cap on his head. It appeared that Geppetto, although very far away from the shore, recognized him, because he raised his cap also and made it clearly understood that he would come to shore were it not that he was prevented by the heavy seas.
All of a sudden there came a terrible wave and the boat disappeared. They waited on shore to see it rise but it was never seen again.
“Poor man!” said the fishermen; and, mumbling a prayer, they went home.
Then they heard a cry. Turning around, they saw a little boy on the top of a reef throw himself into the water.
“I want to save my papa,” he said.
Pinocchio, being made of wood, floated easily, and he could swim like a fish. Now he was seen to disappear under the water, carried by the current; now he appeared again, striking out against the waves. The fishermen watched him until he was so far from shore that they could not see him any longer.
“Poor boy!” they said; and, mumbling another prayer, they went home.
