  The moon grinned again and disappeared behind a cloud. The night grew dark. Pinocchio continued to swim through the black waters. He could see nothing ahead. He swam, swam, swam into the dark. Suddenly he felt something scrape his body, and he gave a start. “Who goes there?” he cried. No one answered. “Perhaps it is my old friend the shark, who has recognized me,” thought he; and he rapidly swam on to get away from the spot which reminded him of that terrible monster. He had not gone more than fifty yards when his head ran against something rough and hard. “Oh!” cried the marionette, and he raised his hand to the injured part. Then, as he noticed a large rock standing out of the water, he cried joyously; “I have arrived! I am in Africa!” He got up on his feet and began to feel of himself all over,—his ribs, his stomach, his legs. Everything was in order. “Nothing broken!” he said. “The rocks on the way have been very kind. However, I hope that day will break soon, for I have no matches, and it seems to me that I am very hungry.” Then he began to move on carefully. First he put down one foot and then the other, and thus crept along till he found a comfortable spot. “I seem to be very tired and sleepy also,” he said. With that, he lay down and went off in to a deep slumber. When he awoke it was daylight. The sun shone red and hot. There was nothing to be seen but rocks and water. “Is this Africa?” said the marionette, greatly troubled. “Even at dawn it seems to be very warm. When the sun gets a little higher I am likely to be baked.” And he wiped the sweat from his brow on his coat sleeve. Presently clouds began to rise out of the water. They grew darker and darker, and the day, instead of being bright, gradually became gloomy and overcast. The sun disappeared. “This is funny!” said Pinocchio. “What jokes the sun plays in these parts! It shines for a while and then disappears.” Poor marionette! It did not occur to him at first that he had slept the whole day, and that instead of the rising he saw the setting of the sun. The Sun comes up on the rocks |
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