He picked up a stout stick lying on the ground near by.  To his amazement, the monkeys threw away the stones and began to pick up sticks likewise.

“I hope I shall get through this safely!” thought Pinocchio.  He raised his stick and threatened the whole army of monkeys.

The monkeys, as if obeying his command, raised their sticks and held them erect, imitating exactly the action of the marionette.  Then Pinocchio lowered his stick, and the monkeys lowered theirs.  Again Pinocchio lifted his stick as high as he could, and the monkeys raised theirs, holding them stiffly like soldiers on drill.

   “Arms rest!” cried Pinocchio.

All the monkeys, imitating the marionette, lowered their sticks in perfect order, just as soldiers do at the officer’s command.

“That’s a good idea,” thought Pinocchio, “I might become the leader of the monkeys, and within a month conquer all Africa.”  And he laughed at the joke.

The monkeys looked straight at him, standing erect and in line waiting for further orders.

“Ah! you wish to follow me!” said the marionette.  “This might suit your taste, but not mine, thank you!  I will give you marching orders.  Then I shall be left in peace.”

Accordingly Pinocchio, who was determined to get away from these annoying beasts, moved two steps forward.  The monkeys advanced two steps also.  Then he took three steps to the rear, and the monkeys went back three steps.

“At — tention!” and facing about quickly, he started to run.  All the monkeys also turned, and began to run in the direction opposite to that taken by the marionette.  Pinocchio, laughing at his own cunning, went his way, only now and then turning to watch the dark forms as they disappeared in the distance.

“They all run away in this country,” he said to himself, and he too ran on, fearing that the worthy beasts would return for further orders.

27.  Pinocchio Dreams Again

“If these people are such cowards that they run at the sound of my voice, in a few days I shall be master of all Africa.  I shall be a great man.  However, this is a country of hunger and thirst and fatigue.  I must find a place where I can rest a little before I begin my career of conquest.”

Fortune now seemed to favor Pinocchio.  Not far off he thought he saw a group of huts at the foot of a hill.  He felt that besides getting rest and shelter, he might also find something to eat.  Greedy marionette!

As he approached he was struck by the strangeness of these buildings.  They looked like little towers topped with domes.  He went along wondering what race of people lived in houses built without windows or doors.  He saw no one, and he was filled with a sort of fear.

“Shall I go on or not?” he mused.  “Perhaps it would be best to call out, Some one will show me where to go for food and shelter.”

   “Hello there!” he said in a low voice.  No one answered.