Reading Help Peter-pan BY J. M. BARRIE
`
` "I don't think so," said the first twin, as clever as the `
` others. "Nibs, would -- " `
` `
` "Stow this gab," roared Hook, and the spokesmen were dragged `
` back. "You, boy," he said, addressing John, "you look as if you `
` had a little pluck in you. Didst never want to be a pirate, my `
` hearty?" `
` `
` Now John had sometimes experienced this hankering at maths. `
` prep.; and he was struck by Hook's picking him out. `
` `
` "I once thought of calling myself Red-handed Jack," he said `
` diffidently. `
` `
` "And a good name too. We'll call you that here, bully, if you `
` join." `
` `
` "What do you think, Michael?" asked John. `
` `
` "What would you call me if I join?" Michael demanded. `
` `
` "Blackbeard Joe." `
` `
` Michael was naturally impressed. "What do you think, John?" `
` He wanted John to decide, and John wanted him to decide. `
` `
` "Shall we still be respectful subjects of the King?" John `
` inquired. `
` `
` Through Hook's teeth came the answer: "You would have to `
` swear, `Down with the King.'" `
` `
` Perhaps John had not behaved very well so far, but he shone out `
` now. `
` `
` "Then I refuse," he cried, banging the barrel in front of Hook. `
` `
` "And I refuse," cried Michael. `
` `
` "Rule Britannia!" squeaked Curly. `
` `
` The infuriated pirates buffeted them in the mouth; and Hook `
` roared out, "That seals your doom. Bring up their mother. Get `
` the plank ready." `
` `
` They were only boys, and they went white as they saw Jukes and `
` Cecco preparing the fatal plank. But they tried to look brave `
` when Wendy was brought up. `
` `
` No words of mine can tell you how Wendy despised those pirates. `
` To the boys there was at least some glamour in the pirate `
` calling; but all that she saw was that the ship had not been `
` tidied for years. There was not a porthole on the grimy glass `
` of which you might not have written with your finger "Dirty pig"; `
` and she had already written it on several. But as the boys `
` gathered round her she had no thought, of course, save for them. `
` `
` "So, my beauty," said Hook, as if he spoke in syrup, "you are `
` to see your children walk the plank." `
` `
` Fine gentlemen though he was, the intensity of his communings `
` had soiled his ruff, and suddenly he knew that she was gazing at `
` it. With a hasty gesture he tried to hide it, but he was too late. `
` `
` "Are they to die?" asked Wendy, with a look of such frightful `
` contempt that he nearly fainted. `
` `
` "They are," he snarled. "Silence all," he called gloatingly, `
` "for a mother's last words to her children." `
` `
` At this moment Wendy was grand. "These are my last words, dear `
` boys," she said firmly. "I feel that I have a message to you `
` from your real mothers, and it is this: `We hope our sons will `
` die like English gentlemen.'" `
` `
` Even the pirates were awed, and Tootles cried out hysterically, `
` "I am going to do what my mother hopes. What are you to do, Nibs?" `
` `
` "What my mother hopes. What are you to do, Twin?" `
` `
` "What my mother hopes. John, what are -- " `
` `
` But Hook had found his voice again. `
` `
` "Tie her up!" he shouted. `
` `
` It was Smee who tied her to the mast. "See here, honey," he `
` whispered, "I'll save you if you promise to be my mother." `
` `
` But not even for Smee would she make such a promise. "I would `
` almost rather have no children at all," she said disdainfully `
` [scornfully]. `
` `
` It is sad to know that not a boy was looking at her as Smee `
` tied her to the mast; the eyes of all were on the plank: that `
` last little walk they were about to take. They were no longer `
` able to hope that they would walk it manfully, for the capacity `
` to think had gone from them; they could stare and shiver only. `
` `
` Hook smiled on them with his teeth closed, and took a step `
` toward Wendy. His intention was to turn her face so that she `
` should see they boys walking the plank one by one. But he never `
` reached her, he never heard the cry of anguish he hoped to wring `
` from her. He heard something else instead. `
` `
` It was the terrible tick-tick of the crocodile. `
` `
` They all heard it -- pirates, boys, Wendy; and immediately `
` every head was blown in one direction; not to the water whence `
` the sound proceeded, but toward Hook. All knew that what was `
` about to happen concerned him alone, and that from being actors `
` they were suddenly become spectators. `
` `
` Very frightful was it to see the change that came over him. It `
` was as if he had been clipped at every joint. He fell in a `
` little heap. `
` `
` The sound came steadily nearer; and in advance of it came this `
` ghastly thought, "The crocodile is about to board the ship!" `
` `
` Even the iron claw hung inactive; as if knowing that it was no `
` intrinsic part of what the attacking force wanted. Left so `
` fearfully alone, any other man would have lain with his eyes shut `
` where he fell: but the gigantic brain of Hook was still working, `
` and under its guidance he crawled on the knees along the deck as `
` far from the sound as he could go. The pirates respectfully `
` cleared a passage for him, and it was only when he brought up `
` against the bulwarks that he spoke. `
` `
` "Hide me!" he cried hoarsely. `
` `
` They gathered round him, all eyes averted from the thing that `
` was coming aboard. They had no thought of fighting it. It was `
` Fate. `
` `
` Only when Hook was hidden from them did curiosity loosen the `
` limbs of the boys so that they could rush to the ship's side to `
` see the crocodile climbing it. Then they got the strangest `
` surprise of the Night of Nights; for it was no crocodile that was `
` coming to their aid. It was Peter. `
` `
` He signed to them not to give vent to any cry of admiration `
` that might rouse suspicion. Then he went on ticking. `
` `
` `
` `
` Chapter 15 `
` `
` "HOOK OR ME THIS TIME" `
` `
` `
` Odd things happen to all of us on our way through life without `
` our noticing for a time that they have happened. Thus, to take `
` an instance, we suddenly discover that we have been deaf in one `
` ear for we don't know how long, but, say, half an hour. Now such `
` an experience had come that night to Peter. When last we saw him `
` he was stealing across the island with one finger to his lips and `
` his dagger at the ready. He had seen the crocodile pass by `
` without noticing anything peculiar about it, but by and by he `
` remembered that it had not been ticking. At first he thought `
` this eerie, but soon concluded rightly that the clock had run `
` down. `
` `
` Without giving a thought to what might be the feelings of a `
` fellow-creature thus abruptly deprived of its closest companion, `
` Peter began to consider how he could turn the catastrophe to his `
` own use; and he decided to tick, so that wild beasts should `
` believe he was the crocodile and let him pass unmolested. He `
` ticked superbly, but with one unforeseen result. The crocodile `
` was among those who heard the sound, and it followed him, though `
` whether with the purpose of regaining what it had lost, or `
` merely as a friend under the belief that it was again ticking `
` itself, will never be certainly known, for, like slaves to a `
` fixed idea, it was a stupid beast. `
` `
` Peter reached the shore without mishap, and went straight on, `
` his legs encountering the water as if quite unaware that they had `
` entered a new element. Thus many animals pass from land to `
` water, but no other human of whom I know. As he swam he had but `
` one thought: "Hook or me this time." He had ticked so long that `
` he now went on ticking without knowing that he was doing it. Had `
` he known he would have stopped, for to board the brig by help of `
` the tick, though an ingenious idea, had not occurred to him. `
` `
` On the contrary, he thought he had scaled her side as noiseless `
` as a mouse; and he was amazed to see the pirates cowering from `
` him, with Hook in their midst as abject as if he had heard the `
` crocodile. `
` `
` The crocodile! No sooner did Peter remember it than he heard `
` the ticking. At first he thought the sound did come from the `
` crocodile, and he looked behind him swiftly. They he realised `
` that he was doing it himself, and in a flash he understood the `
` situation. "How clever of me!" he thought at once, and signed `
` to the boys not to burst into applause. `
` `
` It was at this moment that Ed Teynte the quartermaster emerged `
` from the forecastle and came along the deck. Now, reader, time `
` what happened by your watch. Peter struck true and deep. John `
` clapped his hands on the ill-fated pirate's mouth to stifle the `
`
` "I don't think so," said the first twin, as clever as the `
` others. "Nibs, would -- " `
` `
` "Stow this gab," roared Hook, and the spokesmen were dragged `
` back. "You, boy," he said, addressing John, "you look as if you `
` had a little pluck in you. Didst never want to be a pirate, my `
` hearty?" `
` `
` Now John had sometimes experienced this hankering at maths. `
` prep.; and he was struck by Hook's picking him out. `
` `
` "I once thought of calling myself Red-handed Jack," he said `
` diffidently. `
` `
` "And a good name too. We'll call you that here, bully, if you `
` join." `
` `
` "What do you think, Michael?" asked John. `
` `
` "What would you call me if I join?" Michael demanded. `
` `
` "Blackbeard Joe." `
` `
` Michael was naturally impressed. "What do you think, John?" `
` He wanted John to decide, and John wanted him to decide. `
` `
` "Shall we still be respectful subjects of the King?" John `
` inquired. `
` `
` Through Hook's teeth came the answer: "You would have to `
` swear, `Down with the King.'" `
` `
` Perhaps John had not behaved very well so far, but he shone out `
` now. `
` `
` "Then I refuse," he cried, banging the barrel in front of Hook. `
` `
` "And I refuse," cried Michael. `
` `
` "Rule Britannia!" squeaked Curly. `
` `
` The infuriated pirates buffeted them in the mouth; and Hook `
` roared out, "That seals your doom. Bring up their mother. Get `
` the plank ready." `
` `
` They were only boys, and they went white as they saw Jukes and `
` Cecco preparing the fatal plank. But they tried to look brave `
` when Wendy was brought up. `
` `
` No words of mine can tell you how Wendy despised those pirates. `
` To the boys there was at least some glamour in the pirate `
` calling; but all that she saw was that the ship had not been `
` tidied for years. There was not a porthole on the grimy glass `
` of which you might not have written with your finger "Dirty pig"; `
` and she had already written it on several. But as the boys `
` gathered round her she had no thought, of course, save for them. `
` `
` "So, my beauty," said Hook, as if he spoke in syrup, "you are `
` to see your children walk the plank." `
` `
` Fine gentlemen though he was, the intensity of his communings `
` had soiled his ruff, and suddenly he knew that she was gazing at `
` it. With a hasty gesture he tried to hide it, but he was too late. `
` `
` "Are they to die?" asked Wendy, with a look of such frightful `
` contempt that he nearly fainted. `
` `
` "They are," he snarled. "Silence all," he called gloatingly, `
` "for a mother's last words to her children." `
` `
` At this moment Wendy was grand. "These are my last words, dear `
` boys," she said firmly. "I feel that I have a message to you `
` from your real mothers, and it is this: `We hope our sons will `
` die like English gentlemen.'" `
` `
` Even the pirates were awed, and Tootles cried out hysterically, `
` "I am going to do what my mother hopes. What are you to do, Nibs?" `
` `
` "What my mother hopes. What are you to do, Twin?" `
` `
` "What my mother hopes. John, what are -- " `
` `
` But Hook had found his voice again. `
` `
` "Tie her up!" he shouted. `
` `
` It was Smee who tied her to the mast. "See here, honey," he `
` whispered, "I'll save you if you promise to be my mother." `
` `
` But not even for Smee would she make such a promise. "I would `
` almost rather have no children at all," she said disdainfully `
` [scornfully]. `
` `
` It is sad to know that not a boy was looking at her as Smee `
` tied her to the mast; the eyes of all were on the plank: that `
` last little walk they were about to take. They were no longer `
` able to hope that they would walk it manfully, for the capacity `
` to think had gone from them; they could stare and shiver only. `
` `
` Hook smiled on them with his teeth closed, and took a step `
` toward Wendy. His intention was to turn her face so that she `
` should see they boys walking the plank one by one. But he never `
` reached her, he never heard the cry of anguish he hoped to wring `
` from her. He heard something else instead. `
` `
` It was the terrible tick-tick of the crocodile. `
` `
` They all heard it -- pirates, boys, Wendy; and immediately `
` every head was blown in one direction; not to the water whence `
` the sound proceeded, but toward Hook. All knew that what was `
` about to happen concerned him alone, and that from being actors `
` they were suddenly become spectators. `
` `
` Very frightful was it to see the change that came over him. It `
` was as if he had been clipped at every joint. He fell in a `
` little heap. `
` `
` The sound came steadily nearer; and in advance of it came this `
` ghastly thought, "The crocodile is about to board the ship!" `
` `
` Even the iron claw hung inactive; as if knowing that it was no `
` intrinsic part of what the attacking force wanted. Left so `
` fearfully alone, any other man would have lain with his eyes shut `
` where he fell: but the gigantic brain of Hook was still working, `
` and under its guidance he crawled on the knees along the deck as `
` far from the sound as he could go. The pirates respectfully `
` cleared a passage for him, and it was only when he brought up `
` against the bulwarks that he spoke. `
` `
` "Hide me!" he cried hoarsely. `
` `
` They gathered round him, all eyes averted from the thing that `
` was coming aboard. They had no thought of fighting it. It was `
` Fate. `
` `
` Only when Hook was hidden from them did curiosity loosen the `
` limbs of the boys so that they could rush to the ship's side to `
` see the crocodile climbing it. Then they got the strangest `
` surprise of the Night of Nights; for it was no crocodile that was `
` coming to their aid. It was Peter. `
` `
` He signed to them not to give vent to any cry of admiration `
` that might rouse suspicion. Then he went on ticking. `
` `
` `
` `
` Chapter 15 `
` `
` "HOOK OR ME THIS TIME" `
` `
` `
` Odd things happen to all of us on our way through life without `
` our noticing for a time that they have happened. Thus, to take `
` an instance, we suddenly discover that we have been deaf in one `
` ear for we don't know how long, but, say, half an hour. Now such `
` an experience had come that night to Peter. When last we saw him `
` he was stealing across the island with one finger to his lips and `
` his dagger at the ready. He had seen the crocodile pass by `
` without noticing anything peculiar about it, but by and by he `
` remembered that it had not been ticking. At first he thought `
` this eerie, but soon concluded rightly that the clock had run `
` down. `
` `
` Without giving a thought to what might be the feelings of a `
` fellow-creature thus abruptly deprived of its closest companion, `
` Peter began to consider how he could turn the catastrophe to his `
` own use; and he decided to tick, so that wild beasts should `
` believe he was the crocodile and let him pass unmolested. He `
` ticked superbly, but with one unforeseen result. The crocodile `
` was among those who heard the sound, and it followed him, though `
` whether with the purpose of regaining what it had lost, or `
` merely as a friend under the belief that it was again ticking `
` itself, will never be certainly known, for, like slaves to a `
` fixed idea, it was a stupid beast. `
` `
` Peter reached the shore without mishap, and went straight on, `
` his legs encountering the water as if quite unaware that they had `
` entered a new element. Thus many animals pass from land to `
` water, but no other human of whom I know. As he swam he had but `
` one thought: "Hook or me this time." He had ticked so long that `
` he now went on ticking without knowing that he was doing it. Had `
` he known he would have stopped, for to board the brig by help of `
` the tick, though an ingenious idea, had not occurred to him. `
` `
` On the contrary, he thought he had scaled her side as noiseless `
` as a mouse; and he was amazed to see the pirates cowering from `
` him, with Hook in their midst as abject as if he had heard the `
` crocodile. `
` `
` The crocodile! No sooner did Peter remember it than he heard `
` the ticking. At first he thought the sound did come from the `
` crocodile, and he looked behind him swiftly. They he realised `
` that he was doing it himself, and in a flash he understood the `
` situation. "How clever of me!" he thought at once, and signed `
` to the boys not to burst into applause. `
` `
` It was at this moment that Ed Teynte the quartermaster emerged `
` from the forecastle and came along the deck. Now, reader, time `
` what happened by your watch. Peter struck true and deep. John `
` clapped his hands on the ill-fated pirate's mouth to stifle the `
`