Reading Help Peter-pan BY J. M. BARRIE
Perhaps a better one would be the night attack by the redskins on `
` the house under the ground, when several of them stuck in the `
` hollow trees and had to be pulled out like corks. Or we might `
` tell how Peter saved Tiger Lily's life in the Mermaids' Lagoon, `
` and so made her his ally. `
` `
` Or we could tell of that cake the pirates cooked so that the `
` boys might eat it and perish; and how they placed it in one `
` cunning spot after another; but always Wendy snatched it from the `
` hands of her children, so that in time it lost its succulence, `
` and became as hard as a stone, and was used as a missile, and Hook `
` fell over it in the dark. `
` `
` Or suppose we tell of the birds that were Peter's friends, `
` particularly of the Never bird that built in a tree overhanging `
` the lagoon, and how the nest fell into the water, and still the `
` bird sat on her eggs, and Peter gave orders that she was not to `
` be disturbed. That is a pretty story, and the end shows how `
` grateful a bird can be; but if we tell it we must also tell the `
` whole adventure of the lagoon, which would of course be telling `
` two adventures rather than just one. A shorter adventure, and `
` quite as exciting, was Tinker Bell's attempt, with the help of `
` some street fairies, to have the sleeping Wendy conveyed on a `
` great floating leaf to the mainland. Fortunately the leaf gave `
` way and Wendy woke, thinking it was bath-time, and swam back. Or `
` again, we might choose Peter's defiance of the lions, when he `
` drew a circle round him on the ground with an arrow and dared `
` them to cross it; and though he waited for hours, with the other `
` boys and Wendy looking on breathlessly from trees, not one of `
` them dared to accept his challenge. `
` `
` Which of these adventures shall we choose? The best way will `
` be to toss for it. `
` `
` I have tossed, and the lagoon has won. This almost makes one `
` wish that the gulch or the cake or Tink's leaf had won. Of `
` course I could do it again, and make it best out of three; `
` however, perhaps fairest to stick to the lagoon. `
` `
` `
` `
` 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 colours suspended in the `
` darkness; then if you squeeze your eyes tighter, the pool begins `
` to take shape, and the colours 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 hear the mermaids singing. `
` `
` The children often spent 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 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; but 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, `
` than because she had strict rules about every one being in bed by `
` seven. 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 colours 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 will be 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 the 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 mid-day 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 and 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 stories she had been told of `
` Marooners' Rock, so called because evil captains 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 mid-day 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 Wendy 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, an 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 chief's 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 Hook's 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 wail would go `
` the round in that wind by night. `
` `
` In the gloom that they brought with them the two pirates did `
` not see the rock till they crashed into it. `
` `
` "Luff, you lubber," cried an Irish voice that was Smee's; `
` "here's the rock. Now, then, what we have to do is to hoist the `
` redskin on to it and leave her here to drown." `
` `
` It was the work of one brutal moment to land the 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, Peter's 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 `
` Tiger Lily: it was two against one that angered him, and he `
` meant to save her. An easy way would have been to wait 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. `
` `
` "Ahoy there, you lubbers!" he called. It was a marvellous `
` imitation. `
` `
` "The captain!" said the pirates, staring at each other in `
` surprise. `
` `
`
` the house under the ground, when several of them stuck in the `
` hollow trees and had to be pulled out like corks. Or we might `
` tell how Peter saved Tiger Lily's life in the Mermaids' Lagoon, `
` and so made her his ally. `
` `
` Or we could tell of that cake the pirates cooked so that the `
` boys might eat it and perish; and how they placed it in one `
` cunning spot after another; but always Wendy snatched it from the `
` hands of her children, so that in time it lost its succulence, `
` and became as hard as a stone, and was used as a missile, and Hook `
` fell over it in the dark. `
` `
` Or suppose we tell of the birds that were Peter's friends, `
` particularly of the Never bird that built in a tree overhanging `
` the lagoon, and how the nest fell into the water, and still the `
` bird sat on her eggs, and Peter gave orders that she was not to `
` be disturbed. That is a pretty story, and the end shows how `
` grateful a bird can be; but if we tell it we must also tell the `
` whole adventure of the lagoon, which would of course be telling `
` two adventures rather than just one. A shorter adventure, and `
` quite as exciting, was Tinker Bell's attempt, with the help of `
` some street fairies, to have the sleeping Wendy conveyed on a `
` great floating leaf to the mainland. Fortunately the leaf gave `
` way and Wendy woke, thinking it was bath-time, and swam back. Or `
` again, we might choose Peter's defiance of the lions, when he `
` drew a circle round him on the ground with an arrow and dared `
` them to cross it; and though he waited for hours, with the other `
` boys and Wendy looking on breathlessly from trees, not one of `
` them dared to accept his challenge. `
` `
` Which of these adventures shall we choose? The best way will `
` be to toss for it. `
` `
` I have tossed, and the lagoon has won. This almost makes one `
` wish that the gulch or the cake or Tink's leaf had won. Of `
` course I could do it again, and make it best out of three; `
` however, perhaps fairest to stick to the lagoon. `
` `
` `
` `
` 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 colours suspended in the `
` darkness; then if you squeeze your eyes tighter, the pool begins `
` to take shape, and the colours 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 hear the mermaids singing. `
` `
` The children often spent 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 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; but 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, `
` than because she had strict rules about every one being in bed by `
` seven. 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 colours 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 will be 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 the 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 mid-day 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 and 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 stories she had been told of `
` Marooners' Rock, so called because evil captains 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 mid-day 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 Wendy 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, an 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 chief's 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 Hook's 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 wail would go `
` the round in that wind by night. `
` `
` In the gloom that they brought with them the two pirates did `
` not see the rock till they crashed into it. `
` `
` "Luff, you lubber," cried an Irish voice that was Smee's; `
` "here's the rock. Now, then, what we have to do is to hoist the `
` redskin on to it and leave her here to drown." `
` `
` It was the work of one brutal moment to land the 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, Peter's 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 `
` Tiger Lily: it was two against one that angered him, and he `
` meant to save her. An easy way would have been to wait 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. `
` `
` "Ahoy there, you lubbers!" he called. It was a marvellous `
` imitation. `
` `
` "The captain!" said the pirates, staring at each other in `
` surprise. `
` `
`