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           ’Hehadtickedsolongthathenowwentontickingwithoutknowingthathewasdoingit.Hadheknownhewouldhavestopped,fortoboardthebrigbythehelpofthetick,thoughaningeniousidea,hadnotoccurredtohim.

           Onthecontrary,hethoughthehadscaledhersideasnoiselessasamouse;andhewasamazedtoseethepiratescoweringfromhim,withHookintheirmidstasabjectasifhehadheardthecrocodile.

           Thecrocodile!NosoonerdidPeterrememberitthanheheardtheticking.Atfirsthethoughtthesounddidcomefromthecrocodile,andhelookedbehindhimswiftly.Thenherealisedthathewasdoingithimself,andinaflashheunderstoodthesituation.’Howcleverofme,’hethoughtatonce,andsignedtotheboysnottoburstintoapplause.

           ItwasatthismomentthatEdTeyntethequartermasteremergedfromtheforecastleandcamealongthedeck.Now,reader,timewhathappenedbyyourwatch.Peterstrucktrueanddeep.Johnclappedhishandsontheill-fatedpirate’smouthtostiflethedyinggroan.Hefellforward.Fourboyscaughthimtopreventthethud.Petergavethesignal,andthecarrionwascastoverboard.Therewasasplash,andthensilence.Howlonghasittaken?

           ’One!’(Slightlyhadbeguntocount.)

           Nonetoosoon,Peter,everyinchofhimontiptoe,vanishedintothecabin;formorethanonepiratewasscrewinguphiscouragetolookround.Theycouldheareachother’sdistressedbreathingnow,whichshowedthemthatthemoreterriblesoundhadpassed.

           ’It’sgone,captain,’Smeesaid,wipinghisspectacles.’All’sstillagain.