They had already reached the village when a gust of wind blew Pinocchio's cap off his head and carried it ten yards off.
"Will you permit me," said the puppet to the soldiers, "to go and get my cap?"
"Go, then; but be quick about it."
The puppet went and picked up his cap, but instead of putting it on his head he took it between his teeth and began to run as hard as he could towards the seashore.
The soldiers, thinking it would be difficult to overtake him, sent after him a large mastiff who had won the first prizes at all the dog races. Pinocchio ran, but the dog ran faster. The people came to their windows and crowded into the street in their anxiety to see the end of the desperate race.
