Reading Help Peter-pan BY J. M. BARRIE
`
` Thus defenceless 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 sombre 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 Peter's impertinent appearance as he slept. `
` The open mouth, the drooping arm, the arched knee: they were `
` 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 Hook's heart. If his rage had `
` broken him into a hundred pieces every one of them would have `
` disregarded the incident, and leapt at the sleeper. `
` `
` Though a light from the one lamp shone dimly on the bed, Hook `
` stood in darkness himself, and at the first stealthy step forward `
` he discovered an obstacle, the door of Slightly's tree. 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 low down, `
` beyond his reach. To his disordered brain it seemed then that `
` the irritating quality in Peter's face and figure visibly `
` increased, and he rattled 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 `
` Peter's medicine standing on a ledge within easy reach. He `
` fathomed what it was straightaway, 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. These 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 hand `
` 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 hole. Donning his hat at `
` its most rakish angle, he wound his cloak around him, holding one `
` end in front as if to conceal his person from the night, of which `
` it was the blackest part, and muttering strangely to himself, `
` stole away through the trees. `
` `
` Peter slept on. The light guttered [burned to edges] and `
` went out, leaving the tenement in darkness; but still he slept. `
` It must have been not less than ten o'clock by the crocodile, `
` when he suddenly sat up in his bed, wakened by he knew not what. `
` It was a soft cautious tapping on the door of his tree. `
` `
` Soft and cautious, but in that stillness it was sinister. `
` Peter felt for his dagger till his hand gripped it. Then he `
` spoke. `
` `
` "Who is that?" `
` `
` For long there was no answer: then again the knock. `
` `
` "Who are you?" `
` `
` No answer. `
` `
` He was thrilled, and he loved being thrilled. In two strides `
` he reached the door. Unlike Slightly's door, it filled the `
` aperture [opening], so that he could not see beyond it, nor could `
` the one knocking see him. `
` `
` "I won't open unless you speak," Peter cried. `
` `
` Then at last the visitor spoke, in a lovely bell-like voice. `
` `
` "Let me in, Peter." `
` `
` It was Tink, and quickly he unbarred to her. She flew in `
` excitedly, her face flushed and her dress stained with mud. `
` `
` "What is it?" `
` `
` "Oh, you could never guess!" she cried, and offered him three `
` guesses. "Out with it!" he shouted, and in one ungrammatical `
` sentence, as long as the ribbons that conjurers [magicians] pull `
` from their mouths, she told of the capture of Wendy and the boys. `
` `
` Peter's heart bobbed up and down as he listened. Wendy bound, `
` and on the pirate ship; she who loved everything to be just so! `
` `
` "I'll rescue her!" he cried, leaping at his weapons. As he `
` leapt he thought of something he could do to please her. He `
` could take his medicine. `
` `
` His hand closed on the fatal draught. `
` `
` "No!" shrieked Tinker Bell, who had heard Hook mutter about his `
` deed as he sped through the forest. `
` `
` "Why not?" `
` `
` "It is poisoned." `
` `
` "Poisoned? Who could have poisoned it?" `
` `
` "Hook." `
` `
` "Don't be silly. How could Hook have got down here?" `
` `
` Alas, Tinker Bell could not explain this, for even she did not `
` know the dark secret of Slightly's tree. Nevertheless Hook's `
` words had left no room for doubt. The cup was poisoned. `
` `
` "Besides," said Peter, quite believing himself "I never fell `
` asleep." `
` `
` He raised the cup. No time for words now; time for deeds; and `
` with one of her lightning movements Tink got between his lips and `
` the draught, and drained it to the dregs. `
` `
` "Why, Tink, how dare you drink my medicine?" `
` `
` But she did not answer. Already she was reeling in the air. `
` `
` "What is the matter with you?" cried Peter, suddenly afraid. `
` `
` "It was poisoned, Peter," she told him softly; "and now I am `
` going to be dead." `
` `
` "O Tink, did you drink it to save me?" `
` `
` "Yes." `
` `
` "But why, Tink?" `
` `
` Her wings would scarcely carry her now, but in reply she `
` alighted on his shoulder and gave his nose a loving bite. She `
` whispered in his ear "You silly ass," and then, tottering to her `
` chamber, lay down on the bed. `
` `
` His head almost filled the fourth wall of her little room as he `
` knelt near her in distress. Every moment her light was growing `
` fainter; and he knew that if it went out she would be no more. `
` She liked his tears so much that she put out her beautiful finger `
` and let them run over it. `
` `
` Her voice was so low that at first he could not make out what `
` she said. Then he made it out. She was saying that she thought `
` she could get well again if children believed in fairies. `
` `
` Peter flung out his arms. There were no children there, and it `
` was night time; but he addressed all who might be dreaming of the `
` Neverland, and who were therefore nearer to him than you think: `
` boys and girls in their nighties, and naked papooses in their `
` baskets hung from trees. `
` `
` "Do you believe?" he cried. `
` `
` Tink sat up in bed almost briskly to listen to her fate. `
` `
` She fancied she heard answers in the affirmative, and then `
` again she wasn't sure. `
` `
` "What do you think?" she asked Peter. `
` `
` "If you believe," he shouted to them, "clap your hands; don't `
` let Tink die." `
` `
` Many clapped. `
` `
` Some didn't. `
` `
` A few beasts hissed. `
` `
` The clapping stopped suddenly; as if countless mothers had `
` rushed to their nurseries to see what on earth was happening; but `
` already Tink was saved. First her voice grew strong, then she `
` popped out of bed, then she was flashing through the room more `
` merry and impudent than ever. She never thought of thanking `
` those who believed, but she would have like to get at the ones `
` who had hissed. `
` `
` "And now to rescue Wendy!" `
` `
` The moon was riding in a cloudy heaven when Peter rose from his `
` tree, begirt [belted] with weapons and wearing little else, to `
` set out upon his perilous quest. It was not such a night as he `
` would have chosen. He had hoped to fly, keeping not far from the `
` ground so that nothing unwonted should escape his eyes; but in `
` that fitful light to have flown low would have meant trailing his `
` shadow through the trees, thus disturbing birds and acquainting a `
` watchful foe that he was astir. `
` `
` He regretted now that he had given the birds of the island such `
` strange names that they are very wild and difficult of approach. `
` `
` There was no other course but to press forward in redskin `
`
` Thus defenceless 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 sombre 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 Peter's impertinent appearance as he slept. `
` The open mouth, the drooping arm, the arched knee: they were `
` 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 Hook's heart. If his rage had `
` broken him into a hundred pieces every one of them would have `
` disregarded the incident, and leapt at the sleeper. `
` `
` Though a light from the one lamp shone dimly on the bed, Hook `
` stood in darkness himself, and at the first stealthy step forward `
` he discovered an obstacle, the door of Slightly's tree. 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 low down, `
` beyond his reach. To his disordered brain it seemed then that `
` the irritating quality in Peter's face and figure visibly `
` increased, and he rattled 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 `
` Peter's medicine standing on a ledge within easy reach. He `
` fathomed what it was straightaway, 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. These 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 hand `
` 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 hole. Donning his hat at `
` its most rakish angle, he wound his cloak around him, holding one `
` end in front as if to conceal his person from the night, of which `
` it was the blackest part, and muttering strangely to himself, `
` stole away through the trees. `
` `
` Peter slept on. The light guttered [burned to edges] and `
` went out, leaving the tenement in darkness; but still he slept. `
` It must have been not less than ten o'clock by the crocodile, `
` when he suddenly sat up in his bed, wakened by he knew not what. `
` It was a soft cautious tapping on the door of his tree. `
` `
` Soft and cautious, but in that stillness it was sinister. `
` Peter felt for his dagger till his hand gripped it. Then he `
` spoke. `
` `
` "Who is that?" `
` `
` For long there was no answer: then again the knock. `
` `
` "Who are you?" `
` `
` No answer. `
` `
` He was thrilled, and he loved being thrilled. In two strides `
` he reached the door. Unlike Slightly's door, it filled the `
` aperture [opening], so that he could not see beyond it, nor could `
` the one knocking see him. `
` `
` "I won't open unless you speak," Peter cried. `
` `
` Then at last the visitor spoke, in a lovely bell-like voice. `
` `
` "Let me in, Peter." `
` `
` It was Tink, and quickly he unbarred to her. She flew in `
` excitedly, her face flushed and her dress stained with mud. `
` `
` "What is it?" `
` `
` "Oh, you could never guess!" she cried, and offered him three `
` guesses. "Out with it!" he shouted, and in one ungrammatical `
` sentence, as long as the ribbons that conjurers [magicians] pull `
` from their mouths, she told of the capture of Wendy and the boys. `
` `
` Peter's heart bobbed up and down as he listened. Wendy bound, `
` and on the pirate ship; she who loved everything to be just so! `
` `
` "I'll rescue her!" he cried, leaping at his weapons. As he `
` leapt he thought of something he could do to please her. He `
` could take his medicine. `
` `
` His hand closed on the fatal draught. `
` `
` "No!" shrieked Tinker Bell, who had heard Hook mutter about his `
` deed as he sped through the forest. `
` `
` "Why not?" `
` `
` "It is poisoned." `
` `
` "Poisoned? Who could have poisoned it?" `
` `
` "Hook." `
` `
` "Don't be silly. How could Hook have got down here?" `
` `
` Alas, Tinker Bell could not explain this, for even she did not `
` know the dark secret of Slightly's tree. Nevertheless Hook's `
` words had left no room for doubt. The cup was poisoned. `
` `
` "Besides," said Peter, quite believing himself "I never fell `
` asleep." `
` `
` He raised the cup. No time for words now; time for deeds; and `
` with one of her lightning movements Tink got between his lips and `
` the draught, and drained it to the dregs. `
` `
` "Why, Tink, how dare you drink my medicine?" `
` `
` But she did not answer. Already she was reeling in the air. `
` `
` "What is the matter with you?" cried Peter, suddenly afraid. `
` `
` "It was poisoned, Peter," she told him softly; "and now I am `
` going to be dead." `
` `
` "O Tink, did you drink it to save me?" `
` `
` "Yes." `
` `
` "But why, Tink?" `
` `
` Her wings would scarcely carry her now, but in reply she `
` alighted on his shoulder and gave his nose a loving bite. She `
` whispered in his ear "You silly ass," and then, tottering to her `
` chamber, lay down on the bed. `
` `
` His head almost filled the fourth wall of her little room as he `
` knelt near her in distress. Every moment her light was growing `
` fainter; and he knew that if it went out she would be no more. `
` She liked his tears so much that she put out her beautiful finger `
` and let them run over it. `
` `
` Her voice was so low that at first he could not make out what `
` she said. Then he made it out. She was saying that she thought `
` she could get well again if children believed in fairies. `
` `
` Peter flung out his arms. There were no children there, and it `
` was night time; but he addressed all who might be dreaming of the `
` Neverland, and who were therefore nearer to him than you think: `
` boys and girls in their nighties, and naked papooses in their `
` baskets hung from trees. `
` `
` "Do you believe?" he cried. `
` `
` Tink sat up in bed almost briskly to listen to her fate. `
` `
` She fancied she heard answers in the affirmative, and then `
` again she wasn't sure. `
` `
` "What do you think?" she asked Peter. `
` `
` "If you believe," he shouted to them, "clap your hands; don't `
` let Tink die." `
` `
` Many clapped. `
` `
` Some didn't. `
` `
` A few beasts hissed. `
` `
` The clapping stopped suddenly; as if countless mothers had `
` rushed to their nurseries to see what on earth was happening; but `
` already Tink was saved. First her voice grew strong, then she `
` popped out of bed, then she was flashing through the room more `
` merry and impudent than ever. She never thought of thanking `
` those who believed, but she would have like to get at the ones `
` who had hissed. `
` `
` "And now to rescue Wendy!" `
` `
` The moon was riding in a cloudy heaven when Peter rose from his `
` tree, begirt [belted] with weapons and wearing little else, to `
` set out upon his perilous quest. It was not such a night as he `
` would have chosen. He had hoped to fly, keeping not far from the `
` ground so that nothing unwonted should escape his eyes; but in `
` that fitful light to have flown low would have meant trailing his `
` shadow through the trees, thus disturbing birds and acquainting a `
` watchful foe that he was astir. `
` `
` He regretted now that he had given the birds of the island such `
` strange names that they are very wild and difficult of approach. `
` `
` There was no other course but to press forward in redskin `
`