He thought he should die. His eyes filled with tears, and he began to cry. No one noticed it, however, not even the master, who cracked his whip and shouted: "Now show the people how well you can dance."
Pinocchio tried two or three times, but every time his feet slipped from under him. Finally with a great effort he danced, a few steps, but his hind feet slipped so badly that he fell to the floor in a heap. When at last he managed to get up he was so lame that he could hardly walk and had to be taken to his stall at once.
"Bring out Pinocchio! We want the donkey! Bring him out!" cried the boys in the theater, unhappy over the accident. But the donkey was seen no more that night. The next morning the veterinary, that is the doctor of animals, paid him a visit and when he had examined the poor donkey declared that he would be lame for life. At that the director said to the stable boy, "What do we want of a lame donkey? He would only eat food without earning it. Take him to the market place and sell him for the best you can get."
When they reached the square they soon
