Питер Пэн и Венди
The Island Come True
Iwilltellyouwheretheyare.WiththeexceptionofNibs,whohasdartedawaytoreconnoitre,theyarealreadyintheirhomeundertheground,averydelightfulresidenceofwhichweshallseeagooddealpresently.Buthowhavetheyreachedit?forthereisnoentrancetobeseen,notsomuchasapileofbrushwood,whichifremovedwoulddisclosethemouthofacave.Lookclosely,however,andyoumaynotethatthereareheresevenlargetrees,eachhavinginitshollowtrunkaholeaslargeasaboy.Thesearethesevenentrancestothehomeundertheground,forwhichHookhasbeensearchinginvainthesemanymoons.Willhefinditto-night?
Asthepiratesadvanced,thequickeyeofStarkeysightedNibsdisappearingthroughthewood,andatoncehispistolflashedout.Butanironclawgrippedhisshoulder.
’Captain,letgo,’hecried,writhing.
NowforthefirsttimewehearthevoiceofHook.Itwasablackvoice.’Putbackthatpistolfirst,’itsaidthreateningly.
’Itwasoneofthoseboysyouhate.Icouldhaveshothimdead.’
’Ay,andthesoundwouldhavebroughtTigerLily’sredskinsuponus.Doyouwanttoloseyourscalp?’
’ShallIafterhim,captain,’askedpatheticSmee,’andticklehimwithJohnnyCorkscrew?’Smeehadpleasantnamesforeverything,andhiscutlasswasJohnnyCorkscrew,becausehewriggleditinthewound.OnecouldmentionmanylovabletraitsinSmee.Forinstance,afterkilling,itwashisspectacleshewipedinsteadofhisweapon.
’Johnny’sasilentfellow,’heremindedHook.
’Notnow,Smee,’Hooksaiddarkly.
