Питер Пэн и Венди
The Children Are Carried Off
Itisnopartofourstodescribewhatwasamassacreratherthanafight.ThusperishedmanyoftheflowerofthePiccaninnytribe.Notallunavengeddidtheydie,forwithLeanWolffellAlfMason,todisturbtheSpanishMainnomore;andamongotherswhobitthedustwereGeo.Scourie,Chas.Turley,andtheAlsatianFoggerty.TurleyfelltothetomahawkoftheterriblePanther,whoultimatelycutawaythroughthepirateswithTigerLilyandasmallremnantofthetribe.
TowhatextentHookistoblameforhistacticsonthisoccasionisforthehistoriantodecide.Hadhewaitedontherisinggroundtilltheproperhourheandhismenwouldprobablyhavebeenbutchered;andinjudginghimitisonlyfairtotakethisintoaccount.Whatheshouldperhapshavedonewastoacquainthisopponentsthatheproposedtofollowanewmethod.Ontheotherhandthis,asdestroyingtheelementofsurprise,wouldhavemadehisstrategyofnoavail,sothatthewholequestionisbesetwithdifficulties.Onecannotatleastwithholdareluctantadmirationforthewitthathadconceivedsoboldascheme,andthefellgeniuswithwhichitwascarriedout.
Whatwerehisownfeelingsabouthimselfatthattriumphantmoment?Fainwouldhisdogshaveknown,asbreathingheavilyandwipingtheircutlasses,theygatheredatadiscreetdistancefromhishook,andsquintedthroughtheirferreteyesatthisextraordinaryman.Elationmusthavebeeninhisheart,buthisfacedidnotreflectit:everadarkandsolitaryenigma,hestoodalooffromhisfollowersinspiritasinsubstance.
