the marionette, and then with a sigh which came from his heart he said: “You drive a hard bargain! Add at least the horn of a rhinoceros and let us be done with it.”
“Put in the horn!” replied the man, and they shook hands. “You have done well, my friends,” the old man said. “That fellow there,”—and this time pointed directly at Pinocchio,—“that fellow there has some great ideas in his head. He knows a thing or two! He says he knows the exact spot where one may find gold and diamonds.”
Pinocchio was thunderstruck! It was he and not the donkey that had been sold.
“Dogs!” he cried, “farewell. I go from you forever.” And away he leaped as fast as the north wind. They did not even try to follow him. Who could have caught him.
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