Питер Пэн и Венди
The Pirate Ship
Instead,herevolvedthismysteryinhismind:whydotheyfindSmeelovable?Hepursuedtheproblemlikethesleuth-houndthathewas.IfSmeewaslovable,whatwasitthatmadehimso?Aterribleanswersuddenlypresenteditself:’Goodform?’
Hadthebo’sungoodformwithoutknowingit,whichisthebestformofall?
Herememberedthatyouhavetoproveyoudon’tknowyouhaveitbeforeyouareeligibleforPop.
WithacryofrageheraisedhisironhandoverSmee’shead;buthedidnottear.Whatarrestedhimwasthisreflection:
’Toclawamanbecauseheisgoodform,whatwouldthatbe?’
’Badform!’
TheunhappyHookwasasimpotentashewasdamp,andhefellforwardlikeacutflower.
Hisdogsthinkinghimoutofthewayforatime,disciplineinstantlyrelaxed;andtheybrokeintoabacchanaliandance,whichbroughthimtohisfeetatonce;alltracesofhumanweaknessgone,asifabucketofwaterhadpassedoverhim.
’Quiet,youscugs,’hecried,’orI’llcastanchorinyou’;andatoncethedinwashushed.’Areallthechildrenchained,sothattheycannotflyaway?’
’Ay,ay.’
’Thenhoistthemup.’
Thewretchedprisonersweredraggedfromthehold,allexceptWendy,andrangedinlineinfrontofhim.Foratimeheseemedunconsciousoftheirpresence.Helolledathisease,humming,notunmelodiously,snatchesofarudesong,andfingeringapackofcards.Everandanonthelightfromhiscigargaveatouchofcolourtohisface.
’Nowthen,bullies,’hesaidbriskly,’sixofyouwalktheplankto-night,butIhaveroomfortwocabinboys.
