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〃I don't know what you are talking about；〃 said the Marionette； who was beginning to tremble with fear。
〃Too bad！ I'll explain myself better；〃 said the Parrot。 〃While you were away in the city the Fox and the Cat returned here in a great hurry。 They took the four gold pieces which you have buried and ran away as fast as the wind。 If you can catch them； you're a brave one！〃
Pinocchio's mouth opened wide。 He would not believe the Parrot's words and began to dig away furiously at the earth。 He dug and he dug till the hole was as big as himself； but no money was there。 Every penny was gone。
In desperation； he ran to the city and went straight to the courthouse to report the robbery to the magistrate。 The Judge was a Monkey； a large Gorilla venerable with age。 A flowing white beard covered his chest and he wore gold…rimmed spectacles from which the glasses had dropped out。 The reason for wearing these； he said； was that his eyes had been weakened by the work of many years。
Pinocchio； standing before him； told his pitiful tale； word by word。 He gave the names and the descriptions of the robbers and begged for justice。
The Judge listened to him with great patience。 A kind look shone in his eyes。 He became very much interested in the story； he felt moved； he almost wept。 When the Marionette had no more to say； the Judge put out his hand and rang a bell。
At the sound； two large Mastiffs appeared； dressed in Carabineers' uniforms。
Then the magistrate； pointing to Pinocchio； said in a very solemn voice：
〃This poor simpleton has been robbed of four gold pieces。 Take him； therefore； and throw him into prison。〃 The Marionette； on hearing this sentence passed upon him； was thoroughly stunned。 He tried to protest； but the two officers clapped their paws on his mouth and hustled him away to jail。
There he had to remain for four long； weary months。 And if it had not been for a very lucky chance； he probably would have had to stay there longer。 For； my dear children； you must know that it happened just then that the young emperor who ruled over the City of Simple Simons had gained a great victory over his enemy； and in celebration thereof； he had ordered illuminations； fireworks； shows of all kinds； and； best of all； the opening of all prison doors。
〃If the others go； I go； too；〃 said Pinocchio to the Jailer。
〃Not you；〃 answered the Jailer。 〃You are one of those〃
〃I beg your pardon；〃 interrupted Pinocchio； 〃I； too； am a thief。〃
〃In that case you also are free；〃 said the Jailer。 Taking off his cap； he bowed low and opened the door of the prison； and Pinocchio ran out and away； with never a look backward。
CHAPTER 20
Freed from prison； Pinocchio sets out to return to the Fairy； but on the way he meets a Serpent and later is caught in a trap
Fancy the happiness of Pinocchio on finding himself free！ Without saying yes or no； he fled from the city and set out on the road that was to take him back to the house of the lovely Fairy。
It had rained for many days； and the road was so muddy that； at times； Pinocchio sank down almost to his knees。
But he kept on bravely。
Tormented by the wish to see his father and his fairy sister with azure hair； he raced like a greyhound。 As he ran； he was splashed with mud even up to his cap。
〃How unhappy I have been；〃 he said to himself。 〃And yet I deserve everything； for I am certainly very stubborn and stupid！ I will always have my own way。 I won't listen to those who love me and who have more brains than I。 But from now on； I'll be different and I'll try to become a most obedient boy。 I have found out； beyond any doubt whatever； that disobedient boys are certainly far from happy； and that； in the long run； they always lose out。 I wonder if Father is waiting for me。 Will I find him at the Fairy's house？ It is so long； poor man； since I have seen him； and I do so want his love and his kisses。 And will the Fairy ever forgive me for all I have done？ She who has been so good to me and to whom I owe my life！ Can there be a worse or more heartless boy than I am anywhere？〃
As he spoke； he stopped suddenly； frozen with terror。
What was the matter？ An immense Serpent lay stretched across the roada Serpent with a bright green skin； fiery eyes which glowed and burned； and a pointed tail that smoked like a chimney。
How frightened was poor Pinocchio！ He ran back wildly for half a mile； and at last settled himself atop a heap of stones to wait for the Serpent to go on his way and leave the road clear for him。
He waited an hour； two hours； three hours； but the Serpent was always there； and even from afar one could see the flash of his red eyes and the column of smoke which rose from his long； pointed tail。
Pinocchio； trying to feel very brave； walked straight up to him and said in a sweet； soothing voice：
〃I beg your pardon； Mr。 Serpent； would you be so kind as to step aside to let me pass？〃
He might as well have talked to a wall。 The Serpent never moved。
Once more； in the same sweet voice； he spoke：
〃You must know； Mr。 Serpent； that I am going home where my father is waiting for me。 It is so long since I have seen him！ Would you mind very much if I passed？〃
He waited for some sign of an answer to his questions； but the answer did not come。 On the contrary； the green Serpent； who had seemed； until then； wide awake and full of life； became suddenly very quiet and still。 His eyes closed and his tail stopped smoking。
〃Is he dead； I wonder？〃 said Pinocchio； rubbing his hands together happily。 Without a moment's hesitation； he started to step over him； but he had just raised one leg when the Serpent shot up like a spring and the Marionette fell head over heels backward。 He fell so awkwardly that his head stuck in the mud； and there he stood with his legs straight up in the air。
At the sight of the Marionette kicking and squirming like a young whirlwind； the Serpent laughed so heartily and so long that at last he burst an artery and died on the spot。
Pinocchio freed himself from his awkward position and once more began to run in order to reach the Fairy's house before dark。 As he went； the pangs of hunger grew so strong that； unable to withstand them； he jumped into a field to pick a few grapes that tempted him。 Woe to him！
No sooner had he reached the grapevine thancrack！ went his legs。
The poor Marionette was caught in a trap set there by a Farmer for some Weasels which came every night to steal his chickens。
CHAPTER 21
Pinocchio is caught by a Farmer； who uses him as a watchdog for his chicken coop
Pinocchio； as you may well imagine； began to scream and weep and beg； but all was of no use； for no houses were to be seen and not a soul passed by on the road。
Night came on。
A little because of the sharp pain in his legs； a little because of fright at finding himself alone in the darkness of the field； the Marionette was about to faint； when he saw a tiny Glowworm flickering by。 He called to her and said：
〃Dear little Glowworm； will you set me free？〃
〃Poor little fellow！〃 replied the Glowworm； stopping to look at him with pity。 〃How came you to be caught in this trap？〃
〃I stepped into this lonely field to take a few grapes and〃
〃Are the grapes yours？〃
〃No。〃
〃Who has taught you to take things that do not belong to you？〃
〃I was hungry。〃
〃Hunger； my boy； is no reason for taking something which belongs to another。〃
〃It's true； it's true！〃 cried Pinocchio in tears。 〃I won't do it again。〃
Just then； the conversation was interrupted by approaching footsteps。 It was the owner of the field； who was coming on tiptoes to see if； by chance； he had caught the Weasels which had been eating his chickens。
Great was his surprise when； on holding up his lantern； he saw that； instead of a Weasel； he had caught a boy！
〃Ah； you little thief！〃 said the Farmer in an angry voice。 〃So you are the one who steals my chickens！〃
〃Not I！ No； no！〃 cried Pinocchio； sobbing bitterly。 〃I came here only to take a very few grapes。〃
〃He who steals grapes may very easily steal chickens also。 Take my word for it； I'll give you a lesson that you'll remember for a long while。〃
He opened the trap； grabbed the Marionette by the collar； and carried him to the house as if he were a puppy。 When he reached the yard in front of the house； he flung him to the ground； put a foot on his neck； and said to him roughly： 〃It is late now and it's time for bed。 Tomorrow we'll settle matters。 In the meantime； since my watchdog died today； you may take his place and guard my henhouse。〃
No sooner said than done。 He slipped a dog collar around Pinocchio's neck and tightened it so that it would not come off。 A long iron chain was tied to the collar。 The other end of the chain was nailed to the wall。
〃If tonight it should happen to rain；〃 said the Farmer； 〃you can sleep in that little doghouse near…by； where you will find plenty of straw for a soft bed。 It has been Melampo's bed for three years； and it will be good enough for you。 And if； by any chance； any thieves should come； be sure to bark！〃
After this last warning； the Farmer went into the house and closed the door and barre