他正这么自言自语着，突然间大吃一惊，停了下来。发生了什么？

　　An immense Serpent lay stretched across the road--a Serpent with a bright green skin, fiery eyes which glowed and burned, and a pointed tail that smoked like a chimney.

　　他看见一条巨大的蛇横躺在路上。这条蛇亮绿色皮肤，炙热的眼睛闪闪发亮，尾巴很尖，像是烟囱一样在冒烟。

　　How frightened was poor Pinocchio!

　　可怜的皮诺乔害怕得无法形容。

　　He ran back wildly for half a mile, and at last settled himself atop a heap of stones to wait for the Serpent to go on his way and leave the road clear for him.

　　他往回狂奔了有半公里，最后坐在一堆石头上，等这条蛇爬开把路让出来。

　　He waited an hour; two hours; three hours; but the Serpent was always there, and even from afar one could see the flash of his red eyes and the column of smoke which rose from his long, pointed tail.

　　他等了一个钟头，两个钟头，三个钟头，可蛇还在那儿。虽然离得老远，还能看见它那双火眼红红的，尾巴尖冒出一股烟柱。

　　Pinocchio, trying to feel very brave, walked straight up to him and said in a sweet, soothing voice:

　　皮诺乔试图鼓气了勇气，走到它面前，用轻柔甜美的声音说：

　　"I beg your pardon, Mr. Serpent, would you be so kind as to step aside to let me pass?"

　　“对不起，蛇先生，请你好心的挪出点地方让我过去好吗？”

　　He might as well have talked to a wall. The Serpent never moved.

　　可他这番话完全是对牛弹琴。蛇一动也不动。

　　Once more, in the same sweet voice, he spoke: "You must know, Mr. Serpent, that I am going home where my father is waiting for me.

　　他再一次用那轻柔甜美的声音说：“您得知道，蛇先生，我要回家去，我爸爸在那儿等着我呢。

　　It is so long since I have seen him! Would you mind very much if I passed?"

　　我已经很久很久没见到他了！您能让我过去么？”

　　He waited for some sign of an answer to his questions, but the answer did not come.

　　他等着得到一个表示来回答他这个请求，可是没有动静。

　　On the contrary, the green Serpent, who had seemed, until then, wide awake and full of life, became suddenly very quiet and still.

　　相反，在那之前似乎还清醒的、充满活力的绿蛇，突然变得很安静。

　　His eyes closed and his tail stopped smoking.

　　它的眼睛闭上了，尾巴停止了冒烟。