Reading Help Peter-pan BY J. M. BARRIE
There was no other course but to press forward in redskin `
` fashion, at which happily he was an adept [expert]. But in what `
` direction, for he could not be sure that the children had been `
` taken to the ship? A light fall of snow had obliterated all `
` footmarks; and a deathly silence pervaded the island, as if for a `
` space Nature stood still in horror of the recent carnage. He had `
` taught the children something of the forest lore that he had `
` himself learned from Tiger Lily and Tinker Bell, and knew that in `
` their dire hour they were not likely to forget it. Slightly, if `
` he had an opportunity, would blaze [cut a mark in] the trees, for `
` instance, Curly would drop seeds, and Wendy would leave her `
` handkerchief at some important place. The morning was needed to `
` search for such guidance, and he could not wait. The upper world `
` had called him, but would give no help. `
` `
` The crocodile passed him, but not another living thing, not a `
` sound, not a movement; and yet he knew well that sudden death `
` might be at the next tree, or stalking him from behind. `
` `
` He swore this terrible oath: "Hook or me this time." `
` `
` Now he crawled forward like a snake, and again erect, he `
` darted across a space on which the moonlight played, one finger `
` on his lip and his dagger at the ready. He was frightfully `
` happy. `
` `
` `
` `
` Chapter 14 `
` `
` THE PIRATE SHIP `
` `
` `
` One green light squinting over Kidd's Creek, which is near the `
` mouth of the pirate river, marked where the brig, the JOLLY `
` ROGER, lay, low in the water; a rakish-looking [speedy-looking] `
` craft foul to the hull, every beam in her detestable, like ground `
` strewn with mangled feathers. She was the cannibal of the seas, `
` and scarce needed that watchful eye, for she floated immune in `
` the horror of her name. `
` `
` She was wrapped in the blanket of night, through which no sound `
` from her could have reached the shore. There was little sound, `
` and none agreeable save the whir of the ship's sewing machine at `
` which Smee sat, ever industrious and obliging, the essence of the `
` commonplace, pathetic Smee. I know not why he was so infinitely `
` pathetic, unless it were because he was so pathetically unaware `
` of it; but even strong men had to turn hastily from looking at `
` him, and more than once on summer evenings he had touched the `
` fount of Hook's tears and made it flow. Of this, as of almost `
` everything else, Smee was quite unconscious. `
` `
` A few of the pirates leant over the bulwarks, drinking in the `
` miasma [putrid mist] of the night; others sprawled by barrels over `
` games of dice and cards; and the exhausted four who had carried `
` the little house lay prone on the deck, where even in their sleep `
` they rolled skillfully to this side or that out of Hook's reach, `
` lest he should claw them mechanically in passing. `
` `
` Hook trod the deck in thought. O man unfathomable. It was his `
` hour of triumph. Peter had been removed for ever from his path, `
` and all the other boys were in the brig, about to walk the plank. `
` It was his grimmest deed since the days when he had brought `
` Barbecue to heel; and knowing as we do how vain a tabernacle is `
` man, could we be surprised had he now paced the deck unsteadily, `
` bellied out by the winds of his success? `
` `
` But there was no elation in his gait, which kept pace with the `
` action of his sombre mind. Hook was profoundly dejected. `
` `
` He was often thus when communing with himself on board ship in `
` the quietude of the night. It was because he was so terribly `
` alone. This inscrutable man never felt more alone than when `
` surrounded by his dogs. They were socially inferior to him. `
` `
` Hook was not his true name. To reveal who he really was would `
` even at this date set the country in a blaze; but as those who `
` read between the lines must already have guessed, he had been at `
` a famous public school; and its traditions still clung to him `
` like garments, with which indeed they are largely concerned. `
` Thus it was offensive to him even now to board a ship in the `
` same dress in which he grappled [attacked] her, and he still `
` adhered in his walk to the school's distinguished slouch. But `
` above all he retained the passion for good form. `
` `
` Good form! However much he may have degenerated, he still knew `
` that this is all that really matters. `
` `
` From far within him he heard a creaking as of rusty portals, `
` and through them came a stern tap-tap-tap, like hammering in the `
` night when one cannot sleep. "Have you been good form to-day?" `
` was their eternal question. `
` `
` "Fame, fame, that glittering bauble, it is mine," he cried. `
` `
` "Is it quite good form to be distinguished at anything?" the `
` tap-tap from his school replied. `
` `
` "I am the only man whom Barbecue feared," he urged, "and Flint `
` feared Barbecue." `
` `
` "Barbecue, Flint -- what house?" came the cutting retort. `
` `
` Most disquieting reflection of all, was it not bad form to `
` think about good form? `
` `
` His vitals were tortured by this problem. It was a claw within `
` him sharper than the iron one; and as it tore him, the `
` perspiration dripped down his tallow [waxy] countenance and `
` streaked his doublet. Ofttimes he drew his sleeve across his `
` face, but there was no damming that trickle. `
` `
` Ah, envy not Hook. `
` `
` There came to him a presentiment of his early dissolution `
` [death]. It was as if Peter's terrible oath had boarded the `
` ship. Hook felt a gloomy desire to make his dying speech, lest `
` presently there should be no time for it. `
` `
` "Better for Hook," he cried, "if he had had less ambition!" `
` It was in his darkest hours only that he referred to himself `
` in the third person. `
` `
` "No little children to love me!" `
` `
` Strange that he should think of this, which had never troubled `
` him before; perhaps the sewing machine brought it to his mind. `
` For long he muttered to himself, staring at Smee, who was `
` hemming placidly, under the conviction that all children feared `
` him. `
` `
` Feared him! Feared Smee! There was not a child on board the `
` brig that night who did not already love him. He had said horrid `
` things to them and hit them with the palm of his hand, because he `
` could not hit with his fist, but they had only clung to him the `
` more. Michael had tried on his spectacles. `
` `
` To tell poor Smee that they thought him lovable! Hook itched `
` to do it, but it seemed too brutal. Instead, he revolved this `
` mystery in his mind: why do they find Smee lovable? He pursued `
` the problem like the sleuth-hound that he was. If Smee was `
` lovable, what was it that made him so? A terrible answer `
` suddenly presented itself--"Good form?" `
` `
` Had the bo'sun good form without knowing it, which is the best `
` form of all? `
` `
` He remembered that you have to prove you don't know you have it `
` before you are eligible for Pop [an elite social club at Eton]. `
` `
` With a cry of rage he raised his iron hand over Smee's head; `
` but he did not tear. What arrested him was this reflection: `
` `
` "To claw a man because he is good form, what would that be?" `
` `
` "Bad form!" `
` `
` The unhappy Hook was as impotent [powerless] as he was damp, `
` and he fell forward like a cut flower. `
` `
` His dogs thinking him out of the way for a time, discipline `
` instantly relaxed; and they broke into a bacchanalian [drunken] `
` dance, which brought him to his feet at once, all traces of human `
` weakness gone, as if a bucket of water had passed over him. `
` `
` "Quiet, you scugs," he cried, "or I'll cast anchor in you"; and `
` at once the din was hushed. "Are all the children chained, so `
` that they cannot fly away?" `
` `
` "Ay, ay." `
` `
` "Then hoist them up." `
` `
` The wretched prisoners were dragged from the hold, all except `
` Wendy, and ranged in line in front of him. For a time he seemed `
` unconscious of their presence. He lolled at his ease, humming, `
` not unmelodiously, snatches of a rude song, and fingering a pack `
` of cards. Ever and anon the light from his cigar gave a touch of `
` colour to his face. `
` `
` "Now then, bullies," he said briskly, "six of you walk the `
` plank to-night, but I have room for two cabin boys. Which of you `
` is it to be?" `
` `
` "Don't irritate him unnecessarily," had been Wendy's `
` instructions in the hold; so Tootles stepped forward politely. `
` Tootles hated the idea of signing under such a man, but an `
` instinct told him that it would be prudent to lay the `
` responsibility on an absent person; and though a somewhat silly `
` boy, he knew that mothers alone are always willing to be the `
` buffer. All children know this about mothers, and despise them `
` for it, but make constant use of it. `
` `
` So Tootles explained prudently, "You see, sir, I don't think my `
` mother would like me to be a pirate. Would your mother like you `
` to be a pirate, Slightly?" `
` `
` He winked at Slightly, who said mournfully, "I don't think so," `
` as if he wished things had been otherwise. "Would your mother `
` like you to be a pirate, Twin?" `
` `
`
` fashion, at which happily he was an adept [expert]. But in what `
` direction, for he could not be sure that the children had been `
` taken to the ship? A light fall of snow had obliterated all `
` footmarks; and a deathly silence pervaded the island, as if for a `
` space Nature stood still in horror of the recent carnage. He had `
` taught the children something of the forest lore that he had `
` himself learned from Tiger Lily and Tinker Bell, and knew that in `
` their dire hour they were not likely to forget it. Slightly, if `
` he had an opportunity, would blaze [cut a mark in] the trees, for `
` instance, Curly would drop seeds, and Wendy would leave her `
` handkerchief at some important place. The morning was needed to `
` search for such guidance, and he could not wait. The upper world `
` had called him, but would give no help. `
` `
` The crocodile passed him, but not another living thing, not a `
` sound, not a movement; and yet he knew well that sudden death `
` might be at the next tree, or stalking him from behind. `
` `
` He swore this terrible oath: "Hook or me this time." `
` `
` Now he crawled forward like a snake, and again erect, he `
` darted across a space on which the moonlight played, one finger `
` on his lip and his dagger at the ready. He was frightfully `
` happy. `
` `
` `
` `
` Chapter 14 `
` `
` THE PIRATE SHIP `
` `
` `
` One green light squinting over Kidd's Creek, which is near the `
` mouth of the pirate river, marked where the brig, the JOLLY `
` ROGER, lay, low in the water; a rakish-looking [speedy-looking] `
` craft foul to the hull, every beam in her detestable, like ground `
` strewn with mangled feathers. She was the cannibal of the seas, `
` and scarce needed that watchful eye, for she floated immune in `
` the horror of her name. `
` `
` She was wrapped in the blanket of night, through which no sound `
` from her could have reached the shore. There was little sound, `
` and none agreeable save the whir of the ship's sewing machine at `
` which Smee sat, ever industrious and obliging, the essence of the `
` commonplace, pathetic Smee. I know not why he was so infinitely `
` pathetic, unless it were because he was so pathetically unaware `
` of it; but even strong men had to turn hastily from looking at `
` him, and more than once on summer evenings he had touched the `
` fount of Hook's tears and made it flow. Of this, as of almost `
` everything else, Smee was quite unconscious. `
` `
` A few of the pirates leant over the bulwarks, drinking in the `
` miasma [putrid mist] of the night; others sprawled by barrels over `
` games of dice and cards; and the exhausted four who had carried `
` the little house lay prone on the deck, where even in their sleep `
` they rolled skillfully to this side or that out of Hook's reach, `
` lest he should claw them mechanically in passing. `
` `
` Hook trod the deck in thought. O man unfathomable. It was his `
` hour of triumph. Peter had been removed for ever from his path, `
` and all the other boys were in the brig, about to walk the plank. `
` It was his grimmest deed since the days when he had brought `
` Barbecue to heel; and knowing as we do how vain a tabernacle is `
` man, could we be surprised had he now paced the deck unsteadily, `
` bellied out by the winds of his success? `
` `
` But there was no elation in his gait, which kept pace with the `
` action of his sombre mind. Hook was profoundly dejected. `
` `
` He was often thus when communing with himself on board ship in `
` the quietude of the night. It was because he was so terribly `
` alone. This inscrutable man never felt more alone than when `
` surrounded by his dogs. They were socially inferior to him. `
` `
` Hook was not his true name. To reveal who he really was would `
` even at this date set the country in a blaze; but as those who `
` read between the lines must already have guessed, he had been at `
` a famous public school; and its traditions still clung to him `
` like garments, with which indeed they are largely concerned. `
` Thus it was offensive to him even now to board a ship in the `
` same dress in which he grappled [attacked] her, and he still `
` adhered in his walk to the school's distinguished slouch. But `
` above all he retained the passion for good form. `
` `
` Good form! However much he may have degenerated, he still knew `
` that this is all that really matters. `
` `
` From far within him he heard a creaking as of rusty portals, `
` and through them came a stern tap-tap-tap, like hammering in the `
` night when one cannot sleep. "Have you been good form to-day?" `
` was their eternal question. `
` `
` "Fame, fame, that glittering bauble, it is mine," he cried. `
` `
` "Is it quite good form to be distinguished at anything?" the `
` tap-tap from his school replied. `
` `
` "I am the only man whom Barbecue feared," he urged, "and Flint `
` feared Barbecue." `
` `
` "Barbecue, Flint -- what house?" came the cutting retort. `
` `
` Most disquieting reflection of all, was it not bad form to `
` think about good form? `
` `
` His vitals were tortured by this problem. It was a claw within `
` him sharper than the iron one; and as it tore him, the `
` perspiration dripped down his tallow [waxy] countenance and `
` streaked his doublet. Ofttimes he drew his sleeve across his `
` face, but there was no damming that trickle. `
` `
` Ah, envy not Hook. `
` `
` There came to him a presentiment of his early dissolution `
` [death]. It was as if Peter's terrible oath had boarded the `
` ship. Hook felt a gloomy desire to make his dying speech, lest `
` presently there should be no time for it. `
` `
` "Better for Hook," he cried, "if he had had less ambition!" `
` It was in his darkest hours only that he referred to himself `
` in the third person. `
` `
` "No little children to love me!" `
` `
` Strange that he should think of this, which had never troubled `
` him before; perhaps the sewing machine brought it to his mind. `
` For long he muttered to himself, staring at Smee, who was `
` hemming placidly, under the conviction that all children feared `
` him. `
` `
` Feared him! Feared Smee! There was not a child on board the `
` brig that night who did not already love him. He had said horrid `
` things to them and hit them with the palm of his hand, because he `
` could not hit with his fist, but they had only clung to him the `
` more. Michael had tried on his spectacles. `
` `
` To tell poor Smee that they thought him lovable! Hook itched `
` to do it, but it seemed too brutal. Instead, he revolved this `
` mystery in his mind: why do they find Smee lovable? He pursued `
` the problem like the sleuth-hound that he was. If Smee was `
` lovable, what was it that made him so? A terrible answer `
` suddenly presented itself--"Good form?" `
` `
` Had the bo'sun good form without knowing it, which is the best `
` form of all? `
` `
` He remembered that you have to prove you don't know you have it `
` before you are eligible for Pop [an elite social club at Eton]. `
` `
` With a cry of rage he raised his iron hand over Smee's head; `
` but he did not tear. What arrested him was this reflection: `
` `
` "To claw a man because he is good form, what would that be?" `
` `
` "Bad form!" `
` `
` The unhappy Hook was as impotent [powerless] as he was damp, `
` and he fell forward like a cut flower. `
` `
` His dogs thinking him out of the way for a time, discipline `
` instantly relaxed; and they broke into a bacchanalian [drunken] `
` dance, which brought him to his feet at once, all traces of human `
` weakness gone, as if a bucket of water had passed over him. `
` `
` "Quiet, you scugs," he cried, "or I'll cast anchor in you"; and `
` at once the din was hushed. "Are all the children chained, so `
` that they cannot fly away?" `
` `
` "Ay, ay." `
` `
` "Then hoist them up." `
` `
` The wretched prisoners were dragged from the hold, all except `
` Wendy, and ranged in line in front of him. For a time he seemed `
` unconscious of their presence. He lolled at his ease, humming, `
` not unmelodiously, snatches of a rude song, and fingering a pack `
` of cards. Ever and anon the light from his cigar gave a touch of `
` colour to his face. `
` `
` "Now then, bullies," he said briskly, "six of you walk the `
` plank to-night, but I have room for two cabin boys. Which of you `
` is it to be?" `
` `
` "Don't irritate him unnecessarily," had been Wendy's `
` instructions in the hold; so Tootles stepped forward politely. `
` Tootles hated the idea of signing under such a man, but an `
` instinct told him that it would be prudent to lay the `
` responsibility on an absent person; and though a somewhat silly `
` boy, he knew that mothers alone are always willing to be the `
` buffer. All children know this about mothers, and despise them `
` for it, but make constant use of it. `
` `
` So Tootles explained prudently, "You see, sir, I don't think my `
` mother would like me to be a pirate. Would your mother like you `
` to be a pirate, Slightly?" `
` `
` He winked at Slightly, who said mournfully, "I don't think so," `
` as if he wished things had been otherwise. "Would your mother `
` like you to be a pirate, Twin?" `
` `
`