Питер Пэн и Венди
The Flight
TheawfulthingwasthatPeterthoughtthisfunny.
’Therehegoesagain!’hewouldcrygleefully,asMichaelsuddenlydroppedlikeastone.
’Savehim,savehim!’criedWendy,lookingwithhorroratthecruelseafarbelow.EventuallyPeterwoulddivethroughtheair,andcatchMichaeljustbeforehecouldstrikethesea,anditwaslovelythewayhedidit;buthealwayswaitedtillthelastmoment,andyoufeltitwashisclevernessthatinterestedhimandnotthesavingofhumanlife.Alsohewasfondofvariety,andthesportthatengrossedhimonemomentwouldsuddenlyceasetoengagehim,sotherewasalwaysthepossibilitythatthenexttimeyoufellhewouldletyougo.
Hecouldsleepintheairwithoutfalling,bymerelylyingonhisbackandfloating,butthiswas,partlyatleast,becausehewassolightthatifyougotbehindhimandblewhewentfaster.
’Dobemorepolitetohim,’WendywhisperedtoJohn,whentheywereplaying’FollowmyLeader.’
’Thentellhimtostopshowingoff,’saidJohn.
WhenplayingFollowmyLeader,Peterwouldflyclosetothewaterandtoucheachshark’stailinpassing,justasinthestreetyoumayrunyourfingeralonganironrailing.Theycouldnotfollowhiminthiswithmuchsuccess,soperhapsitwasratherlikeshowingoff,especiallyashekeptlookingbehindtoseehowmanytailstheymissed.
’Youmustbenicetohim,’Wendyimpressedonherbrothers.’Whatcouldwedoifheweretoleaveus?’
’Wecouldgoback,’Michaelsaid.
’Howcouldweeverfindourwaybackwithouthim?’
’Well,then,wecouldgoon,’saidJohn.
