Питер Пэн и Венди
The Mermaids’ Lagoon
’Whoareyou,stranger,speak?’Hookdemanded.
’IamJamesHook,’repliedthevoice,’captainoftheJollyRoger.’
’Youarenot;youarenot,’Hookcriedhoarsely.
’Brimstoneandgall,’thevoiceretorted,’saythatagain,andI’llcastanchorinyou.’
Hooktriedamoreingratiatingmanner.’IfyouareHook,’hesaidalmosthumbly,’cometellme,whoamI?’
’Acodfish,’repliedthevoice,’onlyacodfish.’
’Acodfish!’Hookechoedblankly;anditwasthen,butnottillthen,thathisproudspiritbroke.Hesawhismendrawbackfromhim.
’Havewebeencaptainedallthistimebyacodfish!’theymuttered.’Itisloweringtoourpride.’
Theywerehisdogssnappingathim,but,tragicfigurethoughhehadbecome,hescarcelyheededthem.Againstsuchfearfulevidenceitwasnottheirbeliefinhimthatheneeded,itwashisown.Hefelthisegoslippingfromhim.’Don’tdesertme,bully,’hewhisperedhoarselytoit.
Inhisdarknaturetherewasatouchofthefeminine,asinallthegreatpirates,anditsometimesgavehimintuitions.Suddenlyhetriedtheguessinggame.
’Hook,’hecalled,’haveyouanothervoice?’
NowPetercouldneverresistagame,andheansweredblithelyinhisownvoice,’Ihave.’
’Andanothername?’
’Ay,ay.’
’Vegetable?’askedHook.
’No.’
’Mineral?’
’No.’
’Animal?’
’Yes.’
’Man?’
’No!’Thisanswerrangoutscornfully.
’Boy?’
’Yes.’
’Ordinaryboy?’
’No!’
’Wonderfulboy?’
ToWendy’spaintheanswerthatrangoutthistimewas’Yes.’
’AreyouinEngland?’
’No.
