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                                  "╨┼╘┼╥ ╨┴╬"
                            ["╨ETER ╨AN ┴ND ╫ENDY"]
                                    (1911)

                                      ┬Y:
                            ╙IR ╩AMES ═ATTHEW ┬ARRIE
                        ╙COTTISH NOVELIST AND PLAYWRIGHT
                         (B.09-═AY-1860, D.19-╩UN-1937)

                         ┴ ═ILLENNIUM ╞ULCRUM ┼DITION
                  ├OPYRIGHTED (├) 1991 BY ─UNCAN ╥ESEARCH, ╔NC.

              ─ISTRIBUTION ╠IMITED TO THE ╒NITED ╙TATES OF ┴MERICA.

                                 ├HAPTER 08
                           ╘╚┼ ═┼╥═┴╔─╙' ╠┴╟╧╧╬

╚-001:      ╔F YOU SHUT YOUR EYES AND ARE A LUCKY ONE, YOU MAY SEE AT TIMES
╚-002:   A SHAPELESS POOL OF LOVELY PALE COLOURS SUSPENDED IN THE DARKNESS
╚-003:   THEN IF YOU SQUEEZE YOUR EYES TIGHTER, THE POOL BEGINS TO TAKE
╚-004:   SHAPE, AND THE COLOURS BECOME SO VIVID THAT WITH ANOTHER SQUEEZE
╚-005:   THEY MUST GO ON FIRE. ┬UT JUST BEFORE THEY GO ON FIRE YOU SEE THE
╚-006:   LAGOON. ╘HIS IS THE NEAREST YOU EVER GET TO IT ON THE MAINLAND;
╚-007:   JUST ONE HEAVENLY MOMENT; IF THERE COULD BE TWO MOMENTS YOU MIGHT
╚-008:   SEE THE SURF AND HEAR THE MERMAIDS SINGING.

╚-009:      ╘HE CHILDREN OFTEN SPENT LONG SUMMER DAYS ON THIS LAGOON,
╚-010:   SWIMMING OR FLOATING MOST OF THE TIME, PLAYING THE MERMAID GAMES
╚-011:   IN THE WATER, AND SO FORTH. ┘OU MUST NOT THINK FROM THIS THAT
╚-012:   THE MERMAIDS WERE ON FRIENDLY TERMS WITH THEM: ON THE CONTRARY,
╚-013:   IT WAS AMONG ╫ENDY'S LASTING REGRETS THAT ALL THE TIME SHE WAS ON
╚-014:   THE ISLAND SHE NEVER HAD A CIVIL WORD FROM ONE OF THEM. ╫HEN SHE
╚-015:   STOLE SOFTLY TO THE EDGE OF THE LAGOON SHE MIGHT SEE THEM BY THE
╚-016:   SCORE, ESPECIALLY ON ═AROONERS' ╥OCK, WHERE THEY LOVED TO BASK,
╚-017:   COMBING OUT THEIR HAIR IN A LAZY WAY THAT QUITE IRRITATED HER; OR
╚-018:   SHE MIGHT EVEN SWIM, ON TIPTOE AS IT WERE, TO WITHIN A YARD OF
╚-019:   THEM, BUT THEN THEY SAW HER AND DIVED, PROBABLY SPLASHING HER
╚-020:   WITH THEIR TAILS, NOT BY ACCIDENT, BUT INTENTIONALLY.

╚-021:      ╘HEY TREATED ALL THE BOYS IN THE SAME WAY, EXCEPT OF COURSE
╚-022:   ╨ETER, WHO CHATTED WITH THEM ON ═AROONERS' ╥OCK BY THE HOUR, AND
╚-023:   SAT ON THEIR TAILS WHEN THEY GOT CHEEKY. ╚E GAVE ╫ENDY ONE OF
╚-024:   THEIR COMBS.

╚-025:      ╘HE MOST HAUNTING TIME AT WHICH TO SEE THEM IS AT THE TURN OF
╚-026:   THE MOON, WHEN THEY UTTER STRANGE WAILING CRIES; BUT THE LAGOON
╚-027:   IS DANGEROUS FOR MORTALS THEN, AND UNTIL THE EVENING OF WHICH WE
╚-028:   HAVE NOW TO TELL, ╫ENDY HAD NEVER SEEN THE LAGOON BY MOONLIGHT,
╚-029:   LESS FROM FEAR, FOR OF COURSE ╨ETER WOULD HAVE ACCOMPANIED HER,
╚-030:   THAN BECAUSE SHE HAD STRICT RULES ABOUT EVERY ONE BEING IN BED BY
╚-031:   SEVEN. ╙HE WAS OFTEN AT THE LAGOON, HOWEVER, ON SUNNY DAYS AFTER
╚-032:   RAIN, WHEN THE MERMAIDS COME UP IN EXTRAORDINARY NUMBERS TO PLAY
╚-033:   WITH THEIR BUBBLES. ╘HE BUBBLES OF MANY COLOURS MADE IN RAINBOW
╚-034:   WATER THEY TREAT AS BALLS, HITTING THEM GAILY FROM ONE TO ANOTHER
╚-035:   WITH THEIR TAILS, AND TRYING TO KEEP THEM IN THE RAINBOW TILL
╚-036:   THEY BURST. ╘HE GOALS ARE AT EACH END OF THE RAINBOW, AND THE
╚-037:   KEEPERS ONLY ARE ALLOWED TO USE THEIR HANDS. ╙OMETIMES A DOZEN
╚-038:   OF THESE GAMES WILL BE GOING ON IN THE LAGOON AT A TIME, AND IT
╚-039:   IS QUITE A PRETTY SIGHT.

╚-040:      ┬UT THE MOMENT THE CHILDREN TRIED TO JOIN IN THEY HAD TO
╚-041:   PLAY BY THEMSELVES, FOR THE MERMAIDS IMMEDIATELY DISAPPEARED.
╚-042:   ╬EVERTHELESS WE HAVE PROOF THAT THEY SECRETLY WATCHED THE
╚-043:   INTERLOPERS, AND WERE NOT ABOVE TAKING AN IDEA FROM THEM; FOR
╚-044:   ╩OHN INTRODUCED A NEW WAY OF HITTING THE BUBBLE, WITH THE HEAD
╚-045:   INSTEAD OF THE HAND, AND THE MERMAIDS ADOPTED IT. ╘HIS IS THE
╚-046:   ONE MARK THAT ╩OHN HAS LEFT ON THE ╬EVERLAND.

╚-047:      ╔T MUST ALSO HAVE BEEN RATHER PRETTY TO SEE THE CHILDREN
╚-048:   RESTING ON A ROCK FOR HALF AN HOUR AFTER THEIR MID-DAY MEAL.
╚-049:   ╫ENDY INSISTED ON THEIR DOING THIS, AND IT HAD TO BE A REAL REST
╚-050:   EVEN THOUGH THE MEAL WAS MAKE-BELIEVE. ╙O THEY LAY THERE IN THE
╚-051:   SUN, AND THEIR BODIES GLISTENED IN IT, WHILE SHE SAT BESIDE THEM
╚-052:   AND LOOKED IMPORTANT.

╚-053:      ╔T WAS ONE SUCH DAY, AND THEY WERE ALL ON ═AROONERS' ╥OCK. ╘HE
╚-054:   ROCK WAS NOT MUCH LARGER THAN THEIR GREAT BED, BUT OF COURSE THEY
╚-055:   ALL KNEW HOW NOT TO TAKE UP MUCH ROOM, AND THEY WERE DOZING, OR
╚-056:   AT LEAST LYING WITH THEIR EYES SHUT, AND PINCHING OCCASIONALLY
╚-057:   WHEN THEY THOUGHT ╫ENDY WAS NOT LOOKING. ╙HE WAS VERY BUSY,
╚-058:   STITCHING.

╚-059:      ╫HILE SHE STITCHED A CHANGE CAME TO THE LAGOON. ╠ITTLE SHIVERS
╚-060:   RAN OVER IT, AND THE SUN WENT AWAY AND SHADOWS STOLE ACROSS THE
╚-061:   WATER, TURNING IT COLD. ╫ENDY COULD NO LONGER SEE TO THREAD HER
╚-062:   NEEDLE, AND WHEN SHE LOOKED UP, THE LAGOON THAT HAD ALWAYS
╚-063:   HITHERTO BEEN SUCH A LAUGHING PLACE SEEMED FORMIDABLE AND
╚-064:   UNFRIENDLY.

╚-065:      ╔T WAS NOT, SHE KNEW, THAT NIGHT HAD COME, BUT SOMETHING AS
╚-066:   DARK AS NIGHT HAD COME. ╬O, WORSE THAN THAT. ╔T HAD NOT COME,
╚-067:   BUT IT HAD SENT THAT SHIVER THROUGH THE SEA TO SAY THAT IT WAS
╚-068:   COMING. ╫HAT WAS IT?

╚-069:      ╘HERE CROWDED UPON HER ALL THE STORIES SHE HAD BEEN TOLD OF
╚-070:   ═AROONERS' ╥OCK, SO CALLED BECAUSE EVIL CAPTAINS PUT SAILORS ON
╚-071:   IT AND LEAVE THEM THERE TO DROWN. ╘HEY DROWN WHEN THE TIDE
╚-072:   RISES, FOR THEN IT IS SUBMERGED.

╚-073:      ╧F COURSE SHE SHOULD HAVE ROUSED THE CHILDREN AT ONCE; NOT
╚-074:   MERELY BECAUSE OF THE UNKNOWN THAT WAS STALKING TOWARD THEM, BUT
╚-075:   BECAUSE IT WAS NO LONGER GOOD FOR THEM TO SLEEP ON A ROCK GROWN
╚-076:   CHILLY. ┬UT SHE WAS A YOUNG MOTHER AND SHE DID NOT KNOW THIS;
╚-077:   SHE THOUGHT YOU SIMPLY MUST STICK TO YOUR RULE ABOUT HALF AN HOUR
╚-078:   AFTER THE MID-DAY MEAL. ╙O, THOUGH FEAR WAS UPON HER, AND SHE
╚-079:   LONGED TO HEAR MALE VOICES, SHE WOULD NOT WAKEN THEM. ┼VEN WHEN
╚-080:   SHE HEARD THE SOUND OF MUFFLED OARS, THOUGH HER HEART WAS IN HER
╚-081:   MOUTH, SHE DID NOT WAKEN THEM. ╙HE STOOD OVER THEM TO LET THEM
╚-082:   HAVE THEIR SLEEP OUT. ╫AS IT NOT BRAVE OF ╫ENDY?

╚-083:      ╔T WAS WELL FOR THOSE BOYS THEN THAT THERE WAS ONE AMONG THEM
╚-084:   WHO COULD SNIFF DANGER EVEN IN HIS SLEEP. ╨ETER SPRANG ERECT, AS
╚-085:   WIDE AWAKE AT ONCE AS A DOG, AND WITH ONE WARNING CRY HE ROUSED
╚-086:   THE OTHERS.

╚-087:      ╚E STOOD MOTIONLESS, ONE HAND TO HIS EAR.

╚-088:      "╨IRATES!" HE CRIED. ╘HE OTHERS CAME CLOSER TO HIM. ┴ STRANGE
╚-089:   SMILE WAS PLAYING ABOUT HIS FACE, AND ╫ENDY SAW IT AND SHUDDERED.
╚-090:   ╫HILE THAT SMILE WAS ON HIS FACE NO ONE DARED ADDRESS HIM; ALL
╚-091:   THEY COULD DO WAS TO STAND READY TO OBEY. ╘HE ORDER CAME SHARP
╚-092:   AND INCISIVE.

╚-093:      "─IVE!"

╚-094:      ╘HERE WAS A GLEAM OF LEGS, AND INSTANTLY THE LAGOON SEEMED
╚-095:   DESERTED. ═AROONERS' ╥OCK STOOD ALONE IN THE FORBIDDING WATERS
╚-096:   AS IF IT WERE ITSELF MAROONED.

╚-097:      ╘HE BOAT DREW NEARER. ╔T WAS THE PIRATE DINGHY, WITH THREE
╚-098:   FIGURES IN HER, ╙MEE AND ╙TARKEY, AND THE THIRD A CAPTIVE, NO
╚-099:   OTHER THAN ╘IGER ╠ILY. ╚ER HANDS AND ANKLES WERE TIED, AND SHE
╚-100:   KNEW WHAT WAS TO BE HER FATE. ╙HE WAS TO BE LEFT ON THE ROCK TO
╚-101:   PERISH, AN END TO ONE OF HER RACE MORE TERRIBLE THAN DEATH BY
╚-102:   FIRE OR TORTURE, FOR IS IT NOT WRITTEN IN THE BOOK OF THE TRIBE
╚-103:   THAT THERE IS NO PATH THROUGH WATER TO THE HAPPY HUNTING-GROUND?
╚-104:   ┘ET HER FACE WAS IMPASSIVE; SHE WAS THE DAUGHTER OF A CHIEF, SHE
╚-105:   MUST DIE AS A CHIEF'S DAUGHTER, IT IS ENOUGH.

╚-106:      ╘HEY HAD CAUGHT HER BOARDING THE PIRATE SHIP WITH A KNIFE IN
╚-107:   HER MOUTH. ╬O WATCH WAS KEPT ON THE SHIP, IT BEING ╚OOK'S BOAST
╚-108:   THAT THE WIND OF HIS NAME GUARDED THE SHIP FOR A MILE AROUND.
╚-109:   ╬OW HER FATE WOULD HELP TO GUARD IT ALSO. ╧NE MORE WAIL WOULD GO
╚-110:   THE ROUND IN THAT WIND BY NIGHT.

╚-111:      ╔N THE GLOOM THAT THEY BROUGHT WITH THEM THE TWO PIRATES DID
╚-112:   NOT SEE THE ROCK TILL THEY CRASHED INTO IT.

╚-113:      "╠UFF, YOU LUBBER," CRIED AN ╔RISH VOICE THAT WAS ╙MEE'S;
╚-114:   "HERE'S THE ROCK. ╬OW, THEN, WHAT WE HAVE TO DO IS TO HOIST THE
╚-115:   REDSKIN ON TO IT AND LEAVE HER HERE TO DROWN."

╚-116:      ╔T WAS THE WORK OF ONE BRUTAL MOMENT TO LAND THE BEAUTIFUL GIRL
╚-117:   ON THE ROCK; SHE WAS TOO PROUD TO OFFER A VAIN RESISTANCE.

╚-118:      ╤UITE NEAR THE ROCK, BUT OUT OF SIGHT, TWO HEADS WERE BOBBING
╚-119:   UP AND DOWN, ╨ETER'S AND ╫ENDY'S. ╫ENDY WAS CRYING, FOR IT WAS
╚-120:   THE FIRST TRAGEDY SHE HAD SEEN. ╨ETER HAD SEEN MANY TRAGEDIES,
╚-121:   BUT HE HAD FORGOTTEN THEM ALL. ╚E WAS LESS SORRY THAN ╫ENDY FOR
╚-122:   ╘IGER ╠ILY: IT WAS TWO AGAINST ONE THAT ANGERED HIM, AND HE
╚-123:   MEANT TO SAVE HER. ┴N EASY WAY WOULD HAVE BEEN TO WAIT UNTIL THE
╚-124:   PIRATES HAD GONE, BUT HE WAS NEVER ONE TO CHOOSE THE EASY WAY.

╚-125:      ╘HERE WAS ALMOST NOTHING HE COULD NOT DO, AND HE NOW IMITATED
╚-126:   THE VOICE OF ╚OOK.

╚-127:      "┴HOY THERE, YOU LUBBERS!" HE CALLED. ╔T WAS A MARVELLOUS
╚-128:   IMITATION.

╚-129:      "╘HE CAPTAIN!" SAID THE PIRATES, STARING AT EACH OTHER IN
╚-130:   SURPRISE.

╚-131:      "╚E MUST BE SWIMMING OUT TO US," ╙TARKEY SAID, WHEN THEY HAD
╚-132:   LOOKED FOR HIM IN VAIN.

╚-133:      "╫E ARE PUTTING THE REDSKIN ON THE ROCK," ╙MEE CALLED OUT.

╚-134:      "╙ET HER FREE," CAME THE ASTONISHING ANSWER.

╚-135:      "╞REE!"

╚-136:      "┘ES, CUT HER BONDS AND LET HER GO."

╚-137:      "┬UT, CAPTAIN --"

╚-138:      "┴T ONCE, D'YE HEAR," CRIED ╨ETER, "OR ╔'LL PLUNGE MY HOOK IN
╚-139:   YOU."

╚-140:      "╘HIS IS QUEER!" ╙MEE GASPED.

╚-141:      "┬ETTER DO WHAT THE CAPTAIN ORDERS," SAID ╙TARKEY NERVOUSLY.

╚-142:      "┴Y, AY." ╙MEE SAID, AND HE CUT ╘IGER ╠ILY'S CORDS. ┴T ONCE
╚-143:   LIKE AN EEL SHE SLID BETWEEN ╙TARKEY'S LEGS INTO THE WATER.

╚-144:      ╧F COURSE ╫ENDY WAS VERY ELATED OVER ╨ETER'S CLEVERNESS; BUT
╚-145:   SHE KNEW THAT HE WOULD BE ELATED ALSO AND VERY LIKELY CROW AND
╚-146:   THUS BETRAY HIMSELF, SO AT ONCE HER HAND WENT OUT TO COVER HIS
╚-147:   MOUTH. ┬UT IT WAS STAYED EVEN IN THE ACT, FOR "┬OAT AHOY!" RANG
╚-148:   OVER THE LAGOON IN ╚OOK'S VOICE, AND THIS TIME IT WAS NOT ╨ETER
╚-149:   WHO HAD SPOKEN.

╚-150:      ╨ETER MAY HAVE BEEN ABOUT TO CROW, BUT HIS FACE PUCKERED IN A
╚-151:   WHISTLE OF SURPRISE INSTEAD.

╚-152:      "┬OAT AHOY!" AGAIN CAME THE VOICE.

╚-153:      ╬OW ╫ENDY UNDERSTOOD. ╘HE REAL ╚OOK WAS ALSO IN THE WATER.

╚-154:      ╚E WAS SWIMMING TO THE BOAT, AND AS HIS MEN SHOWED A LIGHT TO
╚-155:   GUIDE HIM HE HAD SOON REACHED THEM. ╔N THE LIGHT OF THE LANTERN
╚-156:   ╫ENDY SAW HIS HOOK GRIP THE BOAT'S SIDE; SHE SAW HIS EVIL SWARTHY
╚-157:   FACE AS HE ROSE DRIPPING FROM THE WATER, AND, QUAKING, SHE WOULD
╚-158:   HAVE LIKED TO SWIM AWAY, BUT ╨ETER WOULD NOT BUDGE. ╚E WAS
╚-159:   TINGLING WITH LIFE AND ALSO TOP-HEAVY WITH CONCEIT. "┴M ╔ NOT A
╚-160:   WONDER, OH, ╔ AM A WONDER!" HE WHISPERED TO HER, AND THOUGH SHE
╚-161:   THOUGHT SO ALSO, SHE WAS REALLY GLAD FOR THE SAKE OF HIS
╚-162:   REPUTATION THAT NO ONE HEARD HIM EXCEPT HERSELF.

╚-163:      ╚E SIGNED TO HER TO LISTEN.

╚-164:      ╘HE TWO PIRATES WERE VERY CURIOUS TO KNOW WHAT HAD BROUGHT
╚-165:   THEIR CAPTAIN TO THEM, BUT HE SAT WITH HIS HEAD ON HIS HOOK IN A
╚-166:   POSITION OF PROFOUND MELANCHOLY.

╚-167:      "├APTAIN, IS ALL WELL?" THEY ASKED TIMIDLY, BUT HE ANSWERED
╚-168:   WITH A HOLLOW MOAN.

╚-169:      "╚E SIGHS," SAID ╙MEE.

╚-170:      "╚E SIGHS AGAIN," SAID ╙TARKEY.

╚-171:      "┴ND YET A THIRD TIME HE SIGHS," SAID ╙MEE.

╚-172:      ╘HEN AT LAST HE SPOKE PASSIONATELY.

╚-173:      "╘HE GAME'S UP," HE CRIED, "THOSE BOYS HAVE FOUND A MOTHER."

╚-174:      ┴FFRIGHTED THOUGH SHE WAS, ╫ENDY SWELLED WITH PRIDE.

╚-175:      "╧ EVIL DAY!" CRIED ╙TARKEY.

╚-176:      "╫HAT'S A MOTHER?" ASKED THE IGNORANT ╙MEE.

╚-177:      ╫ENDY WAS SO SHOCKED THAT SHE EXCLAIMED. "╚E DOESN'T KNOW!"
╚-178:   AND ALWAYS AFTER THIS SHE FELT THAT IF YOU COULD HAVE A PET
╚-179:   PIRATE ╙MEE WOULD BE HER ONE.

╚-180:      ╨ETER PULLED HER BENEATH THE WATER, FOR ╚OOK HAD STARTED UP,
╚-181:   CRYING, "╫HAT WAS THAT?"

╚-182:      "╔ HEARD NOTHING," SAID ╙TARKEY, RAISING THE LANTERN OVER THE
╚-183:   WATERS, AND AS THE PIRATES LOOKED THEY SAW A STRANGE SIGHT. ╔T
╚-184:   WAS THE NEST ╔ HAVE TOLD YOU OF, FLOATING ON THE LAGOON, AND THE
╚-185:   ╬EVER BIRD WAS SITTING ON IT.

╚-186:      "╙EE," SAID ╚OOK IN ANSWER TO ╙MEE'S QUESTION, "THAT IS A
╚-187:   MOTHER. ╫HAT A LESSON! ╘HE NEST MUST HAVE FALLEN INTO THE
╚-188:   WATER, BUT WOULD THE MOTHER DESERT HER EGGS? ╬O."

╚-189:      ╘HERE WAS A BREAK IN HIS VOICE, AS IF FOR A MOMENT HE RECALLED
╚-190:   INNOCENT DAYS WHEN -- BUT HE BRUSHED AWAY THIS WEAKNESS WITH HIS
╚-191:   HOOK.

╚-192:      ╙MEE, MUCH IMPRESSED, GAZED AT THE BIRD AS THE NEST WAS BORNE
╚-193:   PAST, BUT THE MORE SUSPICIOUS ╙TARKEY SAID, "╔F SHE IS A MOTHER,
╚-194:   PERHAPS SHE IS HANGING ABOUT HERE TO HELP ╨ETER."

╚-195:      ╚OOK WINCED. "┴Y," HE SAID, "THAT IS THE FEAR THAT HAUNTS ME."

╚-196:      ╚E WAS ROUSED FROM THIS DEJECTION BY ╙MEE'S EAGER VOICE.

╚-197:      "├APTAIN," SAID ╙MEE, "COULD WE NOT KIDNAP THESE BOYS' MOTHER
╚-198:   AND MAKE HER OUR MOTHER?"

╚-199:      "╔T IS A PRINCELY SCHEME," CRIED ╚OOK, AND AT ONCE IT TOOK
╚-200:   PRACTICAL SHAPE IN HIS GREAT BRAIN. "╫E WILL SEIZE THE CHILDREN
╚-201:   AND CARRY THEM TO THE BOAT: THE BOYS WE WILL MAKE WALK THE
╚-202:   PLANK, AND ╫ENDY SHALL BE OUR MOTHER.

╚-203:      ┴GAIN ╫ENDY FORGOT HERSELF.

╚-204:      "╬EVER!" SHE CRIED, AND BOBBED.

╚-205:      "╫HAT WAS THAT?"

╚-206:      ┬UT THEY COULD SEE NOTHING. ╘HEY THOUGHT IT MUST HAVE BEEN A
╚-207:   LEAF IN THE WIND. "─O YOU AGREE, MY BULLIES?" ASKED ╚OOK.

╚-208:      "╘HERE IS MY HAND ON IT," THEY BOTH SAID.

╚-209:      "┴ND THERE IS MY HOOK. ╙WEAR."

╚-210:      ╘HEY ALL SWORE. ┬Y THIS TIME THEY WERE ON THE ROCK, AND
╚-211:   SUDDENLY ╚OOK REMEMBERED ╘IGER ╠ILY.

╚-212:      "╫HERE IS THE REDSKIN?" HE DEMANDED ABRUPTLY.

╚-213:      ╚E HAD A PLAYFUL HUMOUR AT MOMENTS, AND THEY THOUGHT THIS WAS
╚-214:   ONE OF THE MOMENTS.

╚-215:      "╘HAT IS ALL RIGHT, CAPTAIN," ╙MEE ANSWERED COMPLACENTLY; "WE
╚-216:   LET HER GO."

╚-217:      "╠ET HER GO!" CRIED ╚OOK.

╚-218:      "'╘WAS YOUR OWN ORDERS," THE BO'SUN FALTERED.

╚-219:      "┘OU CALLED OVER THE WATER TO US TO LET HER GO," SAID ╙TARKEY.

╚-220:      "┬RIMSTONE AND GALL," THUNDERED ╚OOK, "WHAT COZENING [CHEATING]
╚-221:   IS THIS?" ╚IS FACE HAD GONE BLACK WITH RAGE, BUT HE SAW THAT THEY
╚-222:   BELIEVED THEIR WORDS, AND HE WAS STARTLED. "╠ADS," HE SAID,
╚-223:   SHAKING A LITTLE, "╔ GAVE NO SUCH ORDER."

╚-224:      "╔T IS PASSING QUEER," ╙MEE SAID, AND THEY ALL FIDGETED
╚-225:   UNCOMFORTABLY. ╚OOK RAISED HIS VOICE, BUT THERE WAS A QUIVER IN
╚-226:   IT.

╚-227:      "╙PIRIT THAT HAUNTS THIS DARK LAGOON TO-NIGHT," HE CRIED, "DOST
╚-228:   HEAR ME?"

╚-229:      ╧F COURSE ╨ETER SHOULD HAVE KEPT QUIET, BUT OF COURSE HE DID
╚-230:   NOT. ╚E IMMEDIATELY ANSWERED IN ╚OOK'S VOICE:

╚-231:      "╧DDS, BOBS, HAMMER AND TONGS, ╔ HEAR YOU."

╚-232:      ╔N THAT SUPREME MOMENT ╚OOK DID NOT BLANCH, EVEN AT THE GILLS,
╚-233:   BUT ╙MEE AND ╙TARKEY CLUNG TO EACH OTHER IN TERROR.

╚-234:      "╫HO ARE YOU, STRANGER? ╙PEAK!" ╚OOK DEMANDED.

╚-235:      "╔ AM ╩AMES ╚OOK," REPLIED THE VOICE, "CAPTAIN OF THE ╩╧╠╠┘
╚-236:   ╥╧╟┼╥."

╚-237:      "┘OU ARE NOT; YOU ARE NOT," ╚OOK CRIED HOARSELY.

╚-238:      "┬RIMSTONE AND GALL," THE VOICE RETORTED, "SAY THAT AGAIN, AND
╚-239:   ╔'LL CAST ANCHOR IN YOU."

╚-240:      ╚OOK TRIED A MORE INGRATIATING MANNER. "╔F YOU ARE ╚OOK," HE
╚-241:   SAID ALMOST HUMBLY, "COME TELL ME, WHO AM ╔?"

╚-242:      "┴ CODFISH," REPLIED THE VOICE, "ONLY A CODFISH."

╚-243:      "┴ CODFISH!" ╚OOK ECHOED BLANKLY, AND IT WAS THEN, BUT NOT TILL
╚-244:   THEN, THAT HIS PROUD SPIRIT BROKE. ╚E SAW HIS MEN DRAW BACK FROM
╚-245:   HIM.

╚-246:      "╚AVE WE BEEN CAPTAINED ALL THIS TIME BY A CODFISH!" THEY
╚-247:   MUTTERED. "╔T IS LOWERING TO OUR PRIDE."

╚-248:      ╘HEY WERE HIS DOGS SNAPPING AT HIM, BUT, TRAGIC FIGURE THOUGH
╚-249:   HE HAD BECOME, HE SCARCELY HEEDED THEM. ┴GAINST SUCH FEARFUL
╚-250:   EVIDENCE IT WAS NOT THEIR BELIEF IN HIM THAT HE NEEDED, IT WAS
╚-251:   HIS OWN. ╚E FELT HIS EGO SLIPPING FROM HIM. "─ON'T DESERT ME,
╚-252:   BULLY," HE WHISPERED HOARSELY TO IT.

╚-253:      ╔N HIS DARK NATURE THERE WAS A TOUCH OF THE FEMININE, AS IN
╚-254:   ALL THE GREAT PIRATES, AND IT SOMETIMES GAVE HIM INTUITIONS.
╚-255:   ╙UDDENLY HE TRIED THE GUESSING GAME.

╚-256:      "╚OOK," HE CALLED, "HAVE YOU ANOTHER VOICE?"

╚-257:      ╬OW ╨ETER COULD NEVER RESIST A GAME, AND HE ANSWERED BLITHELY
╚-258:   IN HIS OWN VOICE, "╔ HAVE."

╚-259:      "┴ND ANOTHER NAME?"

╚-260:      "┴Y, AY."

╚-261:      "╓EGETABLE?" ASKED ╚OOK.

╚-262:      "╬O."

╚-263:      "═INERAL?"

╚-264:      "╬O."

╚-265:      "┴NIMAL?"

╚-266:      "┘ES."

╚-267:      "═AN?"

╚-268:      "╬O!" ╘HIS ANSWER RANG OUT SCORNFULLY.

╚-269:      "┬OY?"

╚-270:      "┘ES."

╚-271:      "╧RDINARY BOY?"

╚-272:      "╬O!"

╚-273:      "╫ONDERFUL BOY?"

╚-274:      ╘O ╫ENDY'S PAIN THE ANSWER THAT RANG OUT THIS TIME WAS "┘ES."

╚-275:      "┴RE YOU IN ┼NGLAND?"

╚-276:      "╬O."

╚-277:      "┴RE YOU HERE?"

╚-278:      "┘ES."

╚-279:      ╚OOK WAS COMPLETELY PUZZLED. "┘OU ASK HIM SOME QUESTIONS," HE
╚-280:   SAID TO THE OTHERS, WIPING HIS DAMP BROW.

╚-281:      ╙MEE REFLECTED. "╔ CAN'T THINK OF A THING," HE SAID
╚-282:   REGRETFULLY.

╚-283:      "├AN'T GUESS, CAN'T GUESS!" CROWED ╨ETER. "─O YOU GIVE IT UP?"

╚-284:      ╧F COURSE IN HIS PRIDE HE WAS CARRYING THE GAME TOO FAR, AND
╚-285:   THE MISCREANTS [VILLAINS] SAW THEIR CHANCE.

╚-286:      "┘ES, YES," THEY ANSWERED EAGERLY.

╚-287:      "╫ELL, THEN," HE CRIED, "╔ AM ╨ETER ╨AN."

╚-288:      ╨AN!

╚-289:      ╔N A MOMENT ╚OOK WAS HIMSELF AGAIN, AND ╙MEE AND ╙TARKEY WERE
╚-290:   HIS FAITHFUL HENCHMEN.

╚-291:      "╬OW WE HAVE HIM," ╚OOK SHOUTED. "╔NTO THE WATER, ╙MEE.
╚-292:   ╙TARKEY, MIND THE BOAT. ╘AKE HIM DEAD OR ALIVE!"

╚-293:      ╚E LEAPED AS HE SPOKE, AND SIMULTANEOUSLY CAME THE GAY VOICE OF
╚-294:   ╨ETER.

╚-295:      "┴RE YOU READY, BOYS?"

╚-296:      "┴Y, AY," FROM VARIOUS PARTS OF THE LAGOON.

╚-297:      "╘HEN LAM INTO THE PIRATES."

╚-298:      ╘HE FIGHT WAS SHORT AND SHARP. ╞IRST TO DRAW BLOOD WAS ╩OHN,
╚-299:   WHO GALLANTLY CLIMBED INTO THE BOAT AND HELD ╙TARKEY. ╘HERE WAS
╚-300:   FIERCE STRUGGLE, IN WHICH THE CUTLASS WAS TORN FROM THE PIRATE'S
╚-301:   GRASP. ╚E WRIGGLED OVERBOARD AND ╩OHN LEAPT AFTER HIM. ╘HE
╚-302:   DINGHY DRIFTED AWAY.

╚-303:      ╚ERE AND THERE A HEAD BOBBED UP IN THE WATER, AND THERE WAS A
╚-304:   FLASH OF STEEL FOLLOWED BY A CRY OR A WHOOP. ╔N THE CONFUSION
╚-305:   SOME STRUCK AT THEIR OWN SIDE. ╘HE CORKSCREW OF ╙MEE GOT ╘OOTLES
╚-306:   IN THE FOURTH RIB, BUT HE WAS HIMSELF PINKED [NICKED] IN TURN BY
╚-307:   ├URLY. ╞ARTHER FROM THE ROCK ╙TARKEY WAS PRESSING ╙LIGHTLY AND
╚-308:   THE TWINS HARD.

╚-309:      ╫HERE ALL THIS TIME WAS ╨ETER? ╚E WAS SEEKING BIGGER GAME.

╚-310:      ╘HE OTHERS WERE ALL BRAVE BOYS, AND THEY MUST NOT BE BLAMED FOR
╚-311:   BACKING FROM THE PIRATE CAPTAIN. ╚IS IRON CLAW MADE A CIRCLE OF
╚-312:   DEAD WATER ROUND HIM, FROM WHICH THEY FLED LIKE AFFRIGHTED
╚-313:   FISHES.

╚-314:      ┬UT THERE WAS ONE WHO DID NOT FEAR HIM: THERE WAS ONE PREPARED
╚-315:   TO ENTER THAT CIRCLE.

╚-316:      ╙TRANGELY, IT WAS NOT IN THE WATER THAT THEY MET. ╚OOK ROSE TO
╚-317:   THE ROCK TO BREATHE, AND AT THE SAME MOMENT ╨ETER SCALED IT ON
╚-318:   THE OPPOSITE SIDE. ╘HE ROCK WAS SLIPPERY AS A BALL, AND THEY HAD
╚-319:   TO CRAWL RATHER THAN CLIMB. ╬EITHER KNEW THAT THE OTHER WAS
╚-320:   COMING. ┼ACH FEELING FOR A GRIP MET THE OTHER'S ARM: IN
╚-321:   SURPRISE THEY RAISED THEIR HEADS; THEIR FACES WERE ALMOST
╚-322:   TOUCHING; SO THEY MET.

╚-323:      ╙OME OF THE GREATEST HEROES HAVE CONFESSED THAT JUST BEFORE
╚-324:   THEY FELL TO [BEGAN COMBAT] THEY HAD A SINKING [FEELING IN THE
╚-325:   STOMACH]. ╚AD IT BEEN SO WITH ╨ETER AT THAT MOMENT ╔ WOULD ADMIT
╚-326:   IT. ┴FTER ALL, HE WAS THE ONLY MAN THAT THE ╙EA-├OOK HAD
╚-327:   FEARED. ┬UT ╨ETER HAD NO SINKING, HE HAD ONE FEELING ONLY,
╚-328:   GLADNESS; AND HE GNASHED HIS PRETTY TEETH WITH JOY. ╤UICK
╚-329:   AS THOUGHT HE SNATCHED A KNIFE FROM ╚OOK'S BELT AND WAS ABOUT TO
╚-330:   DRIVE IT HOME, WHEN HE SAW THAT HE WAS HIGHER UP THE ROCK THAT
╚-331:   HIS FOE. ╔T WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN FIGHTING FAIR. ╚E GAVE THE
╚-332:   PIRATE A HAND TO HELP HIM UP.

╚-333:      ╔T WAS THEN THAT ╚OOK BIT HIM.

╚-334:      ╬OT THE PAIN OF THIS BUT ITS UNFAIRNESS WAS WHAT DAZED ╨ETER.
╚-335:   ╔T MADE HIM QUITE HELPLESS. ╚E COULD ONLY STARE, HORRIFIED.
╚-336:   ┼VERY CHILD IS AFFECTED THUS THE FIRST TIME HE IS TREATED
╚-337:   UNFAIRLY. ┴LL HE THINKS HE HAS A RIGHT TO WHEN HE COMES TO YOU
╚-338:   TO BE YOURS IS FAIRNESS. ┴FTER YOU HAVE BEEN UNFAIR TO HIM HE
╚-339:   WILL LOVE YOU AGAIN, BUT WILL NEVER AFTERWARDS BE QUITE THE SAME
╚-340:   BOY. ╬O ONE EVER GETS OVER THE FIRST UNFAIRNESS; NO ONE EXCEPT
╚-341:   ╨ETER. ╚E OFTEN MET IT, BUT HE ALWAYS FORGOT IT. ╔ SUPPOSE THAT
╚-342:   WAS THE REAL DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HIM AND ALL THE REST.

╚-343:      ╙O WHEN HE MET IT NOW IT WAS LIKE THE FIRST TIME; AND HE COULD
╚-344:   JUST STARE, HELPLESS. ╘WICE THE IRON HAND CLAWED HIM.

╚-345:      ┴ FEW MOMENTS AFTERWARDS THE OTHER BOYS SAW ╚OOK IN THE WATER
╚-346:   STRIKING WILDLY FOR THE SHIP; NO ELATION ON THE PESTILENT FACE
╚-347:   NOW, ONLY WHITE FEAR, FOR THE CROCODILE WAS IN DOGGED PURSUIT OF
╚-348:   HIM. ╧N ORDINARY OCCASIONS THE BOYS WOULD HAVE SWUM ALONGSIDE
╚-349:   CHEERING; BUT NOW THEY WERE UNEASY, FOR THEY HAD LOST BOTH ╨ETER
╚-350:   AND ╫ENDY, AND WERE SCOURING THE LAGOON FOR THEM, CALLING THEM BY
╚-351:   NAME. ╘HEY FOUND THE DINGHY AND WENT HOME IN IT, SHOUTING
╚-352:   "╨ETER, ╫ENDY" AS THEY WENT, BUT NO ANSWER CAME SAVE MOCKING
╚-353:   LAUGHTER FROM THE MERMAIDS. "╘HEY MUST BE SWIMMING BACK OR
╚-354:   FLYING," THE BOYS CONCLUDED. ╘HEY WERE NOT VERY ANXIOUS, BECAUSE
╚-355:   THEY HAD SUCH FAITH IN ╨ETER. ╘HEY CHUCKLED, BOYLIKE, BECAUSE THEY
╚-356:   WOULD BE LATE FOR BED; AND IT WAS ALL MOTHER ╫ENDY'S FAULT!

╚-357:      ╫HEN THEIR VOICES DIED AWAY THERE CAME COLD SILENCE OVER THE
╚-358:   LAGOON, AND THEN A FEEBLE CRY.

╚-359:      "╚ELP, HELP!"

╚-360:      ╘WO SMALL FIGURES WERE BEATING AGAINST THE ROCK; THE GIRL HAD
╚-361:   FAINTED AND LAY ON THE BOY'S ARM. ╫ITH A LAST EFFORT ╨ETER
╚-362:   PULLED HER UP THE ROCK AND THEN LAY DOWN BESIDE HER. ┼VEN AS HE
╚-363:   ALSO FAINTED HE SAW THAT THE WATER WAS RISING. ╚E KNEW THAT THEY
╚-364:   WOULD SOON BE DROWNED, BUT HE COULD DO NO MORE.

╚-365:      ┴S THEY LAY SIDE BY SIDE A MERMAID CAUGHT ╫ENDY BY THE FEET,
╚-366:   AND BEGAN PULLING HER SOFTLY INTO THE WATER. ╨ETER, FEELING HER
╚-367:   SLIP FROM HIM, WOKE WITH A START, AND WAS JUST IN TIME TO DRAW
╚-368:   HER BACK. ┬UT HE HAD TO TELL HER THE TRUTH.

╚-369:      "╫E ARE ON THE ROCK, ╫ENDY," HE SAID, "BUT IT IS GROWING
╚-370:   SMALLER. ╙OON THE WATER WILL BE OVER IT."

╚-371:      ╙HE DID NOT UNDERSTAND EVEN NOW.

╚-372:      "╫E MUST GO," SHE SAID, ALMOST BRIGHTLY.

╚-373:      "┘ES," HE ANSWERED FAINTLY.

╚-374:      "╙HALL WE SWIM OR FLY, ╨ETER?"

╚-375:      ╚E HAD TO TELL HER.

╚-376:      "─O YOU THINK YOU COULD SWIM FOR FLY AS FAR AS THE ISLAND,
╚-377:   ╫ENDY, WITHOUT MY HELP?"

╚-378:      ╙HE HAD TO ADMIT THAT SHE WAS TOO TIRED.

╚-379:      ╚E MOANED.

╚-380:      "╫HAT IS IT?" SHE ASKED, ANXIOUS ABOUT HIM AT ONCE.

╚-381:      "╔ CAN'T HELP YOU, ╫ENDY. ╚OOK WOUNDED ME. ╔ CAN NEITHER FLY
╚-382:   NOR SWIM."

╚-383:      "─O YOU MEAN WE SHALL BOTH BE DROWNED?"

╚-384:      "╠OOK HOW THE WATER IS RISING."

╚-385:      ╘HEY PUT THEIR HANDS OVER THEIR EYES TO SHUT OUT THE SIGHT.
╚-386:   ╘HEY THOUGHT THEY WOULD SOON BE NO MORE. ┴S THEY SAT THUS
╚-387:   SOMETHING BRUSHED AGAINST ╨ETER AS LIGHT AS A KISS, AND STAYED
╚-388:   THERE, AS IF SAYING TIMIDLY, "├AN ╔ BE OF ANY USE?"

╚-389:      ╔T WAS THE TAIL OF A KITE, WHICH ═ICHAEL HAD MADE SOME DAYS
╚-390:   BEFORE. ╔T HAD TORN ITSELF OUT OF HIS HAND AND FLOATED AWAY.

╚-391:      "═ICHAEL'S KITE," ╨ETER SAID WITHOUT INTEREST, BUT NEXT MOMENT
╚-392:   HE HAD SEIZED THE TAIL, AND WAS PULLING THE KITE TOWARD HIM.

╚-393:      "╔T LIFTED ═ICHAEL OFF THE GROUND," HE CRIED; "WHY SHOULD IT
╚-394:   NOT CARRY YOU?"

╚-395:      "┬OTH OF US!"

╚-396:      "╔T CAN'T LIFT TWO; ═ICHAEL AND ├URLY TRIED."

╚-397:      "╠ET US DRAW LOTS," ╫ENDY SAID BRAVELY.

╚-398:      "┴ND YOU A LADY; NEVER." ┴LREADY HE HAD TIED THE TAIL ROUND HER.
╚-399:   ╙HE CLUNG TO HIM; SHE REFUSED TO GO WITHOUT HIM; BUT WITH A
╚-400:   "╟OOD-BYE, ╫ENDY," HE PUSHED HER FROM THE ROCK; AND IN A FEW
╚-401:   MINUTES SHE WAS BORNE OUT OF HIS SIGHT. ╨ETER WAS ALONE ON THE
╚-402:   LAGOON.

╚-403:      ╘HE ROCK WAS VERY SMALL NOW; SOON IT WOULD BE SUBMERGED. ╨ALE
╚-404:   RAYS OF LIGHT TIPTOED ACROSS THE WATERS; AND BY AND BY THERE WAS
╚-405:   TO BE HEARD A SOUND AT ONCE THE MOST MUSICAL AND THE MOST
╚-406:   MELANCHOLY IN THE WORLD: THE MERMAIDS CALLING TO THE MOON.

╚-407:      ╨ETER WAS NOT QUITE LIKE OTHER BOYS; BUT HE WAS AFRAID AT LAST.
╚-408:   ┴ TREMOUR RAN THROUGH HIM, LIKE A SHUDDER PASSING OVER THE SEA;
╚-409:   BUT ON THE SEA ONE SHUDDER FOLLOWS ANOTHER TILL THERE ARE
╚-410:   HUNDREDS OF THEM, AND ╨ETER FELT JUST THE ONE. ╬EXT MOMENT HE
╚-411:   WAS STANDING ERECT ON THE ROCK AGAIN, WITH THAT SMILE ON HIS FACE
╚-412:   AND A DRUM BEATING WITHIN HIM. ╔T WAS SAYING, "╘O DIE WILL BE AN
╚-413:   AWFULLY BIG ADVENTURE."

[ ├ONTINUED IN ├HAPTER 09. ]