Others, a little larger, had two legs. Others had four legs, and still larger ones had a short bit of a tail.
Perhaps you have guessed, children, what Pinocchio was looking at. The small black animals were tadpoles.
When he was tired of looking at the pond, Pinocchio turned toward the sea. He thought he might see his father, but he was disappointed. Suddenly he gave a great shout of surprise.
And no wonder! As if by magic a fleet of tiny boats had appeared on the surface of the water. They were no larger than an egg shell. Nor was this all. From each little skiff rose two little rose-colored sails, and each tiny boat put out three pairs of oars as long as knitting needles.
“I wonder where the little boats came from,” cried Pinocchio. “Surely this must be fairyland.”
“No, my boy, you are not in fairyland,” he heard a voice behind him saying. “Those are simply shells.”
Turning quickly, Pinocchio saw a little fat man standing before him, looking him over.
“Shells!” repeated the marionette, too surprised to think of anything else to say.
“Turning quickly, Pinocchio saw a Little Fat Man standing before Him.”