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PINOCCHIO PURSUED
"Really," said the marionette to himself as he resumed his journey, "how unfortunate we poor boys are. Everybody scolds us, everybody warns us, and everybody gives us advice. Why, everybody takes it upon himself to be our father and master—even the Talking Cricket. Here I am, and because I would not pay any attention to that tiresome Talking Cricket he said that many awful things would happen to me! I should meet robbers! I have never believed in robbers. I think that robbers have been invented by fathers on purpose to make their boys afraid to go out at night. And then, even if I did meet them on the road they would probably tell me my way. Why, I wouldn't be afraid. I would go straight up to them, and say right to their faces, ‘Mr. Robbers, what do you want of me? Don't think you can fool with
