Питер Пэн и Венди
The Mermaids’ Lagoon
’Weareontherock,Wendy,’hesaid,’butitisgrowingsmaller.Soonthewaterwillbeoverit.’
Shedidnotunderstandevennow.
’Wemustgo,’shesaid,almostbrightly.
’Yes,’heansweredfaintly.
’Shallweswimorfly,Peter?’
Hehadtotellher.
’Doyouthinkyoucouldswimorflyasfarastheisland,Wendy,withoutmyhelp?’
Shehadtoadmitthatshewastootired.
Hemoaned.
’Whatisit?’sheasked,anxiousabouthimatonce.
’Ican’thelpyou,Wendy.Hookwoundedme.Icanneitherflynorswim.’
’Doyoumeanweshallbothbedrowned?’
’Lookhowthewaterisrising.’
Theyputtheirhandsovertheireyestoshutoutthesight.Theythoughttheywouldsoonbenomore.AstheysatthussomethingbrushedagainstPeteraslightasakiss,andstayedthere,asifsayingtimidly,’CanIbeofanyuse?’
Itwasthetailofakite,whichMichaelhadmadesomedaysbefore.Ithadtornitselfoutofhishandandfloatedaway.
’Michael’skite,’Petersaidwithoutinterest,butnextmomenthehadseizedthetail,andwaspullingthekitetowardhim.
’ItliftedMichaelofftheground,’hecried;’whyshoulditnotcarryyou?’
’Bothofus!’
’Itcan’tlifttwo;MichaelandCurlytried.’
’Letusdrawlots,’Wendysaidbravely.
’Andyoualady;never.’Alreadyhehadtiedthetailroundher.Sheclungtohim;sherefusedtogowithouthim;butwitha’Good-bye,Wendy,’hepushedherfromtherock;andinafewminutesshewasborneoutofhissight.Peterwasaloneonthelagoon.
Therockwasverysmallnow;soonitwouldbesubmerged
