Питер Пэн и Венди
The Children Are Carried Off
ThePiccaninnies,ontheirpart,trustedimplicitlytohishonour,andtheirwholeactionofthenightstandsoutinmarkedcontrasttohis.Theyleftnothingundonethatwasconsistentwiththereputationoftheirtribe.Withthatalertnessofthesenseswhichisatoncethemarvelanddespairofcivilisedpeoples,theyknewthatthepirateswereontheislandfromthemomentoneofthemtrodonadrystick;andinanincrediblyshortspaceoftimethecoyotecriesbegan.EveryfootofgroundbetweenthespotwhereHookhadlandedhisforcesandthehomeunderthetreeswasstealthilyexaminedbybraveswearingtheirmocassinswiththeheelsinfront.Theyfoundonlyonehillockwithastreamatitsbase,sothatHookhadnochoice;herehemustestablishhimselfandwaitforjustbeforethedawn.Everythingbeingthusmappedoutwithalmostdiabolicalcunning,themainbodyoftheredskinsfoldedtheirblanketsaroundthem,andinthephlegmaticmannerthatistothemthepearlofmanhoodsquattedabovethechildren’shome,awaitingthecoldmomentwhentheyshoulddealpaledeath.
Heredreaming,thoughwide-awake,oftheexquisitetorturestowhichtheyweretoputhimatbreakofday,thoseconfidingsavageswerefoundbythetreacherousHook.
