Reading Help Peter-pan BY J. M. BARRIE
Starkey, once an usher in a public school and still dainty in his `
` ways of killing; and Skylights (Morgan's Skylights); and the `
` Irish bo'sun Smee, an oddly genial man who stabbed, so to speak, `
` without offence, and was the only Non-conformist in Hook's crew; `
` and Noodler, whose hands were fixed on backwards; and Robt. `
` Mullins and 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, Jas. 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 the 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 [dead looking] and `
` blackavized [dark faced], 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-not, and of a profound `
` melancholy, save when he was plunging his hook into you, at which `
` time two red spots appeared in them and lit them up horribly. In `
` manner, something of the grand seigneur still clung to him, so `
` that he even ripped you up with an air, and I have been told that `
` he was a RACONTEUR [storyteller] of repute. He 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 the distinction of his `
` demeanour, showed him one of a different cast from his crew. A `
` man of indomitable courage, it was said that the only thing he `
` shied at was the sight of his own blood, which was thick and of `
` an unusual colour. In dress he somewhat aped 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 Stuarts; and in his mouth he had a `
` holder of his own contrivance which enabled him to smoke two `
` cigars at once. But undoubtedly the grimmest part of him was his `
` iron claw. `
` `
` Let us now kill a pirate, to show Hook's 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 and one screech, then the body is kicked aside, `
` and the pirates pass on. He 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 war- `
` path, which is not visible to inexperienced eyes, come the `
` redskins, every one of them with his eyes peeled. They carry `
` tomahawks and knives, and their naked bodies gleam with paint and `
` oil. Strung around them are scalps, of boys as well as of `
` pirates, for these are the Piccaninny tribe, and not to be `
` confused with the softer-hearted Delawares or the Hurons. In the `
` van, on all fours, is Great Big Little Panther, a brave of so `
` many scalps that 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 Dianas [Diana = goddess of the `
` woods] and the belle of the Piccaninnies, coquettish [flirting], `
` cold and amorous [loving] by turns; there is not a brave who `
` would not have the wayward 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 are 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 and motley `
` procession: lions, tigers, bears, and the innumerable smaller `
` savage things that flee from them, for every kind of beast, and, `
` more particularly, all the man-eaters, live cheek by jowl on the `
` favoured island. Their tongues are hanging out, they are hungry `
` to-night. `
` `
` 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 look-out 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 [turf], 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 breadth 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 favourite; `
` 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 Tootles was confident that his `
` mother must have been very like her. `
` `
` It was only in Peter's absence that they could speak of `
` mothers, the subject being forbidden by him as silly. `
` `
` "All I remember about my mother," Nibs told them, "is that she `
` often said to my father, `Oh, how I wish I had a cheque-book of `
` my own!' I don't know what a cheque-book 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 ho, yo ho, the pirate life, `
` The flag o' skull and bones, `
` A merry hour, a hempen rope, `
` And hey for Davy Jones." `
` `
` `
` At once the lost boys -- but where are they? They are no `
` longer there. Rabbits could not have disappeared more quickly. `
` `
` I will tell you where they are. With the exception of Nibs, `
` who has darted away to reconnoitre [look around], they are `
` already in their home under the ground, a very delightful `
` residence of which we shall see a good deal presently. But how `
` have they reached it? for there is 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 Starkey sighted Nibs `
` `
` 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 `
` threateningly. `
` `
` "It was one of those boys you hate. I could have shot him `
` dead." `
` `
` "Ay, and the sound would have brought Tiger Lily's redskins `
` upon us. Do you want to lose your scalp?" `
` `
` "Shall I 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. One could mention many lovable traits `
` in Smee. For instance, after killing, it was his spectacles he `
` wiped instead of his weapon. `
` `
` "Johnny's a silent fellow," he reminded Hook. `
` `
` "Not now, Smee," Hook said darkly. "He is only one, and I want `
` to mischief all the seven. Scatter and look for them." `
` `
` The pirates disappeared among the trees, and in a moment their `
` Captain and Smee were alone. Hook heaved a heavy sigh, and I `
` know not why it was, perhaps it was because of the soft beauty `
` of the evening, but there came over him a desire to confide to `
` his faithful bo'sun the story of his life. He spoke long and `
` earnestly, but what it was all about Smee, who was rather `
` stupid, did not know in the least. `
` `
` Anon [later] he caught the word Peter. `
` `
` "Most of all," Hook was saying passionately, "I want their `
` captain, Peter Pan. 'Twas he cut off my arm." He brandished the `
` hook threateningly. "I've waited long to shake his hand with `
` this. Oh, I'll tear him!" `
` `
` "And yet," said Smee, "I have often heard you say that hook was `
` worth a score of hands, for combing the hair and other homely `
` uses." `
` `
` "Ay," the captain answered, "if I was a mother I would pray to `
` have my children born with this instead of that," and he cast a `
` look of pride upon his iron hand and one of scorn upon the other. `
` Then again he frowned. `
` `
` "Peter flung my arm," he said, wincing, "to a crocodile that `
` happened to be passing by." `
` `
` "I have often," said Smee, "noticed your strange dread of `
` crocodiles." `
` `
`
` ways of killing; and Skylights (Morgan's Skylights); and the `
` Irish bo'sun Smee, an oddly genial man who stabbed, so to speak, `
` without offence, and was the only Non-conformist in Hook's crew; `
` and Noodler, whose hands were fixed on backwards; and Robt. `
` Mullins and 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, Jas. 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 the 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 [dead looking] and `
` blackavized [dark faced], 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-not, and of a profound `
` melancholy, save when he was plunging his hook into you, at which `
` time two red spots appeared in them and lit them up horribly. In `
` manner, something of the grand seigneur still clung to him, so `
` that he even ripped you up with an air, and I have been told that `
` he was a RACONTEUR [storyteller] of repute. He 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 the distinction of his `
` demeanour, showed him one of a different cast from his crew. A `
` man of indomitable courage, it was said that the only thing he `
` shied at was the sight of his own blood, which was thick and of `
` an unusual colour. In dress he somewhat aped 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 Stuarts; and in his mouth he had a `
` holder of his own contrivance which enabled him to smoke two `
` cigars at once. But undoubtedly the grimmest part of him was his `
` iron claw. `
` `
` Let us now kill a pirate, to show Hook's 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 and one screech, then the body is kicked aside, `
` and the pirates pass on. He 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 war- `
` path, which is not visible to inexperienced eyes, come the `
` redskins, every one of them with his eyes peeled. They carry `
` tomahawks and knives, and their naked bodies gleam with paint and `
` oil. Strung around them are scalps, of boys as well as of `
` pirates, for these are the Piccaninny tribe, and not to be `
` confused with the softer-hearted Delawares or the Hurons. In the `
` van, on all fours, is Great Big Little Panther, a brave of so `
` many scalps that 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 Dianas [Diana = goddess of the `
` woods] and the belle of the Piccaninnies, coquettish [flirting], `
` cold and amorous [loving] by turns; there is not a brave who `
` would not have the wayward 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 are 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 and motley `
` procession: lions, tigers, bears, and the innumerable smaller `
` savage things that flee from them, for every kind of beast, and, `
` more particularly, all the man-eaters, live cheek by jowl on the `
` favoured island. Their tongues are hanging out, they are hungry `
` to-night. `
` `
` 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 look-out 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 [turf], 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 breadth 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 favourite; `
` 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 Tootles was confident that his `
` mother must have been very like her. `
` `
` It was only in Peter's absence that they could speak of `
` mothers, the subject being forbidden by him as silly. `
` `
` "All I remember about my mother," Nibs told them, "is that she `
` often said to my father, `Oh, how I wish I had a cheque-book of `
` my own!' I don't know what a cheque-book 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 ho, yo ho, the pirate life, `
` The flag o' skull and bones, `
` A merry hour, a hempen rope, `
` And hey for Davy Jones." `
` `
` `
` At once the lost boys -- but where are they? They are no `
` longer there. Rabbits could not have disappeared more quickly. `
` `
` I will tell you where they are. With the exception of Nibs, `
` who has darted away to reconnoitre [look around], they are `
` already in their home under the ground, a very delightful `
` residence of which we shall see a good deal presently. But how `
` have they reached it? for there is 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 Starkey sighted Nibs `
` `
` 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 `
` threateningly. `
` `
` "It was one of those boys you hate. I could have shot him `
` dead." `
` `
` "Ay, and the sound would have brought Tiger Lily's redskins `
` upon us. Do you want to lose your scalp?" `
` `
` "Shall I 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. One could mention many lovable traits `
` in Smee. For instance, after killing, it was his spectacles he `
` wiped instead of his weapon. `
` `
` "Johnny's a silent fellow," he reminded Hook. `
` `
` "Not now, Smee," Hook said darkly. "He is only one, and I want `
` to mischief all the seven. Scatter and look for them." `
` `
` The pirates disappeared among the trees, and in a moment their `
` Captain and Smee were alone. Hook heaved a heavy sigh, and I `
` know not why it was, perhaps it was because of the soft beauty `
` of the evening, but there came over him a desire to confide to `
` his faithful bo'sun the story of his life. He spoke long and `
` earnestly, but what it was all about Smee, who was rather `
` stupid, did not know in the least. `
` `
` Anon [later] he caught the word Peter. `
` `
` "Most of all," Hook was saying passionately, "I want their `
` captain, Peter Pan. 'Twas he cut off my arm." He brandished the `
` hook threateningly. "I've waited long to shake his hand with `
` this. Oh, I'll tear him!" `
` `
` "And yet," said Smee, "I have often heard you say that hook was `
` worth a score of hands, for combing the hair and other homely `
` uses." `
` `
` "Ay," the captain answered, "if I was a mother I would pray to `
` have my children born with this instead of that," and he cast a `
` look of pride upon his iron hand and one of scorn upon the other. `
` Then again he frowned. `
` `
` "Peter flung my arm," he said, wincing, "to a crocodile that `
` happened to be passing by." `
` `
` "I have often," said Smee, "noticed your strange dread of `
` crocodiles." `
` `
`