Peter Pan – Audiobook in English

[Music] chapter 1 Peter breaks through all children except one grow up they soon know that they will grow up and the way Wendy knew was this one day when she was two years old she was playing in a garden and she plucked another flower and ran with it to her mother I suppose she must have looked rather delightful the mrs. darling put her hand to her heart and cried oh why can't you remain like this forever this was all the past between them on the subject but henceforth Wendy knew that she must grow up you always know after your two two is the beginning of the end of course they lived at number 14 and until Wendy came her mother was the chief one she was a lovely lady with a romantic mind and such a sweet mocking mouth her romantic mind was like the tiny boxes one within the other that come from the puzzling East however many you discover there is always one more and her sweet Maquis mouth had one kiss on it that Wendy could never get though there it was perfectly conspicuous in the right-hand corner the way mr. darling won her was this the many gentleman who had been boys when she was a girl discovered simultaneously that they loved her and they all ran to her house to propose to her except mr. darling who took a cab and nipped in first and so he got her he got all of her except the innermost box and the kiss he never knew about the box and in time he gave up trying for the kiss Wendy thought Napoleon could have got it but I can picture him trying and then going off in a passion slamming the mr. darling used to post to Wendi that her mother not only loved him but respected him he was one of those deep ones who knew about stocks and shares of course no one really knows but he quite seemed to know and he often said stocks were up and shares were down in a way that would have made any woman respect him mrs. darling was married in white and at first she kept the books perfectly almost gleefully as if it were a game not so much as a Brussels sprout was missing but by-and-bye whole cauliflowers dropped out and instead of them there were pictures of babies without faces she drew them when she should have been totting up they were mrs. darlings guesses Wendy came first then John then Michael for a week or two after Wendy came it was doubtful whether they would be able to keep her as she was another mouth to feed mr. darling was frightfully proud of her but he was very honorable and he sat on the edge of mrs. darlings bed holding her hand and calculating expenses while she looked at him imploringly she wanted to risk it come what might but that was not his way his way was with a pencil and a piece of paper and if she confused him with suggestions he had to begin at the beginning again now don't interrupt he would beg of her I have one pound 17 here and two and six of the office I can cut off my coffee at the office say ten shillings making to nine and six with your 18 and three makes three nine seven with five no not in my checkbook makes eight nine seven who is that moving 8 9 7 . --an carry seven don't speak my own and the pound you lent to that man who came to the door quiet child Darton carry child up there you've done it did I say 9 9 7 yes I I said 9 9 7 the question is can we try it for a year on nine nine seven of course we can George she cried but she was prejudiced in Wendy's favour and he was really the grandeur character of the two remember mumps he warned her almost threatening Lee and off he went again mumps one pound that is what I put down but I daresay it'll be more like 30 shillings don't speak measles 1/5 German measles half a Guinea makes 215 6 don't waggle your finger whooping cough say 15 shillings and so on it went and it adds it up differently each time but at last Wendy just got through with mumps reduced to 12 6 and the two kinds of measles treated as one there was the same excitement over John and Michael had even a narrower squeak but both were kept and soon you might have seen the three of them going in a row to miss full soms kindergarten school accompanied by their nurse mrs. darling loved to have everything just so and mr. darling had a passion for being exactly like his neighbors so of course they had a nurse as they were poor owing to the amount of milk the children drank this nurse was a prim Newfoundland dog called Nana who had belonged to no one in particular until the darlings engaged her she had always thought children important however and the darlings had become acquainted with her in Kensington Gardens where she spent most of her spare time peeping into perambulators and was much hated by careless nest mates whom she followed to their homes and complained of to their mistresses she proved to be quite a treasure of a nurse how thorough she was at bath time and up at any moment of the night if one of her charges made the slightest cry of course her kennel was in the nursery she had a genius for knowing when a coffee's a thing to have no patience with and when it needs stocking around your throat she believed to her last day in old-fashioned remedies like rhubarb leaf and made sounds of contempt of what all this newfangled talk about germs and so on it was a lesson in propriety to see her escorting the children to school walking sedately by their side when they were well behaved and butting them back into line if they strayed on John's foot a day she never once forgot his sweater and she usually carried an umbrella in her mouth in case of rain there is a room in the basement of Miss fulsome school where the nurses wait they sat on forms while Nana lay on the floor but that was the only difference they affected to ignore her as of an in furious social status to themselves and she despised their light talk she resented visits to the nursery for mrs. darlings friends but if they did come she first whipped off Michaels pinafore and put him into the one with blue braiding and smoothes out Wendy and made a dash of John's hair no nursery could possibly have been conducted more correctly and mr. darling knew it yet he sometimes wondered uneasily whether the neighbors talked he had his position in the city to consider Nana also troubled him in another way he had sometimes a feeling that she did not admire him I know she admires you tremendously George mrs. darling will assure him and then she would sign to the children to be especially nice to father lovely dances followed in which the only other servant Liza were sometimes allowed to join such a she looked in her long skirt and maids cap though she hath sworn when engaged that she would never see ten again the gaiety of those romps the gayest of all was mrs. darling who would pirouette so wildly that all you could see of her was the kiss and then if you were dashed at her you might have got it there never was a simpler happier family until the coming of Peter Pan mrs. darling first heard of Peter when she was tidying up her children's minds it is the nightly custom of every good mother after her children are asleep to rummage in their minds and put things straight for the next morning repacking into their proper places the many articles that have wondered during the day if you could keep awake and that of course you can't you would see your own mother doing this and you would find it very interesting to watch her it is quite like tidying up drawers you will see her on her knees I expect lingering humorously over some of your contents wondering where on earth you would pick this thing up making discoveries sweet and not so sweet pressing this to her cheek as if it were as nice as a kitten and hurriedly stowing that out of sight when you wake in the morning the naughtiness and evil passions with which she went to bed have been folded up chapter 2 the shadow mrs. darling screamed and as if in answer to a bell the door opened and Nana entered returning from her evening out she growled and Sprayer the boy who left lightly through the window again mrs. darling screamed this time in distress for him but she thought he was killed and she ran down into the street to look for his little body but it was not there and she looked up and in the black night she could see nothing with what she thought was a shooting star she returned to the nursery and found Nana with something in her mouth which proved to be the boy's shadow as he left to the window Nana had closed it quickly too late to catch him but his shadow had not had time to get out slam went the window and snapped it off you may be sure mrs. darling examined the shadow carefully but it was quite the ordinary kind Nana had no doubt of what was the best thing to do with a shadow she hung it out of the window meaning he is sure to come back for it let us put it where he can get it easily without disturbing the children but unfortunately mrs. darling could not leave it hanging out in the window it looked so like the washing and lowered the whole tone of the house she thought of showing it to mr. darling but he was totting up winter greatcoats for John and Michael with a wet towel around his head to keep his brain clear and seemed ashamed to trouble him besides she knew exactly what he would say it all comes of having a dog for a nurse she decided to roll the shadow up and put it away carefully in a drawer until a fitting opportunity came for telling her husband the opportunity came a week later on that never-to-be-forgotten Friday of course it was a Friday I ought to have been specially careful on a Friday but he used to say afterwards to her husband while perhaps Nana was on the other side of her holding her hand no no mr. darling always said I am responsible for it all hi George darling did it mayor Copa mayor Copa he had had a classical education they sat to us night after night recalling that fateful Friday till every detail of it was stumped on their brains and came through on the other side like the faces on a bad coinage if only I had not accepted that invitation to dine at 27 mrs. darling said if only I had not poured my medicine into Nana's bowl said mr. darling if only I had pretended to like the medicine was what Nana's wet eyes said my liking for parties George my fatal gift of humor dearest my touchiness about trifles dear master and mistress then one or more of them would break down altogether naina at the thought it's true it's true they ought not to have had a dog for a nurse many a time it was mr. darling who put the handkerchief to Nana's eyes that fiend mr. darling would cry and Nana's bark was the echo of it but mrs. darling never abraded Peter there was something in the right-hand corner of her mouth that wanted her not to call Peter names they would sit there in the empty nursery recalling fondly every smallest detail of that dreadful evening it had begun so uneventful II so precisely like a hundred other evenings with Nana putting on the water for Michaels bath and carrying him to it on her back I won't go to bed he had shouted like one who still believed that he had the last word on the subject I won't I won't Nana it isn't six o'clock yet oh dear oh dear I shall love you anymore Nana I tell you I won't be bathed I won't I won't then was his darling had come in wearing her white evening gown she addressed early because Wendy so loved to see her in her evening gown with a necklace George had given her she was wearing Wendy's bracelet on her arm she had asked for the loan of it Wendy loved to lend her bracelet to her mother she had found her two older children playing at being herself and father on the occasion of Wendy's birth and John was saying I am happy to inform you mrs. darling that you are now a mother in just such a tone as mr. darling himself may have used on the real occasion Wendy had asked with joy just as the real mrs. dolly must have done then John was born with the extra pump that he conceived due to the birth of a male and Michael came from his bath to ask to be born also but John said brutally that they did not want anymore Michael had nearly cried nobody wants me he said and of course the lady in the evening dress could not stand that I do she said I so want a third child boy or girl ask Michael not to hopefully boy then he had left into her arms such a little thing for mr. and mrs. darling and Nana to recall now but not so little if that was to be Michael's last night in the nursery they go on with their recollections it was then that I rushed in like a tornado wasn't it mr. darling would say scorning himself and indeed he had been like a tornado perhaps there was some excuse for him he too had been dressing for the party and all had gone well with him until he came to his tie it is an astounding thing to have to tell but this man though he knew about stocks and shares had no real mastery of his tie sometimes a thing yielded to him without a contest and there were occasions when it would have been better for the house if he had swallowed his pride and used a made-up time this was such an occasion he came rushing into the nursery with the crumpled little brute of a tie in his hand why what is the matter father dear matter he yelled he really yelled this tie it will not tie he became dangerously sarcastic not round my neck round a bedpost oh yes twenty times and I made it up round the bedpost but round my neck no oh dear no begs to be excused he thought mrs. darling was not sufficiently impressed and he went on sternly I warn you of this mother that unless this tie is round my neck we don't go out to dinner tonight and if I don't go out to dinner tonight I never go to the office again and if I don't go to the office again you and I stop and our children will be flung into the streets even then mrs. darling was Placid let me try dear she said and indeed that was what he had come to ask her to do and with a nice cool hand she tied his tie for him while the children stood around to see their fate decided some men would have resented her being able to do it so easily but mr. darling had far too fine a nature for that he thanked her carelessly at once forgot his rage and in another moment was dancing round the room with Michael on his back how wildly we romped says mrs. darling now recalling it our last romp mr. darling groaned Oh George do you remember Michael suddenly said to me how did you get to know me mother I remember they were rather sweet don't you think George and they were ours ours and now they're gone the robbed had ended with the appearance of Nana and most unluckily mr. darling collided against her covering his trousers with airs they were not any new trousers but they were the first he had ever had with braids on them and he had had to bite his lip to prevent the tears coming of course mrs. darling brushed him but he began to talk again about its being a mistake to have a dog for the nurse George Nana's a treasure no doubt and I have an uneasy feeling at times that she looks upon the children as puppies Oh No dear one I feel sure she knows they have souls I wonder mr. darling said thoughtfully I wonder it was an opportunity his wife felt for telling him about the boy at first he poo pooed the story but he became thoughtful when she showed him the shadow there's nobody I know he said examining it carefully but he does look a scoundrel we were still discussing it you remember says Mr darling when Nana came in with Michaels medicine you will never carry the bottle in your mouth again Nana and it is all my fault [Music] Chapter three come away come away for a moment after mr. and mrs. darling left the house the night lights by the beds of the three children continued to burn clearly they were offering nice little night lights and one cannot help wishing that they could have kept awake to see Peter but Wendy's light blinked and gave such a yawn that the other two yearned also and before they could close their mouths all the three went out there was another light in the room now a thousand times brighter than the night lights and in the time we have taken to say this it has been in all the drawers in the nursery looking for Peters shadow rummaged the Wardrobe and turned every pocket inside out it was not really alight it made this light by flashing about so quickly but when it came to rest for a second you saw it was a fairy no longer than your hand but still growing it was a girl called Tinker Bell exquisitely bound in a skeleton leaf low-cut and square through which her figure could be seen to the best advantage she was slightly inclined to Oh mwah mwah a moment after the fairies entrance the window was blown open by the breathing of the little stars and Peter dropped in he had carried Tinker Bell part of the way but his hand was still messy with the fairy dust Tinker Bell he called softly after making sure that the children were asleep tink where are you she was in a jug for the moment and liking it extremely she had never been in a jug before oh do come out of that jug and tell me do you know where they put my shadow the loveliest tinkle as of golden bells answered him it was the fairy language you ordinary children can never hear it but if you were to hear it you would know that you had heard it once before tink said that the shadow was in the big box she meant the chest of drawers and Peter jumped at the drawers scattering their contents to the floor with both hands as Kings toss happens to the crowd in a moment he had recovered his shadow and in his delight he forgot he had shucked Tinkerbell up in the drawer if he thought at all but I don't believe he ever thought it was that he and his shadow when brought near to each other would join like drops of water and when they did not he was appalled he tried to stick it on with soap from the bathroom but that also failed a shudder passed through Peter and he sat on the floor and cried his sobs woke Wendy and she sat up in bed she was not alarmed to see a stranger crying on the nursery floor she was only pleasantly interested boy she said courteously why are you crying Peter could be exceedingly polite also having learned the grand manner at ferry ceremonies and he rose and bowed to her beautifully she was much pleased and bowed beautifully to him from the bed what is your name he asked Wendy Moira Angela darling she replied with some satisfaction what is your name Peter Pan she was already sure that he must be Peter but he did seem a comparatively short name is that's all yes he said rather sharply he felt for the first time that it was a shortish name I'm so sorry said Wendy Maura Angela it doesn't matter Peter gulped she asked where he lived second to the right said Peter and then straight on till morning what a funny address Peter had a sinking for the first time he felt that perhaps it was a funny address no it isn't he said I mean Wendy said nicely remembering that she was hostess is that what they put on the letters he wished she had not mentioned letters don't get any letters he said contemptuously but your mother gets letters don't have a mother he said not only had he no mother but he had not the slightest desire to have one he thought them very overrated persons Wendy however felt at once that she was in the presence of a tragedy Oh Peter no wonder you were crying she said and got out of bed and ran to him I wasn't crying about mothers he said rather indignantly I was crying because I can't get my shadow to stick on besides I wasn't crying he just come off yes then Wendy saw the shadow on the floor looking so draggled and she was frightfully sorry for Peter how awful she said and she could not help smiley when she saw that he'd been trying to stick it on with soap how exactly like a boy fortunately she knew at once what to do it must be sewn on she said just a little patronizingly what sewn he asked you're dreadfully ignorant no I'm not but she was exalting in his ignorance I shall sew it on for you my little man she said though he was as tall as herself and she got out her hasip and sewed the shadow onto Peters foot I daresay it will hurt a little she warned him oh I shan't cry said Peter who was already of the opinion that he had never cried in his life and he clenched his teeth and did not cry and soon his shadow was behaving properly though still a little creased perhaps I should have ironed it Wendy said thoughtfully but Peter boy-like was indifferent to appearances and he was now jumping about in the wildest glee alas he had already forgotten that he owed his bliss to Wendy he thought he'd attached the shadow himself how clever I am he crowed rapturously oh the cleverness of me it is humiliating to have to confess that this conceit of Peter was one of his most fascinating qualities to put it with brutal frankness there never was a cockier boy but for the moment Wendy was shocked you conceit she exclaimed with frightful sarcasm of course I did nothing you did a little Peter said carelessly and continued to dance a little she replied with her if I am no use I can at least withdraw and she sprang in the most dignified way into bed and covered her face with the blankets to induce her to look up he pretended to be going away and when this failed he sat on the end of the bed and tapped her gently with his foot Wendy he said don't withdraw I can't help crowing Wendy when I'm pleased with myself still she would not look up though she was listening eagerly Wendie he continued in a voice that no woman has ever yet been able to resist when z1 girl is more use than twenty boys now when dear was every inch a woman though there were not very many inches and she peeped out of the bedclothes do you really think so Peter yes I do I think it's perfectly sweet of you she declared and I'll get up again and she sat with him on the side of the bed she also said she would give him a kiss if he liked but Peter did not know what she meant and he held out his hand expectantly surely you know what a kiss is she asked aghast I shall know when you give it to me he replied stiffly and not to hurt his feeling she gave him a thimble now said he shall I give you a kiss and she replied with a slight primness if you please she made herself rather cheap biink lining her face toward him but he merely dropped an acorn button into her hand so she slowly returned her face to where it had been before and said nicely that she would wear his kiss on the chain around her neck it was lucky that she did put it on that chain but it was afterwards to save her life when people in our set are introduced it is customary for them to ask each other's age and so Wendy who always liked to do the correct thing asked Peter how old he was it was not really a happy question to ask him it was like an examination paper that asked gramma when what you want to be asked his kings of England I I don't know he replied uneasily but I am quite young he really knew nothing about it he had merely suspicions but he said at a venture Wendy I ran away the day I was born Wendy was quite surprised but interested and she indicated in the charming drawing-room manner by a touch on her nightgown that he could sit nearer to her it was because I heard father and mother he explained in a low voice talking about what I was to be when I became a man he was extraordinarily agitated now I don't want ever to be a man he said with passion I want always to be a little boy and to have fun so I ran away to Kensington Gardens and lived a long time among the fairies she gave him a look of the most intense admiration and he thought it was because he had run away but it was really because he knew fairies Wendy had lived such a home life that too no fairies struck her is quite delightful she poured out questions about them to his surprise for they were rather a nuisance to him getting in his way and so on and indeed he sometimes had to give them a hiding still he liked them on the whole and he told her about the beginning of fairies you see Wendy when the first baby laughed for the first time its laugh broke into a thousand pieces and they all went skipping about and that was the beginning of fairies tedious talk this but being a stay at home she liked it and so he went on good naturedly there ought to be one fairy for every boy and girl ought to be isn't there no you see children know such a lot now they soon don't believe in fairies and every time a child says I don't believe in fairies there is a fairy somewhere that falls down dead really he thought they had long talked enough about fairies and it struck him that Tinker Bell was keeping very quiet I can't think where she has gone to he said rising and he called tink by name Wendy's heart went flutter with a sudden thrill Peter she cried touching him you don't me to tell me that there is a fairy in this room and she was here just now he said a little impatiently you don't hear her do you and they both listened the only sound I hear said Wendy he's like a tinkle of bells well that's tink that's the fairy language I think I hear too the sound came from the chest of drawers and Peter made a merry face no one could ever look quite so merry as Peter and the loveliest of gurgles was his laugh he had his first laugh still he whispered gleefully I do believe I shut her up in the drawer he let poor tink out of the drawer and she flew about the nursery screaming with fury you shouldn't say such things Peter retorted of course I'm very sorry but how could I know you were in the drawer wendy was not listening to him Oh Peter she cried if she would only stand still and let me see her they hardly ever stand still he said but for one moment Wendy saw the romantic figure come to rest on the cuckoo clock oh the lovely she cried though tinks face was still distorted with passion tink said Peter amiably this lady says she wishes you were her fairy Tinker Bell answered insolently what does she say Peter he had to translate she is not very polite she says you are a great a Glee girl and that she is my fairy he tried to argue with tink you know you can't be my fairy tink because I am a gentleman and you are a lady too this tink replied in these words you silly ass and disappeared into the bathroom she's quite a common fairy Peter explained apologetically she is called Tinkerbell because she mends the pots and kettles they were together in the armchair by this time and Wendy plied him with more questions if you don't live in Kensington Gardens now sometimes I do still but where do you live mostly now with the Lost Boys who are they they are the children who fall out of their perambulators when the nurse is looking the other way if they are not claimed in seven days they are sent far away to the neverland to defray expenses I'm captain what fun it must be yes said cunning Peter but we are rather lonely you see we have no female companionship are none of the others girls oh no girls you know are much too clever to fall out of their prams this flattered Wendy immensely I think she said it is perfectly lovely the way you talk about girls John they're just despises us for reply Peter rose and kicked John out of bed blankets and all one kick this seemed to Wendy rather forward for a first meeting and she told him with spirit that he was not captain in her house however John continued to sleep so placidly on the floor that she allowed him to remain there and I know you meant to be kind she said relenting so you may give me a kiss for the moment she had forgotten his ignorance about kisses chapter for the flight second to the right and straight on till morning that Peter had told Wendy was the way to Neverland but even birds carrying maps and consulting them at windy corners could not have sighted it with these instructions Peter you see just said anything that came into his head at first his companions trusted him implicitly and so great were the delights of flying that they wasted time circling around church spires or any other tall objects on the way that took their fancy John and Michael raced Michael getting a start they recalled with contempt that not so long ago they had thought themselves fine fellows for being able to fly round a room not long ago but how long ago they were flying over the sea before this thought began to disturb Wendy seriously John thought it was their second sea and their third night sometimes it was dark and sometimes light and now they were very cold and again too warm did they really feel hungry at times or were they merely pretending because Peter had such a jolly new way of feeding them his way was to pursue birds who had food in their mouths suitable for humans and snatch it from them then the birds would follow and snatch it back and they would all go chasing each other gaily for miles parting at last with mutual expressions of goodwill but Wendy noticed with gentle concern that Peter did not seem to know that this was rather an odd way of getting your bread and butter no even that there are other ways certainly they did not pretend to be sleepy they were sleepy and that was a danger for the moment they popped off down they fell the awful thing was that Peter thought this funny there he goes again he will cry gleefully as Michael suddenly dropped like a stone save him save him cried Wendy looking with horror at the cruel sea far below eventually Peter would dive through the air and catch Michael just before he could strike the sea and it was lovely the way he did it but he always waited till the last moment and you felt it was his cleverness that interested him and not the saving of human life also he was fond of variety and the sport that engrossed him one moment would suddenly cease to engage him so there was always the possibility that the next time you fell he would let you go he could sleep in the air without falling by merely lying on his back and floating but this was partly at least because he was so light that if you got behind him and blew he went faster do be more polite to him Wendy whispered to John when they were playing follow my leader then tell him to stop showing off said John when playing follow my leader Peter would fly close to the water and touch each shark's tail in passing just as in the street you may run your finger along an iron railing they could not follow him in this with much success so perhaps it was rather like showing off especially as he kept looking behind to see how many tails they missed you must be nice to him Wendy impressed on her brothers what could we do if he were to leave us we could go back Michael said how could we ever find our way back without him well then we could go on said John that is the awful thing John we should have to go on for we don't know how to stop this was true Peter have forgotten to show them how to stop John said that if the worst came to the worst all they had to do was go straight on for the world was round and so in time they must come back to their own window and who is to get food for us John I nipped a bit out of that eagle's mouth pretty neatly Wendy after the twentieth try Wendy reminded him and even if we became good at picking up food see how we bump against clouds and things if he's not near to give us a hand indeed they were constantly bumping they could now fly strongly though they still kicked far too much but if they saw a cloud in front of them the more they tried to avoid it the more certainly did they bump into it if Nana had been with them she would have had a bandage around Michaels forehead by this time Peter was not with them for the moment and they felt rather lonely up there by themselves he could go so much faster than they that he would suddenly shoot out of sight to have some adventure in which they had no share he would come down laughing over something fearfully funny he'd been saying to a star but he had already forgotten what it was or he would come up with mermaid scales still sticking to him and yet not be able to say for certain what had been happening it was really rather irritating to children who had never seen a mermaid and if he forgets them so quickly Wendy argued how can we expect that he will go on remembering us indeed sometimes when he returned he did not remember them at least not well Wendy was sure of it she saw all recognition come into his eyes as he was about to pass them the time of day and go on once even she had to call him by name I'm Wendy she said agitatedly he was very sorry I say Wendy he whispered to her always if you see me forgetting you just keep on saying I'm Wendy and then I'll remember of course this is rather unsatisfactory however to make amends he showed them how to lie out fat on a strong wind that was going their way and this was such a pleasant change that they tried it several times and found that they could sleep thus with security indeed they would have slept longer but Peter tired quickly of sleeping and soon he would cry in his captain voice we get off here so with occasional Tiff's but on the whole rollicking they drew near the Netherland for after many moons they did reach it and what is more they had been going pretty straight all the time not perhaps so much owing to the guidance of Peter or tink as because the island was looking for them it is only thus that anyone might sight those magic shores there it is said Peter calmly where where where all the arrows are pointing indeed a million golden arrows were pointing it out to the children all directed by their friend the son who wanted them to be sure of their way before leaving them for the night Wendy and John and Michael stood on tiptoe in the air to get their first sight of the island strange to say they all recognized it at once and until fear fell upon them they hailed it not as something long dreamt of and seen at last but as a familiar friend to whom they were returning home for the holidays John there's the lagoon Wendy look at the turtles bearing their eggs in the sand I say John I see your flamingo with the broken leg look Michael there's your cave John what's that in the brushwood it's a wolf with her whelps Wendy I do believe that's your little whelp there's my boat John with her sighs stove in no it's his entwine burns your boat that's heard any rate I say John I see the smoke of the camp where show me and I'll tell you by the way the smoke curls whether they are on the warpath they're just across the mysterious River I see now yes they are on the warpath right enough Peter was a little annoyed with them for knowing so much but if he wanted to lord it over them his triumph was at hand for have I not told you that a non fear fell upon them it came as the arrows went leaving the island in gloom in the old days at home the neverland had always began to look a little dark and threatening by bedtime then unexplored patches arose in it and spread black shadows moved about in them the roar the beasts of prey was quite different now and above all you lost the certainty that you would win you were quite glad of the night lights were on you even like Nana to say that this was just the mantelpiece over here and that the Neverland was all make-believe of course the Neverland had been make-believe in those days but it was real now and there were no night lights and it was getting darker every moment and where was Nana they had been flying apart that they had a little close to Peter now his careless manner have gone at last his eyes were sparkling and a tingle went through them every time they touched his body they were now over the fearsome island flying so low that sometimes a tree grazed their feet nothing horrid was visible in the air yet their progress had become slow and leeward exactly as if they were pushing their way through hostile forces sometimes they hung in the air until Peter had beaten on it with his fists they don't want us to land he explained who are they Wendy whispered shuddering but he could not or would not say Tinkerbell had been asleep on his shoulder but now he wakened her and sent her on in front sometimes he poised himself in the air listening intently with his hand to his ear and again he would stare down with eyes so bright that they seemed to bore two holes to earth having done these things he went on again his courage was almost appalling would you like an adventure now he said casually to John or would you like to have your tea first Wendy said tea first quickly and Michael pressed her hand in gratitude but the braver John hesitated what kind of adventure he asked cautiously there's a power as asleep in the Pampas just beneath us Peter told him if you like we'll go down and kill him I don't see him John said after a long pause I do suppose John said a little huskily he were to wake up Peter spoke linked chapter 5 the island come true feeling that Peter was on his way back the neverland had again woke into life we ought to use the pluperfect and say wakened but woke is better and was always used by Peter in his absence things are usually quiet on the island the fair is taken hour longer in the morning the beasts attend to their young the Redskins feed heavily for six days and nights and when pirates and Lost Boys meet they merely bite their thumbs at each other but with the coming of Peter who hates lethargy they are under way again if you put your ear to the ground now you would hear the whole island seething with life on this evening the chief forces of the island were disposed as follows Lost Boys were out looking for Peter the Pirates were out looking for the Lost Boys the Redskins were out looking for the Pirates and the beasts were out looking for the Redskins they were going round and round the island but they did not meet because all were going at the same rate all wanted blood except the boys who liked it as a rule but tonight who were out to greet their camp the boys on the island very of course in numbers according as they get killed and so on and when they seem to be growing up which is against the rules Peter thins the mountain but at this time there were six of them counting the twins as to let us pretend to lie here among the sugarcane and watch them as they steal by in single-file each with his hand on his dagger they are forbidden by Peter to look in the least like him and they wear the skins of a bear slain by themselves in which they are so round and furry that when they fall they roll they have therefore become very sure-footed the first pass is Tootles not the least brave but the most unfortunate to all that gallant and he had been in fewer adventures than any of them because the big things constantly happened just when he had stepped around the corner all would be quiet he would take the opportunity of going off to gather a few sticks for firewood and then when he returned the others would be sweeping up the blood this ill luck had given a gentle melancholy to his countenance but instead of souring his nature had sweetened it so that he was quite the humblest of a boys poor kind Tootles there is danger in the air for you tonight take care lest an adventure is now offered you which if accepted will plunge you in the deepest woe Tootles the fairy tink who is bent on mischief this night is looking for a tool and she thinks you are the most easily tricks of the boys where Tinker Bell would that he could hear us but we're not really on the island and he passes by biting his knuckles next comes nibs the gay and debonair followed by slightly who cuts whistles out of the trees and dances ecstatically to his own tunes slightly is the most conceited of the boys he thinks he remembers the days before he was lost with their manners and customs and this has given his nose an offensive tilt curly is fourth he is a pickle and so often has he had to deliver up his person when Peter said sternly stand for the one who did this thing that now at the command he stands forth automatically whether he has done it or not last come the twins who cannot be described because we should be sure to be describing the wrong one Peter never quite knew what twins were and his band were not allowed to know anything he did not know so these two are always vague about themselves and did their best to give satisfaction by keeping close together in an apologetic sort of way the boys vanish in the gloom and after a pause but not a long pause for things go briskly on the island come the Pirates on their track we hear them before they're seen and it is always the same dreadful song a Vols belay Yoho he threw a parting we go and if we're parted by your shot we're sure to meet below a more villainous looking lot never hung in a row on execution dock here a little in advance ever and again with his head to the ground listening his great arms bare Pieces of Eight in his ears as ornaments is the handsome Italian checkol who cut his name in letters of blood on the back of the governor of the at Gale that gigantic black behind him has had many names since he dropped the one with which dusky mothers still terrify their children on the banks of the Guam oh here is Bill Jukes every inch of him tattooed the same bill Jukes who got six dozen on the walrus from Finch before he would drop the bag of Midori's and Cookson said to be black Murphy's brother but this was never proved and gentlemen Starkey once an usher in a public school and still dainty in his ways of killing and skylights and the Irish bosun's me an oddly genial man who stabbed so to speak without offence and was the only nonconformist in Hook's crew and noodler whose hands were fixed on backwards and Robert Mullins in Alf Mason and many another ruffian long known and feared on the Spanish Main in the midst of them the blackest and largest in that dark setting reclined James Hook or as he wrote himself Joss Hook of whom it is said he was the only man that the sea-cook feared he lay at his ease in a rough chariot drawn and propelled by his men and instead of a right hand he had an iron hook with which ever and anon he encouraged them to increase their pace as dogs this terrible man treated and addressed them and as dogs they obeyed him in person he was cadaverous and black of eyes and his hair was dressed in long curls which at a little distance looked like black candles and gave a singularly threatening expression to his handsome countenance his eyes were of the blue of the forget-me-nots and have a profound melancholy save when he was plunging his hook into you at which time two red spots appeared in them and lift them up horribly in manner something of the grande senior still clung to him so that he even ripped you up with an air and I have been told that he was a raconteur of repute it was never more sinister than when he was most polite which is probably the truest test of breeding and the elegance of his diction even when he was swearing no less than a distinction of his demeanor showed him one of a different cast from his crew a man of indomitable courage it was said that the only thing he shy that was the sight of his own blood which was thick and of an unusual color in dress he somewhat Apes the attire associated with the name of charles ii having heard it said in some earlier period of his career that he bore a strange resemblance to the ill-fated Stewart's and in his mouth he had a holder of his own contrivance which enabled him to smoke two cigars at once but undoubtedly the grimace part of him was his iron claw let us now kill a pirate to show Hookes method skylights will do as they pass skylights lurches clumsily against him ruffling his lace collar the hook shoots forth there is a tearing sound a1 screech then the body is kicked aside and the Pirates pass on has not even taken the cigars from his mouth such is the terrible man against whom Peter Pan is pitted which will win on the trail of the Pirates stealing noiselessly down the warpath which is not visible to inexperienced eyes come the Redskins every one of them with his eyes peeled they carried tomahawks and knives and their naked bodies gleam with paint and oil strung around the mast scalps so boys as well as a pirate's for these are the tribe and not to be confused with the soft-hearted Delaware's or the Hurons in the van on all fours his great big little panther a brave has so many scalps and in his present position they somewhat impede his progress bringing up the rear the place of greatest danger comes Tiger Lily proudly erect a princess in her own right she is the most beautiful of dusky Diana's and the belle of the pickaninnies coquettish cold and amorous by turns there is not a brave who would not have the way would thing to wife but she staves off the altar with a hatchet observe how they pass over fallen twigs without making the slightest noise the only sound to be heard is their somewhat heavy breathing the fact is that they're all a little fat just now after the heavy gorging but in time they will work this off for the moment however it constitutes their chief danger the Redskins disappear as they have come like shadows and soon their place is taken by the beasts a Great Sand motley procession lions tigers bears and innumerable smaller savage things that flee from them for every kind of beasts and more particularly all the man-eaters live cheek-by-jowl on the favoured island their tongues are hanging out they are hungry tonight when they have passed comes the last figure of all a gigantic crocodile we shall see for whom she is looking presently the crocodile passes but soon the boys appear again for the procession must continue indefinitely until one of the parties stops or changes its pace then quickly they will be on top of each other all are keeping a sharp lookout in front but none suspects that the danger may be creeping up from behind this shows how real the island was the first to fall out of the moving circle was the boys they flung themselves down on the sward close to their underground home I do wish Peter would come back every one of them said nervously though in height and still more in breath they were all larger than their captain I am the only one who is not afraid of the Pirates slightly said in the tone that prevented his being a general favorite but perhaps some distant sound disturbed him for he added hastily but I wish he would come back and tell us whether he has heard anything more about Cinderella they talked of Cinderella and two tools was confident that his mother must have been vetted like her it was only in Peters absence that they could speak of Mother's the subject being forbidden by him as silly all I remember about my mother nibs told him is that she often said to my father oh how I wish I had a checkbook of my own I don't know what a checkbook is but I should just love to give my mother one while they talked they heard a distant sound you or I not being wild things of the Woods would have heard nothing but they heard it and it was the grim song yo-oh yo-oh the pirate life the Frog Escala bows a merry ow a hemp and wrote and hey for Davy Jones at once The Lost Boys but where are they they're no longer there Rapids could not have disappeared more quickly I will tell you where they are with the exception of nibs who has darted away to recognizer they are already in their home under the ground a very delightful residence of which we shall see a good deal presently but have they reached it further as no entrance to be seen not so much as a large stone which if rolled away would disclose the mouth of a cave look closely however and you may note that there are here seven large trees each with a hole in its hollow trunk as large as a boy these are the seven entrances to the home under the ground for which hook has been searching in vain these many moons will he find it tonight as the Pirates advanced the quick eye of stocky sighted nips disappearing through the wood and at once his pistol flashed out but an iron claw gripped his shoulder captain let go he cried writhing now for the first time we hear the voice of hook it was a black voice put back that pistol first it said threatening Lee it was one of the boys you hate I could have shot him dead I and a sound would have brought Tiger Lillies Redskins upon us do you want to lose your scalp shall I go after him captain asked pathetic Smee and tickle him with Johnny corkscrew Smee had pleasant names for everything and his Cutlass was Johnny corkscrew because he wiggled it in the wound welcome Chapter six a little house foolish Turtles were standing like a conqueror over Wendy's body when the other boys sprang armed from their trees you're too late he cried proudly I have shot the Wendy Peter will be so pleased with me overhead Tinkerbell shouted silly ass and darted into hiding the others did not hear her they had crowded round Wendy and as they looked her terrible silence fell upon the woods if Wendy's heart had been beating they would all have heard it slightly it was the first to speak this is no bird he said in a scared voice I think this must be a lady a lady said Tootles and fellow trembling and we have cuter nibs said hoarsely they all whipped off their caps now I see curly said Peter was bringing her to us he threw himself sorrowfully on the ground a lady to take care of us at last said one of the twins and you have killed her they were sorry for him but sorrier for themselves and when he took a step nearer them they turned from him Tootles his face was very white but there was a dignity about him now that had never been there before I did it he said reflecting when ladies used to come to me in dreams I said pretty mother pretty mother but when at last she really came I shot her he moved slowly away don't go they called him pity I must he answered shaking I'm so afraid of Peter it was at this tragic moment that they heard a sound which made the heart of every one of them rise to his mouth they heard Peter crow Peter they cried for it was always thus that he signaled his return oh yeah they whispered and gathered hastily around Wendy but Tootles stood aloof again came that ringing crow and Peter dropped in front of them greetings boys he cried and mechanically they saluted and then again was silence he frowned I'm back he said hotly why do you not share they opened their mouths but the cheers would not come he overlooked it in his haste to tell the glorious tidings great news boys he cried I have brought at last a mother for you all still no sound except a little thud from Tootles as he dropped on his knees have you not seen her ask Peter becoming troubled she flew this way armie one voice said and another set Oh Warren full-day totals Rose Peter he said quietly I will show her to you and when the others would still have hidden her he said back twins let Peter see so they all stood back and let him see and after he had looked for a little time he did not know what to do next she is dead he said uncomfortably perhaps she is frightened at being dead he thought of hopping off in a comic sort of way till he was out of sight of her and then never going the other spot anymore they would all have been glad to follow if he had done this but there was the arrow he took it from her heart and faced his band whose arrow he demanded sternly my Peter said Tootles on his knees Oh dust at hand Peter said and he raised the arrow to use it as a dagger Tootles did not flinch he bared his breast strike Peter he said firmly strike true twice did Peter raise the arrow and twice did his hand fall I cannot strike he said with or there is something stays my hand all looked at him in wonder save nibs who fortunately looked at Wendy it is she he cried the Wendy lady see her arm wonderful to relate Wendy had raised her arm nibs bent over her and listened reverently I think she said poor Tootles he whispered she lives Peter said briefly slightly cried instantly the Wendy lady lives then Peter knelt beside her and found his button you remember she had put it on a chain that she wore around her neck see he said the arrow struck against this it is the kiss I gave her it has saved her life I remember kisses slightly interposed quickly let me see it hi that's a kiss Peter did not hear him he was begging Wendy to get better quickly so that he could show her the mermaids of course she could not answer yet being still in a frightful faint but from overhead came a whaling note listen to tink said curly she is crying because Wendy lives then they had to tell Peter of tinks crime and almost never had they seen him look so Stern listen Tinkerbell he cried I am your friend no more be gone from me forever she flew onto his shoulder and pleaded but he brushed her off not until Wendy again raised her arm did he relent sufficiently to say well not forever but for a whole week do you think Tinkerbell was grateful to Wendy for raising her arm oh dear no never wanted to pinch her so much fairies indeed are strange and Peter who understood them best often cuffed him but what to do with Wendy in her present delicate state of health let us carry her down into the house Curley suggested I said slightly that is what one does with ladies no no Peter said you must not touch her it would not be sufficiently respectful that said slightly is what I was thinking but if she lies there turtle said she will die aye she will die slightly admitted but there's no way out yes there is pride Peter let us build a little house round her they were all delighted quick he ordered them bring me each of you the best of what we have guts our house be sharp in a moment they were asked busy as tailors the night before a wedding they scurried this way and that down for bedding up for firewood and while they were at it who should appear but John and Michael as they dragged along the ground they fell asleep standing stopped woke up moved another step and slept again John John Michael would cry wake up where is Nana John and mother and then John would rub his eyes and mutter it is true we did fly you may be sure they were very relieved to find Peter hello Peter they said hello reply Peter amicably though he had quite forgotten them he was very busy at the moment measuring Wendy with his feet to see how large a house she would need of course he meant to leave room for chairs and a table John and Michael watched him he's Wendy asleep they asked yes John Michael proposed let us wake her and get her to make supper for us but as he said it some of the other boys rushed on carrying branches for the building of the house look at them he cried curly said Peter in his most cuddly voice see that these boys help in the building of the house Liza build a house exclaimed job for the Wendy said Curley for Wendy John said aghast why she's an aide girl that's explained Kelly is why we are her servants you Wendy's servants yes said Peter and you also away with them the astounded brothers were dragged away to happen to you and carry chairs and a fender first Peter ordered then we shall build a house round him I said slightly that is how a house is built it all comes back to me Peter thought of everything slightly he cried fetch a doctor I I said slightly at once and disappeared scratching his head but he knew Peter must be obeyed and he returned in a moment wearing John's hats and looking solemn please sir said Peter going to him are you a doctor the difference between him and the other boys at such a time was that they knew it was make-believe while to him make-believe and true were exactly the same thing this sometimes troubled him as when they had to make believe that they had had their dinners if they broke down in their make believe he wrapped them on the knuckles yes my little man slightly anxiously replied who had chapped chapter seven the home under the ground what are the first things PETA did next day was to measure a Wendy and John and Michael for hollow trees hook you remember had sneered of the boys for thinking they needed a tree apiece but this was ignorance for unless your tree fitted you it was difficult to go up and down and no two of the boys were quite the same size once you fitted you drew in your breath at the top and down you went at exactly the right speed while to ascend you drew in and let out alternately and so reeled up of course when you have mastered the action you are able to do these things without thinking of them and nothing can be more graceful but you simply must fit and Peter measures you for your tree as carefully as for a suit of clothes the only difference being that the clothes are made to fit you while you have to be made to fit the tree usually it is done quite easily as by your wearing too many garments or too few but if you are bumpy in awkward places or the only available tree is an odd shape Peter does some things to you and after that you fit once you fit great care must be taken to go on fitting and this as Wendy was to discover to her delight keeps a whole family in perfect condition Wendy and Michael fitted their trees at first try but John had to be altered a little after a few days practice they could go up and down as gaily as buckets in a well and how ardently they grew to love their home under the ground especially Wendy it consisted of one large room as all houses should do with a floor in which you could dig if you wanted to go fishing and in this floor grew stout mushrooms of a charming color which were used as stools 'never tree he tried hard to grow in the center of the room but every morning they saw the trunk through level with the floor by teatime it was always about 2 feet high and then they put a door on top of it the hole thus becoming a table as soon as they cleared away they sawed off the trunk again and thus there was more room to play there was an enormous fireplace which was in almost any part of the room where you care to light it and across this Wendy's stretched strings made of fiber from which she suspended her washing the bed was tilted against the wall by day and let down at 6:30 when it filled nearly half the room and all the boys slept in it except Michael lying like sardines in a tin there was a strict rule against turning round until one gave the signal when all turned at once Michael should have used it also but Wendy would have a baby and he was the littlest and you know what women are and the short and long of it is that he was hung up in a basket it was rough and simple and not unlike what baby bears would have made of an underground house in the same circumstances but there was one recess in the wall no large in the birdcage which was the private apartment of Tinker Bell it could be shut off from the rest of the house by a tiny curtain which dink who was most fastidious always kept drawn when dressing or undressing no woman however large could have had a more exquisite boudoir and bedchamber combined the couch as she always called it was a genuine Queen Mab with club legs and she varied the bedspreads according to what fruit blossom was in season a mirror was a pushing boots of which there are now only three unchipped known to fairy dealers the wash stand was pie crust and reversible the chest of drawers and authentic charming the 6th and the carpet and rugs the best of the early period of Marjorie and Robin there was a chandelier from tiddlywinks for the look of the thing but of course she lit the residence herself tink was very contemptuous of the rest of the house as indeed was perhaps inevitable and her chamber though beautiful looked rather conceited having the appearance of a nose permanently turned up I suppose it was all especially entrancing to Wendy because those rampages boys of hers gave us so much to do really there were whole weeks when except perhaps with a stocking in the evening she was never above ground the cooking I can tell you kept her nose to the pot and even if there was nothing in it even if there was no pot she had to keep watching that it came a boil just the same you never exactly knew whether there would be a real meal or just a make-believe it all depended upon Peters whim he could eat really eat if it was part of a game but he could not stop just to feel stodgy which is what most children like better than anything else the next best thing being to talk about it make-believe was so real to him that during a meal of it you could see him getting round her of course it was trying but you simply had to follow his lead and if you could prove to him that you were getting loose foil tree he lets you starch Wendy's favorite time for sewing and darning was after they're all gone to bed then as she expressed it she had a breathing time for herself and she occupied his and making new things for them and putting double pieces on the knees but they were almost frightfully hard on their knees when she sat down to a basket full of their stockings every heel with a hole in it she would fling up her arms and exclaim oh dear I'm sure I sometimes think spinsters are to be envied her face beamed when she exclaimed this you remember about her pet wolf well it very soon discovered that she had come to the island then it found her out and they just ran into each others arms after that it followed her about everywhere as time wore on did she think much about the beloved parents she had left behind her this is a difficult question because it is quite impossible to say how time does wear on in Neverland where it is calculated by moons and Suns and there are ever so many more of them than on the mainland but I'm afraid that Wendy did not really worry about her father and mother she was absolutely confident that they would always keep the window open for her to fly back by and this gave her complete ease of mind what did disturb Barret tiles was that John remembered his parents vaguely only as people he had once known while Michael was quite willing to believe that she was really his mother these things scared her a little and nobly anxious to do her duty she tried to fix the old life in their minds by setting them examination papers on his as like as possible to the ones she used to do at school the other boys thought this awfully interesting and insisted on joining and they made states for themselves and sat around the table writing and thinking hard about the question she had written on another slate and passed round they were the most ordinary questions what was the color of mother's eyes which was taller father or mother was mother blonde or brunette answer all three questions if possible a write an essay of not less than 40 words on how I spent my last holidays or the characters of father and mother compared only one of these to be attempted or one described mother's enough to describe father's laugh three described mother's party dress for describe the kennel and its inmate they were just everyday questions like these and when you could not answer them you were told to make a cross and it was really dreadful what a number of crosses even John made of course any boy who replied to every question was slightly and no one could have been more hopeful of coming out first but his answers were perfectly ridiculous and he really came out love chapter 8 the mermaids Lagoon if you shut your eyes and are a lucky one you may see at times a shapeless pool of lovely pale colors suspended in the darkness then if you squeeze your eyes tighter the pool begins to take shape and the colors become so vivid that with another squeeze they must go on fire but just before they go on fire you see the lagoon this is the nearest you ever get to it on the mainland just one heavenly moment if there could be two moments you might see the surf and here the mermaids singing the children often spend long summer days on this Lagoon swimming or floating most of the time playing the mermaid games in the water and so forth you must not think from this that the mermaids were on friendly terms with them on the contrary it was among Wendy's lasting regrets that all the time she was on the island she'd never had a civil word from one of them when she stole softly to the edge of the lagoon she might see them by the score especially on marooners rock where they loved to bask combing out their hair in a lazy way that quite irritated her or she might even swim on tiptoe as it were to within a yard of them but then they saw her and dived probably splashing her with their tails not by accident but intentionally they treated all the boys in the same way except of course Peter who chatted with them on marooners rock by the hour and sat on their tails when they got cheeky he gave Wendy one of their combs the most haunting time at which to see them is at the turn of the moon when they utter strange wailing cries where the lagoon is dangerous for mortals then and until the evening of which we have now to tell Wendy had never seen the lagoon by moonlight less from fear for of course Peter would have accompanied her then because she had strict rules about everyone being in bed by 7:00 she was often at the lagoon however on sunny days after rain when the mermaids come up in extraordinary numbers to play with their bubbles the bubbles of many colors made in rainbow water they treat as balls hitting them gaily from one to another with their tails and trying to keep them in the rainbow till they burst the goals are at each end of the rainbow and the keepers only are allowed to use their hands sometimes a dozen of these games were going on in the lagoon at a time and it is quite a pretty sight but the moment the children tried to join in they had to play by themselves for the mermaids immediately disappeared nevertheless we have proof that they secretly watched the interlopers and were not above taking an idea from them for John introduced a new way of hitting the bubble with the head instead of a hand and the mermaids adopted it this is the one mark that John has left on the neverland it must also have been rather pretty to see the children resting on a rock for half an hour after their midday meal Wendy insisted on their doing this and it had to be a real rest even though the meal was make-believe so they lay there in the Sun and their bodies glistened in it while she sat beside them and looked important it was one such day and they were all on marooners rock the rock was not much larger than their great bed but of course they all knew how not to take up much room and they were dozing or at least lying with their eyes shut and pinching occasionally when they thought wendy was not looking she was very busy stitching while she stitched a change came to the lagoon little shivers ran over it and the Sun went away in shadows stole across the water turning it cold Wendy could no longer see to thread her needle and when she looked up the lagoon that had always hitherto been such a laughing place seemed formidable and unfriendly it was not she knew that night had come but something as dark as night had come no worse than that it had not come but it had sent that shiver through the sea to say that it was coming what was it there crowded upon her all the story she'd been told of marooners rock so-called because evil captain's put sailors on it and leave them there to drown they drown when the tide rises for then it is submerged of course she should have roused the children at once not merely because of the unknown that was stalking toward them but because it was no longer good for them to sleep on a rock grown chilly but she was a young mother and she did not know this she thought you simply must stick to your rule about half an hour after the midday meal so though fear was upon her and she longed to hear male voices she would not waken them even when she heard the sound of muffled oars though her heart was in her mouth she did not waken them she stood over them to let them have their sleep out was it not brave of Wendy it was well for those boys then that there was one among them who could sniff danger even in his sleep Peter sprang erect as wide-awake at once as a dog and with one warning cry he roused the others he stood motionless one hand to his ear pirates he cried the others came closer to him a strange smile was playing about his face and wendie's saw it and shuddered while that smile was on his face no one dared address him all they could do was to stand ready to obey the order came sharp and incisive dive there was a gleam of legs and instantly the lagoon seemed deserted marooners rock stood alone in the forbidding waters as if it were itself marooned the boat drew nearer it was the pirate dinghy with three figures in her Smee and Starkey and the third a captive no other than Tiger Lily her hands and ankles were tied and she knew what was to be her fate she was to be left on the rock to perish and end to one of her race more terrible than death by fire or torture for is it not written in the book of the tribe that there is no path through water to the happy hunting ground yet her face was impassive she was the daughter of a chief she must die as a Chiefs daughter it is enough they had caught her boarding the pirate ship with a knife in her mouth no watch was kept on the ship it being hooks boast that the wind of his name guarded the ship for a mile around now her fate would help to guard it also one more whale would go the round in that wind by nights in the gloom that they brought with them the true Pirates did not see the rock till they crashed into it love ya lubber cried an Irish voice that was meas here's the rock now then what we have to do is hoist the red skin onto it and leave her here to drown it was the work of one brutal moment to land a beautiful girl on the rock she was too proud to offer a vain resistance quite near the rock but out of sight two heads were bobbing up and down Peters and Wendy's Wendy was crying for it was the first tragedy she had seen Peter had seen many tragedies but he had forgotten them all he was less sorry than Wendy for Tigerlily it was two against one that hang at him and he meant to save her an easy way would have been to waits until the Pirates had gone but he was never one to choose the easy way there was almost nothing he could not do and he now imitated the voice of hook all right are you lovers he called it was a marvelous imitation a captain said the Pirates staring at each other in surprise he must be swimming out to us Starkey said when they looked for him in vain we're puttin the on the rock Smee called out set her free came the astonishing answer free yes cut up bones and let her go a captain at once to here cried Peter or I'll plunge my hook in you this is queer Smee gasped better knew what for Captain orders said Starkey nervously hi Smee said and he cupped Tiger Lillies cords at once like an eel she slipped between Starkey's legs into the water of course Wendy was very elated over Peters cleverness but she knew that he would be elated also and very unlikely Crow and thus betray himself so at once her hand went out to cover his mouth but it was stayed even in the act for murder ahoy rang or the lagoon in hooks voice and this time it was not Peter who had spoken Peter may have been about to crow but his face puckered in a whistle of surprise instead boat ahoy again came the voice now Wendy understood the real hook was also in the water he was swimming to the boat and as his men showed a light to guide him he had soon reached them in the light of the lantern Wendy saw his hook grip the boats side she saw his evil swarthy face as he rose dripping from the water and quaking she would have liked to swim away but Peter would not Bunch he was tingling with life and also top-heavy with conceit and I not a wonder oh I am a wonder he whispered to her and though she thought so also she was really glad for the sake of his reputation that no one heard him except herself he signed to her to listen the two pirates were very curious to know what had brought their captain to them but he sat with his head on his hook in a position of profound melancholy captain he's all well they asked timidly but he answered with a hollow moon he sighs said Smee he sighs again said stocky and yet a third time he sighs said Smee then at last he spoke passionately her games up he cried those boys have found a mother affrighted though she was Wendy swelled with pride Oh evil day cried Starkey what some mother asked the ignorance me Wendy was so shocked that she exclaimed he doesn't know and always after this she felt it if you could have a pitch pirate Smee would be her one Peter pulled her beneath the water the hook had started up crying why was that I heard nothing said Starkey raising the lantern over the waters and as the Pirates looked they saw a strange sight it was the nest I have told you of floating on the lagoon and the never bird was sitting on it she said hook in acid Assamese question that is a mother what a lesson the nest must have fallen into the water but when the mother desert her errors no there was a break in his voice as if for a moment he recalled innocent days well but he brushed away this weakness with his hook Smee much impressed gazed at the bird as the nest was born past but the more suspicious stock he said if she is a mother perhaps she is hanging about here to help Peter Cook winced I he said that is a fear that haunts me he was roused from this dejection by smees eager voice captain said Smee could not be kidnapped these boys mother and make her our mother it's a princely a scheme cried hook and at once it took practical shape in his great brain we will seize the children and carry them to the boat the boys will make walk the plank and windier shall be our mother again Wendy forgot herself never she cried and bobbed what was that but they could see nothing they thought it must have been a leaf in the wind they array my blaze asked hook there is my hand on it they both said and there is my hook swear they all swore by this time they were on the rock and suddenly hook remembered Tigerlily where is the he demanded abruptly he had a playful humor at moments and they thought this was one of the moments that's all right captain Smee answered complacently we let her go let her go cried hook cause your own orders the bosun faltered you called over the water to us to let her go said stop him gemstone and goal thundered hook what cousin is going on here his face had gone black with rage but he saw that they believed their words and he was startled that's he said shaking a little I gave no such order that's passing queer Smee said and they all fidgeted uncomfortably hook raised his voice but there was a quiver in it spirit that holds this dark Lagoon tonight he cried thus cheer me of course Peter should have kept quiet and then of course he did not he immediately answered in hooks voice all swabs hammer and tongs I hear you in that supreme moment hook did not launch even at the gills but Smee and Starkie clung to each other in terror who are you stranger speak Hook demanded I am James Hook replied the voice captain of the Jolly Roger you are not book cried hoarsely rim stolen call the voice retorted say that again an hour cast chapter 9 the never bird the last sound Peter heard before he was quite alone were the mermaids retiring one by one to their bed chambers under the sea he was too far away to hear their door shut but every door in the coral caves where they live rings a tiny bell when it opens or closes as in all the nicest houses on the mainland and he heard the bells steadily the waters rose till they were nibbling at his feet and to pass the time until they made their final gulp he watched the only thing on the lagoon he thought it was a piece of floating paper perhaps part of the kite and wondered idly how long it would take to drift ashore presently he noticed as an odd thing that it was undoubtedly out upon the lagoon with some definite purpose for it was fighting the tide and sometimes winning and when it won Peter always sympathetic to the weaker side could not help clapping it was such a gallant piece of paper it was not really a piece of paper it was the never bird making desperate efforts to reach Peter on the nest by working her wings in a way she had learned since the nest fell into the water she was able to some extent to guide her strange craft but by the time Peter recognized her she was very exhausted she had come to save him to give him her nest though there were eggs in it I rather wonder at the bird for though he'd be nice to her he had also sometimes tormented her I can suppose only that like mrs. darling and the rest of them she was melted because he had all his first teeth she called out to him what she had come for and he called out to her what she was doing there but of course neither of them understood the other's language in fanciful stories people can talk to the birds freely and I wish for the moment I could pretend that this was such a story and say that Peter replied intelligently to the never bird but truth is best and I want to tell you only what really happened well not only could they not understand each other but they forgot their manners I want you to get into the nest the bird called speaking as slowly and distinctly as possible and then you can drift ashore but I am too tired to bring it any Neera so you must try to swim to it what are you quacking about Peter answered why don't you let the nest drift as usual I want you the bird said and repeated it all over then Peter tried slow and distinct what are you quacking about and so on the never bird became irritated they have very short tempers you dunderheaded Little J she screamed why don't you do as I tell you Peter felt she was calling him names and at a venture he retorted hotly so are you then rather curiously they both snapped out the same remark shut up shut up nevertheless the bird was determined to save him if she could and by one last mighty effort she propelled the nest against the rock then up she flew deserting her eggs so as to make her meaning clear then at last he understood and clutched the nest and waved his thanks to the bird as she fluttered overhead it was not to receive his thanks however that she hung there in the sky it was not even to watch him get into the nest it was to see what he did with her eggs there were two large white eggs and Peter lifted them up and reflected the bird covered her face with her wings so as not to see the last chapter 10 the happy home one important result of the brush on the lagoon was that it made the Redskins their friends Peter had saved Tigerlily from a dreadful fate and now there was nothing she and her Braves would not do for him all night they sat above keeping watch over the home under the ground and awaiting the big attack by the Pirates which obviously could not be much longer delayed even by day they hung about smoking the pipe of peace and looking almost as if they wanted tidbits to eat they called Peter the great white father prostrating themselves before him and he liked this tremendously though it was not really good for him the great white father he would say to them in a very lordly manner as they crawled at his feet is glad to see the Warriors protecting his wigwam from the Pirates me Tiger Lily that lovely creature would reply Peter Pan save me me his very nice friend me no let pirates hurt him she was far too pretty to cringe in this way but Peter thought it his view and he would answer condescendingly it is good Peter Pan has spoken always when he said Peter Pan has spoken it meant that they must now shut up and they accepted it humbly in that spirit but there were by no means so respectful to the other boys whom they looked upon as just ordinary Braves they said how do to them and things like that and what annoyed the boys were that Peter seemed to think this all right secretly Wendy sympathized with him a little but she was far too loyal a housewife to listen to any complaints against father father knows best she always said whatever her private opinion must be her private opinion was that the Redskins should not call her a score we have now reached the evening that was to be known among them as the night of nights because of its adventures and their upshot the day as if quietly gathering its forces had been almost uneventful and now the Redskins in their blankets were at their posts above while below the children were having their evening meal all except Peter who had gone out to get the time the way you got the time on the island was to find the crocodile and then stay near him till the clock struck the meal happened to be a make-believe tea and they sat around the board guzzling in their greed and really what were their chatter and recriminations the noise as Wendy said was positively deafening to be sure she did not mind noise but she simply would not have them grabbing things and then excusing themselves by saying that Tootles had pushed their elbow there was a fixed rule that they must never hit back at meals but should refer the matter of dispute to Wendy by raising the right arm politely and saying I complain of so-and-so but what usually happened was that they forgot to do this or did it too much silence right when they--when for the 20th time she had told them that they were not all to speak at once it's your mug empty slightly darling not quite empty mummy slightly said after looking into an imaginary mug he hasn't even began to drink his milk nibs interposed this was telling and slightly seized his chance I complained of nibs he cried promptly John however had held up his hand first well John may I sit in Peters chair as he's not here sitting father's chair John Wendy was scandalized certainly not he's not really our father John answered he didn't even know how a father does till I showed him this was grumbling we complain of John pride the twins Tootles held up his hand he was so much the humblest of them indeed he was the only humble one that Wendy was specially gentle with him I don't suppose Tootles said differently though that I could be father no Tootles whilst Tootles began which was not very often he had a silly way of going on as I can't be father he said heavily I don't suppose Michael you would let me be baby no I won't Michael rapped out he was already in his basket as I can't be baby tootle said getting heavier and heavier and heavier do you think I could be a twin no indeed replied the twins it's awfully difficult to be a twin as I can't be anything important said Tootles would any of you like to see me do a trick no they all replied then at last he stopped I hadn't really any hope he said the hateful telling broke out again slightly scuffing on the table the twins began with cheesecakes curly is taking both butter and honey nibs is speaking with his mouth full I complain of the twins I complain of curly I complain of near oops oh dear oh dear cried Wendy I'm sure I sometimes think that spinsters are to be envied she told them to clear away and sat down to her work basket a heavy load of stockings and every knee with a hole in it as usual Wendy demonstrated Michael I'm too big for a cradle I must have somebody in a cradle she said almost Hartley and you are the littlest a cradle is such a nice homely thing to have about a house while she sewed they played around her such a group of happy faces and dancing limbs lit up by that romantic fire it had become a very familiar scene this in the home under the ground but we are looking on it for the last time there was a step above and Wendy you may be sure who was the first to recognize it children I hear your father step we likes you to meet him at the door above the Redskins crouched before Peter watch well Braves I have spoken and then as so often before the gate oldrin dragged him from his tree as so often before but never again he had brought nuts for the boys as well as the correct time for Wendy Peter you just spoiled them you know Wendy simpered our old lady said Peter hanging up his gun it was me told him mothers are called old lady Michael whispered to Curley I complained of Michael said Curley instantly the first twin came to Peter father we want to dance dance away my little man said Peter who is in high good-humour but we want you to dance Peter was really the best dancer among them but he pretended to be scandalized me my old bones would rattle and woe me too what cried Wendy the mother of such an armful dance but on a Saturday night slightly insinuated chapter 11 Wendy's story listened then said Wendy settling down to her story with Michael at her feet and seven boys in the bed there was once a gentleman I had rather he had been a lady curly said I wish he had been a white rat said nibs quiet their mother admonished them there was a lady also and Oh mummy cried the first twin you mean that there is a lady also don't you she's not dead is she oh no I'm awfully glad she isn't dead said Tootles are you glad John of course I am are you glad nibs rather are you glad twins we are glad oh dear side Wendy little less noise there Peter called out determined that she should have fair play however beastly a story it might be in his opinion the gentleman's name Wendy continued was mr. darling and her name was mrs. darling I knew them John said to her nor the others I think I knew them said Michael rather doubtfully they were married you know explained Wendy and what do you think they had white rats cried nibs inspired No it's awfully puzzling said Tootles who knew the story by heart quiet Tootles they had three descendants what is descendants well you are one twin did you hear that John I'm a descendants descendants are only children said John oh dear oh dear sighed Wendy now these three children had a faithful nurse called Nana but mr. darling was angry with her and chained her up in the yard and so all the children flew away it's an awfully good story said nibs they flew away Wendy continued to the neverland where the lost children are I just thought they did curly broken excitedly I don't know how it is but I just thought they did Oh Wendy cry Tootles was one of the Lost Children called Tootles yes he was I'm in a story hurrah I'm in a story nibs hush now I want you to consider the feelings of the unhappy parents with all their children flown away ooh they all moaned though they were not really considering the feelings of the unhappy parents one jot think of the empty beds ooh it's awfully sad the first twin said cheerfully I don't see how he can have a happy ending said the second twin do you nips I'm frightfully anxious if you knew how great is a mother's love Wendy told him triumphantly you would have no fear she had now come to the part that Peter hated I do like a mother's love said Tootles hitting nibs with the pillow do you like a mother's love nibs I do just said nibs hitting back you see Wendy said complacently our heroine knew that the mother would always leave the window open for her children to fly back by so they stayed away for years and had a lovely time did they ever go back let us now said Wendy bracing herself up her finest Levitt take a peep into the future and they all gave themselves the twist that makes peeps into the future easier years have rolled by and who is this elegant lady of uncertain age alighting after London station Oh Wendy who is she cried nibs every bit as excited as if he didn't know can he be yes no it is the fare Wendy oh and who are the two noble portly figures accompanying her now grown to man's estate can they be John and Michael they are Oh see dear brothers says Wendy pointing upwards there is the window still standing open ah now we are awarded for us a blind faith in a mother's love so up they flew to their mummy and daddy and pen cannot describe the happy scene over which we draw a veil that was the story and they were as pleased with it as the fair no writer herself everything just as it should be you see off we skip like the most heartless things in the world which is what children are but so attractive and we have an entirely selfish time and then when we have need of special attention we nobly return for it confidence that we shall be rewarded instead of smacked so great indeed was their faith in a mother's love that they felt they could afford to be callous for a bit longer but there was one there who knew better and when Wendy finished he uttered a hollow groan what is it Peter she cried running to him thinking he was ill she felt him solicitously lower down in his chest where is it Peter it isn't that kind of pain Peter replied darkly then what kind is it Wendy you're wrong about mothers they all gathered round him in a fright so alarming was his agitation and with a fine can defeat old them what he had hitherto concealed long ago he said I thought like you that my mother would always keep the window open for me so I stayed away from moons and moons and moons and then flew back but the window was barred for mother had forgotten all about me and there was another little boy sleeping in my bed I am not sure that this was true but Peter thought it was true and it scared them are you sure mothers are like that yes so this was the truth about mothers that Toad's still it was best to be careful and no one knows so quickly as a child when he should give in Wendi let us go home cry John and Michael together yes she said clutching them not tonight ask the Lost Boys bewildered they knew in what they called their hearts the one can get on quite well without a mother and that it is only the mothers who think you can't at once Wendy replied resolutely for the horrible thought have come to her perhaps mother is in half morning by this time this dread made her forgetful of what must be Peters feedings and she said to him rather sharply Peter will you make the necessary arrangements if you wish it he replied as coolly as if she had asked him to pass the nuts not so much as a sorry to lose you between them if she did not mind the parting he was going to show her was Peter that neither did he but of course he cared very much and he was so full of wroth against grownups who as usual were spoiling everything that as soon as he got inside his tree he breathes intentionally quick short breaths in the rate of about five to a second he did this because there is a saying in the neverland that every time you breathe a grown-up dies and peter was killing them off vindictively as fast as possible then having given the necessary instructions to the Redskins he returned to the home where an unworthy scene had been enacted in his absence panic-stricken of the thought of losing Wendy the lost boys had advanced upon her threatening Lee it will be worse than before she came and they cried we shall let er go let's keep a prisoner i chained her up in her extremity an instinct told her to which of them to turn Tootles she cried I appealed to you was it not strange she appealed to Tootles quite the silliest one grandly however did Tootles respond for that one moment he dropped his silliness and spoke with dignity I am just Tootles he said and nobody minds me but the first who does not behave - Wendy like an English gentleman I will blunt him severely he drew back his hangar and for that instant his son was at new chapter 12 the children are carried off the pirate attack had been a complete surprise ashore proof that the unscrupulous hook had conducted it improperly what a surprise Redskins fairly is beyond the wits of the white man by all the unwritten laws of savage warfare it is always the who attacks and with the while eNOS of his race he does it just before the dawn at which time he knows the courage of the whites to be at its lowest ebb the white men have in the meantime made a ruled stockade on the summit of yonder undulating ground at the foot of which a stream runs but it is destruction to be too far from water there they await the onslaught the inexperienced ones clutching their revolvers and treading on twigs but the old hands sleeping tranquilly until just before the dawn through the long black night the Savage Scouts wriggles snake-like among the grass without stirring a blade the brushwood closes behind them as silently as sand into which a mole as dived not a sound is to be heard save when they give vent to a wonderful imitation of the lonely call of the coyote the cry is answered by other Braves and some of them do it even better than the Coyotes who are not very good at it so the chill hours wear on and the long suspense is horribly trying to the pale face who has to live through it for the first time but to the trained hand those ghastly calls and still gasps Lea silences are but an intimation of how the night is marching that this was the usual procedure was so well known to hook that in disregarding it he cannot be excused on the plea of ignorance the pickaninnies on their part trusted implicitly Jays honor and their whole action of the night stands out in marked contrast to his they left nothing undone that was consistent with the reputation of their tribe with that alert of a census which is at once the marvel and despair of civilized peoples they knew that the Pirates were on the island from the moment one of them trod on a dry stick and in an incredibly short space of time the coyote cries began every foot of ground between the spot where Hooke had landed his forces and the home under the trees was stealthily examined by Braves wearing their moccasins with the heels in front they found only one hillock with a stream at his base so that Hooke had no choice here he must establish himself and wait for just before the dawn everything being thus mapped out with almost diabolical cunning the main body of the Redskins folded their blankets around them and in the phlegmatic manner that is to them the pearl of manhood squatted above the children's home awaiting the cold moment when they should deal pale death here dreaming the wide-awake of the exquisite tortures to which they were to put him at break of day those confiding savages were found by the treacherous hawk from the accounts afterwards supplied by such of the scouts as escaped the carnage he does not seem even to have paused at the rising ground though it is certain that in that gray light he must have seen it no thought of waiting to be attacked appears from first to last to have visited his subtle mind he would not even hold off till the night was nearly spent on he pounded with no policy but to fall to what could the bewildered Scouts do masters as they were of every warlike artifice save this one but trot helplessly after him exposing themselves fatally to view while they gave pathetic utterance to the coyote cry around the brave Tigerlily were a dozen of her stuck toast warriors and they suddenly saw the perfidious pirates bearing down upon them fell from their eyes then the film through which they had looked at victory no more with a torture at the stake for them the happy hunting-grounds was now they knew it but as their father sons they acquitted themselves even then they had time to gather in a phalanx that would have been hard to break had they risen quickly but this they were forbidden to do by the traditions of their race it is written that the noble savage must never express surprise in the presence of the white thus terrible as a sudden appearance of the Paris must have been to them they remained stationary for a moment not a muscle movie as if the foe had come by invitation then indeed the tradition gallantly upheld they seized their weapons and the air was torn with a war cry and it was now too late it is no part of ours to describe what was a massacre rather than a fight thus perished many of the flower of the beginning II tribe not all unavenged did they die for with lean wolf fell Alf Mason to disturb the Spanish mane no more and among others who beat the dust with George scowly Charles terney and the Alsatian Fogerty turley fell to the tomahawk of the terrible Panther who ultimately cut away through the Pirates with Tiger Lily and a small remnant of the tribe to what extent hook is to blame for his tactics on this occasion is for the historian to decide that he waited on the rising ground till a proper hour he and his men would probably have been butchered and in judging him it is only fair to take this into account what he should perhaps have done was to acquaint his opponents that he proposed to follow a new method on the other hand this as destroying the element of surprise would have made his strategy of no avail so that the whole question is Biss chapter 13 do you believe in fairies the more quickly this hora is disposed of the better the first to emerge from his tree was curly he rose out of it into the arms of Chico who flung him to Smee who flung him to Starkey who flung him to Bill Jukes who flung him to noodler and so he was tossed from one to another till he fell at the feet of the black pirate all the boys were plucked from their trees in this ruthless manner and several of them were in the air at a time like bales of goods flung from hand to hand a different treatment was accorded to Wendy who came last with ironical politeness hook raised his hat to her and offering her his arm escorted her to the spot where the others were being gagged he did it with such an air he was so frightfully disdain gay but she was too fascinated to cry out she was only a little girl perhaps it is telltale to divulge that for a moment hook entranced err and we tell on her only because her slip led to strange results and she Horta ly unhand it him and we should have loved to write it off her she would have been hurled through the air like the others and then hook would probably not have been present at the tying of the children and had he not been at the tying he would not have discovered slightly secret and without the secret he could not presently have made his foul attempt on Peters life they were tied to prevent their flying away doubled up with their knees close to their ears and for the trusting of them the black pirate had cut a rope into nine equal pieces all went well until slightly Stern came when he was found to be like those irritating parcels that used up all the stringing going round and leave no tags with which to tie a knot the Pirates kicked him in their rage just as you kicked the parcel though in fairness you should kick the string and strange to say it was hook who told them to belay their violence his lip was curled with malicious triumph while his dogs were merely sweating because every time they tried to pack the unhappy lad tight in one part he bulged out in another Hookes mastermind had gone far beneath slightly surface probing not for effects but for causes and his exultation showed that he had found them slightly white to the gills knew that Hooke had surprised his secret which was this that no boy so blown out could use a tree where in an average man needs stick pour slightly most wretched of all the children now for he was in a panic about Peter bitterly regretted what he had done madly addicted to the drinking of water when he was hot he had swelled in consequence to his present girth and instead of reducing himself to fit his tree he had unknown to the others which told his tree to make it fit him sufficient of this hook guests to persuade him that Peter at last lay at his mercy but no word of the dark design that now formed in the subterranean caverns of his mind crossed his lips he merely signed that the captives were to be conveyed to the ship and that he would be alone how to convey them hunched up in their ropes they might indeed be rolled down the hill like barrels but most of the way lay through a morass again Hookes genius surmounted difficulties he indicated that the little house must be used as a conveyance the children were flung into it forced out pirates raised it on their shoulders the others fell in behind and singing the hateful pirate chorus the strange procession set off through the wood I don't know whether any of the children were crying if so the singing drowned the sound but as the little house disappeared in a forest a brave though tiny jet of smoke issued from its chimney as if defying hook hook saw it and it did Peter a bad service it dried up any trickle of pity for him that may have remained in the Pirates infuriated breast the first thing he did on finding himself alone in the fast falling night was to tiptoe to slightly stre and make sure that it provided him with a passage then for long he remained brooding his hat of ill omen on the sward so that any gentle breeze which had arisen might play refreshingly through his hair darkus were his thoughts his blue eyes were as soft as the periwinkle intently he listened for any sound from the nether world but all was a silent below as above the house under the ground seemed to be but one more empty tenement in the void was that boy asleep or did he stand waiting at the foot of slightly stre with his dagger in his hand there was no way of knowing save by going down hook let his cloak slip softly to the ground and then biting his lip still elude blood stood on them he stepped into the tree he was a brave man but for a moment he had to stop there and wipe his brow which was dripping like a candle then silently he let himself go into the unknown he arrived unmolested at the foot of the shaft and stood still again biting at his breath which had almost left him as his eyes became accustomed to the dim light various objects in the home under the trees took shape but the only one on which his greedy gaze rested long sought for and found at last was the great bed on the bed Laye Peter fast asleep unaware of the tragedy being enacted above Peter had continued for a little time after the children left to play gaily on his pipes no doubt rather a forlorn attempt to prove to himself that he did not care then he decided not to take his medicine so as to grieve Wendy then he lay down on the bed outside the coverlet to vex her still more for she had always tucked them inside it because you never know that you may not grow chilly at the turn of the night then he nearly cried but it struck him how indignant she would be if he laughed instead so he laughed a haughty laugh and fell asleep in the middle of it sometimes though not often he had dreams and they were more painful than the dreams of other boys for hours he could not be separated from these dreams though he wailed piteously in them they had to do I think with the Rital of his existence at such times it had been Wendy's custom to take him out of bed and sit with him on her lap soothing him in dear ways of her own invention and when he grew calmer to put him back to bed before he quite woke up so that he should not know of the indignity to which she hath subjected him but on this occasion he had fallen at once into a dreamless sleep one arm dropped over the edge of the bed one leg was arched and the unfinished part of his laugh was stranded on his mouth which was open showing the little pearls thus defenseless hook found him he stood silent at the foot of the tree looking across the chamber at his enemy did no feeling of compassion disturb his slumber breast the man was not wholly evil he loved flowers I have been told and sweet music he was himself no mean performer on the harpsichord and let it be frankly admitted the idyllic nature of the scene stirred him profoundly mastered by his better self he would have returned reluctantly up the tree but for one thing what stayed him was Peters impertinent appearance as he slept the open mouth the drooping arm the arched knee there was such a personification of cockiness as taken together will never again one may hope be presented to eyes so sensitive to their offensiveness they steeled hooks hearth if his rage had broken him into a hundred pieces every one of them would have disregarded the incident and left at the sleeper there were light from the one lamp shone dimly on the bed Hooke stood in darkness himself and that's the first stealthy step forward he discovered an obstacle the door of slightly Street it did not entirely fill the aperture and he had been looking over it feeling for the catch he found to his fury that it was lowdown beyond his reach to his disordered brain it seemed then that the irritating quality in Peters face and figure visibly increased and he battled the door and flung himself against it was his enemy to escape him after all but what was that the red in his eye had caught sight of Peters medicine standing on a Ledge within easy reach he feathered but it was straight away and immediately knew that the sleeper was in his power lest he should be taken alive hook always carried about his person a dreadful drug blended by himself of all the death-dealing rings that had come into his possession the ease he had boiled down into a yellow liquid quite unknown to science which was probably the most virulent poison in existence five drops of this he now added to Peter's cup his hands shook but it was in exultation rather than in shame as he did it he avoided glancing at the sleeper but not lest pity should unnerve him merely to avoid spilling then one long gloating look he cast upon his victim and turning wormed his way with difficulty up the tree as he emerged at the top he looked the very spirit of evil breaking from its home donning his hat at its most rakish angle he wound his cloak around him chapter 14 the pirate ship one Greenlight's win ting over kids Creek which is near the mouth of the pirate river marked with a brig the Jolly Roger lay low in the water a rakish looking craft fowls of a hull every beam in her detestable like ground strewn with mangled feathers she was the cannibal of the Seas and scarce needed that watchful eye for she floated immune to the horror of her name she was wrapped in the blanket of night through which no sound from her could have reached the shore there was little sound and none agreeable saved the word of the ship's sewing machine at which Smee sat ever industrious and obliging the essence of the commonplace pathetic Smee I know not why he was so infinitely pathetic unless it were because he was so pathetically unaware of it but even strong men had to turn hastily from looking at him and more than once on summer evenings he had touched the fount of hopes tears and made it flow over this as of almost everything else Smee was quite unconscious a few of the pirates leant over the bulwarks drinking in the miasma of the night others sprawled by barrels over games of dice and cards and the exhausted four who had carried the little house lay prone on the deck where even in their sleep they rolled skillfully to this side or that out of hooks which lest he should claw them mechanically in passing hook trod the deck in thought oh man unfathomable it was his hour of triumph Peter had been removed forever from his path and all the other boys were in the brig about to walk the plank it was his grimace deed since the days when he had brought barbecue to heal and knowing as we do how vain a tabernacle is man could we be surprised had he now paced the deck unsteadily bellied out by the winds of his success but there was no elation in his gait which kept pace with the action of his sombre mind hook was profoundly dejected he was often thus when communing with himself onboard ship in the quietude of a night it was because he was so terribly alone this inscrutable man never felt more alone than when surrounded by his dogs they were socially inferior to him Hooke was not his true name to reveal who he really was would even at this stage set the country in a blaze but as those who read between the lines must already have guessed he had been at a famous public school and its traditions still clung to him like garments with which indeed they are largely concerned thus it was offensive to him even now to board a ship in the same dress in which he grappled her and he still adhered in his walk to the school's distinguished slouched mare above all he retained the passion for good form good form however much he may have degenerated he still knew that this is all that really matters from far within him he heard a creaking as of rusty portals and through them came a stern tap-tap-tap like hammering in the night when one cannot sleep have you been good form today was there eternal question fame fame at deterring bauble it is mine he cried is it quite good form to be distinguished at anything the tap tap from his school replied I am the only man whom barbecue feared he urged and Flint feared barbecue barbecue Flint what house came the cutting retort most disquieting reflection of all was it not bad form to think about good form his vitals were tortured by this problem it was a claw within him sharper the eye on one and as it tore him the perspiration dripped down his tallow countenance and streaked his doublet off times he drew his sleeve across his face but there was no damming that trick ah envy anot hook there came to him a presentment of his early dissolution It was as if Peters terrible oath had boarded the ship hook felt a gloomy desire to make his dying speech less presently there should be no time for it metaphor hook he cried if he had had less ambition it was in his darkest hours only that he referred to himself in the third person no little children to love me strange that he should think of this which had never troubled him before perhaps the sewing machine brought it to his mind for long he muttered to himself staring it's me who is hemming placidly under the conviction that all children feared him feared him Smee there was not a child on board the brig that night who did not already love him he had said horrid things to them and hit them with the palm of his hand because he could not hit them with his fist but they had only clung to him the more Michael had tried on his spectacles to tell poor Smee that they thought him lovable hook itch to do it but it seemed too brutal instead he revolved this mystery in his mind why do they find Smee lovable he pursued the problem like the sleuth-hound he was if Smee was lovable what was it that made him so a terrible answer suddenly presented itself good form had the bosun good form without knowing it which is the best form of all he remembered that you have to prove you don't know you have it before you were eligible for pop the elite social club at Eton with a cry of rage he raised his iron hand over smees head but he did not tell what arrested him was this reflection to claw a man because he is good form what would that be bad form the unhappy hook was as impotent as he was damp and he fell forward like a cut flower his dog's thinking him out of the way for a time discipline instantly relaxed and they broke into a bacchanalian dance which brought him to his feet at once all traces of human weakness gone as if a bucket of water had passed over him quiet used scruggs he cried or our caste anchoring you and at once the din was hushed are all the children chains so that they cannot fly away then hoist them up the wretched prisoners were dragged from the hole to all except Wendy and ranged in line in front of him for a time he seemed unconscious of their presence he lulled at his ease humming not unmatchable rude song and fingering a pack of cards ever and a normal light from his cigar gave a touch of colour to his face now then bullies he said briskly six of you walk the plank tonight but I have room for two cabin boys which of you is it to be don't irritate him unnecessarily had been Wendy's instructions in the hold so Tootles step forward politely Tootles hated the idea of signing under such a man but an instinct told him that it would be prudent to lay the responsibility on an absent person and though a somewhat silly boy he knew that mothers alone are always willing to be all children know this about mothers and despise them for it but make constant use of it so Tootles explained prudently you see sir I don't think my mother would like me to be a parrot would your mother like you to be a parrot slightly he winked and slightly who said mournfully I don't think so as if he wished things have been otherwise would your mother like you to be a parrot twin I don't think so said the first twin as clever as the others nibs would you stole this gab broad hook as the spokesman word dragged back here boy he said addressing John here look as if you had a little pot chapter 15 hook or me this time odd things happened to all of us on our way through life without our noticing for a time that they have happened thus to take an instance we suddenly discover that we have been deaf in one ear for we don't know how long but say half an hour now such an experience had come that night to Peter when last we saw him he was stealing across the island with one finger to his lips and his dagger at the ready he had seen that crocodile passed by without noticing anything peculiar about it but by-and-by he remembered that it has not been ticking at first he thought this eerie but soon calculated rightly that the clock had run down without giving a thought to what might be the feeling of a fellow creature thus abruptly deprived of its closest companion Peter began to consider how he could turn the catastrophe to his own use and he decided to tick so that wild beasts should believe he was a crocodile and let him pass unmolested he ticked superbly but with one unforeseen result the praça dial was among those who heard the sound and it followed him though whether with the purpose of regaining what it had lost or merely as a friend under the belief that it was again ticking itself will never be certainly known for like slaves to a fixed idea it was a stupid beast PETA reached the shore without mishap and went straight on his legs encountering the water as if quite unaware that they had entered a new element thus many animals passed from land to water but no are they human of whom I know as he swam he had but one thought hook or me this time he had ticked so long that he now went on ticking without knowing that he was doing it had he known he would have stopped Fort aboard the brig by help of the tick though an ingenious idea had not occurred to him on the contrary he thought he had scaled her side as noiseless as a mouse and he was amazed to see the parrot scouring from him with hook in their midst as abject as if he had heard the crocodile the crocodile no sooner did Peter remember it than he heard the ticking at first he thought the sound did come from the crocodile and he looked behind him swiftly then he realized that he was doing it himself and in a flash he understood the situation how clever of me he thought at once and signed to the boys not to burst into applause it was at this moment that Edie taint the quartermaster emerged from the fo'c'sle and came along the deck now reader time what happened by your watch Peter struck true and deep John clapped his hands on the ill-fated parrots mouth to stifle the dying groan he fell forward for boys caught him to prevent the thud Peter gave the signal and the carrion was cast overboard there was a splash and then silence how long has it taken one slightly had begun to count none too soon Peter every inch of him on tiptoe vanished into the cabin for more than one pirate was screwing up his courage to look round they could hear each other's distressed breathing now which showed them that the more terrible sound had passed as corn cotton Smee said wiping off his spectacles Oh still again slowly hook that his head emerged from his ruff and listened so intently that he could have caught the echo of the tick there was not a sound and he drew himself up firmly to his full height then here's to Johnny a plank he cried brazenly hating the boys more than ever because they had seen him unbend he broke into the villainous ditty Yoho Yoho The Frisky plank you walks along its oat and it goes down and you goes down to Davy Jones below to terrorize the prisoners the more though with a certain loss of dignity he danced along an imaginary plank grimacing at them as he sang and when he finished he cried new ones her touch of that cat-o'-nine-tails before you walk the plank at that they fell on their knees no no they cried so piteously that every pirate smiled fetch the cat Jukes said Hook it's in the cabin the cabin Peter was in the cabin the children gazed at each other hi I said Jukes blithely and he strode into the cabin they followed him with our eyes they scarce knew that hook had resumed his song his dogs joining in with him yo ho yo ho the scratching cat his tail the nine you know and when they're rich upon your back what was the last line will never be known for of a sudden the song was stayed by a dreadful screech from the cabin it wailed through the ship and died away then was heard a crowing sound which was well understood by the boys but to the pirates was almost more eerie than the screech what was that cried hook too said slightly solemnly the Italian Cecco hesitated for a moment and then swung into the cabin he tottered out Haggard what's the matter with Bill Jukes you dog hissed hook towering over him the map that we him is he's dead stabbed replied checo in a hollow voice bill Jukes dead cried the startled pirates the cabins as black as a bit Jacko said almost gibbering but there is something terrible in there that thing you heard crowing the exaltation of the boys allowing looks of the Pirates both was seen by hook checker he said in his most Stevie voice go back and fetch me out that doodle-doo check o bravest of the brave coward before his captain crying no no but hook was purring to his claw did you say you would go check oh he said musingly check Oh went first flinging his arms despairingly there was no more singing all listened now and again came a death Street and again a crow no one spoke except slightly three he said hook rallied his dogs with a gesture Stephan alts fish he thundered who is to bring me that doodle doo wait till Chico comes out growl Starkey and the others took up the cry I think I heard you volunteer stocker said hook purring again no by thunder Starkey cried my hook thinks you did said hook crossing to him I wonder if it would not be advisable Starkey to humour the hook I'll swing before I go in there replied Starkey doggedly and again he had the support of the crew is this mutant he asked hook more pleasantly than ever Starkey's ringleader captain mercy Starkey whimpered all of a tremble now shake hands Starkey said hook proffering his claw Starkey looked round for help but all deserted him as he backed up hook advanced and now the red spark was in his eye with a despairing scream the pirate left upon Long Tom and precipitated himself into the sea for said slightly and now hook said courteously and did any other gentlemen say mutiny seizing a lantern and raising his claw with a menacing gesture I'll bring out that doodle-do myself he said and sped into the cabin five how slightly longed to say it he wetted his lips to be ready but hook came staggering out without his lantern something blew out the light he said a little unsteadily something echoed Mullins what of Cecco demanded noodler he's as dead as Jukes said hook shortly his reluctance to return to the cabin impressed them all unfavorably and the mutinous sounds again broke forth all pirates are superstitious and Cookson cried they do say the surest sign a ship's accursed is when there's one on board more than can be accounted for I've heard muttered Mullins he always boards the pirate craft lost idiot ale captain they say said another looking viciously at hook though when he comes it's in the likeness of the wickedest man aboard Hania hook captain asked Cookson insolently and one after another took up the cry the ship stoned at this the children could not resist raising a cheer hook and well nigh forgotten his prisoners but as he swung round on them now his face lit up again lads he cried to his crew now here's a notion open the cabin door and drive them in let them fight the doodle-doo for their lives if they kill him we're so much the better if he kills them we're none the worse for the last time his dogs admired hook and devotedly they did his bidding the boys pretending to struggle were pushed into the cabin and the door was closed on them now listen cried hook and all listened but not one dared to face the door yes one Wendy who all this time had been bound to the mast it has fur neither a scream nor a crow that she was watching it was for the reappearance of Peter she had not long to wait in the cabin he had found the thing for which he had gone in search the key that would free the children of their manacles and now they all stole forth armed with such weapons as they could find first signing them to hide Peter cut Wendy's bonds and then nothing could have been easier than for them all to fly off together but one thing barb the way an oath hook or me this time so when he had freed Wendy he whispered for her to conceive herself with the others and himself took her place by the mast her cloak around him so that he should pass for her then he took a great breath and crowed to the Pirates it was a voice crying that all the boys lay slain in a cabin and they were panic-stricken Hook tried to hearten them but like the dogs he had made them they showed him their fangs and he knew that if he took his eyes off them now they would leap at him lads he said ready to cajole or strike as need be but never quailing for an instant I've thought it out there's a Jonah reward high they start her and we are hook no Laszlo it's the girl never was luck on a pirate ship with a woman on board will right the ship when she's gone some of them remembered that this had been a saying of Finn's hers worth drawing they said doubtfully chapter 16 the return home by three bells that morning they were all stirring their stumps but there was a big sea running and Tootles the bosun was among them where the ropes end in his hand and chewing tobacco they all don't pirate clothes cut off at the knee shaved smartly and tumbled up with a true nautical role in hitching their trousers it need not be said who was the captain nibs and John were first and second mate there was a woman aboard the rest were tars before the mast and lived in the fo'c'sle Peter had already lashed himself to the wheel but he piped all hands and delivered a short address to them said he hoped they would do their duty like gallant hearties but that he knew they were the scum of Rio and the Gold Coast and if they snapped at him he would tear them the bluffs strident words struck one of sailors understood and they cheered him lustily then a few sharp orders were given and they turned the ship round and nosed her for the mainland captain pan calculated after consulting the ship's chart that if this weather lasted they should strike the Azores about the 21st of June after which it would save time to fly some of them wanted it to be an honours ship that others were in favor of keeping it a pirate but the captain treated them as dogs and they dared not express their wishes to him even in a round robin instant obedience was the only safe thing slightly I got a dozen for looking perplexed when told to take soundings the general feeling was that Peter was honest just now to lull Wendy's suspicions but that there might be a change when the new suit was ready which against her will she was making for him out of some of Hook's wickedest garments it was afterwards whispered among them that on the first night he wore this suit he sat long in the cabin with hooked cigar holder in his mouth and one hand clenched all but for the forefinger which he bent and held threatening lis aloft like a hook instead of watching the ship however we must now return to the desolate home from which three of our characters had taken heartless flights so long ago it seems a shame to have neglected number 14 all this time and yet we may be sure that mrs. darling does not blame us if we had returned sooner to look with sorrowful sympathy at her she would probably have cried don't be silly what do i matter do go back and keep an eye on the children so long as mothers are like this their children will take advantage of them and they may bet on that even now we venture into that familiar nursery only because it's lawful occupants are on their way home we are merely hurrying on in advance of them to see that their beds are properly aired and that mr. and mrs. darling do not go out for the evening we are no more than servants why on earth should their beds be properly aired seeing that they left them in such a thankless hurry who did not serve them jolly well right if they came back and found that their parents were spending the weekend in the country it would be the moral lesson they have been in need of ever since we met them but if we contrived things in this way mrs. darling would never forgive us one thing I should like to do immensely and that is to tell her in the way authors have that the children are coming back that indeed they will be here on Thursday week this would spoil so completely the surprise - which Wendy and John and Michael are looking forward they have been planning it out on the ship mother's rapture fathers shout of joy Nana's leaped through the air to embrace them first when what they ought to be prepared for is a good hiding how delicious to spoil it all by breaking the news in advance so that when they enter grandly mrs. darling may not even offer Wendy her mouth and mr. darling may exclaim pettishly - it all here are those boys again however we should get no thanks even for this we are beginning to know mrs. darling by this time and may be sure that she would operate us for depriving the children of their little pleasure but my dear madam it is ten days till Thursday week so that by telling you what's what we can save you 10 days of unhappiness yes but at what cost by depriving the children of ten minutes of delight oh if you look at it that way what other way is there in which to look at it you see the woman had no proper spirit I had meant to say extraordinarily nice things about her but I despised her and not one of them well I say now she does not really need to be told to have things ready for they are ready all the beds are aired and she never leaves the house and observe the window is open for all the use we are to her we might well go back to the ship however as we are here we may as well stay and look on that is all we are looking on nobody really wants us so let us watch and say Jaggi things in the hope that some of them will hurt the only change to be seen in the night nursery is that between 9:00 and 6:00 the kennel is no longer there when the children flew away mr. darling felt in his bones that all the blame was his for having chained Nana up and that from first to last she had been wiser than he of course as we have seen he was quite a simple man indeed he might have passed for a boy again if he had been able to take his boldness off but he had also a noble sense of justice and a lion's courage to do what seemed right to him and having thought the matter out with anxious care after the flight of the children he went down on all fours and crawled into the kennel to all mrs. darlings dear invitations to him to come out he replied sadly but firmly no my own one this is the place for me in the bitterness of his remorse he swore that he would never leave the kennel until his children came back of course this was a pity but whatever mr. darling did he had to do in excess otherwise he soon gave up doing it and there never was a more humble man than the once proud George darling as he sat in the kennel of an evening talking with his wife of their children and all they're pretty ways very touching was his deference to Nana he would not let her come into the kennel but on all other matters he followed her wishes implicitly every morning the kennel was carried with mr. darling in it to a cab which conveyed him to his office and he returned home in the same way at 6:00 something of the strength of character of the man will be seen if we remember how sensitive he was to the opinion of neighbors this man whose every movement now attracted surprised attention inwardly he must have suffered torture but he preserved a calm exterior even and he always lifted his hat courteously to any lady who looked inside it may have been quixotic but it was magnificent soon the inward meaning of it leaked out and the great heart of the public was touched crowds followed the cab cheering it lustily charming girls scaled it to get his autograph interviews appeared in the better class of papers and society invited him to dinner and added do come in the kennel on that eventful Thursday week mrs. darling was in the night nursery awaiting George's return home a very sad eyed woman now that we look at her closely and remember the gaiety of her in the old days all gone now just because she has lost her babes I find I won't be able to say nasty things about her after all if she was too fond of her rubbishy children she couldn't help it look at her in her chair where she has fallen asleep the corner of her mouth where one looks first is almost withered up her hand moves restlessly on her breast as if she had a pain there some like Peter best and some like Wendy best the I like her best supposed to make her happy we whisper to her in her sleep that the brats are coming back they are really within two miles of the window now and flying strong but all we need whisper is that they are on the way let's it is a pity we did it for she has started up calling their names and there is no one in the room but Nana Oh Nana I dreamt my dear ones have come back Nana had filmy eyes but all she could do was put her paw gently on her mistress's lap and they were sitting together thus when the kennel was brought back as mr. darling put his head out to kiss his wife we see that his face is more warm than of yore but has a softer expression he gave his hat to Liza who took it smoothly for she had no imagination and was quite incapable of understanding the motives of such a man outside the crowd who had accompanied the cap home was still cheering and he was naturally not unmoved listen to them he said it is very gratifying lots of little boys sneered Liza there were several adults today here shorter with a faint flush but when she tossed her head he had not a word of reproof for her social success had not spoiled him it had made him sweeten for some time he sat with his head out of the kennel talking with mrs. darling of this success and pressing her hand reassuring me when she said she hoped his head would not be turned by it believe up chapter 17 when Wendy grew up I hope you want to know what became of the other boys they were waiting below to give Wendy time to explain about them and when they had counted 500 they went up they went out by the stair because they thought this would make a better impression they stood in a row in front of mrs. darling with their hats off and wishing they were not wearing their pirate clothes they said nothing but their eyes asked her to have them they ought to have looked at mr. darling also but they forgot about him of course mrs. darling said at once that she would have them but mr. darling was curiously depressed and they saw that he considered six a rather large number I must say he said to Wendy that you don't do things by halves a grudging remark which the twins thought was pointed at them the first twin was the proud one and he asked flushing do you think we should be too much of a handful sir because if so we can go away father Wendy cried shocked but still the cloud was on him he knew he was behaving unworthily but he could not help it we could lie doubled-up said nibs I always cut their hair myself said Wendy George mrs. darling exclaimed pain to see her dear one showing himself in such an unfavorable light then he burst into tears and the truth came out he was as glad to have them as she was he said but he thought they should have asked his consent as well as hers instead of treating him as a cipher in his own house I don't think he is a cipher Tootles cried instantly do you think he is a cipher curly no I don't do you think he is a cipher slightly rather not twin what do you think it turned out that not one of them thought him a cipher and he was absurdly gratified and said he would find space for them all in the drawing room if they fit it in will fit in sir they assured him then follow the leader he cried gaily mind you I'm not sure that we have a drawing-room but we pretend we have and is all the same hoopla he went off dancing through the house and they all cried hoopla and danced after him searching for the drawing-room and I forget whether they found it but at any rate they found corners and they all fitted in as for Peter he saw Wendy once again before he flew away he did not exactly come to the window but he brushed against it in passing so that she could open it if she liked and call to him that is what she did hello Wendy goodbye he said oh dear are you going away yes you don't feel Peter she said falteringly but you would like to say anything to my parents about a very sweet subject know about me Peter no mrs. darling came to the window but at present she was keeping a sharp eye on Wendy she told Peter that she had adopted all the other boys and would like to adopt him also would you send me to school he inquired craftily yes and then to an office I suppose so soon I would be a man very soon I don't want to go to school and learn solemn things he told her passionately I don't want to be a man Oh Wendy's mother if I was to wake up and feel it was a beard Peter said Wendy the comforter I should love you in a beard and mrs. darling stretched out her arms to him but he repulsed her keep back lady no one is going to catch me and make me a man but where are you going to live with tink in the house we built for Wendy the fairies are to put it high up among the treetops where they sleep at nights how lovely cried Wendy so longingly that mrs. darling tightened her grip I thought all the fairies were dead mrs. darling said there are always a lot of young ones explained Wendy who was now quite an authority because you see when a new baby lasts for the first time a new fairy is born and as there are always new babies there are always new fairies they live in nests on the tops of trees and the move ones are boys and the white ones are girls and the blue ones are just little Silius who are not sure what they are I shall have such fun said Peter with eye on Wendy it'll be rather lonely in the evening she said sitting by the fire I shall have to tink can't go a twentieth part of the way round she reminded him a little tartly sneaky tail tail tink called out from somewhere around the corner it doesn't matter Peter said Oh Peter you know it matters well then come with me to the little house may i mummy certainly not I have got you home again and I mean to keep you but he does so need a mother so do you my love her alright Peter said as if he had asked her from politeness merely but mrs. darling saw his mouth twitch and she made this handsome offer to let Wendy go to him for a week every year to do his spring cleaning Wendy would have preferred a more permanent arrangement and it seemed to her that spring would be long in coming but this promise sent Peter away quite gay again he had no sense of time and were so full of adventures that all I have told you about him is only a hate me worth of them I suppose it was because Wendy knew this that our last words to him were these rather plaintive ones he won't forget me Peter will you before spring cleaning time comes of course Peter promised and then he flew away he took mrs. darlings kiss with him the kiss that have been for no one else Peter took quite easily funny but she seemed satisfied of course all the boys went to school and most of them got into class three but slightly was put first into class four and then is a class five class one is the top class before they had attended school week they saw what goats they had been not to remain on the island but it was too late now and soon they settled down to being as ordinary as you or me or Jenkins Minor it is sad to have to say that the power to fly gradually left them at first Nana tied their feet to the bedpost so that they should not fly away in the night and one of their diversions by day was to pretend to fall off buses but by and by they ceased to tug at their bonds in bed and found that they hurt themselves when they let go of the bus in time they could not even fly after their hats want of practice they called it but what it really meant was that they no longer believed Michael believed longer than the other boys though they jeered at him so he was with Wendy when Peter came for her at the end of the first year she flew away with Peter in the frock she had woven from leaves and berries in the Netherlands and her one fear was that he might notice how short it had become but he never noticed he had so much to say about himself she had looked forward to thrilling talks with him about old times but new adventures had crowded the old ones from his mind who is Captain Hook he asked with interest when she spoke of the arch enemy don't you remember she asked amazed how you killed him and say all our lives I forget the matter I killed him he replied carelessly when she expressed a doubtful hope that Tinkerbell would be glad to see her he said who is Tinker Bell Oh Peter she said shocked but even when she explained he could not remember there are such a lot of them he said I expect she is no more I expect he was right the fairies don't live long but they're so little that a short time seems a good while to them Wendy was paying to to find that the past year was but as yesterday to Peter it had seemed such a long year of waiting to her but he was exactly as fascinating as ever and they had a lovely spring cleaning in the little house on the tree tops next year he did not come for her she waited in a new frock because the old one simply would not meet but he never came Patsy's ill Michael said you know he is never ill Michael came close to her and whispered with a shiver perhaps there is no such person windy and then Wendy would have cried if Michael had not been crying Peter came next spring cleaning and the strange thing was that he never knew he had missed a year that was the last time the girl Wendy ever saw him for a little longer she tried for his sake not to have growing pains and she felt she was untrue to him when she got a prize for general knowledge but the years came and went without bringing the careless boy and when they met again Wendy was a married woman and Peter was no more to her than a little dust in the Box in which she have kept her toys wendy was grown-up you need not be sorry for her she was one of the kind that likes to grow up in the end she grew off of her own free will a day quicker than other girls all the boys were grown up and done for by this time so disc Astley worthwhile saying anything more about them you may see the twins and nips and curly any day going to an office each carrying a little bag and an umbrella Michael is an engine driver slightly married a lady of title and so he became a lord you see that judge in a week coming out at the iron door that used to be Tootles

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Length: 173min 10sec (10390 seconds)

Published: Fri May 03 2019