peter pan-第21部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


them　and　hit　them　with　the　palm　of　his　hand；　because　he　could　not　hit　with　his　fist；　but　they　had　only　clung　to　him　the　more。　　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？

　　He　remembered　that　you　have　to　prove　you　don't　know　you　have　it　before　you　are　eligible　for　Pop　＇an　elite　social　club　at　Eton＇。　

　　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。

　　His　dogs　thinking　him　out　of　the　way　for　a　time；　discipline　instantly　relaxed；　and　they　broke　into　a　bacchanalian　＇drunken＇　dance；　which　brought　him　to　his　feet　at　once；　all　traces　of　human　weakness　gone；　as　if　a　bucket　of　water　had　passed　over　him。　

　　〃Quiet；　you　scugs；〃　he　cried；　〃or　I'll　cast　anchor　in　you〃；　and　at　once　the　din　was　hushed。　　〃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。

　　〃Now　then；　bullies；〃　he　said　briskly；　〃six　of　you　walk　the　plank　to…night；　but　I　have　room　for　two　cabin　boys。　　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。　　Tootles　hated　the　idea　of　signing　under　such　a　man；　but　an　instinct　told　him　that　it　would　be　prudent　to　lay　the　responsibility　on　an　absent　person；　and　though　a　somewhat　silly　boy；　he　knew　that　mothers　alone　are　always　willing　to　be　the　buffer。　　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。　　To　the　boys　there　was　at　least　some　glamour　in　the　pirate　calling；　but　all　that　she　saw　was　that　the　ship　had　not　been　tidied　for　years。　　There　was　not　a　porthole　on　the　grimy　glass　of　which　you　might　not　have　written　with　your　finger　〃Dirty　pig〃；　and　she　had　already　written　it　on　several。　　But　as　the　boys　gathered　round　her　she　had　no　thought；　of　course；　save　for　them。

　　〃So；　my　beauty；〃　said　Hook；　as　if　he　spoke　in　syrup；　〃you　are　to　see　your　children　walk　the　plank。〃

　　Fine　gentlemen　though　he　was；　the　intensity　of　his　communings　had　soiled　his　ruff；　and　suddenly　he　knew　that　she　was　gazing　at　it。　　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。　　〃I　feel　that　I　have　a　message　to　you　from　your　real　mothers；　and　it　is　this：　　‘We　hope　our　sons　will　die　like　English　gentlemen。'〃

　　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＇。

　　It　is　sad　to　know　that　not　a　boy　was　looking　at　her　as　Smee　tied　her　to　the　mast；　the　eyes　of　all　were　on　the　plank：　　that　last　little　walk　they　were　about　to　take。　　They　were　no　longer　able　to　hope　that　they　would　walk　it　manfully；　for　the　capacity　to　think　had　gone　from　them；　they　could　stare　and　shiver　only。

　　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　they　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。

　　They　all　heard　it　　pirates；　boys；　Wendy；　and　immediately　every　head　was　blown　in　one　direction；　not　to　the　water　whence　the　sound　proceeded；　but　toward　Hook。　　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。

　　The　sound　came　steadily　nearer；　and　in　advance　of　it　came　this　ghastly　thought；　〃The　crocodile　is　about　to　board　the　ship！〃

　　Even　the　iron　claw　hung　inactive；　as　if　knowing　that　it　was　no　intrinsic　part　of　what　the　attacking　force　wanted。　　Left　so　fearfully　alone；　any　other　man　would　have　lain　with　his　eyes　shut　where　he　fell：　　but　the　gigantic　brain　of　Hook　was　still　working；　and　under　its　guidance　he　crawled　on　the　knees　along　the　deck　as　far　from　the　sound　as　he　could　go。　　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。

　　Only　when　Hook　was　hidden　from　them　did　curiosity　loosen　the　limbs　of　the　boys　so　that　they　could　rush　to　the　ship's　side　to　see　the　crocodile　climbing　it。　　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　15

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　〃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。　　Thus；　to　take　an　instance；　we　suddenly　discover　that　we　have　been　deaf　in　one　ear　for　we　don't　know　how　long；　but；　say；　half　an　hour。　　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。　　He　had　seen　the　crocodile　pass　by　without　noticing　anything　peculiar　about　it；　but　by　and　by　he　remembered　that　it　had　not　been　ticking。　　At　first　he　thought　this　eerie；　but　soon　concluded　rightly　that　the　clock　had　run　down。

　　Without　giving　a　thought　to　what　might　be　the　feelings　of　a　fellow…creature　thus　abruptly　deprived　of　its　closest　companion；　Peter　began　to　consider　how　he　could　turn　the　catastrophe　to　his　own　use；　and　he　decided　to　tick；　so　that　wild　beasts　should　believe　he　was　the　crocodile　and　let　him　pass　unmolested。　　He　ticked　superbly；　but　with　one　unforeseen　result。　　The　crocodile　was　among　those　who　heard　the　sound；　and　it　followed　him；　though　whether　with　the　purpose　of　regaining　what　it　had　lost；　or　merely　as　a　friend　under　the　belief　that　it　was　again　ticking　itself；　will　never　be　certainly　known；　for；　like　slaves　to　a　fixed　idea；　it　was　a　stupid　beast。

　　Peter　reached　the　shore　without　mishap；　and　went　straight　on；　his　legs　encountering　the　water　as　if　quite　unaware　that　they　had　entered　a　new　element。　　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。　　Had　he　known　he　would　have　stopped；　for　to　board　the　brig　by　help　of　the　tick；　though　an　ingenious　idea；　had　not　occurred　to　him。

　　On　the　contrary；　he　thought　he　had　scaled　her　side　as　noiseless　as