Питер Пэн и Венди

           Isupposethatwastherealdifferencebetweenhimandalltherest.

           Sowhenhemetitnowitwaslikethefirsttime;andhecouldjuststare,helpless.Twicetheironhandclawedhim.

           AfewminutesafterwardstheotherboyssawHookinthewaterstrikingwildlyfortheship;noelationonhispestilentfacenow,onlywhitefear,forthecrocodilewasindoggedpursuitofhim.Onordinaryoccasionstheboyswouldhaveswumalongsidecheering;butnowtheywereuneasy,fortheyhadlostbothPeterandWendy,andwerescouringthelagoonforthem,callingthembyname.Theyfoundthedinghyandwenthomeinit,shouting’Peter,Wendy’astheywent,butnoanswercamesavemockinglaughterfromthemermaids.’Theymustbeswimmingbackorflying,’theboysconcluded.Theywerenotveryanxious,theyhadsuchfaithinPeter.Theychuckled,boylike,becausetheywouldbelateforbed;anditwasallmotherWendy’sfault!

           Whentheirvoicesdiedawaytherecamecoldsilenceoverthelagoon,andthenafeeblecry.

           ’Help,help!’

           Twosmallfigureswerebeatingagainsttherock;thegirlhadfaintedandlayontheboy’sarm.WithalasteffortPeterpulledheruptherockandthenlaydownbesideher.Evenashealsofaintedhesawthatthewaterwasrising.Heknewthattheywouldsoonbedrowned,buthecoulddonomore.

           AstheylaysidebysideamermaidcaughtWendybythefeet,andbeganpullinghersoftlyintothewater.Peter,feelingherslipfromhim,wokewithastart,andwasjustintimetodrawherback.Buthehadtotellherthetruth.