He walked on, not knowing where he was going, forit was dark, sodark that not a thing was visible. Roundabout him, not a leaf stirred. A fewbats skimmed hisnose now and again and scared him half to death. Onceor twicehe shouted, "Who goes there?" and the far-awayhills echoed back tohim, "Who goes there? Who goesthere? Who goes. . . ?"As he walked,Pinocchio noticed a tiny insect glimmering on the trunk of a tree, a smallbeing that glowedwith a pale, soft light.

　　"Who are you?" he asked.

　　"I am the ghost of the Talking Cricket," answeredthelittle being in a faint voice that sounded as if it came froma far-awayworld.

　　"What do you want?" asked the Marionette.

　　"I want to give you a few words of good advice.

　　Return home and give the four gold pieces you haveleft to your poorold father who is weeping because hehas not seen you for many aday.""Tomorrow my father will be a rich man, for thesefour goldpieces will become two thousand.""Don't listen to those who promiseyou wealth overnight,my boy. As a rule they are either fools or swindlers!

　　Listen to me and go home.""But I want to goon!""The hour is late!""I want to go on.""Thenight is very dark.""I want to go on.""The road isdangerous.""I want to go on.""Remember that boys who insiston having their own way,sooner or later come to grief.""The samenonsense. Good-by, Cricket.""Good night, Pinocchio, and may Heavenpreserve youfrom the Assassins."There was silence for a minute and thelight of theTalking Cricket disappeared suddenly, just as if someonehad snuffedit out. Once again the road was plungedin darkness.

　　他可以说是摸索着走的，因为旅馆外面一片漆黑，黑得伸手不见五指。四周田野上连一点叶子沙沙声也听不见。只有一些夜鸟不时打一丛树上飞到另一丛树上，在路上穿过，用翅膀碰到了他的鼻子，他吓得向后直跳，大叫起来：“什么人？”周围的小土岗发出回声，拉长声音反复说着：“什么人？什么人？什么人？”
　　他正走间，看见一棵树干上有一样小生物发出一点光，苍白昏暗，像夜里从透明瓷灯罩里发出来的灯光。
　　“你是谁？”皮诺乔问它，
　　“我是会说话的蟋蟀的影子，”那小生物回答，声音很微弱很微弱，像是从另一个世界来的。
　　“你找我干吗，”
　　“我想给你一个忠告，你往回走吧，把剩下的四个金币带回去给你可怜的爸爸，他正在哭呢，以为再见不到你了。”
　　“我爸爸明天就要变成一位体面的先生，因为这四个金币要变成两千个。”
　　“人家说什么一夜之间就可以发财财富，我的孩子，你可别相信。他们那种人通常不是疯子就是骗子，听我的话，往回走吧。”
　　“可我不往回走，我偏要向前走。”
　　“时间很晚了！……”
　　“我偏要向前走。”
　　“夜那么黑……”
　　“我偏要向前走。”
　　“路上有危险……”
　　“我偏要向前走。”
　　“你要记住，任性的孩子早晚要后悔的。”
　　“又是老一套。明天见，蟋蟀。”
　　“明天见，皮诺乔，愿天老爷保佑你不沾露水，不遇杀人的强盗！”
　　会说话的蟋蟀一说完这句话，光忽然熄灭了，就像一些灯给一阵风吹灭了似的。路上比先前更黑了。