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Alidoro, when he had reached the path that led to the village, stopped and put his friend Pinocchio gently on the ground. "How much I have to thank you for!" said the puppet. "There is no necessity," replied the dog. "You saved me and I have now returned it. You know that we must all help each other in this world." "But how came you to come to the cave?"
I shiver at the mere thought of it." Alidoro laughingly held out his paw to the Marionette, who shook it heartily, feeling that now he and the Dog were good friends. Then they bid each other good-by and the Dog went home.
The puppet, however, not wishing to trust him too far, thought it more prudent to jump again into the water. When he had swum some distance from the shore he called out to the friend he had rescued: "Good-bye, Alidoro; a good journey to you, and take my compliments to all at home." "Good-bye, Pinocchio," answered the dog; "a thousand thanks for having saved my life.
There came a moment in this desperate race a terrible moment when Pinocchio thought himself lost: for Alidoro, the mastiff, had run so swiftly that he had nearly come up with him. The puppet could hear the panting of the dreadful beast close behind him; there was not a hand's breadth between them, he could even feel the dog's hot breath.
Alidoro tried to stop, but as he was running very fast, he couldn't, and he, too, landed far out in the sea. Strange though it may seem, the Dog could not swim. He beat the water with his paws to hold himself up, but the harder he tried, the deeper he sank. As he stuck his head out once more, the poor fellow's eyes were bulging and he barked out wildly, "I drown! I drown!"
And at that moment, a pitiful little voice was heard saying: "Save me, Alidoro; if you don't, I fry!" The Dog immediately recognized Pinocchio's voice. Great was his surprise to find that the voice came from the little flour-covered bundle that the Fisherman held in his hand. Then what did he do?
However, Pinocchio, not wishing to trust him too much, threw himself once again into the sea. As he swam away, he called out: "Good-by, Alidoro, good luck and remember me to the family!" "Good-by, little Pinocchio," answered the Dog. "A thousand thanks for having saved me from death. You did me a good turn, and, in this world, what is given is always returned.
Pinocchio hesitated; but, remembering that his father had often told him that a good action is never lost, he swam to Alidoro, and, taking hold of his tail with both hands, brought him safe and sound on to the dry sand of the beach. The poor dog could not stand. He had drunk so much salt water that he was like a balloon.
Only hurry, for if you wait another second, I'll be dead and gone!" Pinocchio hesitated still another minute. Then, remembering how his father had often told him that a kind deed is never lost, he swam to Alidoro and, catching hold of his tail, dragged him to the shore. The poor Dog was so weak he could not stand. He had swallowed so much salt water that he was swollen like a balloon.
Fortunately the shore was close and the sea but a few steps off. As soon as he reached the sands the puppet made a wonderful leap a frog could have done no better and plunged into the water. Alidoro, on the contrary, wished to stop himself, but, carried away by the impetus of the race, he also went into the sea.
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