morning at dawn."

"On what steamship?"

"What did you say?" asked Pinocchio.

"On what steamship do you sail?"

"Sail! I am going on foot."

At these words everybody laughed.

"There is little to laugh at, my dear people. If you knew how many
miles I have traveled on these legs by day and by night, over land and
sea, you would not laugh. What! do you think Fairyland, the country of
the Blockheads, and the Island of the Bees are reached in a single
stride? I go to Africa, and I go on foot."

"But it is necessary to cross the Mediterranean Sea."

"It will be crossed."

"On foot?"

"Either on foot or on horseback, it matters little. But pardon me,
after crossing the Mediterranean Sea, do you reach Africa?"

"Certainly, unless you wish to go by way of the Red Sea."

"The Red Sea? No, truly!"