Питер Пэн и Венди
The Pirate Ship
’
AtthismomentWendywasgrand.’Thesearemylastwords,dearboys,’shesaidfirmly.’IfeelthatIhaveamessagetoyoufromyourrealmothers,anditisthis:"WehopeoursonswilldielikeEnglishgentlemen."’
Eventhepirateswereawed;andTootlescriedouthysterically,’Iamgoingtodowhatmymotherhopes.Whatareyoutodo,Nibs?’
’Whatmymotherhopes.Whatareyoutodo,Twin?’
’Whatmymotherhopes.John,whatare——’
ButHookhadfoundhisvoiceagain.
’Tieherup,’heshouted.
ItwasSmeewhotiedhertothemast.’Seehere,honey,’hewhispered,’I’llsaveyouifyoupromisetobemymother.’
ButnotevenforSmeewouldshemakesuchapromise.’Iwouldalmostratherhavenochildrenatall,’shesaiddisdainfully.
ItissadtoknowthatnotaboywaslookingatherasSmeetiedhertothemast;theeyesofallwereontheplank:thatlastlittlewalktheywereabouttotake.Theywerenolongerabletohopethattheywouldwalkitmanfully,forthecapacitytothinkhadgonefromthem;theycouldstareandshiveronly.
Hooksmiledonthemwithhisteethclosed,andtookasteptowardWendy.Hisintentionwastoturnherfacesothatsheshouldseetheboyswalkingtheplankonebyone.Butheneverreachedher,heneverheardthecryofanguishhehopedtowringfromher.Heheardsomethingelseinstead.
Itwastheterribletick-tickofthecrocodile.
Theyallheardit—pirates,boys,Wendy;andimmediatelyeveryheadwasblowninonedirection;nottothewaterwhencethesoundproceeded,buttowardHook