The Flight

           ’Secondtotheright,andstraightontillmorning.’

           That,PeterhadtoldWendy,wasthewaytotheNeverland;butevenbirds,carryingmapsandconsultingthematwindycorners,couldnothavesighteditwiththeseinstructions.Peter,yousee,justsaidanythingthatcameintohishead.

           Atfirsthiscompanionstrustedhimimplicitly,andsogreatwerethedelightsofflyingthattheywastedtimecirclingroundchurchspiresoranyothertallobjectsonthewaythattooktheirfancy.

           JohnandMichaelraced,Michaelgettingastart.

           Theyrecalledwithcontemptthatnotsolongagotheyhadthoughtthemselvesfinefellowsforbeingabletoflyroundaroom.

           Notsolongago.Buthowlongago?TheywereflyingovertheseabeforethisthoughtbegantodisturbWendyseriously.Johnthoughtitwastheirsecondseaandtheirthirdnight.

           Sometimesitwasdarkandsometimeslight,andnowtheywereverycoldandagaintoowarm.Didtheyreallyfeelhungryattimes,orweretheymerelypretending,becausePeterhadsuchajollynewwayoffeedingthem?Hiswaywastopursuebirdswhohadfoodintheirmouthssuitableforhumansandsnatchitfromthem;thenthebirdswouldfollowandsnatchitback;andtheywouldallgochasingeachothergailyformiles,partingatlastwithmutualexpressionsofgood-will.ButWendynoticedwithgentleconcernthatPeterdidnotseemtoknowthatthiswasratheranoddwayofgettingyourbreadandbutter,noreventhatthereareotherways.

           Certainlytheydidnotpretendtobesleepy,theyweresleepy;andthatwasadanger,forthemomenttheypoppedoff,downtheyfell.