Page:Pinocchio;the story of a puppet, (IA pinocchiothestor00coll 1).pdf/129

PINOCCHIO BECOMES A HERO

He had been sleeping soundly about two hours when he was awakened at midnight by a whispering which sounded near him. "Pist! pist!” it said, and seemed to come from the barnyard. He put his nose out of the door in the dog kennel, and saw four little beasts that looked a little like cats. But they were not cats. They were weasels, bold animals that eat young chickens. One of them, leaving his companions, went to the kennel and said in a low voice, “Good evening, Melampo."

"My name is not Melampo."

"Well then who are you?"

"I am Pinocchio."

"What are you doing here?"