Reading Help Peter-pan BY J. M. BARRIE
`
` "Let us draw lots," Wendy said bravely. `
` `
` "And you a lady; never." Already he had tied the tail round her. `
` She clung to him; she refused to go without him; but with a `
` "Good-bye, Wendy," he pushed her from the rock; and in a few minutes `
` she was borne out of his sight. Peter was alone on the lagoon. `
` `
` The rock was very small now; soon it would be submerged. Pale `
` rays of light tiptoed across the waters; and by and by there was `
` to be heard a sound at once the most musical and the most `
` melancholy in the world: the mermaids calling to the moon. `
` `
` Peter was not quite like other boys; but he was afraid at last. `
` A tremour ran through him, like a shudder passing over the sea; `
` but on the sea one shudder follows another till there are `
` hundreds of them, and Peter felt just the one. Next moment he `
` was standing erect on the rock again, with that smile on his face `
` and a drum beating within him. It was saying, "To die will be an `
` awfully big adventure." `
` `
` `
` `
` Chapter 9 `
` `
` THE NEVER BIRD `
` `
` `
` The last sound Peter heard before he was quite alone were the `
` mermaids retiring one by one to their bedchambers under the sea. `
` He was too far away to hear their doors 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 recognised 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 had been `
` 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 were 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 -- nearer -- 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 jay," she screamed, "Why don't you do `
` as I tell you?" `
` `
` Peter felt that 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 of them; but she could not help peeping between `
` the feathers. `
` `
` I forget whether I have told you that there was a stave on the `
` rock, driven into it by some buccaneers of long ago to mark the `
` site of buried treasure. The children had discovered the `
` glittering hoard, and when in a mischievous mood used to fling `
` showers of moidores, diamonds, pearls and pieces of eight to the `
` gulls, who pounced upon them for food, and then flew away, raging `
` at the scurvy trick that had been played upon them. The stave `
` was still there, and on it Starkey had hung his hat, a deep `
` tarpaulin, watertight, with a broad brim. Peter put the eggs `
` into this hat and set it on the lagoon. It floated beautifully. `
` `
` The Never bird saw at once what he was up to, and screamed her `
` admiration of him; and, alas, Peter crowed his agreement with `
` her. Then he got into the nest, reared the stave in it as a `
` mast, and hung up his shirt for a sail. At the same moment the `
` bird fluttered down upon the hat and once more sat snugly on her `
` eggs. She drifted in one direction, and he was borne off in `
` another, both cheering. `
` `
` Of course when Peter landed he beached his barque [small ship, `
` actually the Never Bird's nest in this particular case in point] `
` in a place where the bird would easily find it; but the hat was `
` such a great success that she abandoned the nest. It drifted about `
` till it went to pieces, and often Starkey came to the shore of the `
` lagoon, and with many bitter feelings watched the bird sitting `
` on his hat. As we shall not see her again, it may be worth `
` mentioning here that all Never birds now build in that shape of `
` nest, with a broad brim on which the youngsters take an airing. `
` `
` Great were the rejoicings when Peter reached the home under the `
` ground almost as soon as Wendy, who had been carried hither and `
` thither by the kite. Every boy had adventures to tell; but `
` perhaps the biggest adventure of all was that they were several `
` hours late for bed. This so inflated them that they did various `
` dodgy things to get staying up still longer, such as demanding `
` bandages; but Wendy, though glorying in having them all home `
` again safe and sound, was scandalised by the lateness of the `
` hour, and cried, "To bed, to bed," in a voice that had to be `
` obeyed. Next day, however, she was awfully tender, and gave out `
` bandages to every one, and they played till bed-time at limping `
` about and carrying their arms in slings. `
` `
` `
` `
` Chapter 10 `
` `
` THE HAPPY HOME `
` `
` `
` One important result of the brush [with the pirates] on the `
` lagoon was that it made the redskins their friends. Peter had `
` saved Tiger Lily 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 tit-bits to eat. `
` `
` They called Peter the Great White Father, prostrating `
` themselves [lying down] before him; and he liked this `
` tremendously, so that it was not really good for him. `
` `
` "The great white father," he would say to them in a very lordly `
` manner, as they grovelled at his feet, "is glad to see the `
` Piccaninny warriors protecting his wigwam from the pirates." `
` `
` "Me Tiger Lily," that lovely creature would reply. "Peter Pan `
` save me, me his velly nice friend. Me no let pirates hurt him." `
` `
` She was far too pretty to cringe in this way, but Peter thought `
` it his due, 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 `
` they 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 was that `
` Peter seemed to think this all right. `
` `
` Secretly Wendy sympathised with them 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 squaw. `
` `
` We have now reached the evening that was to be known among them `
`
` "Let us draw lots," Wendy said bravely. `
` `
` "And you a lady; never." Already he had tied the tail round her. `
` She clung to him; she refused to go without him; but with a `
` "Good-bye, Wendy," he pushed her from the rock; and in a few minutes `
` she was borne out of his sight. Peter was alone on the lagoon. `
` `
` The rock was very small now; soon it would be submerged. Pale `
` rays of light tiptoed across the waters; and by and by there was `
` to be heard a sound at once the most musical and the most `
` melancholy in the world: the mermaids calling to the moon. `
` `
` Peter was not quite like other boys; but he was afraid at last. `
` A tremour ran through him, like a shudder passing over the sea; `
` but on the sea one shudder follows another till there are `
` hundreds of them, and Peter felt just the one. Next moment he `
` was standing erect on the rock again, with that smile on his face `
` and a drum beating within him. It was saying, "To die will be an `
` awfully big adventure." `
` `
` `
` `
` Chapter 9 `
` `
` THE NEVER BIRD `
` `
` `
` The last sound Peter heard before he was quite alone were the `
` mermaids retiring one by one to their bedchambers under the sea. `
` He was too far away to hear their doors 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 recognised 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 had been `
` 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 were 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 -- nearer -- 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 jay," she screamed, "Why don't you do `
` as I tell you?" `
` `
` Peter felt that 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 of them; but she could not help peeping between `
` the feathers. `
` `
` I forget whether I have told you that there was a stave on the `
` rock, driven into it by some buccaneers of long ago to mark the `
` site of buried treasure. The children had discovered the `
` glittering hoard, and when in a mischievous mood used to fling `
` showers of moidores, diamonds, pearls and pieces of eight to the `
` gulls, who pounced upon them for food, and then flew away, raging `
` at the scurvy trick that had been played upon them. The stave `
` was still there, and on it Starkey had hung his hat, a deep `
` tarpaulin, watertight, with a broad brim. Peter put the eggs `
` into this hat and set it on the lagoon. It floated beautifully. `
` `
` The Never bird saw at once what he was up to, and screamed her `
` admiration of him; and, alas, Peter crowed his agreement with `
` her. Then he got into the nest, reared the stave in it as a `
` mast, and hung up his shirt for a sail. At the same moment the `
` bird fluttered down upon the hat and once more sat snugly on her `
` eggs. She drifted in one direction, and he was borne off in `
` another, both cheering. `
` `
` Of course when Peter landed he beached his barque [small ship, `
` actually the Never Bird's nest in this particular case in point] `
` in a place where the bird would easily find it; but the hat was `
` such a great success that she abandoned the nest. It drifted about `
` till it went to pieces, and often Starkey came to the shore of the `
` lagoon, and with many bitter feelings watched the bird sitting `
` on his hat. As we shall not see her again, it may be worth `
` mentioning here that all Never birds now build in that shape of `
` nest, with a broad brim on which the youngsters take an airing. `
` `
` Great were the rejoicings when Peter reached the home under the `
` ground almost as soon as Wendy, who had been carried hither and `
` thither by the kite. Every boy had adventures to tell; but `
` perhaps the biggest adventure of all was that they were several `
` hours late for bed. This so inflated them that they did various `
` dodgy things to get staying up still longer, such as demanding `
` bandages; but Wendy, though glorying in having them all home `
` again safe and sound, was scandalised by the lateness of the `
` hour, and cried, "To bed, to bed," in a voice that had to be `
` obeyed. Next day, however, she was awfully tender, and gave out `
` bandages to every one, and they played till bed-time at limping `
` about and carrying their arms in slings. `
` `
` `
` `
` Chapter 10 `
` `
` THE HAPPY HOME `
` `
` `
` One important result of the brush [with the pirates] on the `
` lagoon was that it made the redskins their friends. Peter had `
` saved Tiger Lily 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 tit-bits to eat. `
` `
` They called Peter the Great White Father, prostrating `
` themselves [lying down] before him; and he liked this `
` tremendously, so that it was not really good for him. `
` `
` "The great white father," he would say to them in a very lordly `
` manner, as they grovelled at his feet, "is glad to see the `
` Piccaninny warriors protecting his wigwam from the pirates." `
` `
` "Me Tiger Lily," that lovely creature would reply. "Peter Pan `
` save me, me his velly nice friend. Me no let pirates hurt him." `
` `
` She was far too pretty to cringe in this way, but Peter thought `
` it his due, 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 `
` they 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 was that `
` Peter seemed to think this all right. `
` `
` Secretly Wendy sympathised with them 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 squaw. `
` `
` We have now reached the evening that was to be known among them `
`