peter pan

[ peter and wendy ]

by j m barrie [ james matthew barrie ]

a millennium fulcrum edition ( c ) 1991 by duncan research

contents :

chapter @number@ peter breaks through

chapter @number@ the shadow

chapter @number@ come away , come away !

chapter @number@ the flight

chapter @number@ the island come true

chapter @number@ the little house

chapter @number@ the home under the ground

chapter @number@ the mermaid's lagoon

chapter @number@ the never bird

chapter @number@ the happy home

chapter @number@ wendy's story

chapter @number@ the children are carried off

chapter @number@ do you believe in fairies ?

chapter @number@ the pirate ship

chapter @number@ " hook or me this time "

chapter @number@ the return home

chapter @number@ when wendy grew up

chapter @number@ peter breaks through

all children , except one , grow up .

they soon know that they will grow up , and the way wendy knew was this .

this was all that passed between them on the subject , but henceforth wendy knew that she must grow up .

you always know after you are two .

two is the beginning of the end .

of course they lived at @number@ [ their house number on their street ] , and until wendy came her mother was the chief one .

she was a lovely lady , with a romantic mind and such a sweet mocking mouth .

he got all of her , except the innermost box and the kiss .

he never knew about the box , and in time he gave up trying for the kiss .

mr darling used to boast to wendy that her mother not only loved him but respected him .

he was one of those deep ones who know about stocks and shares .

she drew them when she should have been totting up .

they were mrs darling 's guesses .

wendy came first , then john , then michael .

" now don't interrupt , " he would beg of her .

" of course we can , george , " she cried .

but she was prejudiced in wendy 's favour , and he was really the grander character of the two .

" remember mumps , " he warned her almost threateningly , and off he went again .

she proved to be quite a treasure of a nurse .

how thorough she was at bath-time , and up at any moment of the night if one of her charges made the slightest cry .

of course her kennel was in the nursery .

she had a genius for knowing when a cough is a thing to have no patience with and when it needs stocking around your throat .

there is a room in the basement of miss fulsom 's school where the nurses wait .

they sat on forms , while nana lay on the floor , but that was the only difference .

they affected to ignore her as of an inferior social status to themselves , and she despised their light talk .

no nursery could possibly have been conducted more correctly , and mr darling knew it , yet he sometimes wondered uneasily whether the neighbours talked .

he had his position in the city to consider .

nana also troubled him in another way .

he had sometimes a feeling that she did not admire him .

lovely dances followed , in which the only other servant , liza , was sometimes allowed to join .

the gaiety of those romps !

there never was a simpler happier family until the coming of peter pan .

mrs darling first heard of peter when she was tidying up her children 's minds .

it is quite like tidying up drawers .

i don't know whether you have ever seen a map of a person 's mind .

of course the neverlands vary a good deal .

on these magic shores children at play are for ever beaching their coracles [ simple boat ] .

we too have been there ; we can still hear the sound of the surf , though we shall land no more .

that is why there are night-lights .

" yes , he is rather cocky , " wendy admitted with regret .

her mother had been questioning her .

" but who is he , my pet ? "

" he is peter pan , you know , mother . "

" besides , " she said to wendy , " he would be grown up by this time . "

" oh no , he isn't grown up , " wendy assured her confidently , " and he is just my size . "

she meant that he was her size in both mind and body ; she didn't know how she knew , she just knew it .

mrs darling consulted mr darling , but he smiled pooh-pooh .

leave it alone , and it will blow over . "

but it would not blow over and soon the troublesome boy gave mrs darling quite a shock .

children have the strangest adventures without being troubled by them .

it was in this casual way that wendy one morning made a disquieting revelation .

" i do believe it is that peter again ! "

" whatever do you mean , wendy ? "

" it is so naughty of him not to wipe his feet , " wendy said , sighing .

she was a tidy child .

unfortunately she never woke , so she didn't know how she knew , she just knew .

" what nonsense you talk , precious .

no one can get into the house without knocking . "

" i think he comes in by the window , " she said .

" my love , it is three floors up . "

" were not the leaves at the foot of the window , mother ? "

it was quite true ; the leaves had been found very near the window .

" my child , " the mother cried , " why did you not tell me of this before ? "

" i forgot , " said wendy lightly .

she was in a hurry to get her breakfast .

oh , surely she must have been dreaming .

but , on the other hand , there were the leaves .

she crawled about the floor , peering at it with a candle for marks of a strange foot .

she rattled the poker up the chimney and tapped the walls .

certainly wendy had been dreaming .

on the night we speak of all the children were once more in bed .

all were looking so safe and cosy that she smiled at her fears now and sat down tranquilly by the fire to sew .

it was something for michael , who on his birthday was getting into shirts .

the fire was warm , however , and the nursery dimly lit by three night-lights , and presently the sewing lay on mrs darling 's lap .

then her head nodded , oh , so gracefully .

she was asleep .

look at the four of them , wendy and michael over there , john here , and mrs darling by the fire .

there should have been a fourth night-light .

while she slept she had a dream .

she dreamt that the neverland had come too near and that a strange boy had broken through from it .

he did not alarm her , for she thought she had seen him before in the faces of many women who have no children .

perhaps he is to be found in the faces of some mothers also .

she started up with a cry , and saw the boy , and somehow she knew at once that he was peter pan .

if you or i or wendy had been there we should have seen that he was very like mrs darling 's kiss .

when he saw she was a grown-up , he gnashed the little pearls at her .

chapter @number@ the shadow

she growled and sprang at the boy , who leapt lightly through the window .

she returned to the nursery , and found nana with something in her mouth , which proved to be the boy 's shadow .

you may be sure mrs darling examined the shadow carefully , but it was quite the ordinary kind .

nana had no doubt of what was the best thing to do with this shadow .

she decided to roll the shadow up and put it away carefully in a drawer , until a fitting opportunity came for telling her husband .

ah me !

the opportunity came a week later , on that never-to-be-forgotten friday .

of course it was a friday .

" no , no , " mr darling always said , " i am responsible for it all .

i , george darling , did it .

mea culpa , mea culpa . "

he had had a classical education .

" if only i had not accepted that invitation to dine at @number@ " mrs darling said .

" if only i had not poured my medicine into nana 's bowl , " said mr darling .

" if only i had pretended to like the medicine , " was what nana 's wet eyes said .

" my liking for parties , george . "

" my fatal gift of humour , dearest . "

" my touchiness about trifles , dear master and mistress . "

many a time it was mr darling who put the handkerchief to nana 's eyes .

" that fiend ! "

they would sit there in the empty nursery , recalling fondly every smallest detail of that dreadful evening .

nana , it isn't six o'clock yet .

oh dear , oh dear , i shan't love you any more , nana .

i tell you i won't be bathed , i won't , i won't ! "

then mrs darling had come in , wearing her white evening-gown .

she had dressed early because wendy so loved to see her in her evening-gown , with the necklace george had given her .

she was wearing wendy 's bracelet on her arm ; she had asked for the loan of it .

wendy loved to lend her bracelet to her mother .

she had found her two older children playing at being herself and father on the occasion of wendy 's birth , and john was saying :

wendy had danced with joy , just as the real mrs darling must have done .

michael had nearly cried .

" nobody wants me , " he said , and of course the lady in the evening-dress could not stand that .

" i do , " she said , " i so want a third child . "

" boy or girl ? " asked michael , not too hopefully .

" boy . "

then he had leapt into her arms .

they go on with their recollections .

" it was then that i rushed in like a tornado , wasn't it ? "

mr darling would say , scorning himself ; and indeed he had been like a tornado .

perhaps there was some excuse for him .

he , too , had been dressing for the party , and all had gone well with him until he came to his tie .

this was such an occasion .

he came rushing into the nursery with the crumpled little brute of a tie in his hand .

" why , what is the matter , father dear ? "

" matter ! " he yelled ; he really yelled .

" this tie , it will not tie . "

he became dangerously sarcastic .

" not round my neck !

round the bed-post !

oh yes , twenty times have i made it up round the bed-post , but round my neck , no !

oh dear no ! begs to be excused ! "

even then mrs darling was placid .

" how wildly we romped ! " says mrs darling now , recalling it .

" our last romp ! "

mr darling groaned .

" i remember ! "

" they were rather sweet , don't you think , george ? "

" and they were ours , ours ! and now they are gone . "

the romp had ended with the appearance of nana , and most unluckily mr . darling collided against her , covering his trousers with hairs .

of course mrs darling brushed him , but he began to talk again about its being a mistake to have a dog for a nurse .

" george , nana is a treasure . "

" no doubt , but i have an uneasy feeling at times that she looks upon the children as puppies . "

" oh no , dear one , i feel sure she knows they have souls . "

" i wonder , " mr darling said thoughtfully , " i wonder . "

it was an opportunity , his wife felt , for telling him about the boy .

at first he pooh-poohed the story , but he became thoughtful when she showed him the shadow .

" it is nobody i know , " he said , examining it carefully , " but it does look a scoundrel . "

" we were still discussing it , you remember , " says mr darling , " when nana came in with michael 's medicine .

you will never carry the bottle in your mouth again , nana , and it is all my fault . "

strong man though he was , there is no doubt that he had behaved rather foolishly over the medicine .

" won't ; won't ! "

michael cried naughtily .

mrs darling left the room to get a chocolate for him , and mr darling thought this showed want of firmness .

" mother , don't pamper him , " he called after her .

" michael , when i was your age i took medicine without a murmur .

i said , ' thank you , kind parents , for giving me bottles to make me well . ' "

he had not exactly lost it ; he had climbed in the dead of night to the top of the wardrobe and hidden it there .

what he did not know was that the faithful liza had found it , and put it back on his wash-stand .

" i know where it is , father , " wendy cried , always glad to be of service .

" i 'll bring it , " and she was off before he could stop her .

immediately his spirits sank in the strangest way .

" john , " he said , shuddering , " it 's most beastly stuff .

it 's that nasty , sticky , sweet kind . "

" it will soon be over , father , " john said cheerily , and then in rushed wendy with the medicine in a glass .

" i have been as quick as i could , " she panted .

" you have been wonderfully quick , " her father retorted , with a vindictive politeness that was quite thrown away upon her .

" michael first , " he said doggedly .

" father first , " said michael , who was of a suspicious nature .

" i shall be sick , you know , " mr darling said threateningly .

" come on , father , " said john .

" hold your tongue , john , " his father rapped out .

wendy was quite puzzled .

" i thought you took it quite easily , father . "

" that is not the point , " he retorted .

" the point is , that there is more in my glass than in michael 's spoon . "

his proud heart was nearly bursting .

" and it isn't fair : i would say it though it were with my last breath ; it isn't fair . "

" father , i am waiting , " said michael coldly .

" it 's all very well to say you are waiting ; so am i waiting . "

" father 's a cowardly custard . "

" so are you a cowardly custard . "

" i 'm not frightened . "

" neither am i frightened . "

" well , then , take it . "

" well , then , you take it . "

wendy had a splendid idea .

" why not both take it at the same time ? "

" certainly , " said mr. darling .

" are you ready , michael ? "

wendy gave the words , one , two , three , and michael took his medicine , but mr darling slipped his behind his back .

there was a yell of rage from michael , and " o father ! "

wendy exclaimed .

" what do you mean by ' o father ' ? "

mr darling demanded .

" stop that row , michael .

i meant to take mine , but i i missed it . "

it was dreadful the way all the three were looking at him , just as if they did not admire him .

" look here , all of you , " he said entreatingly , as soon as nana had gone into the bathroom .

" i have just thought of a splendid joke .

i shall pour my medicine into nana 's bowl , and she will drink it , thinking it is milk ! "

" what fun ! " he said doubtfully , and they did not dare expose him when mrs darling and nana returned .

nana wagged her tail , ran to the medicine , and began lapping it .

mr darling was frightfully ashamed of himself , but he would not give in .

in a horrid silence mrs. darling smelt the bowl .

" o george , " she said , " it 's your medicine ! "

" it was only a joke , " he roared , while she comforted her boys , and wendy hugged nana .

" much good , " he said bitterly , " my wearing myself to the bone trying to be funny in this house . "

and still wendy hugged nana .

" that 's right , " he shouted .

" coddle her !

nobody coddles me .

oh dear no !

i am only the breadwinner , why should i be coddled why , why , why ! "

" george , " mrs darling entreated him , " not so loud ; the servants will hear you . "

somehow they had got into the way of calling liza the servants .

" let them ! " he answered recklessly .

" bring in the whole world .

but i refuse to allow that dog to lord it in my nursery for an hour longer . "

the children wept , and nana ran to him beseechingly , but he waved her back .

he felt he was a strong man again .

" george , george , " mrs darling whispered , " remember what i told you about that boy . "

alas , he would not listen .

he was ashamed of himself , and yet he did it .

it was all owing to his too affectionate nature , which craved for admiration .

in the meantime mrs darling had put the children to bed in unwonted silence and lit their night-lights .

danger !

" are you sure , wendy ? "

" oh , yes . "

mrs darling quivered and went to the window .

it was securely fastened .

she looked out , and the night was peppered with stars .

" nothing , precious , " she said ; " they are the eyes a mother leaves behind her to guard her children . "

she went from bed to bed singing enchantments over them , and little michael flung his arms round her .

" mother , " he cried , " i 'm glad of you . "

they were the last words she was to hear from him for a long time .

they were already the only persons in the street , and all the stars were watching them .

stars are beautiful , but they may not take an active part in anything , they must just look on for ever .

it is a punishment put on them for something they did so long ago that no star now knows what it was .

so the older ones have become glassy-eyed and seldom speak ( winking is the star language ) , but the little ones still wonder .

" now , peter ! "

chapter @number@ come away , come away !

for a moment after mr and mrs. darling left the house the night-lights by the beds of the three children continued to burn clearly .

she was slightly inclined to embonpoint . [ plump hourglass figure ]

a moment after the fairy 's entrance the window was blown open by the breathing of the little stars , and peter dropped in .

he had carried tinker bell part of the way , and his hand was still messy with the fairy dust .

she was in a jug for the moment , and liking it extremely ; she had never been in a jug before .

" oh , do come out of that jug , and tell me , do you know where they put my shadow ? "

the loveliest tinkle as of golden bells answered him .

it is the fairy language .

you ordinary children can never hear it , but if you were to hear it you would know that you had heard it once before .

tink said that the shadow was in the big box .

in a moment he had recovered his shadow , and in his delight he forgot that he had shut tinker bell up in the drawer .

he tried to stick it on with soap from the bathroom , but that also failed .

a shudder passed through peter , and he sat on the floor and cried .

his sobs woke wendy , and she sat up in bed .

she was not alarmed to see a stranger crying on the nursery floor ; she was only pleasantly interested .

" boy , " she said courteously , " why are you crying ? "

peter could be exceeding polite also , having learned the grand manner at fairy ceremonies , and he rose and bowed to her beautifully .

she was much pleased , and bowed beautifully to him from the bed .

" what 's your name ? " he asked .

" wendy moira angela darling , " she replied with some satisfaction .

" what is your name ? "

" peter pan . "

she was already sure that he must be peter , but it did seem a comparatively short name .

" is that all ? "

" yes , " he said rather sharply .

he felt for the first time that it was a shortish name .

" i 'm so sorry , " said wendy moira angela .

" it doesn't matter , " peter gulped .

she asked where he lived .

" second to the right , " said peter , " and then straight on till morning . "

" what a funny address ! "

peter had a sinking .

for the first time he felt that perhaps it was a funny address .

" no , it isn't , " he said .

he wished she had not mentioned letters .

" don't get any letters , " he said contemptuously .

" but your mother gets letters ? "

" don't have a mother , " he said .

not only had he no mother , but he had not the slightest desire to have one .

he thought them very over-rated persons .

wendy , however , felt at once that she was in the presence of a tragedy .

" o peter , no wonder you were crying , " she said , and got out of bed and ran to him .

" i wasn't crying about mothers , " he said rather indignantly .

" i was crying because i can't get my shadow to stick on .

besides , i wasn't crying . "

" it has come off ? "

" yes . "

then wendy saw the shadow on the floor , looking so draggled , and she was frightfully sorry for peter .

how exactly like a boy !

fortunately she knew at once what to do .

" it must be sewn on , " she said , just a little patronisingly .

" what 's sewn ? " he asked .

" you 're dreadfully ignorant . "

" no , i'm not . "

but she was exulting in his ignorance .

" i daresay it will hurt a little , " she warned him .

" oh , i shan't cry , " said peter , who was already of the opinion that he had never cried in his life .

and he clenched his teeth and did not cry , and soon his shadow was behaving properly , though still a little creased .

alas , he had already forgotten that he owed his bliss to wendy .

he thought he had attached the shadow himself .

" how clever i am ! " he crowed rapturously , " oh , the cleverness of me ! "

it is humiliating to have to confess that this conceit of peter was one of his most fascinating qualities .

to put it with brutal frankness , there never was a cockier boy .

but for the moment wendy was shocked .

" you conceit [ braggart ] , " she exclaimed , with frightful sarcasm ; " of course i did nothing ! "

" you did a little , " peter said carelessly , and continued to dance .

" wendy , " he said , " don't withdraw .

i can't help crowing , wendy , when i 'm pleased with myself . "

still she would not look up , though she was listening eagerly .

now wendy was every inch a woman , though there were not very many inches , and she peeped out of the bed-clothes .

" do you really think so , peter ? "

" yes , i do . "

" surely you know what a kiss is ? " she asked , aghast .

it was lucky that she did put it on that chain , for it was afterwards to save her life .

" i don't know , " he replied uneasily , " but i am quite young . "

he was extraordinarily agitated now .

" i don't want ever to be a man , " he said with passion .

" i want always to be a little boy and to have fun .

so i ran away to kensington gardens and lived a long long time among the fairies . "

wendy had lived such a home life that to know fairies struck her as quite delightful .

still , he liked them on the whole , and he told her about the beginning of fairies .

tedious talk this , but being a stay-at-home she liked it .

" and so , " he went on good-naturedly , " there ought to be one fairy for every boy and girl . "

" ought to be ?

isn't there ? "

" no .

really , he thought they had now talked enough about fairies , and it struck him that tinker bell was keeping very quiet .

" i can't think where she has gone to , " he said , rising , and he called tink by name .

wendy 's heart went flutter with a sudden thrill .

" she was here just now , " he said a little impatiently .

" you don't hear her , do you ? " and they both listened .

" the only sound i hear , " said wendy , " is like a tinkle of bells . "

" well , that 's tink , that 's the fairy language .

i think i hear her too . "

the sound came from the chest of drawers , and peter made a merry face .

no one could ever look quite so merry as peter , and the loveliest of gurgles was his laugh .

he had his first laugh still .

" wendy , " he whispered gleefully , " i do believe i shut her up in the drawer ! "

he let poor tink out of the drawer , and she flew about the nursery screaming with fury .

" you shouldn't say such things , " peter retorted .

" of course i 'm very sorry , but how could i know you were in the drawer ? "

wendy was not listening to him .

" o peter , " she cried , " if she would only stand still and let me see her ! "

" o the lovely ! " she cried , though tink 's face was still distorted with passion .

" tink , " said peter amiably , " this lady says she wishes you were her fairy . "

tinker bell answered insolently .

" what does she say , peter ? "

he had to translate .

" she is not very polite .

she says you are a great [ huge ] ugly girl , and that she is my fairy . "

he tried to argue with tink .

" you know you can't be my fairy , tink , because i am an gentleman and you are a lady . "

to this tink replied in these words , " you silly ass , " and disappeared into the bathroom .

[ similar to " cinder " plus " elle " to get cinderella ]

they were together in the armchair by this time , and wendy plied him with more questions .

" if you don't live in kensington gardens now "

" sometimes i do still . "

" but where do you live mostly now ? "

" with the lost boys . "

" who are they ? "

" they are the children who fall out of their perambulators when the nurse is looking the other way .

if they are not claimed in seven days they are sent far away to the neverland to defray expenses .

i 'm captain . "

" what fun it must be ! "

" yes , " said cunning peter , " but we are rather lonely .

you see we have no female companionship . "

" are none of the others girls ? "

" oh , no ; girls , you know , are much too clever to fall out of their prams . "

this flattered wendy immensely .

for reply peter rose and kicked john out of bed , blankets and all ; one kick .

this seemed to wendy rather forward for a first meeting , and she told him with spirit that he was not captain in her house .

however , john continued to sleep so placidly on the floor that she allowed him to remain there .

" and i know you meant to be kind , " she said , relenting , " so you may give me a kiss . "

for the moment she had forgotten his ignorance about kisses .

" i thought you would want it back , " he said a little bitterly , and offered to return her the thimble .

" oh dear , " said the nice wendy , " i don't mean a kiss , i mean a thimble . "

" what 's that ? "

" it 's like this . "

she kissed him .

" funny ! " said peter gravely .

" now shall i give you a thimble ? "

" if you wish to , " said wendy , keeping her head erect this time .

peter thimbled her , and almost immediately she screeched .

" what is it , wendy ? "

" it was exactly as if someone were pulling my hair . "

" that must have been tink .

i never knew her so naughty before . "

and indeed tink was darting about again , using offensive language .

" she says she will do that to you , wendy , every time i give you a thimble . "

" but why ? "

" why , tink ? "

again tink replied , " you silly ass . "

" you see , i don't know any stories .

none of the lost boys knows any stories . "

" how perfectly awful , " wendy said .

" do you know , " peter asked " why swallows build in the eaves of houses ?

it is to listen to the stories .

o wendy , your mother was telling you such a lovely story . "

" which story was it ? "

" about the prince who couldn't find the lady who wore the glass slipper . "

" peter , " said wendy excitedly , " that was cinderella , and he found her , and they lived happily ever after . "

peter was so glad that he rose from the floor , where they had been sitting , and hurried to the window .

" where are you going ? " she cried with misgiving .

" to tell the other boys . "

" don't go peter , " she entreated , " i know such lots of stories . "

those were her precise words , so there can be no denying that it was she who first tempted him .

he came back , and there was a greedy look in his eyes now which ought to have alarmed her , but did not .

" let me go ! " she ordered him .

" wendy , do come with me and tell the other boys . "

of course she was very pleased to be asked , but she said , " oh dear , i can't .

think of mummy !

besides , i can't fly . "

" i 'll teach you . "

" oh , how lovely to fly . "

" i 'll teach you how to jump on the wind 's back , and then away we go . "

" oo ! " she exclaimed rapturously .

" oo ! "

" and , wendy , there are mermaids . "

" mermaids !

with tails ? "

" such long tails . "

" oh , " cried wendy , " to see a mermaid ! "

he had become frightfully cunning .

" wendy , " he said , " how we should all respect you . "

she was wriggling her body in distress .

it was quite as if she were trying to remain on the nursery floor .

but he had no pity for her .

" wendy , " he said , the sly one , " you could tuck us in at night . "

" oo ! "

" none of us has ever been tucked in at night . "

" oo , " and her arms went out to him .

" and you could darn our clothes , and make pockets for us .

none of us has any pockets . "

how could she resist .

" of course it 's awfully fascinating ! " she cried .

" peter , would you teach john and michael to fly too ? "

" if you like , " he said indifferently , and she ran to john and michael and shook them .

" wake up , " she cried , " peter pan has come and he is to teach us to fly . "

john rubbed his eyes .

" then i shall get up , " he said .

of course he was on the floor already .

" hallo , " he said , " i am up ! "

their faces assumed the awful craftiness of children listening for sounds from the grown-up world .

all was as still as salt .

then everything was right .

no , stop !

everything was wrong .

nana , who had been barking distressfully all the evening , was quiet now .

it was her silence they had heard .

" out with the light !

hide !

quick ! " cried john , taking command for the only time throughout the whole adventure .

they were really doing it artfully from behind the window curtains .

" there , you suspicious brute , " she said , not sorry that nana was in disgrace .

" they are perfectly safe , aren't they ?

every one of the little angels sound asleep in bed .

listen to their gentle breathing . "

here michael , encouraged by his success , breathed so loudly that they were nearly detected .

nana knew that kind of breathing , and she tried to drag herself out of liza 's clutches .

but liza was dense .

" no more of it , nana , " she said sternly , pulling her out of the room .

she tied the unhappy dog up again , but do you think nana ceased to bark ?

bring master and missus home from the party !

why , that was just what she wanted .

do you think she cared whether she was whipped so long as her charges were safe ?

we now return to the nursery .

" it 's all right , " john announced , emerging from his hiding-place .

" i say , peter , can you really fly ? "

instead of troubling to answer him peter flew around the room , taking the mantelpiece on the way .

" how topping ! " said john and michael .

" how sweet ! " cried wendy .

" yes , i 'm sweet , oh , i am sweet ! " said peter , forgetting his manners again .

" i say , how do you do it ? " asked john , rubbing his knee .

he was quite a practical boy .

" you just think lovely wonderful thoughts , " peter explained , " and they lift you up in the air . "

he showed them again .

" you 're so nippy at it , " john said , " couldn't you do it very slowly once ? "

peter did it both slowly and quickly .

" i 've got it now , wendy ! " cried john , but soon he found he had not .

of course peter had been trifling with them , for no one can fly unless the fairy dust has been blown on him .

" now just wiggle your shoulders this way , " he said , " and let go . "

they were all on their beds , and gallant michael let go first .

he did not quite mean to let go , but he did it , and immediately he was borne across the room .

" i flewed ! " he screamed while still in mid-air .

john let go and met wendy near the bathroom .

" oh , lovely ! "

" oh , ripping ! "

" look at me ! "

" look at me ! "

" look at me ! "

peter gave wendy a hand at first , but had to desist , tink was so indignant .

up and down they went , and round and round .

heavenly was wendy 's word .

" i say , " cried john , " why shouldn't we all go out ? "

of course it was to this that peter had been luring them .

michael was ready : he wanted to see how long it took him to do a billion miles .

but wendy hesitated .

" mermaids ! " said peter again .

" oo ! "

" and there are pirates . "

" pirates , " cried john , seizing his sunday hat , " let us go at once . "

it was just at this moment that mr and mrs. darling hurried with nana out of @number@

not three figures , four !

in a tremble they opened the street door .

mr darling would have rushed upstairs , but mrs darling signed him to go softly .

she even tried to make her heart go softly .

will they reach the nursery in time ?

if so , how delightful for them , and we shall all breathe a sigh of relief , but there will be no story .

on the other hand , if they are not in time , i solemnly promise that it will all come right in the end .

they would have reached the nursery in time had it not been that the little stars were watching them .

once again the stars blew the window open , and that smallest star of all called out :

" cave , peter ! "

then peter knew that there was not a moment to lose .

" come , " he cried imperiously , and soared out at once into the night , followed by john and michael and wendy .

mr and mrs. darling and nana rushed into the nursery too late .

the birds were flown .

chapter @number@ the flight

" second to the right , and straight on till morning . "

peter , you see , just said anything that came into his head .

john and michael raced , michael getting a start .

they recalled with contempt that not so long ago they had thought themselves fine fellows for being able to fly round a room .

not long ago .

but how long ago ?

they were flying over the sea before this thought began to disturb wendy seriously .

john thought it was their second sea and their third night .

sometimes it was dark and sometimes light , and now they were very cold and again too warm .

the awful thing was that peter thought this funny .

" there he goes again ! " he would cry gleefully , as michael suddenly dropped like a stone .

" save him , save him ! " cried wendy , looking with horror at the cruel sea far below .

" do be more polite to him , " wendy whispered to john , when they were playing " follow my leader . "

" then tell him to stop showing off , " said john .

" you must be nice to him , " wendy impressed on her brothers .

" what could we do if he were to leave us ! "

" we could go back , " michael said .

" how could we ever find our way back without him ? "

" well , then , we could go on , " said john .

" that is the awful thing , john .

we should have to go on , for we don't know how to stop . "

this was true , peter had forgotten to show them how to stop .

" and who is to get food for us , john ? "

" i nipped a bit out of that eagle 's mouth pretty neatly , wendy . "

" after the twentieth try , " wendy reminded him .

indeed they were constantly bumping .

if nana had been with them , she would have had a bandage round michael 's forehead by this time .

peter was not with them for the moment , and they felt rather lonely up there by themselves .

it was really rather irritating to children who had never seen a mermaid .

indeed , sometimes when he returned he did not remember them , at least not well .

wendy was sure of it .

" i 'm wendy , " she said agitatedly .

he was very sorry .

of course this was rather unsatisfactory .

it is only thus that any one may sight those magic shores .

" there it is , " said peter calmly .

" where , where ? "

" where all the arrows are pointing . "

wendy and john and michael stood on tip-toe in the air to get their first sight of the island .

" john , there 's the lagoon . "

" wendy , look at the turtles burying their eggs in the sand . "

" i say , john , i see your flamingo with the broken leg ! "

" look , michael , there 's your cave ! "

" john , what 's that in the brushwood ? "

" it 's a wolf with her whelps .

wendy , i do believe that 's your little whelp ! "

" there 's my boat , john , with her sides stove in ! "

" no , it isn't .

why , we burned your boat . "

" that 's her , at any rate .

i say , john , i see the smoke of the redskin camp ! "

" where ?

show me , and i 'll tell you by the way smoke curls whether they are on the war-path . "

" there , just across the mysterious river . "

" i see now .

yes , they are on the war-path right enough . "

it came as the arrows went , leaving the island in gloom .

in the old days at home the neverland had always begun to look a little dark and threatening by bedtime .

you were quite glad that the night-lights were on .

you even liked nana to say that this was just the mantelpiece over here , and that the neverland was all make-believe .

they had been flying apart , but they huddled close to peter now .

his careless manner had gone at last , his eyes were sparkling , and a tingle went through them every time they touched his body .

they were now over the fearsome island , flying so low that sometimes a tree grazed their feet .

sometimes they hung in the air until peter had beaten on it with his fists .

" they don't want us to land , " he explained .

" who are they ? "

wendy whispered , shuddering .

but he could not or would not say .

tinker bell had been asleep on his shoulder , but now he wakened her and sent her on in front .

having done these things , he went on again .

his courage was almost appalling .

wendy said " tea first " quickly , and michael pressed her hand in gratitude , but the braver john hesitated .

" what kind of adventure ? " he asked cautiously .

" there 's a pirate asleep in the pampas just beneath us , " peter told him .

" if you like , we 'll go down and kill him . "

" i don't see him , " john said after a long pause .

" i do . "

" suppose , " john said , a little huskily , " he were to wake up . "

peter spoke indignantly .

" you don't think i would kill him while he was sleeping !

i would wake him first , and then kill him .

that 's the way i always do . "

" i say !

do you kill many ? "

" tons . "

john said " how ripping , " but decided to have tea first .

he asked if there were many pirates on the island just now , and peter said he had never known so many .

" who is captain now ? "

" hook , " answered peter , and his face became very stern as he said that hated word .

" jas . hook ? "

" ay . "

then indeed michael began to cry , and even john could speak in gulps only , for they knew hook 's reputation .

" he was blackbeard 's bo'sun , " john whispered huskily .

" he is the worst of them all .

he is the only man of whom barbecue was afraid . "

" that 's him , " said peter .

" what is he like ?

is he big ? "

" he is not so big as he was . "

" how do you mean ? "

" i cut off a bit of him . "

" you ! "

" yes , me , " said peter sharply .

" i wasn't meaning to be disrespectful . "

" oh , all right . "

" but , i say , what bit ? "

" his right hand . "

" then he can't fight now ? "

" oh , can't he just ! "

" left-hander ? "

" he has an iron hook instead of a right hand , and he claws with it . "

" claws ! "

" i say , john , " said peter .

" yes . "

" say , ' ay , ay , sir . ' "

" ay , ay , sir . "

john paled .

" it is this , if we meet hook in open fight , you must leave him to me . "

" i promise , " john said loyally .

for the moment they were feeling less eerie , because tink was flying with them , and in her light they could distinguish each other .

wendy quite liked it , until peter pointed out the drawbacks .

" the big gun ? "

" yes .

and of course they must see her light , and if they guess we are near it they are sure to let fly . "

" wendy ! "

" john ! "

" michael ! "

" tell her to go away at once , peter , " the three cried simultaneously , but he refused .

" she thinks we have lost the way , " he replied stiffly , " and she is rather frightened .

you don't think i would send her away all by herself when she is frightened ! "

for a moment the circle of light was broken , and something gave peter a loving little pinch .

" then tell her , " wendy begged , " to put out her light . "

" she can't put it out .

that is about the only thing fairies can't do .

it just goes out of itself when she falls asleep , same as the stars . "

" then tell her to sleep at once , " john almost ordered .

" she can't sleep except when she 's sleepy .

it is the only other thing fairies can't do . "

" seems to me , " growled john , " these are the only two things worth doing . "

here he got a pinch , but not a loving one .

" if only one of us had a pocket , " peter said , " we could carry her in it . "

however , they had set off in such a hurry that there was not a pocket between the four of them .

he had a happy idea .

john 's hat !

tink agreed to travel by hat if it was carried in the hand .

john carried it , though she had hoped to be carried by peter .

in the black topper the light was completely hidden , and they flew on in silence .

even these noises ceased .

to michael the loneliness was dreadful .

" if only something would make a sound ! " he cried .

as if in answer to his request , the air was rent by the most tremendous crash he had ever heard .

the pirates had fired long tom at them .

thus sharply did the terrified three learn the difference between an island of make-believe and the same island come true .

when at last the heavens were steady again , john and michael found themselves alone in the darkness .

john was treading the air mechanically , and michael without knowing how to float was floating .

" are you shot ? "

john whispered tremulously .

" i haven't tried [ myself out ] yet , " michael whispered back .

we know now that no one had been hit .

it would have been well for wendy if at that moment she had dropped the hat .

fairies have to be one thing or the other , because being so small they unfortunately have room for one feeling only at a time .

they are , however , allowed to change , only it must be a complete change .

at present she was full of jealousy of wendy .

what else could poor wendy do ?

she called to peter and john and michael , and got only mocking echoes in reply .

she did not yet know that tink hated her with the fierce hatred of a very woman .

and so , bewildered , and now staggering in her flight , she followed tink to her doom .

chapter @number@ the island come true

feeling that peter was on his way back , the neverland had again woke into life .

we ought to use the pluperfect and say wakened , but woke is better and was always used by peter .

in his absence things are usually quiet on the island .

on this evening the chief forces of the island were disposed as follows .

they were going round and round the island , but they did not meet because all were going at the same rate .

all wanted blood except the boys , who liked it as a rule , but to-night were out to greet their captain .

they have therefore become very sure-footed .

the first to pass is tootles , not the least brave but the most unfortunate of all that gallant band .

poor kind tootles , there is danger in the air for you to-night .

take care lest an adventure is now offered you , which , if accepted , will plunge you in deepest woe .

' ware tinker bell .

would that he could hear us , but we are not really on the island , and he passes by , biting his knuckles .

slightly is the most conceited of the boys .

last come the twins , who cannot be described because we should be sure to be describing the wrong one .

we hear them before they are seen , and it is always the same dreadful song :

a more villainous-looking lot never hung in a row on execution dock .

mullins and alf mason and many another ruffian long known and feared on the spanish main .

as dogs this terrible man treated and addressed them , and as dogs they obeyed him .

but undoubtedly the grimmest part of him was his iron claw .

let us now kill a pirate , to show hook 's method .

skylights will do .

he has not even taken the cigars from his mouth .

such is the terrible man against whom peter pan is pitted .

which will win ?

they carry tomahawks and knives , and their naked bodies gleam with paint and oil .

bringing up the rear , the place of greatest danger , comes tiger lily , proudly erect , a princess in her own right .

observe how they pass over fallen twigs without making the slightest noise .

the only sound to be heard is their somewhat heavy breathing .

the fact is that they are all a little fat just now after the heavy gorging , but in time they will work this off .

for the moment , however , it constitutes their chief danger .

their tongues are hanging out , they are hungry to-night .

when they have passed , comes the last figure of all , a gigantic crocodile .

we shall see for whom she is looking presently .

then quickly they will be on top of each other .

all are keeping a sharp look-out in front , but none suspects that the danger may be creeping up from behind .

this shows how real the island was .

the first to fall out of the moving circle was the boys .

they flung themselves down on the sward [ turf ] , close to their underground home .

they talked of cinderella , and tootles was confident that his mother must have been very like her .

it was only in peter 's absence that they could speak of mothers , the subject being forbidden by him as silly .

i don't know what a cheque-book is , but i should just love to give my mother one . "

while they talked they heard a distant sound .

at once the lost boys but where are they ?

they are no longer there .

rabbits could not have disappeared more quickly .

i will tell you where they are .

these are the seven entrances to the home under the ground , for which hook has been searching in vain these many moons .

will he find it tonight ?

as the pirates advanced , the quick eye of starkey sighted nibs disappearing through the wood , and at once his pistol flashed out .

but an iron claw gripped his shoulder .

" captain , let go ! " he cried , writhing .

now for the first time we hear the voice of hook .

it was a black voice .

" put back that pistol first , " it said threateningly .

" it was one of those boys you hate .

i could have shot him dead . "

" ay , and the sound would have brought tiger lily 's redskins upon us .

do you want to lose your scalp ? "

" shall i after him , captain , " asked pathetic smee , " and tickle him with johnny corkscrew ? "

smee had pleasant names for everything , and his cutlass was johnny corkscrew , because he wiggled it in the wound .

one could mention many lovable traits in smee .

for instance , after killing , it was his spectacles he wiped instead of his weapon .

" johnny 's a silent fellow , " he reminded hook .

" not now , smee , " hook said darkly .

" he is only one , and i want to mischief all the seven .

scatter and look for them . "

the pirates disappeared among the trees , and in a moment their captain and smee were alone .

he spoke long and earnestly , but what it was all about smee , who was rather stupid , did not know in the least .

anon [ later ] he caught the word peter .

" most of all , " hook was saying passionately , " i want their captain , peter pan .

' twas he cut off my arm . "

he brandished the hook threateningly .

" i 've waited long to shake his hand with this .

oh , i 'll tear him ! "

then again he frowned .

" peter flung my arm , " he said , wincing , " to a crocodile that happened to be passing by . "

" i have often , " said smee , " noticed your strange dread of crocodiles . "

" not of crocodiles , " hook corrected him , " but of that one crocodile . "

he lowered his voice .

" in a way , " said smee , " it 's sort of a compliment . "

" i want no such compliments , " hook barked petulantly .

" i want peter pan , who first gave the brute its taste for me . "

he sat down on a large mushroom , and now there was a quiver in his voice .

he laughed , but in a hollow way .

" some day , " said smee , " the clock will run down , and then he 'll get you . "

hook wetted his dry lips .

" ay , " he said , " that 's the fear that haunts me . "

since sitting down he had felt curiously warm .

" smee , " he said , " this seat is hot . "

he jumped up .

" odds bobs , hammer and tongs i 'm burning . "

stranger still , smoke began at once to ascend .

the pirates looked at each other .

" a chimney ! " they both exclaimed .

they had indeed discovered the chimney of the home under the ground .

it was the custom of the boys to stop it with a mushroom when enemies were in the neighbourhood .

not only smoke came out of it .

there came also children 's voices , for so safe did the boys feel in their hiding-place that they were gaily chattering .

the pirates listened grimly , and then replaced the mushroom .

they looked around them and noted the holes in the seven trees .

" did you hear them say peter pan 's from home ? "

smee whispered , fidgeting with johnny corkscrew .

hook nodded .

he stood for a long time lost in thought , and at last a curdling smile lit up his swarthy face .

smee had been waiting for it .

" unrip your plan , captain , " he cried eagerly .

there can be but one room below , for there is but one chimney .

the silly moles had not the sense to see that they did not need a door apiece .

that shows they have no mother .

we will leave the cake on the shore of the mermaids ' lagoon .

these boys are always swimming about there , playing with the mermaids .

he burst into laughter , not hollow laughter now , but honest laughter .

" aha , they will die . "

smee had listened with growing admiration .

" it 's the wickedest , prettiest policy ever i heard of ! " he cried , and in their exultation they danced and sang :

they began the verse , but they never finished it , for another sound broke in and stilled them .

tick tick tick tick !

hook stood shuddering , one foot in the air .

" the crocodile ! " he gasped , and bounded away , followed by his bo'sun .

it was indeed the crocodile .

it had passed the redskins , who were now on the trail of the other pirates .

it oozed on after hook .

the tongues of the pursuers were hanging out ; the baying of them was horrible .

" save me , save me ! " cried nibs , falling on the ground .

" but what can we do , what can we do ? "

it was a high compliment to peter that at that dire moment their thoughts turned to him .

" what would peter do ? " they cried simultaneously .

almost in the same breath they cried , " peter would look at them through his legs . "

and then , " let us do what peter would do . "

it is quite the most successful way of defying wolves , and as one boy they bent and looked through their legs .

now nibs rose from the ground , and the others thought that his staring eyes still saw the wolves .

but it was not wolves he saw .

" i have seen a wonderfuller thing , " he cried , as they gathered round him eagerly .

" a great white bird .

it is flying this way . "

" what kind of a bird , do you think ? "

" poor wendy ? "

" i remember , " said slightly instantly , " there are birds called wendies . "

" see , it comes ! " cried curly , pointing to wendy in the heavens .

wendy was now almost overhead , and they could hear her plaintive cry .

but more distinct came the shrill voice of tinker bell .

" hullo , tink , " cried the wondering boys .

tink 's reply rang out : " peter wants you to shoot the wendy . "

it was not in their nature to question when peter ordered .

" let us do what peter wishes ! " cried the simple boys .

" quick , bows and arrows ! "

all but tootles popped down their trees .

he had a bow and arrow with him , and tink noted it , and rubbed her little hands .

" quick , tootles , quick , " she screamed .

" peter will be so pleased . "

tootles excitedly fitted the arrow to his bow .

chapter @number@ the little house

foolish tootles was standing like a conqueror over wendy 's body when the other boys sprang , armed , from their trees .

" you are too late , " he cried proudly , " i have shot the wendy .

peter will be so pleased with me . "

overhead tinker bell shouted " silly ass ! " and darted into hiding .

the others did not hear her .

they had crowded round wendy , and as they looked a terrible silence fell upon the wood .

if wendy 's heart had been beating they would all have heard it .

slightly was the first to speak .

" this is no bird , " he said in a scared voice .

" i think this must be a lady . "

" a lady ? " said tootles , and fell a-trembling .

" and we have killed her , " nibs said hoarsely .

they all whipped off their caps .

" now i see , " curly said : " peter was bringing her to us . "

he threw himself sorrowfully on the ground .

they were sorry for him , but sorrier for themselves , and when he took a step nearer them they turned from him .

tootles ' face was very white , but there was a dignity about him now that had never been there before .

" i did it , " he said , reflecting .

" when ladies used to come to me in dreams , i said , ' pretty mother , pretty mother . '

but when at last she really came , i shot her . "

he moved slowly away .

" don't go , " they called in pity .

" i must , " he answered , shaking ; " i am so afraid of peter . "

it was at this tragic moment that they heard a sound which made the heart of every one of them rise to his mouth .

they heard peter crow .

" peter ! " they cried , for it was always thus that he signalled his return .

" hide her , " they whispered , and gathered hastily around wendy .

but tootles stood aloof .

again came that ringing crow , and peter dropped in front of them .

" greetings , boys , " he cried , and mechanically they saluted , and then again was silence .

he frowned .

" i am back , " he said hotly , " why do you not cheer ? "

they opened their mouths , but the cheers would not come .

he overlooked it in his haste to tell the glorious tidings .

" great news , boys , " he cried , " i have brought at last a mother for you all . "

still no sound , except a little thud from tootles as he dropped on his knees .

" have you not seen her ? " asked peter , becoming troubled .

" she flew this way . "

" ah me ! " one voice said , and another said , " oh , mournful day . "

tootles rose .

" she is dead , " he said uncomfortably .

" perhaps she is frightened at being dead . "

they would all have been glad to follow if he had done this .

but there was the arrow .

he took it from her heart and faced his band .

" whose arrow ? " he demanded sternly .

" mine , peter , " said tootles on his knees .

" oh , dastard hand , " peter said , and he raised the arrow to use it as a dagger .

tootles did not flinch .

he bared his breast .

" strike , peter , " he said firmly , " strike true . "

twice did peter raise the arrow , and twice did his hand fall .

" i cannot strike , " he said with awe , " there is something stays my hand . "

all looked at him in wonder , save nibs , who fortunately looked at wendy .

" it is she , " he cried , " the wendy lady , see , her arm ! "

wonderful to relate [ tell ] , wendy had raised her arm .

nibs bent over her and listened reverently .

" i think she said , ' poor tootles , ' " he whispered .

" she lives , " peter said briefly .

slightly cried instantly , " the wendy lady lives . "

then peter knelt beside her and found his button .

you remember she had put it on a chain that she wore round her neck .

" see , " he said , " the arrow struck against this .

it is the kiss i gave her .

it has saved her life . "

" i remember kisses , " slightly interposed quickly , " let me see it .

ay , that 's a kiss . "

peter did not hear him .

he was begging wendy to get better quickly , so that he could show her the mermaids .

of course she could not answer yet , being still in a frightful faint ; but from overhead came a wailing note .

" listen to tink , " said curly , " she is crying because the wendy lives . "

then they had to tell peter of tink 's crime , and almost never had they seen him look so stern .

" listen , tinker bell , " he cried , " i am your friend no more .

begone from me for ever . "

she flew on to his shoulder and pleaded , but he brushed her off .

do you think tinker bell was grateful to wendy for raising her arm ?

oh dear no , never wanted to pinch her so much .

fairies indeed are strange , and peter , who understood them best , often cuffed [ slapped ] them .

but what to do with wendy in her present delicate state of health ?

" let us carry her down into the house , " curly suggested .

" ay , " said slightly , " that is what one does with ladies . "

" no , no , " peter said , " you must not touch her .

it would not be sufficiently respectful . "

" that , " said slightly , " is what i was thinking . "

" but if she lies there , " tootles said , " she will die . "

" ay , she will die , " slightly admitted , " but there is no way out . "

" yes , there is , " cried peter .

" let us build a little house round her . "

they were all delighted .

" quick , " he ordered them , " bring me each of you the best of what we have .

gut our house .

be sharp . "

in a moment they were as busy as tailors the night before a wedding .

as they dragged along the ground they fell asleep standing , stopped , woke up , moved another step and slept again .

" john , john , " michael would cry , " wake up !

where is nana , john , and mother ? "

and then john would rub his eyes and mutter , " it is true , we did fly . "

you may be sure they were very relieved to find peter .

" hullo , peter , " they said .

" hullo , " replied peter amicably , though he had quite forgotten them .

he was very busy at the moment measuring wendy with his feet to see how large a house she would need .

of course he meant to leave room for chairs and a table .

john and michael watched him .

" is wendy asleep ? " they asked .

" yes . "

" look at them ! " he cried .

" curly , " said peter in his most captainy voice , " see that these boys help in the building of the house . "

" ay , ay , sir . "

" build a house ? " exclaimed john .

" for the wendy , " said curly .

" for wendy ? "

john said , aghast .

" why , she is only a girl ! "

" that , " explained curly , " is why we are her servants . "

" you ?

wendy 's servants ! "

" yes , " said peter , " and you also .

away with them . "

the astounded brothers were dragged away to hack and hew and carry .

" chairs and a fender [ fireplace ] first , " peter ordered .

" then we shall build a house round them . "

" ay , " said slightly , " that is how a house is built ; it all comes back to me . "

peter thought of everything .

" slightly , " he cried , " fetch a doctor . "

" ay , ay , " said slightly at once , and disappeared , scratching his head .

but he knew peter must be obeyed , and he returned in a moment , wearing john 's hat and looking solemn .

" please , sir , " said peter , going to him , " are you a doctor ? "

this sometimes troubled them , as when they had to make-believe that they had had their dinners .

if they broke down in their make-believe he rapped them on the knuckles .

" yes , my little man , " slightly anxiously replied , who had chapped knuckles .

" please , sir , " peter explained , " a lady lies very ill . "

she was lying at their feet , but slightly had the sense not to see her .

" tut , tut , tut , " he said , " where does she lie ? "

" in yonder glade . "

" i will put a glass thing in her mouth , " said slightly , and he made-believe to do it , while peter waited .

it was an anxious moment when the glass thing was withdrawn .

" how is she ? " inquired peter .

" tut , tut , tut , " said slightly , " this has cured her . "

" i am glad ! "

peter cried .

" if only we knew , " said one , " the kind of house she likes best . "

" peter , " shouted another , " she is moving in her sleep . "

" her mouth opens , " cried a third , looking respectfully into it .

" oh , lovely ! "

" perhaps she is going to sing in her sleep , " said peter .

" wendy , sing the kind of house you would like to have . "

immediately , without opening her eyes , wendy began to sing :

" i wish i had a pretty house , the littlest ever seen , with funny little red walls and roof of mossy green . "

as they rattled up the little house they broke into song themselves :

to this she answered greedily :

with a blow of their fists they made windows , and large yellow leaves were the blinds .

but roses ?

" roses , " cried peter sternly .

quickly they made-believe to grow the loveliest roses up the walls .

babies ?

to prevent peter ordering babies they hurried into song again :

peter , seeing this to be a good idea , at once pretended that it was his own .

peter strode up and down , ordering finishing touches .

nothing escaped his eagle eyes .

just when it seemed absolutely finished :

" there 's no knocker on the door , " he said .

they were very ashamed , but tootles gave the sole of his shoe , and it made an excellent knocker .

absolutely finished now , they thought .

not of bit of it .

" there 's no chimney , " peter said ; " we must have a chimney . "

" it certainly does need a chimney , " said john importantly .

this gave peter an idea .

he snatched the hat off john 's head , knocked out the bottom [ top ] , and put the hat on the roof .

now really and truly it was finished .

nothing remained to do but to knock .

" all look your best , " peter warned them ; " first impressions are awfully important . "

he was glad no one asked him what first impressions are ; they were all too busy looking their best .

what the boys were wondering was , would any one answer the knock ?

if a lady , what would she be like ?

the door opened and a lady came out .

it was wendy .

they all whipped off their hats .

she looked properly surprised , and this was just how they had hoped she would look .

" where am i ? " she said .

of course slightly was the first to get his word in .

" wendy lady , " he said rapidly , " for you we built this house . "

" oh , say you 're pleased , " cried nibs .

" lovely , darling house , " wendy said , and they were the very words they had hoped she would say .

" and we are your children , " cried the twins .

then all went on their knees , and holding out their arms cried , " o wendy lady , be our mother . "

" ought i ? "

wendy said , all shining .

" of course it 's frightfully fascinating , but you see i am only a little girl .

i have no real experience . "

" what we need is just a nice motherly person . "

" oh dear ! "

wendy said , " you see , i feel that is exactly what i am . "

" it is , it is , " they all cried ; " we saw it at once . "

" very well , " she said , " i will do my best .

come inside at once , you naughty children ; i am sure your feet are damp .

and before i put you to bed i have just time to finish the story of cinderella . "

in they went ; i don't know how there was room for them , but you can squeeze very tight in the neverland .

and that was the first of the many joyous evenings they had with wendy .

after a time he fell asleep , and some unsteady fairies had to climb over him on their way home from an orgy .

any of the other boys obstructing the fairy path at night they would have mischiefed , but they just tweaked peter 's nose and passed on .

chapter @number@ the home under the ground

one of the first things peter did next day was to measure wendy and john and michael for hollow trees .

wendy and michael fitted their trees at the first try , but john had to be altered a little .

after a few days ' practice they could go up and down as gaily as buckets in a well .

and how ardently they grew to love their home under the ground ; especially wendy .

there was a strict rule against turning round until one gave the signal , when all turned at once .

it was rough and simple , and not unlike what baby bears would have made of an underground house in the same circumstances .

but there was one recess in the wall , no larger than a bird-cage , which was the private apartment of tinker bell .

no woman , however large , could have had a more exquisite boudoir [ dressing room ] and bed-chamber combined .

there was a chandelier from tiddlywinks for the look of the thing , but of course she lit the residence herself .

i suppose it was all especially entrancing to wendy , because those rampagious boys of hers gave her so much to do .

really there were whole weeks when , except perhaps with a stocking in the evening , she was never above ground .

make-believe was so real to him that during a meal of it you could see him getting rounder .

wendy 's favourite time for sewing and darning was after they had all gone to bed .

her face beamed when she exclaimed this .

you remember about her pet wolf .

after that it followed her about everywhere .

as time wore on did she think much about the beloved parents she had left behind her ?

they were the most ordinary questions " what was the colour of mother 's eyes ?

which was taller , father or mother ?

was mother blonde or brunette ?

answer all three questions if possible . "

only one of these to be attempted . "

peter did not compete .

he was above all that sort of thing .

by the way , the questions were all written in the past tense .

what was the colour of mother 's eyes , and so on .

wendy , you see , had been forgetting , too .

he boasted that he had gone walking for the good of his health .

he often went out alone , and when he came back you were never absolutely certain whether he had had an adventure or not .

but she was never quite sure , you know .

the difficulty is which one to choose .

should we take the brush with the redskins at slightly gulch ?

the extraordinary upshot of this adventure was but we have not decided yet that this is the adventure we are to narrate .

or we might tell how peter saved tiger lily 's life in the mermaids ' lagoon , and so made her his ally .

fortunately the leaf gave way and wendy woke , thinking it was bath-time , and swam back .

which of these adventures shall we choose ?

the best way will be to toss for it .

i have tossed , and the lagoon has won .

this almost makes one wish that the gulch or the cake or tink 's leaf had won .

of course i could do it again , and make it best out of three ; however , perhaps fairest to stick to the lagoon .

chapter @number@ the mermaids ' lagoon

but just before they go on fire you see the lagoon .

he gave wendy one of their combs .

the goals are at each end of the rainbow , and the keepers only are allowed to use their hands .

sometimes a dozen of these games will be going on in the lagoon at a time , and it is quite a pretty sight .

but the moment the children tried to join in they had to play by themselves , for the mermaids immediately disappeared .

this is the one mark that john has left on the neverland .

it must also have been rather pretty to see the children resting on a rock for half an hour after their mid-day meal .

wendy insisted on their doing this , and it had to be a real rest even though the meal was make-believe .

so they lay there in the sun , and their bodies glistened in it , while she sat beside them and looked important .

it was one such day , and they were all on marooners ' rock .

she was very busy , stitching .

while she stitched a change came to the lagoon .

little shivers ran over it , and the sun went away and shadows stole across the water , turning it cold .

it was not , she knew , that night had come , but something as dark as night had come .

no , worse than that .

it had not come , but it had sent that shiver through the sea to say that it was coming .

what was it ?

they drown when the tide rises , for then it is submerged .

so , though fear was upon her , and she longed to hear male voices , she would not waken them .

even when she heard the sound of muffled oars , though her heart was in her mouth , she did not waken them .

she stood over them to let them have their sleep out .

was it not brave of wendy ?

it was well for those boys then that there was one among them who could sniff danger even in his sleep .

peter sprang erect , as wide awake at once as a dog , and with one warning cry he roused the others .

he stood motionless , one hand to his ear .

" pirates ! " he cried .

the others came closer to him .

a strange smile was playing about his face , and wendy saw it and shuddered .

while that smile was on his face no one dared address him ; all they could do was to stand ready to obey .

the order came sharp and incisive .

" dive ! "

there was a gleam of legs , and instantly the lagoon seemed deserted .

marooners ' rock stood alone in the forbidding waters as if it were itself marooned .

the boat drew nearer .

her hands and ankles were tied , and she knew what was to be her fate .

yet her face was impassive ; she was the daughter of a chief , she must die as a chief 's daughter , it is enough .

they had caught her boarding the pirate ship with a knife in her mouth .

no watch was kept on the ship , it being hook 's boast that the wind of his name guarded the ship for a mile around .

now her fate would help to guard it also .

one more wail would go the round in that wind by night .

in the gloom that they brought with them the two pirates did not see the rock till they crashed into it .

" luff , you lubber , " cried an irish voice that was smee 's ; " here 's the rock .

now , then , what we have to do is to hoist the redskin on to it and leave her here to drown . "

quite near the rock , but out of sight , two heads were bobbing up and down , peter 's and wendy 's .

wendy was crying , for it was the first tragedy she had seen .

peter had seen many tragedies , but he had forgotten them all .

he was less sorry than wendy for tiger lily : it was two against one that angered him , and he meant to save her .

an easy way would have been to wait until the pirates had gone , but he was never one to choose the easy way .

there was almost nothing he could not do , and he now imitated the voice of hook .

" ahoy there , you lubbers ! " he called .

it was a marvellous imitation .

" the captain ! " said the pirates , staring at each other in surprise .

" he must be swimming out to us , " starkey said , when they had looked for him in vain .

" we are putting the redskin on the rock , " smee called out .

" set her free , " came the astonishing answer .

" free ! "

" yes , cut her bonds and let her go . "

" but , captain "

" at once , d'ye hear , " cried peter , " or i 'll plunge my hook in you . "

" this is queer ! "

smee gasped .

" better do what the captain orders , " said starkey nervously .

" ay , ay , " smee said , and he cut tiger lily 's cords .

at once like an eel she slid between starkey 's legs into the water .

peter may have been about to crow , but his face puckered in a whistle of surprise instead .

" boat ahoy ! " again came the voice .

now wendy understood .

the real hook was also in the water .

he was swimming to the boat , and as his men showed a light to guide him he had soon reached them .

he was tingling with life and also top-heavy with conceit .

he signed to her to listen .

" captain , is all well ? " they asked timidly , but he answered with a hollow moan .

" he sighs , " said smee .

" he sighs again , " said starkey .

" and yet a third time he sighs , " said smee .

then at last he spoke passionately .

" the game 's up , " he cried , " those boys have found a mother . "

affrighted though she was , wendy swelled with pride .

" o evil day ! " cried starkey .

" what 's a mother ? " asked the ignorant smee .

wendy was so shocked that she exclaimed .

" he doesn't know ! " and always after this she felt that if you could have a pet pirate smee would be her one .

peter pulled her beneath the water , for hook had started up , crying , " what was that ? "

it was the nest i have told you of , floating on the lagoon , and the never bird was sitting on it .

" see , " said hook in answer to smee 's question , " that is a mother .

what a lesson !

the nest must have fallen into the water , but would the mother desert her eggs ?

no . "

hook winced .

" ay , " he said , " that is the fear that haunts me . "

he was roused from this dejection by smee 's eager voice .

" captain , " said smee , " could we not kidnap these boys ' mother and make her our mother ? "

" it is a princely scheme , " cried hook , and at once it took practical shape in his great brain .

again wendy forgot herself .

" never ! " she cried , and bobbed .

" what was that ? "

but they could see nothing .

they thought it must have been a leaf in the wind .

" do you agree , my bullies ? " asked hook .

" there is my hand on it , " they both said .

" and there is my hook .

swear . "

they all swore .

by this time they were on the rock , and suddenly hook remembered tiger lily .

" where is the redskin ? " he demanded abruptly .

he had a playful humour at moments , and they thought this was one of the moments .

" that is all right , captain , " smee answered complacently ; " we let her go . "

" let her go ! " cried hook .

" ' twas your own orders , " the bo'sun faltered .

" you called over the water to us to let her go , " said starkey .

" brimstone and gall , " thundered hook , " what cozening [ cheating ] is going on here ! "

his face had gone black with rage , but he saw that they believed their words , and he was startled .

" lads , " he said , shaking a little , " i gave no such order . "

" it is passing queer , " smee said , and they all fidgeted uncomfortably .

hook raised his voice , but there was a quiver in it .

" spirit that haunts this dark lagoon to-night , " he cried , " dost hear me ? "

of course peter should have kept quiet , but of course he did not .

he immediately answered in hook 's voice :

" odds , bobs , hammer and tongs , i hear you . "

in that supreme moment hook did not blanch , even at the gills , but smee and starkey clung to each other in terror .

" who are you , stranger ?

speak ! "

hook demanded .

" i am james hook , " replied the voice , " captain of the jolly roger . "

" you are not ; you are not , " hook cried hoarsely .

" brimstone and gall , " the voice retorted , " say that again , and i 'll cast anchor in you . "

hook tried a more ingratiating manner .

" if you are hook , " he said almost humbly , " come tell me , who am i ? "

" a codfish , " replied the voice , " only a codfish . "

" a codfish ! "

hook echoed blankly , and it was then , but not till then , that his proud spirit broke .

he saw his men draw back from him .

" have we been captained all this time by a codfish ! " they muttered .

" it is lowering to our pride . "

they were his dogs snapping at him , but , tragic figure though he had become , he scarcely heeded them .

against such fearful evidence it was not their belief in him that he needed , it was his own .

he felt his ego slipping from him .

" don't desert me , bully , " he whispered hoarsely to it .

in his dark nature there was a touch of the feminine , as in all the great pirates , and it sometimes gave him intuitions .

suddenly he tried the guessing game .

" hook , " he called , " have you another voice ? "

now peter could never resist a game , and he answered blithely in his own voice , " i have . "

" and another name ? "

" ay , ay . "

" vegetable ? " asked hook .

" no . "

" mineral ? "

" no . "

" animal ? "

" yes . "

" man ? "

" no ! "

this answer rang out scornfully .

" boy ? "

" yes . "

" ordinary boy ? "

" no ! "

" wonderful boy ? "

to wendy 's pain the answer that rang out this time was " yes . "

" are you in england ? "

" no . "

" are you here ? "

" yes . "

hook was completely puzzled .

" you ask him some questions , " he said to the others , wiping his damp brow .

smee reflected .

" i can't think of a thing , " he said regretfully .

" can't guess , can't guess ! " crowed peter .

" do you give it up ? "

of course in his pride he was carrying the game too far , and the miscreants [ villains ] saw their chance .

" yes , yes , " they answered eagerly .

" well , then , " he cried , " i am peter pan . "

pan !

in a moment hook was himself again , and smee and starkey were his faithful henchmen .

" now we have him , " hook shouted .

" into the water , smee .

starkey , mind the boat .

take him dead or alive ! "

he leaped as he spoke , and simultaneously came the gay voice of peter .

" are you ready , boys ? "

" ay , ay , " from various parts of the lagoon .

" then lam into the pirates . "

the fight was short and sharp .

first to draw blood was john , who gallantly climbed into the boat and held starkey .

there was fierce struggle , in which the cutlass was torn from the pirate 's grasp .

he wriggled overboard and john leapt after him .

the dinghy drifted away .

here and there a head bobbed up in the water , and there was a flash of steel followed by a cry or a whoop .

in the confusion some struck at their own side .

the corkscrew of smee got tootles in the fourth rib , but he was himself pinked [ nicked ] in turn by curly .

farther from the rock starkey was pressing slightly and the twins hard .

where all this time was peter ?

he was seeking bigger game .

the others were all brave boys , and they must not be blamed for backing from the pirate captain .

his iron claw made a circle of dead water round him , from which they fled like affrighted fishes .

but there was one who did not fear him : there was one prepared to enter that circle .

strangely , it was not in the water that they met .

hook rose to the rock to breathe , and at the same moment peter scaled it on the opposite side .

the rock was slippery as a ball , and they had to crawl rather than climb .

neither knew that the other was coming .

had it been so with peter at that moment i would admit it .

after all , he was the only man that the sea-cook had feared .

but peter had no sinking , he had one feeling only , gladness ; and he gnashed his pretty teeth with joy .

it would not have been fighting fair .

he gave the pirate a hand to help him up .

it was then that hook bit him .

not the pain of this but its unfairness was what dazed peter .

it made him quite helpless .

he could only stare , horrified .

every child is affected thus the first time he is treated unfairly .

all he thinks he has a right to when he comes to you to be yours is fairness .

after you have been unfair to him he will love you again , but will never afterwards be quite the same boy .

no one ever gets over the first unfairness ; no one except peter .

he often met it , but he always forgot it .

i suppose that was the real difference between him and all the rest .

so when he met it now it was like the first time ; and he could just stare , helpless .

twice the iron hand clawed him .

" they must be swimming back or flying , " the boys concluded .

they were not very anxious , because they had such faith in peter .

they chuckled , boylike , because they would be late for bed ; and it was all mother wendy 's fault !

when their voices died away there came cold silence over the lagoon , and then a feeble cry .

" help , help ! "

two small figures were beating against the rock ; the girl had fainted and lay on the boy 's arm .

with a last effort peter pulled her up the rock and then lay down beside her .

even as he also fainted he saw that the water was rising .

he knew that they would soon be drowned , but he could do no more .

as they lay side by side a mermaid caught wendy by the feet , and began pulling her softly into the water .

peter , feeling her slip from him , woke with a start , and was just in time to draw her back .

but he had to tell her the truth .

" we are on the rock , wendy , " he said , " but it is growing smaller .

soon the water will be over it . "

she did not understand even now .

" we must go , " she said , almost brightly .

" yes , " he answered faintly .

" shall we swim or fly , peter ? "

he had to tell her .

" do you think you could swim or fly as far as the island , wendy , without my help ? "

she had to admit that she was too tired .

he moaned .

" what is it ? " she asked , anxious about him at once .

" i can't help you , wendy .

hook wounded me .

i can neither fly nor swim . "

" do you mean we shall both be drowned ? "

" look how the water is rising . "

they put their hands over their eyes to shut out the sight .

they thought they would soon be no more .

it was the tail of a kite , which michael had made some days before .

it had torn itself out of his hand and floated away .

" it lifted michael off the ground , " he cried ; " why should it not carry you ? "

" both of us ! "

" it can't lift two ; michael and curly tried . "

" let us draw lots , " wendy said bravely .

" and you a lady ; never . "

already he had tied the tail round her .

peter was alone on the lagoon .

the rock was very small now ; soon it would be submerged .

peter was not quite like other boys ; but he was afraid at last .

next moment he was standing erect on the rock again , with that smile on his face and a drum beating within him .

it was saying , " to die will be an awfully big adventure . "

chapter @number@ the never bird

the last sound peter heard before he was quite alone were the mermaids retiring one by one to their bedchambers under the sea .

it was not really a piece of paper ; it was the never bird , making desperate efforts to reach peter on the nest .

she had come to save him , to give him her nest , though there were eggs in it .

i rather wonder at the bird , for though he had been nice to her , he had also sometimes tormented her .

i can suppose only that , like mrs darling and the rest of them , she was melted because he had all his first teeth .

well , not only could they not understand each other , but they forgot their manners .

" what are you quacking about ? "

peter answered .

" why don't you let the nest drift as usual ? "

" i want you " the bird said , and repeated it all over .

then peter tried slow and distinct .

" what are you quacking about ? " and so on .

the never bird became irritated ; they have very short tempers .

" you dunderheaded little jay ! " she screamed , " why don't you do as i tell you ? "

peter felt that she was calling him names , and at a venture he retorted hotly :

" so are you ! "

then rather curiously they both snapped out the same remark :

" shut up ! "

" shut up ! "

nevertheless the bird was determined to save him if she could , and by one last mighty effort she propelled the nest against the rock .

then up she flew ; deserting her eggs , so as to make her meaning clear .

then at last he understood , and clutched the nest and waved his thanks to the bird as she fluttered overhead .

there were two large white eggs , and peter lifted them up and reflected .

the stave was still there , and on it starkey had hung his hat , a deep tarpaulin , watertight , with a broad brim .

peter put the eggs into this hat and set it on the lagoon .

it floated beautifully .

then he got into the nest , reared the stave in it as a mast , and hung up his shirt for a sail .

at the same moment the bird fluttered down upon the hat and once more sat snugly on her eggs .

she drifted in one direction , and he was borne off in another , both cheering .

every boy had adventures to tell ; but perhaps the biggest adventure of all was that they were several hours late for bed .

chapter @number@ the happy home

one important result of the brush [ with the pirates ] on the lagoon was that it made the redskins their friends .

peter had saved tiger lily from a dreadful fate , and now there was nothing she and her braves would not do for him .

even by day they hung about , smoking the pipe of peace , and looking almost as if they wanted tit-bits to eat .

" me tiger lily , " that lovely creature would reply .

" peter pan save me , me his velly nice friend .

me no let pirates hurt him . "

peter pan has spoken . "

secretly wendy sympathised with them a little , but she was far too loyal a housewife to listen to any complaints against father .

" father knows best , " she always said , whatever her private opinion must be .

her private opinion was that the redskins should not call her a squaw .

the way you got the time on the island was to find the crocodile , and then stay near him till the clock struck .

" silence , " cried wendy when for the twentieth time she had told them that they were not all to speak at once .

" is your mug empty , slightly darling ? "

" not quite empty , mummy , " slightly said , after looking into an imaginary mug .

" he hasn't even begun to drink his milk , " nibs interposed .

this was telling , and slightly seized his chance .

" i complain of nibs , " he cried promptly .

john , however , had held up his hand first .

" well , john ? "

" may i sit in peter 's chair , as he is not here ? "

" sit in father 's chair , john ! "

wendy was scandalised .

" certainly not . "

" he is not really our father , " john answered .

" he didn't even know how a father does till i showed him . "

this was grumbling .

" we complain of john , " cried the twins .

tootles held up his hand .

he was so much the humblest of them , indeed he was the only humble one , that wendy was specially gentle with him .

" i don't suppose , " tootles said diffidently [ bashfully or timidly ] , " that i could be father . "

" no , tootles . "

once tootles began , which was not very often , he had a silly way of going on .

" no , i won't , " michael rapped out .

he was already in his basket .

" no , indeed , " replied the twins ; " it 's awfully difficult to be a twin . "

" no , " they all replied .

then at last he stopped .

" i hadn't really any hope , " he said .

the hateful telling broke out again .

" slightly is coughing on the table . "

" the twins began with cheese-cakes . "

" curly is taking both butter and honey . "

" nibs is speaking with his mouth full . "

" i complain of the twins . "

" i complain of curly . "

" i complain of nibs . "

" oh dear , oh dear , " cried wendy , " i 'm sure i sometimes think that spinsters are to be envied . "

" wendy , " remonstrated [ scolded ] michael , " i 'm too big for a cradle . "

" i must have somebody in a cradle , " she said almost tartly , " and you are the littlest .

a cradle is such a nice homely thing to have about a house . "

while she sewed they played around her ; such a group of happy faces and dancing limbs lit up by that romantic fire .

there was a step above , and wendy , you may be sure , was the first to recognize it .

" children , i hear your father 's step .

he likes you to meet him at the door . "

above , the redskins crouched before peter .

" watch well , braves .

i have spoken . "

and then , as so often before , the gay children dragged him from his tree .

as so often before , but never again .

he had brought nuts for the boys as well as the correct time for wendy .

" peter , you just spoil them , you know , " wendy simpered [ exaggerated a smile ] .

" ah , old lady , " said peter , hanging up his gun .

" it was me told him mothers are called old lady , " michael whispered to curly .

" i complain of michael , " said curly instantly .

the first twin came to peter .

" father , we want to dance . "

" dance away , my little man , " said peter , who was in high good humour .

" but we want you to dance . "

peter was really the best dancer among them , but he pretended to be scandalised .

" me !

my old bones would rattle ! "

" and mummy too . "

" what , " cried wendy , " the mother of such an armful , dance ! "

" but on a saturday night , " slightly insinuated .

" of course it is saturday night , peter , " wendy said , relenting .

" people of our figure , wendy ! "

" but it is only among our own progeny [ children ] . "

" true , true . "

so they were told they could dance , but they must put on their nighties first .

" it is sweet , peter , isn't it ? "

wendy said , frightfully gratified .

" peter , i think curly has your nose . "

" michael takes after you . "

she went to him and put her hand on his shoulder .

" no , wendy . "

" peter , what is it ? "

" i was just thinking , " he said , a little scared .

" it is only make-believe , isn't it , that i am their father ? "

" oh yes , " wendy said primly [ formally and properly ] .

" you see , " he continued apologetically , " it would make me seem so old to be their real father . "

" but they are ours , peter , yours and mine . "

" but not really , wendy ? " he asked anxiously .

" not if you don't wish it , " she replied ; and she distinctly heard his sigh of relief .

" peter , " she asked , trying to speak firmly , " what are your exact feelings to [ about ] me ? "

" those of a devoted son , wendy . "

" i thought so , " she said , and went and sat by herself at the extreme end of the room .

" you are so queer , " he said , frankly puzzled , " and tiger lily is just the same .

there is something she wants to be to me , but she says it is not my mother . "

" no , indeed , it is not , " wendy replied with frightful emphasis .

now we know why she was prejudiced against the redskins .

" then what is it ? "

" it isn't for a lady to tell . "

" oh , very well , " peter said , a little nettled .

" perhaps tinker bell will tell me . "

" oh yes , tinker bell will tell you , " wendy retorted scornfully .

" she is an abandoned little creature . "

here tink , who was in her bedroom , eavesdropping , squeaked out something impudent .

" she says she glories in being abandoned , " peter interpreted .

he had a sudden idea .

" perhaps tink wants to be my mother ? "

" you silly ass ! " cried tinker bell in a passion .

she had said it so often that wendy needed no translation .

" i almost agree with her , " wendy snapped .

fancy wendy snapping !

but she had been much tried , and she little knew what was to happen before the night was out .

if she had known she would not have snapped .

none of them knew .

perhaps it was best not to know .

they sang and danced in their night-gowns .

so uproariously gay was the dance , and how they buffeted each other on the bed and out of it !

the stories they told , before it was time for wendy 's good-night story !

" yes , it is a dull beginning .

i say , let us pretend that it is the end . "

and then at last they all got into bed for wendy 's story , the story they loved best , the story peter hated .

but to-night he remained on his stool ; and we shall see what happened .

chapter @number@ wendy's story

" there was once a gentleman "

" i had rather he had been a lady , " curly said .

" i wish he had been a white rat , " said nibs .

" quiet , " their mother admonished [ cautioned ] them .

" there was a lady also , and "

" oh , mummy , " cried the first twin , " you mean that there is a lady also , don't you ?

she is not dead , is she ? "

" oh , no . "

" i am awfully glad she isn't dead , " said tootles .

" are you glad , john ? "

" of course i am . "

" are you glad , nibs ? "

" rather . "

" are you glad , twins ? "

" we are glad . "

" oh dear , " sighed wendy .

" the gentleman 's name , " wendy continued , " was mr darling , and her name was mrs darling . "

" i knew them , " john said , to annoy the others .

" i think i knew them , " said michael rather doubtfully .

" they were married , you know , " explained wendy , " and what do you think they had ? "

" white rats , " cried nibs , inspired .

" no . "

" it 's awfully puzzling , " said tootles , who knew the story by heart .

" quiet , tootles .

they had three descendants . "

" what is descendants ? "

" well , you are one , twin . "

" did you hear that , john ?

i am a descendant . "

" descendants are only children , " said john .

" oh dear , oh dear , " sighed wendy .

" it 's an awfully good story , " said nibs .

" they flew away , " wendy continued , " to the neverland , where the lost children are . "

" i just thought they did , " curly broke in excitedly .

" i don't know how it is , but i just thought they did ! "

" o wendy , " cried tootles , " was one of the lost children called tootles ? "

" yes , he was . "

" i am in a story .

hurrah , i am in a story , nibs . "

" hush .

now i want you to consider the feelings of the unhappy parents with all their children flown away . "

" oo ! " they all moaned , though they were not really considering the feelings of the unhappy parents one jot .

" think of the empty beds ! "

" oo ! "

" it 's awfully sad , " the first twin said cheerfully .

" i don't see how it can have a happy ending , " said the second twin .

" do you , nibs ? "

" i 'm frightfully anxious . "

" if you knew how great is a mother 's love , " wendy told them triumphantly , " you would have no fear . "

she had now come to the part that peter hated .

" i do like a mother 's love , " said tootles , hitting nibs with a pillow .

" do you like a mother 's love , nibs ? "

" i do just , " said nibs , hitting back .

" did they ever go back ? "

" years have rolled by , and who is this elegant lady of uncertain age alighting at london station ? "

" o wendy , who is she ? " cried nibs , every bit as excited as if he didn't know .

" can it be yes no it is the fair wendy ! "

" oh ! "

" and who are the two noble portly figures accompanying her , now grown to man 's estate ?

can they be john and michael ?

they are ! "

" oh ! "

" ' see , dear brothers , ' says wendy pointing upwards , ' there is the window still standing open .

ah , now we are rewarded for our sublime faith in a mother 's love . '

so up they flew to their mummy and daddy , and pen cannot describe the happy scene , over which we draw a veil . "

that was the story , and they were as pleased with it as the fair narrator herself .

everything just as it should be , you see .

so great indeed was their faith in a mother 's love that they felt they could afford to be callous for a bit longer .

but there was one there who knew better , and when wendy finished he uttered a hollow groan .

" what is it , peter ? " she cried , running to him , thinking he was ill .

she felt him solicitously , lower down than his chest .

" where is it , peter ? "

" it isn't that kind of pain , " peter replied darkly .

" then what kind is it ? "

" wendy , you are wrong about mothers . "

i am not sure that this was true , but peter thought it was true ; and it scared them .

" are you sure mothers are like that ? "

" yes . "

so this was the truth about mothers .

the toads !

still it is best to be careful ; and no one knows so quickly as a child when he should give in .

" wendy , let us [ let's ] go home , " cried john and michael together .

" yes , " she said , clutching them .

" not to-night ? " asked the lost boys bewildered .

" if you wish it , " he replied , as coolly as if she had asked him to pass the nuts .

not so much as a sorry-to-lose-you between them !

if she did not mind the parting , he was going to show her , was peter , that neither did he .

then having given the necessary instructions to the redskins he returned to the home , where an unworthy scene had been enacted in his absence .

panic-stricken at the thought of losing wendy the lost boys had advanced upon her threateningly .

" it will be worse than before she came , " they cried .

" we shan't let her go . "

" let's keep her prisoner . "

" ay , chain her up . "

in her extremity an instinct told her to which of them to turn .

" tootles , " she cried , " i appeal to you . "

was it not strange ?

she appealed to tootles , quite the silliest one .

grandly , however , did tootles respond .

for that one moment he dropped his silliness and spoke with dignity .

" i am just tootles , " he said , " and nobody minds me .

but the first who does not behave to wendy like an english gentleman i will blood him severely . "

he drew back his hanger ; and for that instant his sun was at noon .

the others held back uneasily .

then peter returned , and they saw at once that they would get no support from him .

he would keep no girl in the neverland against her will .

" thank you , peter . "

wake her , nibs . "

nibs had to knock twice before he got an answer , though tink had really been sitting up in bed listening for some time .

" who are you ?

how dare you ?

go away , " she cried .

" you are to get up , tink , " nibs called , " and take wendy on a journey . "

then she pretended to be asleep again .

" she says she won't ! "

nibs exclaimed , aghast at such insubordination , whereupon peter went sternly toward the young lady 's chamber .

this made her leap to the floor .

" who said i wasn't getting up ? " she cried .

in the meantime the boys were gazing very forlornly at wendy , now equipped with john and michael for the journey .

novelty was beckoning to them as usual .

crediting them with a nobler feeling wendy melted .

" but won't they think us rather a handful ? "

nibs asked in the middle of his jump .

" peter , can we go ? " they all cried imploringly .

they took it for granted that if they went he would go also , but really they scarcely cared .

thus children are ever ready , when novelty knocks , to desert their dearest ones .

" all right , " peter replied with a bitter smile , and immediately they rushed to get their things .

she loved to give them medicine , and undoubtedly gave them too much .

" get your things , peter , " she cried , shaking .

" no , " he answered , pretending indifference , " i am not going with you , wendy . "

" yes , peter . "

" no . "

to show that her departure would leave him unmoved , he skipped up and down the room , playing gaily on his heartless pipes .

she had to run about after him , though it was rather undignified .

" to find your mother , " she coaxed .

now , if peter had ever quite had a mother , he no longer missed her .

he could do very well without one .

he had thought them out , and remembered only their bad points .

" but , peter "

" no . "

and so the others had to be told .

" peter isn't coming . "

peter not coming !

they gazed blankly at him , their sticks over their backs , and on each stick a bundle .

their first thought was that if peter was not going he had probably changed his mind about letting them go .

but he was far too proud for that .

" if you find your mothers , " he said darkly , " i hope you will like them . "

the awful cynicism of this made an uncomfortable impression , and most of them began to look rather doubtful .

after all , their faces said , were they not noodles to want to go ?

she had to take his hand , and there was no indication that he would prefer a thimble .

" you will remember about changing your flannels , peter ? " she said , lingering over him .

she was always so particular about their flannels .

" yes . "

" and you will take your medicine ? "

" yes . "

that seemed to be everything , and an awkward pause followed .

peter , however , was not the kind that breaks down before other people .

" are you ready , tinker bell ? " he called out .

" ay , ay . "

" then lead the way . "

above , where all had been so still , the air was rent with shrieks and the clash of steel .

below , there was dead silence .

mouths opened and remained open .

wendy fell on her knees , but her arms were extended toward peter .

all arms were extended to him , as if suddenly blown in his direction ; they were beseeching him mutely not to desert them .

chapter @number@ the children are carried off

through the long black night the savage scouts wriggle , snake-like , among the grass without stirring a blade .

the brushwood closes behind them , as silently as sand into which a mole has dived .

not a sound is to be heard , save when they give vent to a wonderful imitation of the lonely call of the coyote .

that this was the usual procedure was so well known to hook that in disregarding it he cannot be excused on the plea of ignorance .

they left nothing undone that was consistent with the reputation of their tribe .

around the brave tiger lily were a dozen of her stoutest warriors , and they suddenly saw the perfidious pirates bearing down upon them .

fell from their eyes then the film through which they had looked at victory .

no more would they torture at the stake .

for them the happy hunting-grounds was now .

they knew it ; but as their father 's sons they acquitted themselves .

it is written that the noble savage must never express surprise in the presence of the white .

it is no part of ours to describe what was a massacre rather than a fight .

thus perished many of the flower of the piccaninny tribe .

scourie , chas .

turley , and the alsatian foggerty .

to what extent hook is to blame for his tactics on this occasion is for the historian to decide .

what he should perhaps have done was to acquaint his opponents that he proposed to follow a new method .

what were his own feelings about himself at that triumphant moment ?

it was pan he wanted , pan and wendy and their band , but chiefly pan .

peter was such a small boy that one tends to wonder at the man 's hatred of him .

the truth is that there was a something about peter which goaded the pirate captain to frenzy .

it was not his courage , it was not his engaging appearance , it was not .

there is no beating about the bush , for we know quite well what it was , and have got to tell .

it was peter 's cockiness .

this had got on hook 's nerves ; it made his iron claw twitch , and at night it disturbed him like an insect .

while peter lived , the tortured man felt that he was a lion in a cage into which a sparrow had come .

the question now was how to get down the trees , or how to get his dogs down ?

he ran his greedy eyes over them , searching for the thinnest ones .

they wriggled uncomfortably , for they knew he would not scruple [ hesitate ] to ram them down with poles .

in the meantime , what of the boys ?

which side had won ?

now smee had found the tom-tom , and was at that moment sitting on it .

never , probably , had this simple man admired hook so much .

twice smee beat upon the instrument , and then stopped to listen gleefully .

" the tom-tom , " the miscreants heard peter cry ; " an indian victory ! "

the doomed children answered with a cheer that was music to the black hearts above , and almost immediately they repeated their good-byes to peter .

they smirked at each other and rubbed their hands .

chapter @number@ do you believe in fairies ?

the more quickly this horror is disposed of the better .

the first to emerge from his tree was curly .

a different treatment was accorded to wendy , who came last .

she was only a little girl .

his lip was curled with malicious triumph .

how to convey them ?

hunched up in their ropes they might indeed be rolled down hill like barrels , but most of the way lay through a morass .

again hook 's genius surmounted difficulties .

he indicated that the little house must be used as a conveyance .

hook saw it , and it did peter a bad service .

it dried up any trickle of pity for him that may have remained in the pirate 's infuriated breast .

dark as were his thoughts his blue eyes were as soft as the periwinkle .

was that boy asleep , or did he stand waiting at the foot of slightly 's tree , with his dagger in his hand ?

there was no way of knowing , save by going down .

then , silently , he let himself go into the unknown .

he arrived unmolested at the foot of the shaft , and stood still again , biting at his breath , which had almost left him .

on the bed lay peter fast asleep .

then he decided not to take his medicine , so as to grieve wendy .

sometimes , though not often , he had dreams , and they were more painful than the dreams of other boys .

for hours he could not be separated from these dreams , though he wailed piteously in them .

they had to do , i think , with the riddle of his existence .

but on this occasion he had fallen at once into a dreamless sleep .

thus defenceless hook found him .

he stood silent at the foot of the tree looking across the chamber at his enemy .

did no feeling of compassion disturb his sombre breast ?

mastered by his better self he would have returned reluctantly up the tree , but for one thing .

what stayed him was peter 's impertinent appearance as he slept .

they steeled hook 's heart .

if his rage had broken him into a hundred pieces every one of them would have disregarded the incident , and leapt at the sleeper .

it did not entirely fill the aperture , and he had been looking over it .

feeling for the catch , he found to his fury that it was low down , beyond his reach .

was his enemy to escape him after all ?

but what was that ?

the red in his eye had caught sight of peter 's medicine standing on a ledge within easy reach .

he fathomed what it was straightaway , and immediately knew that the sleeper was in his power .

these he had boiled down into a yellow liquid quite unknown to science , which was probably the most virulent poison in existence .

five drops of this he now added to peter 's cup .

his hand shook , but it was in exultation rather than in shame .

as he did it he avoided glancing at the sleeper , but not lest pity should unnerve him ; merely to avoid spilling .

then one long gloating look he cast upon his victim , and turning , wormed his way with difficulty up the tree .

as he emerged at the top he looked the very spirit of evil breaking from its hole .

peter slept on .

the light guttered [ burned to edges ] and went out , leaving the tenement in darkness ; but still he slept .

it was a soft cautious tapping on the door of his tree .

soft and cautious , but in that stillness it was sinister .

peter felt for his dagger till his hand gripped it .

then he spoke .

" who is that ? "

for long there was no answer : then again the knock .

" who are you ? "

no answer .

he was thrilled , and he loved being thrilled .

in two strides he reached the door .

" i won't open unless you speak , " peter cried .

then at last the visitor spoke , in a lovely bell-like voice .

" let me in , peter . "

it was tink , and quickly he unbarred to her .

she flew in excitedly , her face flushed and her dress stained with mud .

" what is it ? "

" oh , you could never guess ! " she cried , and offered him three guesses .

peter 's heart bobbed up and down as he listened .

wendy bound , and on the pirate ship ; she who loved everything to be just so !

" i 'll rescue her ! " he cried , leaping at his weapons .

as he leapt he thought of something he could do to please her .

he could take his medicine .

his hand closed on the fatal draught .

" no ! " shrieked tinker bell , who had heard hook mutter about his deed as he sped through the forest .

" why not ? "

" it is poisoned . "

" poisoned ?

who could have poisoned it ? "

" hook . "

" don't be silly .

how could hook have got down here ? "

alas , tinker bell could not explain this , for even she did not know the dark secret of slightly 's tree .

nevertheless hook 's words had left no room for doubt .

the cup was poisoned .

" besides , " said peter , quite believing himself , " i never fell asleep . "

he raised the cup .

" why , tink , how dare you drink my medicine ? "

but she did not answer .

already she was reeling in the air .

" what is the matter with you ? " cried peter , suddenly afraid .

" it was poisoned , peter , " she told him softly ; " and now i am going to be dead . "

" o tink , did you drink it to save me ? "

" yes . "

" but why , tink ? "

her wings would scarcely carry her now , but in reply she alighted on his shoulder and gave his nose a loving bite .

she whispered in his ear " you silly ass , " and then , tottering to her chamber , lay down on the bed .

his head almost filled the fourth wall of her little room as he knelt near her in distress .

every moment her light was growing fainter ; and he knew that if it went out she would be no more .

she liked his tears so much that she put out her beautiful finger and let them run over it .

her voice was so low that at first he could not make out what she said .

then he made it out .

she was saying that she thought she could get well again if children believed in fairies .

peter flung out his arms .

" do you believe ? " he cried .

tink sat up in bed almost briskly to listen to her fate .

she fancied she heard answers in the affirmative , and then again she wasn't sure .

" what do you think ? " she asked peter .

" if you believe , " he shouted to them , " clap your hands ; don't let tink die . "

many clapped .

some didn't .

a few beasts hissed .

she never thought of thanking those who believed , but she would have liked to get at the ones who had hissed .

" and now to rescue wendy ! "

it was not such a night as he would have chosen .

he regretted now that he had given the birds of the island such strange names that they are very wild and difficult of approach .

there was no other course but to press forward in redskin fashion , at which happily he was an adept [ expert ] .

but in what direction , for he could not be sure that the children had been taken to the ship ?

the morning was needed to search for such guidance , and he could not wait .

the upper world had called him , but would give no help .

he swore this terrible oath : " hook or me this time . "

he was frightfully happy .

chapter @number@ the pirate ship

she was the cannibal of the seas , and scarce needed that watchful eye , for she floated immune in the horror of her name .

she was wrapped in the blanket of night , through which no sound from her could have reached the shore .

of this , as of almost everything else , smee was quite unconscious .

hook trod the deck in thought .

o man unfathomable .

it was his hour of triumph .

peter had been removed for ever from his path , and all the other boys were in the brig , about to walk the plank .

but there was no elation in his gait , which kept pace with the action of his sombre mind .

hook was profoundly dejected .

he was often thus when communing with himself on board ship in the quietude of the night .

it was because he was so terribly alone .

this inscrutable man never felt more alone than when surrounded by his dogs .

they were socially inferior to him .

hook was not his true name .

but above all he retained the passion for good form .

good form !

however much he may have degenerated , he still knew that this is all that really matters .

" have you been good form to-day ? " was their eternal question .

" fame , fame , that glittering bauble , it is mine , " he cried .

" is it quite good form to be distinguished at anything ? " the tap-tap from his school replied .

" i am the only man whom barbecue feared , " he urged , " and flint feared barbecue . "

" barbecue , flint what house ? " came the cutting retort .

most disquieting reflection of all , was it not bad form to think about good form ?

his vitals were tortured by this problem .

ofttimes he drew his sleeve across his face , but there was no damming that trickle .

ah , envy not hook .

there came to him a presentiment of his early dissolution [ death ] .

it was as if peter 's terrible oath had boarded the ship .

hook felt a gloomy desire to make his dying speech , lest presently there should be no time for it .

" better for hook , " he cried , " if he had had less ambition ! "

it was in his darkest hours only that he referred to himself in the third person .

" no little children to love me ! "

strange that he should think of this , which had never troubled him before ; perhaps the sewing machine brought it to his mind .

for long he muttered to himself , staring at smee , who was hemming placidly , under the conviction that all children feared him .

feared him !

feared smee !

there was not a child on board the brig that night who did not already love him .

michael had tried on his spectacles .

to tell poor smee that they thought him lovable !

hook itched to do it , but it seemed too brutal .

instead , he revolved this mystery in his mind : why do they find smee lovable ?

he pursued the problem like the sleuth-hound that he was .

if smee was lovable , what was it that made him so ?

a terrible answer suddenly presented itself " good form ? "

had the bo'sun good form without knowing it , which is the best form of all ?

with a cry of rage he raised his iron hand over smee 's head ; but he did not tear .

what arrested him was this reflection :

" to claw a man because he is good form , what would that be ? "

" bad form ! "

the unhappy hook was as impotent [ powerless ] as he was damp , and he fell forward like a cut flower .

" are all the children chained , so that they cannot fly away ? "

" ay , ay . "

" then hoist them up . "

the wretched prisoners were dragged from the hold , all except wendy , and ranged in line in front of him .

for a time he seemed unconscious of their presence .

he lolled at his ease , humming , not unmelodiously , snatches of a rude song , and fingering a pack of cards .

ever and anon the light from his cigar gave a touch of colour to his face .

which of you is it to be ? "

" don't irritate him unnecessarily , " had been wendy 's instructions in the hold ; so tootles stepped forward politely .

all children know this about mothers , and despise them for it , but make constant use of it .

so tootles explained prudently , " you see , sir , i don't think my mother would like me to be a pirate .

would your mother like you to be a pirate , slightly ? "

he winked at slightly , who said mournfully , " i don't think so , " as if he wished things had been otherwise .

" would your mother like you to be a pirate , twin ? "

" i don't think so , " said the first twin , as clever as the others .

" nibs , would "

" stow this gab , " roared hook , and the spokesmen were dragged back .

" you , boy , " he said , addressing john , " you look as if you had a little pluck in you .

didst never want to be a pirate , my hearty ? "

now john had sometimes experienced this hankering at maths . prep . ; and he was struck by hook 's picking him out .

" i once thought of calling myself red-handed jack , " he said diffidently .

" and a good name too .

we 'll call you that here , bully , if you join . "

" what do you think , michael ? " asked john .

" what would you call me if i join ? "

michael demanded .

" blackbeard joe . "

michael was naturally impressed .

" what do you think , john ? "

he wanted john to decide , and john wanted him to decide .

" shall we still be respectful subjects of the king ? "

john inquired .

through hook 's teeth came the answer : " you would have to swear , ' down with the king . ' "

perhaps john had not behaved very well so far , but he shone out now .

" then i refuse , " he cried , banging the barrel in front of hook .

" and i refuse , " cried michael .

" rule britannia ! " squeaked curly .

the infuriated pirates buffeted them in the mouth ; and hook roared out , " that seals your doom .

bring up their mother .

get the plank ready . "

they were only boys , and they went white as they saw jukes and cecco preparing the fatal plank .

but they tried to look brave when wendy was brought up .

no words of mine can tell you how wendy despised those pirates .

but as the boys gathered round her she had no thought , of course , save for them .

with a hasty gesture he tried to hide it , but he was too late .

" are they to die ? " asked wendy , with a look of such frightful contempt that he nearly fainted .

" they are , " he snarled .

" silence all , " he called gloatingly , " for a mother 's last words to her children . "

at this moment wendy was grand .

" these are my last words , dear boys , " she said firmly .

even the pirates were awed , and tootles cried out hysterically , " i am going to do what my mother hopes .

what are you to do , nibs ? "

" what my mother hopes .

what are you to do , twin ? "

" what my mother hopes .

john , what are "

but hook had found his voice again .

" tie her up ! " he shouted .

it was smee who tied her to the mast .

" see here , honey , " he whispered , " i 'll save you if you promise to be my mother . "

but not even for smee would she make such a promise .

" i would almost rather have no children at all , " she said disdainfully [ scornfully ] .

hook smiled on them with his teeth closed , and took a step toward wendy .

his intention was to turn her face so that she should see the boys walking the plank one by one .

but he never reached her , he never heard the cry of anguish he hoped to wring from her .

he heard something else instead .

it was the terrible tick-tick of the crocodile .

all knew that what was about to happen concerned him alone , and that from being actors they were suddenly become spectators .

very frightful was it to see the change that came over him .

it was as if he had been clipped at every joint .

he fell in a little heap .

even the iron claw hung inactive ; as if knowing that it was no intrinsic part of what the attacking force wanted .

the pirates respectfully cleared a passage for him , and it was only when he brought up against the bulwarks that he spoke .

" hide me ! " he cried hoarsely .

they gathered round him , all eyes averted from the thing that was coming aboard .

they had no thought of fighting it .

it was fate .

then they got the strangest surprise of the night of nights ; for it was no crocodile that was coming to their aid .

it was peter .

he signed to them not to give vent to any cry of admiration that might rouse suspicion .

then he went on ticking .

chapter @number@ " hook or me this time "

odd things happen to all of us on our way through life without our noticing for a time that they have happened .

now such an experience had come that night to peter .

when last we saw him he was stealing across the island with one finger to his lips and his dagger at the ready .

at first he thought this eerie , but soon concluded rightly that the clock had run down .

he ticked superbly , but with one unforeseen result .

thus many animals pass from land to water , but no other human of whom i know .

as he swam he had but one thought : " hook or me this time . "

he had ticked so long that he now went on ticking without knowing that he was doing it .

the crocodile !

no sooner did peter remember it than he heard the ticking .

at first he thought the sound did come from the crocodile , and he looked behind him swiftly .

then he realised that he was doing it himself , and in a flash he understood the situation .

" how clever of me ! " he thought at once , and signed to the boys not to burst into applause .

it was at this moment that ed teynte the quartermaster emerged from the forecastle and came along the deck .

now , reader , time what happened by your watch .

peter struck true and deep .

john clapped his hands on the ill-fated pirate 's mouth to stifle the dying groan .

he fell forward .

four boys caught him to prevent the thud .

peter gave the signal , and the carrion was cast overboard .

there was a splash , and then silence .

how long has it taken ?

" one ! "

( slightly had begun to count . )

they could hear each other 's distressed breathing now , which showed them that the more terrible sound had passed .

" it 's gone , captain , " smee said , wiping off his spectacles .

" all 's still again . "

slowly hook let his head emerge from his ruff , and listened so intently that he could have caught the echo of the tick .

there was not a sound , and he drew himself up firmly to his full height .

" then here 's to johnny plank ! " he cried brazenly , hating the boys more than ever because they had seen him unbend .

he broke into the villainous ditty :

at that they fell on their knees .

" no , no ! " they cried so piteously that every pirate smiled .

" fetch the cat , jukes , " said hook ; " it 's in the cabin . "

the cabin !

peter was in the cabin !

the children gazed at each other .

" ay , ay , " said jukes blithely , and he strode into the cabin .

they followed him with their eyes ; they scarce knew that hook had resumed his song , his dogs joining in with him :

what was the last line will never be known , for of a sudden the song was stayed by a dreadful screech from the cabin .

it wailed through the ship , and died away .

then was heard a crowing sound which was well understood by the boys , but to the pirates was almost more eerie than the screech .

" what was that ? " cried hook .

" two , " said slightly solemnly .

the italian cecco hesitated for a moment and then swung into the cabin .

he tottered out , haggard .

" what 's the matter with bill jukes , you dog ? " hissed hook , towering over him .

" the matter wi ' him is he 's dead , stabbed , " replied cecco in a hollow voice .

" bill jukes dead ! " cried the startled pirates .

the exultation of the boys , the lowering looks of the pirates , both were seen by hook .

" cecco , " he said in his most steely voice , " go back and fetch me out that doodle-doo . "

cecco , bravest of the brave , cowered before his captain , crying " no , no " ; but hook was purring to his claw .

" did you say you would go , cecco ? " he said musingly .

cecco went , first flinging his arms despairingly .

there was no more singing , all listened now ; and again came a death-screech and again a crow .

no one spoke except slightly .

" three , " he said .

hook rallied his dogs with a gesture .

" ' s'death and odds fish , " he thundered , " who is to bring me that doodle-doo ? "

" wait till cecco comes out , " growled starkey , and the others took up the cry .

" i think i heard you volunteer , starkey , " said hook , purring again .

" no , by thunder ! "

starkey cried .

" my hook thinks you did , " said hook , crossing to him .

" i wonder if it would not be advisable , starkey , to humour the hook ? "

" i 'll swing before i go in there , " replied starkey doggedly , and again he had the support of the crew .

" is this mutiny ? " asked hook more pleasantly than ever .

" starkey 's ringleader ! "

" captain , mercy ! "

starkey whimpered , all of a tremble now .

" shake hands , starkey , " said hook , proffering his claw .

starkey looked round for help , but all deserted him .

as he backed up hook advanced , and now the red spark was in his eye .

with a despairing scream the pirate leapt upon long tom and precipitated himself into the sea .

" four , " said slightly .

" and now , " hook said courteously , " did any other gentlemen say mutiny ? "

" five . "

how slightly longed to say it .

he wetted his lips to be ready , but hook came staggering out , without his lantern .

" something blew out the light , " he said a little unsteadily .

" something ! " echoed mullins .

" what of cecco ? " demanded noodler .

" he 's as dead as jukes , " said hook shortly .

his reluctance to return to the cabin impressed them all unfavourably , and the mutinous sounds again broke forth .

" i 've heard , " muttered mullins , " he always boards the pirate craft last .

had he a tail , captain ? "

at this the children could not resist raising a cheer .

hook had well-nigh forgotten his prisoners , but as he swung round on them now his face lit up again .

" lads , " he cried to his crew , " now here 's a notion .

open the cabin door and drive them in .

let them fight the doodle-doo for their lives .

if they kill him , we 're so much the better ; if he kills them , we 're none the worse . "

for the last time his dogs admired hook , and devotedly they did his bidding .

the boys , pretending to struggle , were pushed into the cabin and the door was closed on them .

" now , listen ! " cried hook , and all listened .

but not one dared to face the door .

yes , one , wendy , who all this time had been bound to the mast .

it was for neither a scream nor a crow that she was watching , it was for the reappearance of peter .

she had not long to wait .

then he took a great breath and crowed .

to the pirates it was a voice crying that all the boys lay slain in the cabin ; and they were panic-stricken .

there 's a jonah aboard . "

" ay , " they snarled , " a man wi ' a hook . "

" no , lads , no , it 's the girl .

never was luck on a pirate ship wi ' a woman on board .

we 'll right the ship when she 's gone . "

some of them remembered that this had been a saying of flint 's .

" it 's worth trying , " they said doubtfully .

" fling the girl overboard , " cried hook ; and they made a rush at the figure in the cloak .

" there 's none can save you now , missy , " mullins hissed jeeringly .

" there 's one , " replied the figure .

" who 's that ? "

" peter pan the avenger ! " came the terrible answer ; and as he spoke peter flung off his cloak .

in that frightful moment i think his fierce heart broke .

at last he cried , " cleave him to the brisket ! " but without conviction .

" down , boys , and at them ! "

peter 's voice rang out ; and in another moment the clash of arms was resounding through the ship .

they had done for his dogs , but this man alone seemed to be a match for them all .

again and again they closed upon him , and again and again he hewed a clear space .

" put up your swords , boys , " cried the newcomer , " this man is mine . "

thus suddenly hook found himself face to face with peter .

the others drew back and formed a ring around them .

for long the two enemies looked at one another , hook shuddering slightly , and peter with the strange smile upon his face .

" so , pan , " said hook at last , " this is all your doing . "

" ay , james hook , " came the stern answer , " it is all my doing . "

" proud and insolent youth , " said hook , " prepare to meet thy doom . "

" dark and sinister man , " peter answered , " have at thee . "

without more words they fell to , and for a space there was no advantage to either blade .

" now ! " cried all the boys , but with a magnificent gesture peter invited his opponent to pick up his sword .

hook did so instantly , but with a tragic feeling that peter was showing good form .

hitherto he had thought it was some fiend fighting him , but darker suspicions assailed him now .

" pan , who and what art thou ? " he cried huskily .

" to't again , " he cried despairingly .

and again and again he darted in and pricked .

hook was fighting now without hope .

abandoning the fight he rushed into the powder magazine and fired it .

" in two minutes , " he cried , " the ship will be blown to pieces . "

now , now , he thought , true form will show .

but peter issued from the powder magazine with the shell in his hands , and calmly flung it overboard .

what sort of form was hook himself showing ?

and his shoes were right , and his waistcoat was right , and his tie was right , and his socks were right .

james hook , thou not wholly unheroic figure , farewell .

for we have come to his last moment .

seeing peter slowly advancing upon him through the air with dagger poised , he sprang upon the bulwarks to cast himself into the sea .

he had one last triumph , which i think we need not grudge him .

it made peter kick instead of stab .

at last hook had got the boon for which he craved .

" bad form , " he cried jeeringly , and went content to the crocodile .

thus perished james hook .

" seventeen , " slightly sang out ; but he was not quite correct in his figures .

it said " half-past one ! "

the lateness of the hour was almost the biggest thing of all .

he had one of his dreams that night , and cried in his sleep for a long time , and wendy held him tightly .

chapter @number@ the return home

it need not be said who was the captain .

nibs and john were first and second mate .

there was a woman aboard .

the rest were tars [ sailors ] before the mast , and lived in the fo'c'sle .

the bluff strident words struck the note sailors understood , and they cheered him lustily .

then a few sharp orders were given , and they turned the ship round , and nosed her for the mainland .

hook ] .

instant obedience was the only safe thing .

slightly got a dozen for looking perplexed when told to take soundings .

do go back and keep an eye on the children . "

so long as mothers are like this their children will take advantage of them ; and they may lay to [ bet on ] that .

we are no more than servants .

why on earth should their beds be properly aired , seeing that they left them in such a thankless hurry ?

would it not serve them jolly well right if they came back and found that their parents were spending the week-end in the country ?

this would spoil so completely the surprise to which wendy and john and michael are looking forward .

however , we should get no thanks even for this .

" yes , but at what a cost !

by depriving the children of ten minutes of delight . "

" oh , if you look at it in that way ! "

" what other way is there in which to look at it ? "

you see , the woman had no proper spirit .

i had meant to say extraordinarily nice things about her ; but i despise her , and not one of them will i say now .

she does not really need to be told to have things ready , for they are ready .

all the beds are aired , and she never leaves the house , and observe , the window is open .

for all the use we are to her , we might well go back to the ship .

however , as we are here we may as well stay and look on .

that is all we are , lookers-on .

nobody really wants us .

so let us watch and say jaggy things , in the hope that some of them will hurt .

the only change to be seen in the night-nursery is that between nine and six the kennel is no longer there .

to all mrs darling 's dear invitations to him to come out he replied sadly but firmly :

" no , my own one , this is the place for me . "

in the bitterness of his remorse he swore that he would never leave the kennel until his children came back .

very touching was his deference to nana .

he would not let her come into the kennel , but on all other matters he followed her wishes implicitly .

it may have been quixotic , but it was magnificent .

soon the inward meaning of it leaked out , and the great heart of the public was touched .

on that eventful thursday week , mrs darling was in the night-nursery awaiting george 's return home ; a very sad-eyed woman .

if she was too fond of her rubbishy children , she couldn't help it .

look at her in her chair , where she has fallen asleep .

the corner of her mouth , where one looks first , is almost withered up .

her hand moves restlessly on her breast as if she had a pain there .

some like peter best , and some like wendy best , but i like her best .

suppose , to make her happy , we whisper to her in her sleep that the brats are coming back .

let 's .

" o nana , i dreamt my dear ones had come back . "

outside , the crowd who had accompanied the cab home were still cheering , and he was naturally not unmoved .

" listen to them , " he said ; " it is very gratifying . "

" lots of little boys , " sneered liza .

social success had not spoilt him ; it had made him sweeter .

" but if i had been a weak man , " he said .

" good heavens , if i had been a weak man ! "

" and , george , " she said timidly , " you are as full of remorse as ever , aren't you ? "

" full of remorse as ever , dearest !

see my punishment : living in a kennel . "

" but it is punishment , isn't it , george ?

you are sure you are not enjoying it ? "

" my love ! "

you may be sure she begged his pardon ; and then , feeling drowsy , he curled round in the kennel .

i feel a draught . "

" o george , never ask me to do that .

the window must always be left open for them , always , always . "

oh no .

peter 's first words tell all .

" quick tink , " he whispered , " close the window ; bar it !

that 's right .

this trick had been in his head all the time .

instead of feeling that he was behaving badly he danced with glee ; then he peeped into the day-nursery to see who was playing .

he whispered to tink , " it 's wendy 's mother !

she is a pretty lady , but not so pretty as my mother .

her mouth is full of thimbles , but not so full as my mother 's was . "

of course he knew nothing whatever about his mother ; but he sometimes bragged about her .

" she wants me to unbar the window , " thought peter , " but i won't , not i ! "

he peeped again , and the tears were still there , or another two had taken their place .

" she 's awfully fond of wendy , " he said to himself .

he was angry with her now for not seeing why she could not have wendy .

the reason was so simple : " i 'm fond of her too .

we can't both have her , lady . "

but the lady would not make the best of it , and he was unhappy .

he ceased to look at her , but even then she would not let go of him .

he skipped about and made funny faces , but when he stopped it was just as if she were inside him , knocking .

" oh , all right , " he said at last , and gulped .

then he unbarred the window .

thus wendy and john and michael found the window open for them after all , which of course was more than they deserved .

they alighted on the floor , quite unashamed of themselves , and the youngest one had already forgotten his home .

" john , " he said , looking around him doubtfully , " i think i have been here before . "

" of course you have , you silly .

there is your old bed . "

" so it is , " michael said , but not with much conviction .

" i say , " cried john , " the kennel ! " and he dashed across to look into it .

" perhaps nana is inside it , " wendy said .

but john whistled .

" hullo , " he said , " there 's a man inside it . "

" it 's father ! " exclaimed wendy .

" let me see father , " michael begged eagerly , and he took a good look .

wendy and john had been taken aback somewhat at finding their father in the kennel .

" john , " wendy said falteringly , " perhaps we don't remember the old life as well as we thought we did . "

a chill fell upon them ; and serve them right .

" it is very careless of mother , " said that young scoundrel john , " not to be here when we come back . "

it was then that mrs darling began playing again .

" it 's mother ! " cried wendy , peeping .

" so it is ! " said john .

" then are you not really our mother , wendy ? " asked michael , who was surely sleepy .

" let us creep in , " john suggested , " and put our hands over her eyes . "

but wendy , who saw that they must break the joyous news more gently , had a better plan .

and so when mrs darling went back to the night-nursery to see if her husband was asleep , all the beds were occupied .

the children waited for her cry of joy , but it did not come .

she saw them , but she did not believe they were there .

she sat down in the chair by the fire , where in the old days she had nursed them .

they could not understand this , and a cold fear fell upon all the three of them .

" mother ! "

wendy cried .

" that 's wendy , " she said , but still she was sure it was the dream .

" mother ! "

" that 's john , " she said .

" mother ! " cried michael .

he knew her now .

" that 's michael , " she said , and she stretched out her arms for the three little selfish children they would never envelop again .

yes , they did , they went round wendy and john and michael , who had slipped out of bed and run to her .

chapter @number@ when wendy grew up

i hope you want to know what became of the other boys .

they were waiting below to give wendy time to explain about them ; and when they had counted five hundred they went up .

they went up by the stair , because they thought this would make a better impression .

they stood in a row in front of mrs darling , with their hats off , and wishing they were not wearing their pirate clothes .

they said nothing , but their eyes asked her to have them .

they ought to have looked at mr darling also , but they forgot about him .

because , if so , we can go away . "

" father ! "

wendy cried , shocked ; but still the cloud was on him .

he knew he was behaving unworthily , but he could not help it .

" we could lie doubled up , " said nibs .

" i always cut their hair myself , " said wendy .

" george ! "

mrs darling exclaimed , pained to see her dear one showing himself in such an unfavourable light .

then he burst into tears , and the truth came out .

" i don't think he is a cypher , " tootles cried instantly .

" do you think he is a cypher , curly ? "

" no , i don't .

do you think he is a cypher , slightly ? "

" rather not .

twin , what do you think ? "

" we 'll fit in , sir , " they assured him .

" then follow the leader , " he cried gaily .

" mind you , i am not sure that we have a drawing-room , but we pretend we have , and it 's all the same .

hoop la ! "

as for peter , he saw wendy once again before he flew away .

that is what she did .

" hullo , wendy , good-bye , " he said .

" oh dear , are you going away ? "

" yes . "

" no . "

" about me , peter ? "

" no . "

mrs darling came to the window , for at present she was keeping a sharp eye on wendy .

she told peter that she had adopted all the other boys , and would like to adopt him also .

" would you send me to school ? " he inquired craftily .

" yes . "

" and then to an office ? "

" i suppose so . "

" soon i would be a man ? "

" very soon . "

" i don't want to go to school and learn solemn things , " he told her passionately .

" i don't want to be a man .

o wendy 's mother , if i was to wake up and feel there was a beard ! "

" keep back , lady , no one is going to catch me and make me a man . "

" but where are you going to live ? "

" with tink in the house we built for wendy .

the fairies are to put it high up among the tree tops where they sleep at nights . "

" how lovely , " cried wendy so longingly that mrs darling tightened her grip .

" i thought all the fairies were dead , " mrs darling said .

" i shall have such fun , " said peter , with eye on wendy .

" it will be rather lonely in the evening , " she said , " sitting by the fire . "

" i shall have tink . "

" tink can't go a twentieth part of the way round , " she reminded him a little tartly .

" sneaky tell-tale ! "

tink called out from somewhere round the corner .

" it doesn't matter , " peter said .

" o peter , you know it matters . "

" well , then , come with me to the little house . "

" may i , mummy ? "

" certainly not .

i have got you home again , and i mean to keep you . "

" but he does so need a mother . "

" so do you , my love . "

i suppose it was because wendy knew this that her last words to him were these rather plaintive ones :

" you won't forget me , peter , will you , before spring cleaning time comes ? "

of course peter promised ; and then he flew away .

he took mrs darling 's kiss with him .

the kiss that had been for no one else , peter took quite easily .

funny .

but she seemed satisfied .

it is sad to have to say that the power to fly gradually left them .

in time they could not even fly after their hats .

want of practice , they called it ; but what it really meant was that they no longer believed .

she had looked forward to thrilling talks with him about old times , but new adventures had crowded the old ones from his mind .

" who is captain hook ? " he asked with interest when she spoke of the arch enemy .

" don't you remember , " she asked , amazed , " how you killed him and saved all our lives ? "

" i forget them after i kill them , " he replied carelessly .

when she expressed a doubtful hope that tinker bell would be glad to see her he said , " who is tinker bell ? "

" o peter , " she said , shocked ; but even when she explained he could not remember .

" there are such a lot of them , " he said .

" i expect she is no more . "

but he was exactly as fascinating as ever , and they had a lovely spring cleaning in the little house on the tree tops .

next year he did not come for her .

she waited in a new frock because the old one simply would not meet ; but he never came .

" perhaps he is ill , " michael said .

" you know he is never ill . "

peter came next spring cleaning ; and the strange thing was that he never knew he had missed a year .

that was the last time the girl wendy ever saw him .

wendy was grown up .

you need not be sorry for her .

she was one of the kind that likes to grow up .

in the end she grew up of her own free will a day quicker than other girls .

all the boys were grown up and done for by this time ; so it is scarcely worth while saying anything more about them .

you may see the twins and nibs and curly any day going to an office , each carrying a little bag and an umbrella .

michael is an engine-driver [ train engineer ] .

slightly married a lady of title , and so he became a lord .

you see that judge in a wig coming out at the iron door ?

that used to be tootles .

the bearded man who doesn't know any story to tell his children was once john .

wendy was married in white with a pink sash .

it is strange to think that peter did not alight in the church and forbid the banns [ formal announcement of a marriage ] .

years rolled on again , and wendy had a daughter .

this ought not to be written in ink but in a golden splash .

when she was old enough to ask them they were mostly about peter pan .

mrs darling was now dead and forgotten .

once a week jane 's nurse had her evening off ; and then it was wendy 's part to put jane to bed .

that was the time for stories .

" what do we see now ? "

" yes , you do , " says jane , " you see when you were a little girl . "

" that is a long time ago , sweetheart , " says wendy .

" ah me , how time flies ! "

" does it fly , " asks the artful child , " the way you flew when you were a little girl ? "

" the way i flew ?

do you know , jane , i sometimes wonder whether i ever did really fly . "

" yes , you did . "

" the dear old days when i could fly ! "

" why can't you fly now , mother ? "

" because i am grown up , dearest .

when people grow up they forget the way . "

" why do they forget the way ? "

" because they are no longer gay and innocent and heartless .

it is only the gay and innocent and heartless who can fly . "

" what is gay and innocent and heartless ?

i do wish i were gay and innocent and heartless . "

or perhaps wendy admits she does see something .

" i do believe , " she says , " that it is this nursery . "

" i do believe it is , " says jane .

" go on . "

they are now embarked on the great adventure of the night when peter flew in looking for his shadow .

" you have missed a bit , " interrupts jane , who now knows the story better than her mother .

" when you saw him sitting on the floor crying , what did you say ? "

" i sat up in bed and i said , ' boy , why are you crying ? ' "

" yes , that was it , " says jane , with a big breath .

" yes ! which did you like best of all ? "

" i think i liked the home under the ground best of all . "

" yes , so do i. what was the last thing peter ever said to you ? "

" yes . "

" but , alas , he forgot all about me , " wendy said it with a smile .

she was as grown up as that .

" what did his crow sound like ? "

jane asked one evening .

" it was like this , " wendy said , trying to imitate peter 's crow .

wendy was a little startled .

" my darling , how can you know ? "

" i often hear it when i am sleeping , " jane said .

" ah yes , many girls hear it when they are sleeping , but i was the only one who heard it awake . "

" lucky you , " said jane .

and then one night came the tragedy .

then the window blew open as of old , and peter dropped in on the floor .

he was exactly the same as ever , and wendy saw at once that he still had all his first teeth .

he was a little boy , and she was grown up .

she huddled by the fire not daring to move , helpless and guilty , a big woman .

" hullo , peter , " she replied faintly , squeezing herself as small as possible .

something inside her was crying " woman , woman , let go of me . "

" hullo , where is john ? " he asked , suddenly missing the third bed .

" john is not here now , " she gasped .

" is michael asleep ? " he asked , with a careless glance at jane .

" yes , " she answered ; and now she felt that she was untrue to jane as well as to peter .

" that is not michael , " she said quickly , lest a judgment should fall on her .

peter looked .

" hullo , is it a new one ? "

" yes . "

" boy or girl ? "

" girl . "

now surely he would understand ; but not a bit of it .

" peter , " she said , faltering , " are you expecting me to fly away with you ? "

" of course ; that is why i have come . "

he added a little sternly , " have you forgotten that this is spring cleaning time ? "

she knew it was useless to say that he had let many spring cleaning times pass .

" i can't come , " she said apologetically , " i have forgotten how to fly . "

" i 'll soon teach you again . "

" o peter , don't waste the fairy dust on me . "

she had risen ; and now at last a fear assailed him .

" what is it ? " he cried , shrinking .

" i will turn up the light , " she said , " and then you can see for yourself . "

for almost the only time in his life that i know of , peter was afraid .

" don't turn up the light , " he cried .

she let her hands play in the hair of the tragic boy .

she was not a little girl heart-broken about him ; she was a grown woman smiling at it all , but they were wet-eyed smiles .

then she turned up the light , and peter saw .

he gave a cry of pain ; and when the tall beautiful creature stooped to lift him in her arms he drew back sharply .

" what is it ? " he cried again .

she had to tell him .

" i am old , peter .

i am ever so much more than twenty .

i grew up long ago . "

" you promised not to ! "

" i couldn't help it .

i am a married woman , peter . "

" no , you 're not . "

" yes , and the little girl in the bed is my baby . "

" no , she's not . "

but he supposed she was ; and he took a step towards the sleeping child with his dagger upraised .

of course he did not strike .

she was only a woman now , and she ran out of the room to try to think .

peter continued to cry , and soon his sobs woke jane .

she sat up in bed , and was interested at once .

" boy , " she said , " why are you crying ? "

peter rose and bowed to her , and she bowed to him from the bed .

" hullo , " he said .

" hullo , " said jane .

" my name is peter pan , " he told her .

" yes , i know . "

" i came back for my mother , " he explained , " to take her to the neverland . "

" yes , i know , " jane said , " i have been waiting for you . "

" he does so need a mother , " jane said .

" yes , i know , " wendy admitted rather forlornly ; " no one knows it so well as i . "

wendy rushed to the window .

" no , no , " she cried .

" it is just for spring cleaning time , " jane said , " he wants me always to do his spring cleaning . "

" if only i could go with you , " wendy sighed .

" you see you can't fly , " said jane .

of course in the end wendy let them fly away together .

our last glimpse of her shows her at the window , watching them receding into the sky until they were as small as stars .

the end

end of the project gutenberg ebook of peter pan , by james m barrie