Питер Пэн и Венди

           Nowherfatewouldhelptoguarditalso.Onemorewailwouldgotheroundinthatwindbynight.

           Inthegloomthattheybroughtwiththemthetwopiratesdidnotseetherocktilltheycrashedintoit.

           ’Luff,youlubber,’criedanIrishvoicethatwasSmee’s;’here’stherock.Now,then,whatwehavetodoistohoisttheredskinontoitandleavehertheretodrown.’

           Itwastheworkofonebrutalmomenttolandthebeautifulgirlontherock;shewastooproudtoofferavainresistance.

           Quiteneartherock,butoutofsight,twoheadswerebobbingupanddown,Peter’sandWendy’s.Wendywascrying,foritwasthefirsttragedyshehadseen.Peterhadseenmanytragedies,buthehadforgottenthemall.HewaslesssorrythanWendyforTigerLily:itwastwoagainstonethatangeredhim,andhemeanttosaveher.Aneasywaywouldhavebeentowaituntilthepirateshadgone,buthewasneveronetochoosetheeasyway.

           Therewasalmostnothinghecouldnotdo,andhenowimitatedthevoiceofHook.

           ’Ahoythere,youlubbers,’hecalled.Itwasamarvellousimitation.

           ’Thecaptain,’saidthepirates,staringateachotherinsurprise.

           ’Hemustbeswimmingouttous,’Starkeysaid,whentheyhadlookedforhiminvain.

           ’Weareputtingtheredskinontherock,’Smeecalledout.

           ’Setherfree,’cametheastonishinganswer.

           ’Free!’

           ’Yes,cutherbondsandlethergo.’

           ’But,captain——’

           ’Atonce,d’yehear,’criedPeter,’orI’llplungemyhookinyou.’

           ’Thisisqueer,’Smeegasped.

           ’Betterdowhatthecaptainorders,’saidStarkeynervously.