treated their future king. Lucky for me that I am made ofwood,--very hard wood too! How fortunate that I came to Africa as amarionette! If I had been a real boy, there would be little to sayabout Pinocchio now."
CHAPTER XXXIHIS FIRST NIGHT AS EMPEROR
Pinocchio, his heart filled with joy, entered the capital of his newempire amid the shouts of the people who crowded the streets. Thechildren, rolling on the ground in glee, raised such a dust that onecould hardly see.
Forward, forward, they marched through the streets until the mainsquare was reached. The city was not a large city. Pinocchio was alittle disappointed. The houses were only huts plastered with mud. Thestreets and even the main square were dirty.
"I will change all that," Pinocchio gravely said to himself. "I willbuild a new city." To the marionette such a task appeared to be an easymatter.
In a corner of the square stood a hut somewhat larger than the others.This was the royal palace. Pinocchio was not pleased. The king of allAfrica should have something far better than this. However, he thoughtit would not do, just at this time, to utter any words of complaint.
In the huts about the palace lived the people of the court. These werethe advisers and the leaders, who stood ready to carry out the commandsof his majesty.
Like many another in such a situation, Pinocchio did nothing but bowhis head in agreement with everything that was said to him. Thisgreatly pleased the people of the court and gained for him theiradmiration and applause. They called him Pinocchio the Wise!
Night came and all the people withdrew. The emperor was left alone withhis servant, a gigantic African, who invited his majesty to pass intothe royal bedchamber.
The furniture was as simple as the palace itself. A string, stretchedacross the room, served as a clothes-hanger. The bed was a leopard'sskin that swung from four poles. Having displayed with pride theseequipments, the servant pointed to a frying pan, which was to be struckwith a wooden mallet in case his majesty desired to call theattendants. He then withdrew from the chamber, bowing as he went out.
"Apparently they do not eat here," said the marionette. "Maybe thesepeople think that an emperor is never hungry! However, night passesquickly." Then he undressed himself and lay down. He was quite tiredout, and he felt sure that in a few moments he should be fast asleep.But soon he began to roll and toss about uneasily. The bed was hard anduncomfortable. He opened his eyes. There was a spider crawling overhim, and he shivered. Other spiders, as large as crabs, were creepingquietly over the ground and the walls as if this was their home and notthe king's!
There was one spider twice as large as the others. Surely he was thehead of that large family. He fixed his fiery eyes upon the marionetteand spoke in the voice of the Talking Cricket: "Where have you comefrom--fool that you are? What do you think you have gained by becomingthe emperor of these people? Return to your home, and be content to bea boy like the rest, and to learn a trade by which you may help yourfather and be happy yourself."
Upon hearing these familiar words the marionette wanted to beat the panand call for help, but, he reflected, this would show that he lackedcourage and might lower him in the eyes of his subjects. So he enduredhis fate, thinking: "A night soon passes. To-morrow night I will have asentinel on guard." And he drew himself up, mallet in hand, ready tofight the spiders if they came too near him. All was still, andPinocchio tried a second time to close his eyes to sleep.
"Buzz! buzz! buzz!"
The place swarmed with flies.
"Zz! zz! Zeeee, zeeee, zmm, zmmm!"
Out in the night frogs croaked, birds cried, wild animals howled.
"What a place to sleep in!" whined the poor emperor, flinging himselfabout on his hard bed.
Then he thought of his own small cot, neat and clean, in which he hadso often peacefully slept and dreamed pleasant dreams. It will not seemstrange that Pinocchio wished that he were at home again, instead ofbeing a king in Africa.
Pinocchio the First, Emperor and King of all the African kings, passeda very wretched night. He felt hot and feverish, and he was afraid thathe was going to die before morning came.
CHAPTER XXXIIHE SENDS FOR THE ROYAL DOCTOR
Pinocchio presently became very anxious about his health. He was surethat the night's troubles had brought on a high fever, and this, ofcourse, would keep him from attending to affairs of state. At dawn,therefore, Pinocchio the First rapped the pan and sent for the doctorof the court. He was an old man, with a long white beard. Havinglistened to the emperor's lament, the doctor drew out a string of beadsfrom his breast, threw them on the floor, and examined them closely,all the time murmuring strange words. Then he began to count the beads.At the end of a quarter of an hour he said that his royal majesty wasin excellent health and need not worry.
The marionette's rage knew no bounds, but it would not do to complainat the very beginning of his career. He thanked the worthy doctortherefore, and dismissed him with a polite nod of the head. Then heagain rapped furiously on the pan. There promptly appeared eight or tenservants, who first knelt down at the foot of the imperial bed, andthen advancing with every sign of respect, raised his majesty gently,and placed him upon a panther's skin that was stretched upon the floor.
Pinocchio allowed them to proceed, until they began to cover his bodywith oil. At this, he asked why they anointed him in such a manner.
"To make you clean, your majesty," answered the servants, veryrespectfully.
"Fine cleaning!" thought the marionette. "How are my face and hands toget washed this morning? Never mind. Let us see what comes next."
This first operation ended, Pinocchio the First was made to sitcross-legged to have his hair combed. His attendants covered his hairwith a purple cream and then sprinkled over it a golden powder.
Pinocchio's joy upon seeing that glittering substance knew no bounds,but he overheard one of the servants say in a melancholy undertone:"What a pity his majesty has not a black complexion such as we have!What a pity! What a pity!"
The marionette was moved to the bottom of his heart, and he was aboutto say, "You may be sure, my dear subjects, I shall do the best I canto become black," when he heard footsteps approach.
CHAPTER XXXIIIAN OLD STORY
The grand chamberlain was announced.
This grave person had come to inquire about his majesty's health, andat the same time to notify him that the council had fixed the day forthe coronation.
Pinocchio the First listened and approved. The grand chamberlain, verymuch pleased with his reception, made a deep bow, and was apparentlyabout to retire, when, as if he had forgotten something important, heapproached the emperor again and said with great respect, "Yourmajesty, in the name of the council I must announce to you thatto-morrow the lessons begin."
"What lessons?" said the marionette, feeling a chill creep down hisback.
"Ah! I will explain," the chamberlain replied meekly. "The things thatyour majesty must do to straighten out the affairs of state are verysimple. Only two words are needed, 'Yes' and 'No!' But to say 'Yes' or'No' at the proper time requires at least one month of instruction. Tomake sure that you learn, there will be, twice each day, a punishmentof ten lashes of the whip, to be given your majesty on whatever part ofthe body you may desire. However, in view of the present wisdom of yourmajesty, the council has agreed that the lessons and the lashings maybe delayed till the end of the month, if your majesty so decides."
Pinocchio had listened gloomily until he heard the last words, and thenhe came near laughing outright. He kept his face very serious, however,and bowed his head as if in deep thought. After a long silence he said,"I have decided to leave the lessons till the end of the month."
The grand chamberlain made a profound bow and went out.
The servants went away also, and Pinocchio, finding himself alone,jumped about in great glee.
"Compulsory fiddlesticks! What blockheads they were to think that I wasgoing to start to-day! At the end of the month, perhaps! There arestill thirty days, and in thirty days
what may not happen!" And helooked about quite satisfied with himself. He was sure that everythingwould go well during his stay in Africa.
"If they sprinkled my hair with gold, they will fill my pockets withmoney," he thought. And then to his surprise he found that the suitthey had put on him had no pockets.
"I shall make pockets as soon as I have time," he said, and strikingthe pan, ordered the servants to bring in his breakfast.
CHAPTER XXXIVHIS DUTIES AS EMPEROR
Pinocchio was served with a piece of elephant's nose, cooked in ahighly seasoned sauce. How he twisted his face and ground his teeth!Evidently the meal was not to his liking. He would have preferred somefish, some grapes, and a dozen figs, but he was ashamed to ask forthese dainties. He gulped down the food as best he could, and drankfrom a gourd a great deal of water; then he felt more