Питер Пэн и Венди

           ’

           ’Areyouhere?’

           ’Yes.’

           Hookwascompletelypuzzled.’Youaskhimsomequestions,’hesaidtotheothers,wipinghisdampbrow.

           Smeereflected.’Ican’tthinkofathing,’hesaidregretfully.

           ’Can’tguess,can’tguess,’crowedPeter.’Doyougiveitup?’

           Ofcourseinhispridehewascarryingthegametoofar,andthemiscreantssawtheirchance.

           ’Yes,yes,’theyansweredeagerly.

           ’Well,then,’hecried,’IamPeterPan.’

           Pan!

           InamomentHookwashimselfagain,andSmeeandStarkeywerehisfaithfulhenchmen.

           ’Nowwehavehim,’Hookshouted.’Intothewater,Smee.Starkey,mindtheboat.Takehimdeadoralive.’

           Heleapedashespoke,andsimultaneouslycamethegayvoiceofPeter.

           ’Areyouready,boys?’

           ’Ay,ay,’fromvariouspartsofthelagoon.

           ’Thenlamintothepirates.’

           Thefightwasshortandsharp.FirsttodrawbloodwasJohn,whogallantlyclimbedintotheboatandheldStarkey.Therewasafiercestruggle,inwhichthecutlasswastornfromthepirate’sgrasp.HewriggledoverboardandJohnleaptafterhim.Thedinghydriftedaway.

           Hereandthereaheadbobbedupinthewater,andtherewasaflashofsteelfollowedbyacryorawhoop.Intheconfusionsomestruckattheirownside.ThecorkscrewofSmeegotTootlesinthefourthrib,buthewashimselfpinkedinturnbyCurly.FartherfromtherockStarkeywaspressingSlightlyandthetwinshard.

           WhereallthistimewasPeter?Hewasseekingbiggergame.

           Theotherswereallbraveboys,andtheymustnotbeblamedforbackingfromthepiratecaptain.