Питер Пэн и Венди

           ’Ay,ay,’Smeesaid,andhecutTigerLily’scords.AtoncelikeaneelsheslidbetweenStarkey’slegsintothewater.

           OfcourseWendywasveryelatedoverPeter’scleverness;butsheknewthathewouldbeelatedalsoandverylikelycrowandthusbetrayhimself,soatonceherhandwentouttocoverhismouth.Butitwasstayedevenintheact,for’Boatahoy!’rangoverthelagooninHook’svoice,andthistimeitwasnotPeterwhohadspoken.

           Petermayhavebeenabouttocrow,buthisfacepuckeredinawhistleofsurpriseinstead.

           ’Boatahoy!’againcamethecry.

           NowWendyunderstood.TherealHookwasalsointhewater.

           Hewasswimmingtotheboat,andashismenshowedalighttoguidehimhehadsoonreachedthem.InthelightofthelanternWendysawhishookgriptheboat’sside;shesawhisevilswarthyfaceasherosedrippingfromthewater,and,quaking,shewouldhavelikedtoswimaway,butPeterwouldnotbudge.Hewastinglingwithlifeandalsotop-heavywithconceit.’AmInotawonder,oh,Iamawonder!’hewhisperedtoher;andthoughshethoughtsoalso,shewasreallygladforthesakeofhisreputationthatnooneheardhimexceptherself.

           Hesignedtohertolisten.

           Thetwopirateswereverycurioustoknowwhathadbroughttheircaptaintothem,buthesatwithhisheadonhishookinapositionofprofoundmelancholy.

           ’Captain,isallwell?’theyaskedtimidly,butheansweredwithahollowmoan.

           ’Hesighs,’saidSmee.

           ’Hesighsagain,’saidStarkey.

           ’Andyetathirdtimehesighs,’saidSmee.