Питер Пэн и Венди
"Hook Or Me This Time"
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Withoutmorewordstheyfellto,andforaspacetherewasnoadvantagetoeitherblade.Peterwasasuperbswordsman,andparriedwithdazzlingrapidity;everandanonhefollowedupafeintwithalungethatgotpasthisfoe’sdefence,buthisshorterreachstoodhiminillstead,andhecouldnotdrivethesteelhome.Hook,scarcelyhisinferiorinbrilliancy,butnotquitesonimbleinwristplay,forcedhimbackbytheweightofhisonset,hopingsuddenlytoendallwithafavouritethrust,taughthimlongagobyBarbecueatRio;buttohisastonishmenthefoundthisthrustturnedasideagainandagain.Thenhesoughttocloseandgivethequietuswithhisironhook,whichallthistimehadbeenpawingtheair;butPeterdoubledunderitand,lungingfiercely,piercedhimintheribs.Atsightofhisownblood,whosepeculiarcolour,youremember,wasoffensivetohim,theswordfellfromHook’shand,andhewasatPeter’smercy.
’Now!’criedalltheboys;butwithamagnificentgesturePeterinvitedhisopponenttopickuphissword.Hookdidsoinstantly,butwithatragicfeelingthatPeterwasshowinggoodform.
Hithertohehadthoughtitwassomefiendfightinghim,butdarkersuspicionsassailedhimnow.
’Pan,whoandwhatartthou?’hecriedhuskily.
’I’myouth,I’mjoy,’Peteransweredataventure,’I’malittlebirdthathasbrokenoutoftheegg.’
This,ofcourse,wasnonsense;butitwasprooftotheunhappyHookthatPeterdidnotknowintheleastwhoorwhathewas,whichistheverypinnacleofgoodform.
’To’tagain,’hecrieddespairingly.
