He opened the trap, took up the marionette by the back of the neck, as a cat carries a kitten, and took him home. When he reached the door he said to Pinocchio, "It is late, and I want to go to bed. We will settle our account tomorrow. Meanwhile, as my watch dog died today, I will put you into his house. I will make you my watchdog."
No sooner had he said this than taking a great collar studded with nails he put it around Pinocchio's neck, and snapped onto it a heavy chain that was fastened to the wall at the other end.
"If it should rain tonight," said the farmer, "there is some straw inside there that my dog has used for four years, and you may go in and rest on it. And if robbers should come into the yard, watch them closely and bark."
After this last warning the farmer entered his house and closed the door and the poor marionette was left lying in the barnyard more dead than alive from cold, hunger and fear. Now and then he put his hands between his neck and the heavy collar, because it hurt him, saying to himself: "It
