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〃Tell me；〃 asked the Pigeon； 〃do you by chance know of a Marionette； Pinocchio by name？〃
〃Pinocchio！ Did you say Pinocchio？〃 replied the Marionette； jumping to his feet。 〃Why； I am Pinocchio！〃
At this answer； the Pigeon flew swiftly down to the earth。 He was much larger than a turkey。
〃Then you know Geppetto also？〃
〃Do I know him？ He's my father； my poor； dear father！ Has he； perhaps； spoken to you of me？ Will you take me to him？ Is he still alive？ Answer me； please！ Is he still alive？〃
〃I left him three days ago on the shore of a large sea。〃
〃What was he doing？〃
〃He was building a little boat with which to cross the ocean。 For the last four months； that poor man has been wandering around Europe； looking for you。 Not having found you yet； he has made up his mind to look for you in the New World； far across the ocean。〃
〃How far is it from here to the shore？〃 asked Pinocchio anxiously。
〃More than fifty miles。〃
〃Fifty miles？ Oh； dear Pigeon； how I wish I had your wings！〃
〃If you want to come； I'll take you with me。〃
〃How？〃
〃Astride my back。 Are you very heavy？〃
〃Heavy？ Not at all。 I'm only a feather。〃
〃Very well。〃
Saying nothing more； Pinocchio jumped on the Pigeon's back and； as he settled himself； he cried out gayly：
〃Gallop on； gallop on； my pretty steed！ I'm in a great hurry。〃
The Pigeon flew away； and in a few minutes he had reached the clouds。 The Marionette looked to see what was below them。 His head swam and he was so frightened that he clutched wildly at the Pigeon's neck to keep himself from falling。
They flew all day。 Toward evening the Pigeon said：
〃I'm very thirsty！〃
〃And I'm very hungry！〃 said Pinocchio。
〃Let us stop a few minutes at that pigeon coop down there。 Then we can go on and be at the seashore in the morning。〃
They went into the empty coop and there they found nothing but a bowl of water and a small basket filled with chick…peas。
The Marionette had always hated chick…peas。 According to him； they had always made him sick； but that night he ate them with a relish。 As he finished them； he turned to the Pigeon and said：
〃I never should have thought that chick…peas could be so good！〃
〃You must remember； my boy；〃 answered the Pigeon； 〃that hunger is the best sauce！〃
After resting a few minutes longer； they set out again。 The next morning they were at the seashore。
Pinocchio jumped off the Pigeon's back； and the Pigeon； not wanting any thanks for a kind deed； flew away swiftly and disappeared。
The shore was full of people； shrieking and tearing their hair as they looked toward the sea。
〃What has happened？〃 asked Pinocchio of a little old woman。
〃A poor old father lost his only son some time ago and today he built a tiny boat for himself in order to go in search of him across the ocean。 The water is very rough and we're afraid he will be drowned。〃
〃Where is the little boat？〃
〃There。 Straight down there；〃 answered the little old woman； pointing to a tiny shadow； no bigger than a nutshell； floating on the sea。
Pinocchio looked closely for a few minutes and then gave a sharp cry：
〃It's my father！ It's my father！〃
Meanwhile； the little boat； tossed about by the angry waters； appeared and disappeared in the waves。 And Pinocchio； standing on a high rock； tired out with searching； waved to him with hand and cap and even with his nose。
It looked as if Geppetto； though far away from the shore； recognized his son； for he took off his cap and waved also。 He seemed to be trying to make everyone understand that he would come back if he were able； but the sea was so heavy that he could do nothing with his oars。 Suddenly a huge wave came and the boat disappeared。
They waited and waited for it； but it was gone。
〃Poor man！〃 said the fisher folk on the shore； whispering a prayer as they turned to go home。
Just then a desperate cry was heard。 Turning around； the fisher folk saw Pinocchio dive into the sea and heard him cry out：
〃I'll save him！ I'll save my father！〃
The Marionette； being made of wood； floated easily along and swam like a fish in the rough water。 Now and again he disappeared only to reappear once more。 In a twinkling； he was far away from land。 At last he was completely lost to view。
〃Poor boy！〃 cried the fisher folk on the shore； and again they mumbled a few prayers； as they returned home。
CHAPTER 24
Pinocchio reaches the Island of the Busy Bees and finds the Fairy once more
Pinocchio； spurred on by the hope of finding his father and of being in time to save him； swam all night long。
And what a horrible night it was！ It poured rain； it hailed； it thundered； and the lightning was so bright that it turned the night into day。
At dawn； he saw； not far away from him； a long stretch of sand。 It was an island in the middle of the sea。
Pinocchio tried his best to get there； but he couldn't。 The waves played with him and tossed him about as if he were a twig or a bit of straw。 At last； and luckily for him； a tremendous wave tossed him to the very spot where he wanted to be。 The blow from the wave was so strong that； as he fell to the ground； his joints cracked and almost broke。 But； nothing daunted； he jumped to his feet and cried：
〃Once more I have escaped with my life！〃
Little by little the sky cleared。 The sun came out in full splendor and the sea became as calm as a lake。
Then the Marionette took off his clothes and laid them on the sand to dry。 He looked over the waters to see whether he might catch sight of a boat with a little man in it。 He searched and he searched； but he saw nothing except sea and sky and far away a few sails； so small that they might have been birds。
〃If only I knew the name of this island！〃 he said to himself。 〃If I even knew what kind of people I would find here！ But whom shall I ask？ There is no one here。〃
The idea of finding himself in so lonesome a spot made him so sad that he was about to cry； but just then he saw a big Fish swimming near…by； with his head far out of the water。
Not knowing what to call him； the Marionette said to him：
〃Hey there； Mr。 Fish； may I have a word with you？〃
〃Even two； if you want；〃 answered the fish； who happened to be a very polite Dolphin。
〃Will you please tell me if； on this island； there are places where one may eat without necessarily being eaten？〃
〃Surely； there are；〃 answered the Dolphin。 〃In fact you'll find one not far from this spot。〃
〃And how shall I get there？〃
〃Take that path on your left and follow your nose。 You can't go wrong。〃
〃Tell me another thing。 You who travel day and night through the sea； did you not perhaps meet a little boat with my father in it？〃
〃And who is you father？〃
〃He is the best father in the world； even as I am the worst son that can be found。〃
〃In the storm of last night；〃 answered the Dolphin； 〃the little boat must have been swamped。〃
〃And my father？〃
〃By this time； he must have been swallowed by the Terrible Shark； which； for the last few days； has been bringing terror to these waters。〃
〃Is this Shark very big？〃 asked Pinocchio； who was beginning to tremble with fright。
〃Is he big？〃