Peter Pan
“HOOK OR ME THIS TIME”
Odd to all of us on our way through life without our noticing for a time that they have happened. Thus, to take an instance, we that we have been in one ear for we don’t know how long, but, say, an hour. Now such an had come that night to Peter. When last we saw him he was across the with one to his and his at the ready. He had the pass by without noticing anything about it, but by and by he that it had not been ticking. At he this eerie, but soon that the clock had down.
Without a to what might be the of a fellow-creature thus of its companion, Peter to how he turn the to his own use; and he to tick, so that wild should he was the and let him pass unmolested. He superbly, but with one result. The was among those who the sound, and it him, though with the purpose of what it had lost, or as a friend under the that it was again itself, will be known, for, like to a idea, it was a beast.
Peter the without mishap, and on, his the water as if that they had entered a new element. Thus many animals pass from land to water, but no other of I know. As he he had but one thought: “Hook or me this time.” He had so long that he now on without that he was doing it. Had he he would have stopped, for to the by help of the tick, though an idea, had not to him.
On the contrary, he he had her as noiseless as a mouse; and he was to see the from him, with Hook in their as as if he had the crocodile.
The crocodile! No sooner did Peter it than he the ticking. At he the did come from the crocodile, and he looked him swiftly. Then he that he was doing it himself, and in a he the situation. “How of me!” he at once, and to the boys not to into applause.
It was at this moment that Ed Teynte the from the and came along the deck. Now, reader, time what by your watch. Peter true and deep. John his hands on the ill-fated pirate’s mouth to the groan. He forward. Four boys him to prevent the thud. Peter gave the signal, and the was overboard. There was a splash, and then silence. How long has it taken?
“One!” (Slightly had to count.)
None too soon, Peter, every of him on tiptoe, into the cabin; for more than one was up his to look round. They each other’s now, which them that the more terrible had passed.
“It’s gone, captain,” Smee said, off his spectacles. “All’s still again.”
Slowly Hook let his from his ruff, and so that he have the echo of the tick. There was not a sound, and he himself up to his full height.
“Then here’s to Johnny Plank!” he brazenly, the boys more than they had him unbend. He into the ditty:
“Yo ho, yo ho, the plank,
You walks along it so,
Till it goes and you goes down
To Davy Jones below!”
To the the more, though with a of dignity, he along an plank, at them as he sang; and when he he cried, “Do you want a touch of the cat you walk the plank?”
At that they on their knees. “No, no!” they so that every smiled.
“Fetch the cat, Jukes,” said Hook; “it’s in the cabin.”
The cabin! Peter was in the cabin! The children at each other.
“Ay, ay,” said Jukes blithely, and he into the cabin. They him with their eyes; they that Hook had his song, his dogs joining in with him:
“Yo ho, yo ho, the cat,
Its are nine, you know,
And when they’re upon your back—”
What was the last line will be known, for of a the song was by a from the cabin. It through the ship, and died away. Then was a which was well by the boys, but to the was almost more than the screech.
“What was that?” Hook.
“Two,” said Slightly solemnly.
The Italian Cecco for a moment and then into the cabin. He out, haggard.
“What’s the with Bill Jukes, you dog?” Hook, over him.
“The wi’ him is he’s dead, stabbed,” Cecco in a voice.
“Bill Jukes dead!” the pirates.
“The cabin’s as black as a pit,” Cecco said, almost gibbering, “but there is something terrible in there: the thing you crowing.”
The of the boys, the looks of the pirates, were by Hook.
“Cecco,” he said in his most voice, “go and me out that doodle-doo.”
Cecco, of the brave, his captain, “No, no”; but Hook was to his claw.
“Did you say you would go, Cecco?” he said musingly.
Cecco went, his arms despairingly. There was no more singing, all now; and again came a death-screech and again a crow.
No one spoke Slightly. “Three,” he said.
Hook his dogs with a gesture. “’S’death and fish,” he thundered, “who is to me that doodle-doo?”
“Wait till Cecco comes out,” Starkey, and the others took up the cry.
“I think I you volunteer, Starkey,” said Hook, again.
“No, by thunder!” Starkey cried.
“My thinks you did,” said Hook, to him. “I wonder if it would not be advisable, Starkey, to the hook?”
“I’ll I go in there,” Starkey doggedly, and again he had the support of the crew.
“Is this mutiny?” asked Hook more than ever. “Starkey’s ringleader!”
“Captain, mercy!” Starkey whimpered, all of a now.
“Shake hands, Starkey,” said Hook, his claw.
Starkey looked for help, but all him. As he up Hook advanced, and now the red was in his eye. With a the upon Long Tom and himself into the sea.
“Four,” said Slightly.
“And now,” Hook said courteously, “did any other say mutiny?” Seizing a and his with a gesture, “I’ll out that doodle-doo myself,” he said, and into the cabin.
“Five.” How Slightly to say it. He his to be ready, but Hook came out, without his lantern.
“Something out the light,” he said a little unsteadily.
“Something!” Mullins.
“What of Cecco?” Noodler.
“He’s as as Jukes,” said Hook shortly.
His to return to the them all unfavourably, and the again forth. All are superstitious, and Cookson cried, “They do say the a ship’s is when there’s one on more than can be for.”
“I’ve heard,” Mullins, “he always the last. Had he a tail, captain?”
“They say,” said another, looking at Hook, “that when he comes it’s in the of the man aboard.”
“Had he a hook, captain?” asked Cookson insolently; and one after another took up the cry, “The ship’s doomed!” At this the children not a cheer. Hook had well-nigh his prisoners, but as he on them now his up again.
“Lads,” he to his crew, “now here’s a notion. Open the door and drive them in. Let them 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 Hook, and they did his bidding. The boys, to struggle, were pushed into the and the door was closed on them.
“Now, listen!” Hook, and all listened. But not one to the door. Yes, one, Wendy, who all this time had been to the mast. It was for neither a a that she was watching, it was for the of Peter.
She had not long to wait. In the he had the thing for which he had gone in search: the key that would free the children of their manacles, and now they all forth, with such as they find. First them to hide, Peter cut Wendy’s bonds, and then nothing have been than for them all to off together; but one thing the way, an oath, “Hook or me this time.” So when he had Wendy, he for her to herself with the others, and himself took her place by the mast, her around him so that he should pass for her. Then he took a great and crowed.
To the it was a voice that all the boys in the cabin; and they were panic-stricken. Hook to them; but like the dogs he had them they him their fangs, and he that if he took his off them now they would at him.
“Lads,” he said, to or as need be, but for an instant, “I’ve it out. 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 ship wi’ a woman on board. We’ll right the ship when she’s gone.”
Some of them that this had been a saying of Flint’s. “It’s trying,” they said doubtfully.
“Fling the girl overboard,” Hook; and they a at the in the cloak.
“There’s none can save you now, missy,” Mullins jeeringly.
“There’s one,” the figure.
“Who’s that?”
“Peter Pan the avenger!” came the terrible answer; and as he spoke Peter off his cloak. Then they all who ’twas that had been them in the cabin, and twice Hook to speak and twice he failed. In that moment I think his broke.
At last he cried, “Cleave him to the brisket!” but without conviction.
“Down, boys, and at them!” Peter’s voice out; and in another moment the of arms was through the ship. Had the together it is that they would have won; but the came when they were still unstrung, and they ran and thither, wildly, each himself the last of the crew. Man to man they were the stronger; but they on the only, which the boys to in and choose their quarry. Some of the into the sea; others in dark recesses, where they were by Slightly, who did not fight, but ran about with a which he in their faces, so that they were and as an easy to the of the other boys. There was little to be but the of weapons, an occasional or splash, and Slightly counting—five—six—seven—eight—nine—ten—eleven.
I think all were gone when a group of boys Hook, who to have a life, as he them at in that circle of fire. They had done for his dogs, but this man alone to be a match for them all. Again and again they closed upon him, and again and again he a clear space. He had up one boy with his hook, and was using him as a buckler, when another, who had just passed his through Mullins, into the fray.
“Put up your swords, boys,” the newcomer, “this man is mine.”
Thus Hook himself to with Peter. The others and a ring around them.
For long the two looked at one another, Hook slightly, and Peter with the upon his face.
“So, Pan,” said Hook at last, “this is all your doing.”
“Ay, James Hook,” came the answer, “it is all my doing.”
“Proud and youth,” said Hook, “prepare to meet doom.”
“Dark and man,” Peter answered, “have at thee.”
Without more they to, and for a space there was no to either blade. Peter was a superb swordsman, and with rapidity; and he up a with a that got past his foe’s defence, but his him in stead, and he not drive the home. Hook, his in brilliancy, but not so in play, him by the weight of his onset, to end all with a thrust, him long ago by Barbecue at Rio; but to his he this again and again. Then he to close and give the with his iron hook, which all this time had been the air; but Peter under it and, fiercely, him in the ribs. At the of his own blood, colour, you remember, was to him, the from Hook’s hand, and he was at Peter’s mercy.
“Now!” all the boys, but with a Peter his to up his sword. Hook did so instantly, but with a that Peter was good form.
Hitherto he had it was some him, but him now.
“Pan, who and what art thou?” he huskily.
“I’m youth, I’m joy,” Peter answered at a venture, “I’m a little bird that has out of the egg.”
This, of course, was nonsense; but it was proof to the Hook that Peter did not know in the least who or what he was, which is the very of good form.
“To’t again,” he despairingly.
He now like a flail, and every of that terrible would have in any man or boy who it; but Peter him as if the very wind it him out of the zone. And again and again he in and pricked.
Hook was now without hope. That no longer asked for life; but for one it craved: to see Peter it was cold forever.
Abandoning the he into the magazine and it.
“In two minutes,” he cried, “the ship will be to pieces.”
Now, now, he thought, true will show.
But Peter from the magazine with the in his hands, and it overboard.
What of was Hook himself showing? Misguided man though he was, we may be glad, without with him, that in the end he was true to the of his race. The other boys were around him now, flouting, scornful; and he about the up at them impotently, his mind was no longer with them; it was in the playing of long ago, or being sent up for good, or the wall-game from a famous wall. And his shoes were right, and his was right, and his tie was right, and his were right.
James Hook, not figure, farewell.
For we have come to his last moment.
Seeing Peter slowly upon him through the air with poised, he upon the to himself into the sea. He did not know that the was waiting for him; for we stopped the clock that this knowledge might be him: a little mark of respect from us at the end.
He had one last triumph, which I think we need not him. As he on the looking over his at Peter through the air, he him with a to use his foot. It Peter of stab.
At last Hook had got the for which he craved.
“Bad form,” he jeeringly, and to the crocodile.
Thus James Hook.
“Seventeen,” Slightly sang out; but he was not in his figures. Fifteen paid the for their that night; but two the shore: Starkey to be by the redskins, who him nurse for all their papooses, a come-down for a pirate; and Smee, who about the world in his spectacles, making a by saying he was the only man that Jas. Hook had feared.
Wendy, of course, had by taking no part in the fight, though Peter with eyes; but now that all was over she again. She them equally, and when Michael her the place where he had killed one; and then she took them into Hook’s and pointed to his watch which was on a nail. It said “half-past one!”
The of the hour was almost the biggest thing of all. She got them to in the pirates’ quickly, you may be sure; all but Peter, who up and on the deck, until at last he asleep by the of Long Tom. He had one of his that night, and in his sleep for a long time, and Wendy him tightly.
