“But are there such animals?”
“Why, of course, child. Frogs, for example, which belong to the Batrachia family. In the water they breathe with branchiæ, or gills, and in the air with lungs. Usually, however, the name is given only to those mammals that live in the water and move only with great difficulty on the earth. To this class belong the seals and the sea lions.”
“Well, then, I shall never drown.”
“No; and you will have a wonderful journey under the sea. Just hold on to me, and I will carry you. Do not be afraid.”
“Afraid? Of course not. But I don’t like the darkness very much.”
“That is too bad. But the darkness will not last very long. You know, I promised that we should make our journey by the light of the sun. Wait awhile.”
Through the water Tursio went like an arrow, followed by Marsovino and the servant.
Pinocchio, to gain courage, shut his eyes. When he opened them again, wonder of wonders! Very near to him a large sun was moving back and forth. It looked as if it were alive.
“The sun at the bottom of the sea!” yelled Pinocchio, frightened almost to death. “Do you want me to believe that? You must be a wizard playing tricks on me.”
“I am not a wizard, Pinocchio, and the sun is not a trick. It is nothing more nor less than a fish.”