ready with words to defend himself, cried like a calf and as he was
being led away to prison sobbed out:

"Wretched boy! And to think how I labored to make him a well-conducted
puppet! But it serves me right! I should have thought of it sooner!"




[Illustration]

CHAPTER IV

THE TALKING-CRICKET SCOLDS PINOCCHIO


While poor Geppetto was being taken to prison for no fault of his, that
imp Pinocchio, finding himself free from the clutches of the soldier,
ran off as fast as his legs could carry him. That he might reach home
the quicker he rushed across the fields, and in his mad hurry he jumped
high banks, thorn hedges and ditches full of water.

Arriving at the house he found the street door ajar. He pushed it open,
went in, and having fastened the latch, threw himself on the floor and
gave a great sigh of satisfaction.

But soon he heard some one in the room who was saying:

"Cri-cri-cri!"