Питер Пэн и Венди
The Island Come True
Inmanner,somethingofthegrandseigneurstillclungtohim,sothatheevenrippedyouupwithanair,andIhavebeentoldthathewasaraconteurofrepute.Hewasnevermoresinisterthanwhenhewasmostpolite,whichisprobablythetruesttestofbreeding;andtheeleganceofhisdiction,evenwhenhewasswearing,nolessthanthedistinctionofhisdemeanour,showedhimoneofadifferentcastefromhiscrew.Amanofindomitablecourage,itwassaidofhimthattheonlythingheshiedatwasthesightofhisownblood,whichwasthickandofanunusualcolour.IndresshesomewhatapedtheattireassociatedwiththenameofCharlesII.,havinghearditsaidinsomeearlierperiodofhiscareerthatheboreastrangeresemblancetotheill-fatedStuarts;andinhismouthhehadaholderofhisowncontrivancewhichenabledhimtosmoketwocigarsatonce.Butundoubtedlythegrimmestpartofhimwashisironclaw.
Letusnowkillapirate,toshowHook’smethod.Skylightswilldo.Astheypass,Skylightslurchesclumsilyagainsthim,rufflinghislacecollar;thehookshootsforth,thereisatearingsoundandonescreech,thenthebodyiskickedaside,andthepiratespasson.Hehasnoteventakenthecigarsfromhismouth.
SuchistheterriblemanagainstwhomPeterPanispitted.Whichwillwin?
Onthetrailofthepirates,stealingnoiselesslydownthewar-path,whichisnotvisibletoinexperiencedeyes,cometheredskins,everyoneofthemwithhiseyespeeled.Theycarrytomahawksandknives,andtheirnakedbodiesgleamwithpaintandoil.
