Reading Help Peter-pan BY J. M. BARRIE
Of course it was only water, but it was out of a bottle, and `
` she always shook the bottle and counted the drops, which gave `
` it a certain medicinal quality. On this occasion, however, she `
` did not give Peter his draught [portion], for just as she had `
` prepared it, she saw a look on his face that made her heart sink. `
` `
` "Get your things, Peter," she cried, shaking. `
` `
` "No," he answered, pretending indifference, "I am not going `
` with you, Wendy." `
` `
` "Yes, Peter." `
` `
` "No." `
` `
` To show that her departure would leave him unmoved, he skipped `
` up and down the room, playing gaily on his heartless pipes. She `
` had to run about after him, though it was rather undignified. `
` `
` "To find your mother," she coaxed. `
` `
` Now, if Peter had ever quite had a mother, he no longer missed `
` her. He could do very well without one. He had thought them `
` out, and remembered only their bad points. `
` `
` "No, no," he told Wendy decisively; "perhaps she would say I `
` was old, and I just want always to be a little boy and to have `
` fun." `
` `
` "But, Peter -- " `
` `
` "No." `
` `
` And so the others had to be told. `
` `
` "Peter isn't coming." `
` `
` Peter not coming! They gazed blankly at him, their sticks over `
` their backs, and on each stick a bundle. Their first thought was `
` that if Peter was not going he had probably changed his mind `
` about letting them go. `
` `
` But he was far too proud for that. "If you find your mothers," `
` he said darkly, "I hope you will like them." `
` `
` The awful cynicism of this made an uncomfortable impression, `
` and most of them began to look rather doubtful. After all, their `
` faces said, were they not noodles to want to go? `
` `
` "Now then," cried Peter, "no fuss, no blubbering; good-bye, `
` Wendy"; and he held out his hand cheerily, quite as if they must `
` really go now, for he had something important to do. `
` `
` She had to take his hand, and there was no indication that he `
` would prefer a thimble. `
` `
` "You will remember about changing your flannels, Peter?" she `
` said, lingering over him. She was always so particular about `
` their flannels. `
` `
` "Yes." `
` `
` "And you will take your medicine?" `
` `
` `
` "Yes." `
` `
` That seemed to be everything, and an awkward pause followed. `
` Peter, however, was not the kind that breaks down before other `
` people. "Are you ready, Tinker Bell?" he called out. `
` `
` "Ay, ay." `
` `
` "Then lead the way." `
` `
` Tink darted up the nearest tree; but no one followed `
` her, for it was at this moment that the pirates made their `
` dreadful attack upon the redskins. Above, where all had been so `
` still, the air was rent with shrieks and the clash of steel. `
` Below, there was dead silence. Mouths opened and remained open. `
` Wendy fell on her knees, but her arms were extended toward Peter. `
` All arms were extended to him, as if suddenly blown in his `
` direction; they were beseeching him mutely not to desert them. `
` As for Peter, he seized his sword, the same he thought he had `
` slain Barbecue with, and the lust of battle was in his eye. `
` `
` `
` `
` Chapter 12 `
` `
` THE CHILDREN ARE CARRIED OFF `
` `
` `
` The pirate attack had been a complete surprise: a sure proof `
` that the unscrupulous Hook had conducted it improperly, for to `
` surprise redskins fairly is beyond the wit of the white man. `
` `
` By all the unwritten laws of savage warfare it is always the `
` redskin who attacks, and with the wiliness 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 rude stockade on the summit of yonder undulating `
` ground, at the foot of which a stream runs, for 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 `
` wriggle, snake-like, among the grass without stirring a blade. `
` The brushwood closes behind them, as silently as sand into which `
` a mole has 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 paleface who has to live through it for the first `
` time; but to the trained hand those ghastly calls and still `
` ghastlier 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 Piccaninnies, on their part, trusted implicitly to his `
` honour, 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 alertness of the `
` senses which is at once the marvel and despair of civilised `
` 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 Hook had landed his forces and the home `
` under the trees was stealthily examined by braves wearing their `
` mocassins with the heels in front. They found only one hillock `
` with a stream at its base, so that Hook 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, though 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 Hook. 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 grey 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 [get into combat]. What could the bewildered `
` scouts do, masters as they were of every war-like 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 Tiger Lily were a dozen of her stoutest `
` 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 would they torture at the `
` stake. For them the happy hunting-grounds was now. They knew it; `
` but as their father's sons they acquitted themselves. Even then `
` they had time to gather in a phalanx [dense formation] 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 the sudden appearance of `
` the pirates must have been to them, they remained stationary for `
` a moment, not a muscle moving; as if the foe had come by `
` invitation. Then, indeed, the tradition gallantly upheld, they `
` seized their weapons, and the air was torn with the war-cry; but `
` 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 `
` Piccaninny tribe. Not all unavenged did they die, for with Lean `
` Wolf fell Alf Mason, to disturb the Spanish Main no more, and `
` among others who bit the dust were Geo. Scourie, Chas. Turley, `
` and the Alsatian Foggerty. Turley fell to the tomahawk of the `
` terrible Panther, who ultimately cut a way 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. Had he waited on the `
` rising ground till the 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 beset with difficulties. One cannot at least `
` withhold a reluctant admiration for the wit that had conceived `
` so bold a scheme, and the fell [deadly] genius with which it was `
` carried out. `
` `
` What were his own feelings about himself at that triumphant `
` moment? Fain [gladly] would his dogs have known, as breathing `
` heavily and wiping their cutlasses, they gathered at a discreet `
` distance from his hook, and squinted through their ferret eyes at `
` this extraordinary man. Elation must have been in his heart, but `
`
` she always shook the bottle and counted the drops, which gave `
` it a certain medicinal quality. On this occasion, however, she `
` did not give Peter his draught [portion], for just as she had `
` prepared it, she saw a look on his face that made her heart sink. `
` `
` "Get your things, Peter," she cried, shaking. `
` `
` "No," he answered, pretending indifference, "I am not going `
` with you, Wendy." `
` `
` "Yes, Peter." `
` `
` "No." `
` `
` To show that her departure would leave him unmoved, he skipped `
` up and down the room, playing gaily on his heartless pipes. She `
` had to run about after him, though it was rather undignified. `
` `
` "To find your mother," she coaxed. `
` `
` Now, if Peter had ever quite had a mother, he no longer missed `
` her. He could do very well without one. He had thought them `
` out, and remembered only their bad points. `
` `
` "No, no," he told Wendy decisively; "perhaps she would say I `
` was old, and I just want always to be a little boy and to have `
` fun." `
` `
` "But, Peter -- " `
` `
` "No." `
` `
` And so the others had to be told. `
` `
` "Peter isn't coming." `
` `
` Peter not coming! They gazed blankly at him, their sticks over `
` their backs, and on each stick a bundle. Their first thought was `
` that if Peter was not going he had probably changed his mind `
` about letting them go. `
` `
` But he was far too proud for that. "If you find your mothers," `
` he said darkly, "I hope you will like them." `
` `
` The awful cynicism of this made an uncomfortable impression, `
` and most of them began to look rather doubtful. After all, their `
` faces said, were they not noodles to want to go? `
` `
` "Now then," cried Peter, "no fuss, no blubbering; good-bye, `
` Wendy"; and he held out his hand cheerily, quite as if they must `
` really go now, for he had something important to do. `
` `
` She had to take his hand, and there was no indication that he `
` would prefer a thimble. `
` `
` "You will remember about changing your flannels, Peter?" she `
` said, lingering over him. She was always so particular about `
` their flannels. `
` `
` "Yes." `
` `
` "And you will take your medicine?" `
` `
` `
` "Yes." `
` `
` That seemed to be everything, and an awkward pause followed. `
` Peter, however, was not the kind that breaks down before other `
` people. "Are you ready, Tinker Bell?" he called out. `
` `
` "Ay, ay." `
` `
` "Then lead the way." `
` `
` Tink darted up the nearest tree; but no one followed `
` her, for it was at this moment that the pirates made their `
` dreadful attack upon the redskins. Above, where all had been so `
` still, the air was rent with shrieks and the clash of steel. `
` Below, there was dead silence. Mouths opened and remained open. `
` Wendy fell on her knees, but her arms were extended toward Peter. `
` All arms were extended to him, as if suddenly blown in his `
` direction; they were beseeching him mutely not to desert them. `
` As for Peter, he seized his sword, the same he thought he had `
` slain Barbecue with, and the lust of battle was in his eye. `
` `
` `
` `
` Chapter 12 `
` `
` THE CHILDREN ARE CARRIED OFF `
` `
` `
` The pirate attack had been a complete surprise: a sure proof `
` that the unscrupulous Hook had conducted it improperly, for to `
` surprise redskins fairly is beyond the wit of the white man. `
` `
` By all the unwritten laws of savage warfare it is always the `
` redskin who attacks, and with the wiliness 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 rude stockade on the summit of yonder undulating `
` ground, at the foot of which a stream runs, for 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 `
` wriggle, snake-like, among the grass without stirring a blade. `
` The brushwood closes behind them, as silently as sand into which `
` a mole has 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 paleface who has to live through it for the first `
` time; but to the trained hand those ghastly calls and still `
` ghastlier 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 Piccaninnies, on their part, trusted implicitly to his `
` honour, 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 alertness of the `
` senses which is at once the marvel and despair of civilised `
` 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 Hook had landed his forces and the home `
` under the trees was stealthily examined by braves wearing their `
` mocassins with the heels in front. They found only one hillock `
` with a stream at its base, so that Hook 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, though 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 Hook. 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 grey 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 [get into combat]. What could the bewildered `
` scouts do, masters as they were of every war-like 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 Tiger Lily were a dozen of her stoutest `
` 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 would they torture at the `
` stake. For them the happy hunting-grounds was now. They knew it; `
` but as their father's sons they acquitted themselves. Even then `
` they had time to gather in a phalanx [dense formation] 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 the sudden appearance of `
` the pirates must have been to them, they remained stationary for `
` a moment, not a muscle moving; as if the foe had come by `
` invitation. Then, indeed, the tradition gallantly upheld, they `
` seized their weapons, and the air was torn with the war-cry; but `
` 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 `
` Piccaninny tribe. Not all unavenged did they die, for with Lean `
` Wolf fell Alf Mason, to disturb the Spanish Main no more, and `
` among others who bit the dust were Geo. Scourie, Chas. Turley, `
` and the Alsatian Foggerty. Turley fell to the tomahawk of the `
` terrible Panther, who ultimately cut a way 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. Had he waited on the `
` rising ground till the 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 beset with difficulties. One cannot at least `
` withhold a reluctant admiration for the wit that had conceived `
` so bold a scheme, and the fell [deadly] genius with which it was `
` carried out. `
` `
` What were his own feelings about himself at that triumphant `
` moment? Fain [gladly] would his dogs have known, as breathing `
` heavily and wiping their cutlasses, they gathered at a discreet `
` distance from his hook, and squinted through their ferret eyes at `
` this extraordinary man. Elation must have been in his heart, but `
`