e puppet.

"Oh! then who are you?"

"I am Pinocchio."

"And what are you doing here?"

"I am acting as watch-dog."

"Then where is Melampo? Where is the old dog who lived in this kennel?"

"He died this morning."

"Is he dead? Poor beast! He was so good. But, judging you by your face,
I should say that you were also a good dog."

"I beg your pardon, I am not a dog."

"Not a dog? Then what are you?"

"I am a puppet."

"And you are acting as watch-dog?"

"That is only too true--as a punishment."

"Well, then, I will offer you the same conditions that we made with the
deceased Melampo, and I am sure you will be satisfied with them."

"What are these conditions?"

"One night in every week you are to permit us to visit this poultry-yard
as we have hitherto done, and to carry off eight chickens. Of these
chickens seven are to be eaten by us, and one we will give to you, on
the express understanding, however, that you pretend to be asleep, and
that it never enters your head to bark and to waken the peasant."

"Did Melampo act in this manner?" asked Pinocchio.

"Certainly, and we were always on the best terms with him. Sleep
quietly, and rest assured that before we go we will leave by the kennel
a beautiful chicken ready plucked for your breakfast tomorrow. Have we
understood each other clearly?"

"Only too clearly!" answered Pinocchio, and he shook his head
threateningly, as much as to say: "You shall hear of this shortly!"

The four polecats, thinking themselves safe, repaired to the
poultry-yard, which was close to the kennel, and, having opened the
wooden gate with their teeth and claws, they slipped in one by one. But
they had only just passed through when they heard the gate shut behind
them with great violence.

It was Pinocchio who had shut it, and for greater security he put a
large stone against it to keep it closed.

He then began to bark, and he barked exactly like a watch-dog: "Bow-wow,
bow-wow."

Hearing the barking, the peasant jumped out of bed and, taking his gun,
he came to the window and asked:

"What is the matter?"

"There are robbers!" answered Pinocchio.

"Where are they?"

"In the poultry-yard."

"I will come down directly."

In fact, in less time than it takes to say "Amen!" the peasant came
down. He rushed into the poultry-yard, caught the polecats, and, having
put them into a sack, he said to them in a tone of great satisfaction:

"At last you have fallen into m