Having passed two or three minutes in painful thinking, the forlorn
marionette put his hands into his pockets, hoping to find in them a
forgotten coin. He found nothing but a few buttons.

He racked his brains to think of some plan whereby he could get the
money that was needed. He glanced at his clothes, which he would
cheerfully have sold could he have found a buyer. Not knowing what else
to do, he walked around the tent like a wolf prowling about the
sheepfold.

Around and around he went till he found himself near an old wall
which hid him from view. He come nearer the tent and to his joy
discovered a tiny hole in the canvas. Here was his chance! He thrust in
his thin wooden finger, but seized with a sudden fear lest some hungry
lion should see it and bite it off, he hastily tried to pull it out
again. In doing this, somehow "r-r-rip" went the canvas, and there was
a tear a yard wide. Pinocchio shook with fear. But fear or no fear,
there was the hole and beyond - were the wonders of Africa!First an
arm, then his head, and then his whole body went into the cage of wild
animals! He could not see them, but he heard them, and he was filled
with awe. The beasts had seen him. He felt himself grasped at once by
the shoulders and by the end of his nose. Two or three voices shouted
in his ears, "Who goes there?"

"For pity's sake, Mr. Elephant!" said poor Pinocchio.

"There are no elephants here."

"Pardon, Sir Lion."