Reading Help Peter-pan BY J. M. BARRIE
clapped his hands on the ill-fated pirate's mouth to stifle the `
` dying groan. He fell forward. Four boys caught him to prevent `
` the thud. Peter gave the signal, and the carrion was cast `
` overboard. There was a splash, and then silence. How long has `
` it taken? `
` `
` "One!" (Slightly had begun to count.) `
` `
` None too soon, Peter, every inch of him on tiptoe, vanished `
` into the cabin; for more than one pirate was screwing up his `
` courage to look round. They could hear each other's distressed `
` breathing now, which showed them that the more terrible sound had `
` passed. `
` `
` "It's gone, captain," Smee said, wiping off his spectacles. `
` "All's still again." `
` `
` Slowly Hook let his head emerge from his ruff, and listened so `
` intently that he could have caught the echo of the tick. There `
` was not a sound, and he drew himself up firmly to his full `
` height. `
` `
` "Then here's to Johnny Plank!" he cried brazenly, hating the `
` boys more than ever because they had seen him unbend. He broke `
` into the villainous ditty: `
` `
` `
` "Yo ho, yo ho, the frisky plank, `
` You walks along it so, `
` Till it goes down and you goes down `
` To Davy Jones below!" `
` `
` `
` To terrorize the prisoners the more, though with a certain loss `
` of dignity, he danced along an imaginary plank, grimacing at them `
` as he sang; and when he finished he cried, "Do you want a touch `
` of the cat [o' nine tails] before you walk the plank?" `
` `
` At that they fell on their knees. "No, no!" they cried so `
` piteously that every pirate smiled. `
` `
` "Fetch the cat, Jukes," said Hook; "it's in the cabin." `
` `
` The cabin! Peter was in the cabin! The children gazed at each `
` other. `
` `
` "Ay, ay," said Jukes blithely, and he strode into the cabin. `
` They followed him with their eyes; they scarce knew that Hook had `
` resumed his song, his dogs joining in with him: `
` `
` `
` "Yo ho, yo ho, the scratching cat, `
` Its tails are nine, you know, `
` And when they're writ upon your back -- " `
` `
` What was the last line will never be known, for of a sudden the `
` song was stayed by a dreadful screech from the cabin. It wailed `
` through the ship, and died away. Then was heard a crowing sound `
` which was well understood by the boys, but to the pirates was `
` almost more eerie than the screech. `
` `
` "What was that?" cried Hook. `
` `
` "Two," said Slightly solemnly. `
` `
` The Italian Cecco hesitated for a moment and then swung into `
` the cabin. He tottered out, haggard. `
` `
` "What's the matter with Bill Jukes, you dog?" hissed Hook, `
` towering over him. `
` `
` "The matter wi' him is he's dead, stabbed," replied Cecco in a `
` hollow voice. `
` `
` "Bill Jukes dead!" cried the startled pirates. `
` `
` "The cabin's as black as a pit," Cecco said, almost gibbering, `
` "but there is something terrible in there: the thing you heard `
` crowing." `
` `
` The exultation of the boys, the lowering looks of the pirates, `
` both were seen by Hook. `
` `
` "Cecco," he said in his most steely voice, "go back and fetch `
` me out that doodle-doo." `
` `
` Cecco, bravest of the brave, cowered before his captain, crying `
` "No, no"; but Hook was purring to his claw. `
` `
` "Did you say you would go, Cecco?" he said musingly. `
` `
` Cecco went, first flinging his arms despairingly. There was no `
` more singing, all listened now; and again came a death-screech `
` and again a crow. `
` `
` No one spoke except Slightly. "Three," he said. `
` `
` Hook rallied his dogs with a gesture. "'S'death and odds `
` fish," he thundered, "who is to bring me that doodle-doo?" `
` `
` "Wait till Cecco comes out," growled Starkey, and the others took `
` up the cry. `
` `
` "I think I heard you volunteer, Starkey," said Hook, purring `
` again. `
` `
` "No, by thunder!" Starkey cried. `
` `
` "My hook thinks you did," said Hook, crossing to him. "I `
` wonder if it would not be advisable, Starkey, to humour the hook?" `
` `
` "I'll swing before I go in there," replied Starkey doggedly, `
` and again he had the support of the crew. `
` `
` "Is this mutiny?" asked Hook more pleasantly than ever. `
` "Starkey's ringleader!" `
` `
` "Captain, mercy!" Starkey whimpered, all of a tremble now. `
` `
` "Shake hands, Starkey," said Hook, proffering his claw. `
` `
` Starkey looked round for help, but all deserted him. As he `
` backed up Hook advanced, and now the red spark was in his eye. `
` With a despairing scream the pirate leapt upon Long Tom and `
` precipitated himself into the sea. `
` `
` "Four," said Slightly. `
` `
` "And now," Hook said courteously, "did any other gentlemen say `
` mutiny?" Seizing a lantern and raising his claw with a menacing `
` gesture, "I'll bring out that doodle-doo myself," he said, and `
` sped into the cabin. `
` `
` "Five." How Slightly longed to say it. He wetted his lips to `
` be ready, but Hook came staggering out, without his lantern. `
` `
` "Something blew out the light," he said a little unsteadily. `
` `
` "Something!" echoed Mullins. `
` `
` "What of Cecco?" demanded Noodler. `
` `
` "He's as dead as Jukes," said Hook shortly. `
` `
` His reluctance to return to the cabin impressed them all `
` unfavourably, and the mutinous sounds again broke forth. All `
` pirates are superstitious, and Cookson cried, "They do say the `
` surest sign a ship's accurst is when there's one on board more `
` than can be accounted for." `
` `
` "I've heard," muttered Mullins, "he always boards the pirate `
` craft last. Had he a tail, captain?" `
` `
` "They say," said another, looking viciously at Hook, "that when `
` he comes it's in the likeness of the wickedest man aboard." `
` `
` "Had he a hook, captain?" asked Cookson insolently; and one `
` after another took up the cry, "The ship's doomed!" At this the `
` children could not resist raising a cheer. Hook had well-nigh `
` forgotten his prisoners, but as he swung round on them now his `
` face lit up again. `
` `
` "Lads," he cried to his crew, "now here's a notion. Open the `
` cabin door and drive them in. Let them fight the doodle-doo for `
` their lives. If they kill him, we're so much the better; if he `
` kills them, we're none the worse." `
` `
` For the last time his dogs admired Hook, and devotedly they did `
` his bidding. The boys, pretending to struggle, were pushed into `
` the cabin and the door was closed on them. `
` `
` "Now, listen!" cried Hook, and all listened. But not one dared `
` to face the door. Yes, one, Wendy, who all this time had been `
` bound to the mast. It was for neither a scream nor a crow that `
` she was watching, it was for the reappearance of Peter. `
` `
` She had not long to wait. In the cabin he had found the thing `
` for which he had gone in search: the key the would free the `
` children of their manacles, and now they all stole forth, armed `
` with such weapons as they could find. First signing them to `
` hide, Peter cut Wendy's bonds, and then nothing could have been `
` easier than for them all to fly off together; but one thing `
` barred the way, an oath, "Hook or me this time." So when he had `
` freed Wendy, he whispered for her to conceal herself with the `
` others, and himself took her place by the mast, her cloak around `
` him so that he should pass for her. Then he took a great breath `
` and crowed. `
` `
` To the pirates it was a voice crying that all the boys lay `
` slain in the cabin; and they were panic-stricken. Hook tried to `
` hearten them; but like the dogs he had made them they showed him `
` their fangs, and he knew that if he took his eyes off them now `
` they would leap at him. `
` `
` "Lads," he said, ready to cajole or strike as need be, but `
` never quailing for an instant, "I've thought it out. There's a `
` Jonah aboard." `
` `
` "Ay," they snarled, "a man wi' a hook." `
` `
` "No, lads, no, it's the girl. Never was luck on a pirate ship `
`
` dying groan. He fell forward. Four boys caught him to prevent `
` the thud. Peter gave the signal, and the carrion was cast `
` overboard. There was a splash, and then silence. How long has `
` it taken? `
` `
` "One!" (Slightly had begun to count.) `
` `
` None too soon, Peter, every inch of him on tiptoe, vanished `
` into the cabin; for more than one pirate was screwing up his `
` courage to look round. They could hear each other's distressed `
` breathing now, which showed them that the more terrible sound had `
` passed. `
` `
` "It's gone, captain," Smee said, wiping off his spectacles. `
` "All's still again." `
` `
` Slowly Hook let his head emerge from his ruff, and listened so `
` intently that he could have caught the echo of the tick. There `
` was not a sound, and he drew himself up firmly to his full `
` height. `
` `
` "Then here's to Johnny Plank!" he cried brazenly, hating the `
` boys more than ever because they had seen him unbend. He broke `
` into the villainous ditty: `
` `
` `
` "Yo ho, yo ho, the frisky plank, `
` You walks along it so, `
` Till it goes down and you goes down `
` To Davy Jones below!" `
` `
` `
` To terrorize the prisoners the more, though with a certain loss `
` of dignity, he danced along an imaginary plank, grimacing at them `
` as he sang; and when he finished he cried, "Do you want a touch `
` of the cat [o' nine tails] before you walk the plank?" `
` `
` At that they fell on their knees. "No, no!" they cried so `
` piteously that every pirate smiled. `
` `
` "Fetch the cat, Jukes," said Hook; "it's in the cabin." `
` `
` The cabin! Peter was in the cabin! The children gazed at each `
` other. `
` `
` "Ay, ay," said Jukes blithely, and he strode into the cabin. `
` They followed him with their eyes; they scarce knew that Hook had `
` resumed his song, his dogs joining in with him: `
` `
` `
` "Yo ho, yo ho, the scratching cat, `
` Its tails are nine, you know, `
` And when they're writ upon your back -- " `
` `
` What was the last line will never be known, for of a sudden the `
` song was stayed by a dreadful screech from the cabin. It wailed `
` through the ship, and died away. Then was heard a crowing sound `
` which was well understood by the boys, but to the pirates was `
` almost more eerie than the screech. `
` `
` "What was that?" cried Hook. `
` `
` "Two," said Slightly solemnly. `
` `
` The Italian Cecco hesitated for a moment and then swung into `
` the cabin. He tottered out, haggard. `
` `
` "What's the matter with Bill Jukes, you dog?" hissed Hook, `
` towering over him. `
` `
` "The matter wi' him is he's dead, stabbed," replied Cecco in a `
` hollow voice. `
` `
` "Bill Jukes dead!" cried the startled pirates. `
` `
` "The cabin's as black as a pit," Cecco said, almost gibbering, `
` "but there is something terrible in there: the thing you heard `
` crowing." `
` `
` The exultation of the boys, the lowering looks of the pirates, `
` both were seen by Hook. `
` `
` "Cecco," he said in his most steely voice, "go back and fetch `
` me out that doodle-doo." `
` `
` Cecco, bravest of the brave, cowered before his captain, crying `
` "No, no"; but Hook was purring to his claw. `
` `
` "Did you say you would go, Cecco?" he said musingly. `
` `
` Cecco went, first flinging his arms despairingly. There was no `
` more singing, all listened now; and again came a death-screech `
` and again a crow. `
` `
` No one spoke except Slightly. "Three," he said. `
` `
` Hook rallied his dogs with a gesture. "'S'death and odds `
` fish," he thundered, "who is to bring me that doodle-doo?" `
` `
` "Wait till Cecco comes out," growled Starkey, and the others took `
` up the cry. `
` `
` "I think I heard you volunteer, Starkey," said Hook, purring `
` again. `
` `
` "No, by thunder!" Starkey cried. `
` `
` "My hook thinks you did," said Hook, crossing to him. "I `
` wonder if it would not be advisable, Starkey, to humour the hook?" `
` `
` "I'll swing before I go in there," replied Starkey doggedly, `
` and again he had the support of the crew. `
` `
` "Is this mutiny?" asked Hook more pleasantly than ever. `
` "Starkey's ringleader!" `
` `
` "Captain, mercy!" Starkey whimpered, all of a tremble now. `
` `
` "Shake hands, Starkey," said Hook, proffering his claw. `
` `
` Starkey looked round for help, but all deserted him. As he `
` backed up Hook advanced, and now the red spark was in his eye. `
` With a despairing scream the pirate leapt upon Long Tom and `
` precipitated himself into the sea. `
` `
` "Four," said Slightly. `
` `
` "And now," Hook said courteously, "did any other gentlemen say `
` mutiny?" Seizing a lantern and raising his claw with a menacing `
` gesture, "I'll bring out that doodle-doo myself," he said, and `
` sped into the cabin. `
` `
` "Five." How Slightly longed to say it. He wetted his lips to `
` be ready, but Hook came staggering out, without his lantern. `
` `
` "Something blew out the light," he said a little unsteadily. `
` `
` "Something!" echoed Mullins. `
` `
` "What of Cecco?" demanded Noodler. `
` `
` "He's as dead as Jukes," said Hook shortly. `
` `
` His reluctance to return to the cabin impressed them all `
` unfavourably, and the mutinous sounds again broke forth. All `
` pirates are superstitious, and Cookson cried, "They do say the `
` surest sign a ship's accurst is when there's one on board more `
` than can be accounted for." `
` `
` "I've heard," muttered Mullins, "he always boards the pirate `
` craft last. Had he a tail, captain?" `
` `
` "They say," said another, looking viciously at Hook, "that when `
` he comes it's in the likeness of the wickedest man aboard." `
` `
` "Had he a hook, captain?" asked Cookson insolently; and one `
` after another took up the cry, "The ship's doomed!" At this the `
` children could not resist raising a cheer. Hook had well-nigh `
` forgotten his prisoners, but as he swung round on them now his `
` face lit up again. `
` `
` "Lads," he cried to his crew, "now here's a notion. Open the `
` cabin door and drive them in. Let them fight the doodle-doo for `
` their lives. If they kill him, we're so much the better; if he `
` kills them, we're none the worse." `
` `
` For the last time his dogs admired Hook, and devotedly they did `
` his bidding. The boys, pretending to struggle, were pushed into `
` the cabin and the door was closed on them. `
` `
` "Now, listen!" cried Hook, and all listened. But not one dared `
` to face the door. Yes, one, Wendy, who all this time had been `
` bound to the mast. It was for neither a scream nor a crow that `
` she was watching, it was for the reappearance of Peter. `
` `
` She had not long to wait. In the cabin he had found the thing `
` for which he had gone in search: the key the would free the `
` children of their manacles, and now they all stole forth, armed `
` with such weapons as they could find. First signing them to `
` hide, Peter cut Wendy's bonds, and then nothing could have been `
` easier than for them all to fly off together; but one thing `
` barred the way, an oath, "Hook or me this time." So when he had `
` freed Wendy, he whispered for her to conceal herself with the `
` others, and himself took her place by the mast, her cloak around `
` him so that he should pass for her. Then he took a great breath `
` and crowed. `
` `
` To the pirates it was a voice crying that all the boys lay `
` slain in the cabin; and they were panic-stricken. Hook tried to `
` hearten them; but like the dogs he had made them they showed him `
` their fangs, and he knew that if he took his eyes off them now `
` they would leap at him. `
` `
` "Lads," he said, ready to cajole or strike as need be, but `
` never quailing for an instant, "I've thought it out. There's a `
` Jonah aboard." `
` `
` "Ay," they snarled, "a man wi' a hook." `
` `
` "No, lads, no, it's the girl. Never was luck on a pirate ship `
`