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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 15
- "╚╧╧╦ ╧╥ ═┼ ╘╚╔╙ ╘╔═┼"
-
- ╧-001: ╧DD THINGS HAPPEN TO ALL OF US ON OUR WAY THROUGH LIFE WITHOUT
- ╧-002: OUR NOTICING FOR A TIME THAT THEY HAVE HAPPENED. ╘HUS, TO TAKE
- ╧-003: AN INSTANCE, WE SUDDENLY DISCOVER THAT WE HAVE BEEN DEAF IN ONE
- ╧-004: EAR FOR WE DON'T KNOW HOW LONG, BUT, SAY, HALF AN HOUR. ╬OW SUCH
- ╧-005: AN EXPERIENCE HAD COME THAT NIGHT TO ╨ETER. ╫HEN LAST WE SAW HIM
- ╧-006: HE WAS STEALING ACROSS THE ISLAND WITH ONE FINGER TO HIS LIPS AND
- ╧-007: HIS DAGGER AT THE READY. ╚E HAD SEEN THE CROCODILE PASS BY
- ╧-008: WITHOUT NOTICING ANYTHING PECULIAR ABOUT IT, BUT BY AND BY HE
- ╧-009: REMEMBERED THAT IT HAD NOT BEEN TICKING. ┴T FIRST HE THOUGHT
- ╧-010: THIS EERIE, BUT SOON CONCLUDED RIGHTLY THAT THE CLOCK HAD RUN
- ╧-011: DOWN.
-
- ╧-012: ╫ITHOUT GIVING A THOUGHT TO WHAT MIGHT BE THE FEELINGS OF A
- ╧-013: FELLOW CREATURE THIS ABRUPTLY DEPRIVED OF ITS CLOSEST COMPANION,
- ╧-014: ╨ETER BEGAN TO CONSIDER HOW HE COULD TURN THE CATASTROPHE TO HIS
- ╧-015: OWN USE; AND HE DECIDED TO TICK, SO THAT WILD BEASTS SHOULD
- ╧-016: BELIEVE HE WAS THE CROCODILE AND LET HIM PASS UNMOLESTED. ╚E
- ╧-017: TICKED SUPERBLY, BUT WITH ONE UNFORESEEN RESULT. ╘HE CROCODILE
- ╧-018: WAS AMONG THOSE WHO HEARD THE SOUND, AND IT FOLLOWED HIM, THOUGH
- ╧-019: WHETHER WITH THE PURPOSE OF REGAINING WHAT IT HAD LOST, OR
- ╧-020: MERELY AS A FRIEND UNDER THE BELIEF THAT IT WAS AGAIN TICKING
- ╧-021: ITSELF, WILL NEVER BE CERTAINLY KNOWN, FOR, LIKE SLAVES TO A
- ╧-022: FIXED IDEA, IT WAS A STUPID BEAST.
-
- ╧-023: ╨ETER REACHED THE SHORE WITHOUT MISHAP, AND WENT STRAIGHT ON,
- ╧-024: HIS LEGS ENCOUNTERING THE WATER AS IF QUITE UNAWARE THAT THEY HAD
- ╧-025: ENTERED A NEW ELEMENT. ╘HUS MANY ANIMALS PASS FROM LAND TO
- ╧-026: WATER, BUT NO OTHER HUMAN OF WHOM ╔ KNOW. ┴S HE SWAM HE HAD BUT
- ╧-027: ONE THOUGHT: "╚OOK OR ME THIS TIME." ╚E HAD TICKED SO LONG THAT
- ╧-028: HE NOW WENT ON TICKING WITHOUT KNOWING THAT HE WAS DOING IT. ╚AD
- ╧-029: HE KNOWN HE WOULD HAVE STOPPED, FOR TO BOARD THE BRIG BY HELP OF
- ╧-030: THE TICK, THOUGH AN INGENIOUS IDEA, HAD NOT OCCURRED TO HIM.
-
- ╧-031: ╧N THE CONTRARY, HE THOUGHT HE HAD SCALED HER SIDE AS NOISELESS
- ╧-032: AS A MOUSE; AND HE WAS AMAZED TO SEE THE PIRATES COWERING FROM
- ╧-033: HIM, WITH ╚OOK IN THEIR MIDST AS ABJECT AS IF HE HAD HEARD THE
- ╧-034: CROCODILE.
-
- ╧-035: ╘HE CROCODILE! ╬O SOONER DID ╨ETER REMEMBER IT THAN HE HEARD
- ╧-036: THE TICKING. ┴T FIRST THE THOUGHT THE SOUND DID COME FROM THE
- ╧-037: CROCODILE, AND HE LOOKED BEHIND HIM SWIFTLY. ╘HEY HE REALISED
- ╧-038: THAT HE WAS DOING IT HIMSELF, AND IN A FLASH HE UNDERSTOOD THE
- ╧-039: SITUATION. "╚OW CLEVER OF ME!" HE THOUGHT AT ONCE, AND SIGNED
- ╧-040: TO THE BOYS NOT TO BURST INTO APPLAUSE.
-
- ╧-041: ╔T WAS AT THIS MOMENT THAT ┼D ╘EYNTE THE QUARTERMASTER EMERGED
- ╧-042: FROM THE FORECASTLE AND CAME ALONG THE DECK. ╬OW, READER, TIME
- ╧-043: WHAT HAPPENED BY YOUR WATCH. ╨ETER STRUCK TRUE AND DEEP. ╩OHN
- ╧-044: CLAPPED HIS HANDS ON THE ILL-FATED PIRATE'S MOUTH TO STIFLE THE
- ╧-045: DYING GROAN. ╚E FELL FORWARD. ╞OUR BOYS CAUGHT HIM TO PREVENT
- ╧-046: THE THUD. ╨ETER GAVE THE SIGNAL, AND THE CARRION WAS CAST
- ╧-047: OVERBOARD. ╘HERE WAS A SPLASH, AND THEN SILENCE. ╚OW LONG HAS
- ╧-048: IT TAKEN?
-
- ╧-049: "╧NE!" (╙LIGHTLY HAD BEGUN TO COUNT.)
-
- ╧-050: ╬ONE TOO SOON, ╨ETER, EVERY INCH OF HIM ON TIPTOE, VANISHED
- ╧-051: INTO THE CABIN; FOR MORE THAN ONE PIRATE WAS SCREWING UP HIS
- ╧-052: COURAGE TO LOOK ROUND. ╘HEY COULD HEAR EACH OTHER'S DISTRESSED
- ╧-053: BREATHING NOW, WHICH SHOWED THEM THAT THE MORE TERRIBLE SOUND HAD
- ╧-054: PASSED.
-
- ╧-055: "╔T'S GONE, CAPTAIN," ╙MEE SAID, WIPING OFF HIS SPECTACLES.
- ╧-056: "┴LL'S STILL AGAIN."
-
- ╧-057: ╙LOWLY ╚OOK LET HIS HEAD EMERGE FROM HIS RUFF, AND LISTENED SO
- ╧-058: INTENTLY THAT HE COULD HAVE CAUGHT THE ECHO OF THE TICK. ╘HERE
- ╧-059: WAS NOT A SOUND, AND HE DREW HIMSELF UP FIRMLY TO HIS FULL
- ╧-060: HEIGHT.
-
- ╧-061: "╘HEN HERE'S TO ╩OHNNY ╨LANK!" HE CRIED BRAZENLY, HATING THE
- ╧-062: BOYS MORE THAN EVER BECAUSE THEY HAD SEEN HIM UNBEND. ╚E BROKE
- ╧-063: INTO THE VILLAINOUS DITTY:
-
- ╧-064: "┘O HO, YO HO, THE FRISKY PLANK,
- ╧-065: ┘OU WALKS ALONG IT SO,
- ╧-066: ╘ILL IT GOES DOWN AND YOU GOES DOWN
- ╧-067: ╘O ─AVY ╩ONES BELOW!"
-
- ╧-068: ╘O TERRORIZE THE PRISONERS THE MORE, THOUGH WITH A CERTAIN LOSS
- ╧-069: OF DIGNITY, HE DANCED ALONG AN IMAGINARY PLANK, GRIMACING AT THEM
- ╧-070: AS HE SANG; AND WHEN HE FINISHED HE CRIED, "─O YOU WANT A TOUCH
- ╧-071: OF THE CAT [CAT 'O NINE TAILS] BEFORE YOU WALK THE PLANK?"
-
- ╧-072: ┴T THAT THEY FELL ON THEIR KNEES. "╬O, NO!" THEY CRIED SO
- ╧-073: PITEOUSLY THAT EVERY PIRATE SMILED.
-
- ╧-074: "╞ETCH THE CAT, ╩UKES," SAID ╚OOK; "IT'S IN THE CABIN."
-
- ╧-075: ╘HE CABIN! ╨ETER WAS IN THE CABIN! ╘HE CHILDREN GAZED AT EACH
- ╧-076: OTHER.
-
- ╧-077: "┴Y, AY," SAID ╩UKES BLITHELY, AND HE STRODE INTO THE CABIN.
- ╧-078: ╘HEY FOLLOWED HIM WITH THEIR EYES; THEY SCARCE KNEW THAT ╚OOK HAD
- ╧-079: RESUMED HIS SONG, HIS DOGS JOINING IN WITH HIM:
-
- ╧-080: "┘O HO, YO HO, THE SCRATCHING CAT,
- ╧-081: ╔TS TAILS ARE NINE, YOU KNOW,
- ╧-082: ┴ND WHEN THEY'RE WRIT UPON YOUR BACK --"
-
- ╧-083: ╫HAT WAS THE LAST LINE WILL NEVER BE KNOWN, FOR OF A SUDDEN THE
- ╧-084: SONG WAS STAYED BY A DREADFUL SCREECH FROM THE CABIN. ╔T WAILED
- ╧-085: THROUGH THE SHIP, AND DIED AWAY. ╘HEN WAS HEARD A CROWING SOUND
- ╧-086: WHICH WAS WELL UNDERSTOOD BY THE BOYS, BUT TO THE PIRATES WAS
- ╧-087: ALMOST MORE EERIE THAN THE SCREECH.
-
- ╧-088: "╫HAT WAS THAT?" CRIED ╚OOK.
-
- ╧-089: "╘WO," SAID ╙LIGHTLY SOLEMNLY.
-
- ╧-090: ╘HE ╔TALIAN ├ECCO HESITATED FOR A MOMENT AND THEN SWUNG INTO
- ╧-091: THE CABIN. ╚E TOTTERED OUT, HAGGARD.
-
- ╧-092: "╫HAT'S THE MATTER WITH ┬ILL ╩UKES, YOU DOG?" HISSED ╚OOK,
- ╧-093: TOWERING OVER HOME.
-
- ╧-094: "╘HE MATTER WI' HIM IS HE'S DEAD, STABBED," REPLIED ├ECCO IN A
- ╧-095: HOLLOW VOICE.
-
- ╧-096: "┬ILL ╩UKES DEAD!" CRIED THE STARTLED PIRATES.
-
- ╧-097: "╘HE CABIN'S AS BLACK AS A PIT," ├ECCO SAID, ALMOST GIBBERING,
- ╧-098: "BUT THERE IS SOMETHING TERRIBLE IN THERE: THE THING YOU HEARD
- ╧-099: CROWING."
-
- ╧-100: ╘HE EXULTATION OF THE BOYS, THE LOWERING LOOKS OF THE PIRATES,
- ╧-101: BOTH WERE SEEN BY ╚OOK.
-
- ╧-102: "├ECCO," HE SAID IN HIS MOST STEELY VOICE, "GO BACK AND FETCH
- ╧-103: ME OUT THAT DOODLE-DOO."
-
- ╧-104: ├ECCO, BRAVEST OF THE BRAVE, COWERED BEFORE HIS CAPTAIN, CRYING
- ╧-105: "╬O, NO"; BUT ╚OOK WAS PURRING TO HIS CLAW.
-
- ╧-106: "─ID YOU SAY YOU WOULD GO, ├ECCO?" HE SAID MUSINGLY.
-
- ╧-107: ├ECCO WENT, FIRST FLINGING HIS ARMS DESPAIRINGLY. ╘HERE WAS NO
- ╧-108: MORE SINGING, ALL LISTENED NOW; AND AGAIN CAME A DEATH-SCREECH
- ╧-109: AND AGAIN A CROW.
-
- ╧-110: ╬O ONE SPOKE EXCEPT ╙LIGHTLY. "╘HREE," HE SAID.
-
- ╧-111: ╚OOK RALLIED HIS DOGS WITH A GESTURE. "'╙'DEATH AND ODDS
- ╧-112: FISH," HE THUNDERED, "WHO IS TO BRING ME THAT DOODLE-DOO?"
-
- ╧-113: "╫AIT TILL ├ECCO COMES OUT," GROWLED ╙TARKEY, AND THE OTHERS
- ╧-114: TOOK UP THE CRY.
-
- ╧-115: "╔ THINK ╔ HEARD YOU VOLUNTEER, ╙TARKEY," SAID ╚OOK, PURRING
- ╧-116: AGAIN.
-
- ╧-117: "╬O, BY THUNDER!" ╙TARKEY CRIED.
-
- ╧-118: "═Y HOOK THINKS YOU DID," SAID ╚OOK, CROSSING TO HIM. "╔ WONDER
- ╧-119: IF IT WOULD NOT BE ADVISABLE, ╙TARKEY, TO HUMOUR THE HOOK?"
-
- ╧-120: "╔'LL SWING BEFORE ╔ GO IN THERE," REPLIED ╙TARKEY DOGGEDLY,
- ╧-121: AND AGAIN HE HAD THE SUPPORT OF THE CREW.
-
- ╧-122: "╔S IT MUTINY?" ASKED ╚OOK MORE PLEASANTLY THAN EVER.
- ╧-123: "╙TARKEY'S RINGLEADER?"
-
- ╧-124: "├APTAIN, MERCY!" ╙TARKEY WHIMPERED, ALL OF A TREMBLE NOW.
-
- ╧-125: "╙HAKE HANDS, ╙TARKEY," SAID ╚OOK, PROFFERING HIS CLAW.
-
- ╧-126: ╙TARKEY LOOKED ROUND FOR HELP, BUT ALL DESERTED HIM. ┴S HE
- ╧-127: BACKED UP ╚OOK ADVANCED, AND NOW THE RED SPARK WAS IN HIS EYE.
- ╧-128: ╫ITH A DESPAIRING SCREAM THE PIRATE LEAPT UPON ╠ONG ╘OM AND
- ╧-129: PRECIPITATED HIMSELF INTO THE SEA.
-
- ╧-130: "╞OUR," SAID ╙LIGHTLY.
-
- ╧-131: "┴ND NOW," ╚OOK SAID COURTEOUSLY, "DID ANY OTHER GENTLEMEN SAY
- ╧-132: MUTINY?" ╙EIZING A LANTERN AND RAISING HIS CLAW WITH A MENACING
- ╧-133: GESTURE, "╔'LL BRING OUT THAT DOODLE-DOO MYSELF," HE SAID, AND
- ╧-134: SPED INTO THE CABIN.
-
- ╧-135: "╞IVE." ╚OW ╙LIGHTLY LONGED TO SAY IT. ╚E WETTED HIS LIPS TO
- ╧-136: BE READY, BUT ╚OOK CAME STAGGERING OUT, WITHOUT HIS LANTERN.
-
- ╧-137: "╙OMETHING BLEW OUT THE LIGHT," HE SAID A LITTLE UNSTEADILY.
-
- ╧-138: "╙OMETHING!" ECHOED ═ULLINS.
-
- ╧-139: "╫HAT OF ├ECCO?" DEMANDED ╬OODLER.
-
- ╧-140: "╚E'S AS DEAD AS ╩UKES," SAID ╚OOK SHORTLY.
-
- ╧-141: ╚IS RELUCTANCE TO RETURN TO THE CABIN IMPRESSED THEM ALL
- ╧-142: UNFAVOURABLY, AND THE MUTINOUS SOUNDS AGAIN BROKE FORTH. ┴LL
- ╧-143: PIRATES ARE SUPERSTITIOUS, AND ├OOKSON CRIED, "╘HEY DO SAY THE
- ╧-144: SUREST SIGN A SHIP'S ACCURST IN WHEN THERE'S ONE ON BOARD MORE
- ╧-145: THAN CAN BE ACCOUNTED FOR."
-
- ╧-146: "╔'VE HEARD," MUTTERED ═ULLINS, "HE ALWAYS BOARDS THE PIRATE
- ╧-147: CRAFT LAST. ╚AD HE A TAIL, CAPTAIN?"
-
- ╧-148: "╘HEY SAY," SAID ANOTHER, LOOKING VICIOUSLY AT ╚OOK, "THAT WHEN
- ╧-149: HE COMES IT'S IN THE LIKENESS OF THE WICKEDEST MAN ABOARD."
-
- ╧-150: "╚AD HE A HOOK, CAPTAIN?" ASKED ├OOKSON INSOLENTLY; AND ONE
- ╧-151: AFTER ANOTHER TOOK UP THE CRY, "╘HE SHIP'S DOOMED!" ┴T THIS THE
- ╧-152: CHILDREN COULD NOT RESIST RAISING A CHEER. ╚OOK HAD WELL-NIGH
- ╧-153: FORGOTTEN HIS PRISONERS, BUT AS HE SWUNG ROUND ON THEM NOW HIS
- ╧-154: FACE LIT UP AGAIN.
-
- ╧-155: "╠ADS," HE CRIED TO HIS CREW, "NOW HERE'S A NOTION. ╧PEN THE
- ╧-156: CABIN DOOR AND DRIVE THEM IN. ╠ET THEM FIGHT THE DOODLE-DOO FOR
- ╧-157: THEIR LIVES. ╔F THEY KILL HIM, WE'RE SO MUCH THE BETTER; IF HE
- ╧-158: KILLS THEM, WE'RE NONE THE WORSE."
-
- ╧-159: ╞OR THE LAST TIME HIS DOGS ADMIRED ╚OOK, AND DEVOTEDLY THEY DID
- ╧-160: HIS BIDDING. ╘HE BOYS, PRETENDING TO STRUGGLE, WERE PUSHED INTO
- ╧-161: THE CABIN AND THE DOOR WAS CLOSED ON THEM.
-
- ╧-162: "╬OW, LISTEN!" CRIED ╚OOK, AND ALL LISTENED. ┬UT NOT ONE DARED
- ╧-163: TO FACE THE DOOR. ┘ES, ONE, ╫ENDY, WHO ALL THIS TIME HAD BEEN
- ╧-164: BOUND TO THE MAST. ╔T WAS FOR NEITHER A SCREAM NOR A CROW THAT
- ╧-165: SHE WAS WATCHING, IT WAS FOR THE REAPPEARANCE OF ╨ETER.
-
- ╧-166: ╙HE HAD NOT LONG TO WAIT. ╔N THE CABIN HE HAD FOUND THE THING
- ╧-167: FOR WHICH HE HAD GONE IN SEARCH: THE KEY THE WOULD FREE THE
- ╧-168: CHILDREN OF THEIR MANACLES, AND NOW THEY ALL STOLE FORTH, ARMED
- ╧-169: WITH SUCH WEAPONS AS THEY COULD FIND. ╞IRST SIGNING THEM TO
- ╧-170: HIDE, ╨ETER CUT ╫ENDY'S BONDS, AND THEN NOTHING COULD HAVE BEEN
- ╧-171: EASIER THAN FOR THEM ALL TO FLY OFF TOGETHER; BUT ONE THING
- ╧-172: BARRED THE WAY, AN OATH, "╚OOK OR ME THIS TIME." ╙O WHEN HE HAD
- ╧-173: FREED ╫ENDY, HE WHISPERED FOR TO HER TO CONCEAL HERSELF WITH THE
- ╧-174: OTHERS, AND HIMSELF TOOK HER PLACE BY THE MAST, HER CLOAK AROUND
- ╧-175: HIM SO THAT HE SHOULD PASS FOR HER. ╘HEN HE TOOK A GREAT BREATH
- ╧-176: AND CROWED.
-
- ╧-177: ╘O THE PIRATES IT WAS A VOICE CRYING THAT ALL THE BOYS LAY
- ╧-178: SLAIN IN THE CABIN; AND THEY WERE PANIC-STRICKEN. ╚OOK TRIED TO
- ╧-179: HEARTEN THEM; BUT LIKE THE DOGS HE HAD MADE THEM THEY SHOWED HIM
- ╧-180: THEIR FANGS, AND HE KNEW THAT IF HE TOOK HIS EYES OFF THEM NOW
- ╧-181: THEY WOULD LEAP AT HIM.
-
- ╧-182: "╠ADS," HE SAID, READY TO CAJOLE OR STRIKE AS NEED BE, BUT
- ╧-183: NEVER QUAILING FOR AN INSTANT, "╔'VE THOUGHT IT OUT. ╘HERE'S A
- ╧-184: ╩ONAH ABOARD."
-
- ╧-185: "┴Y," THEY SNARLED, "A MAN WI' A HOOK."
-
- ╧-186: "╬O, LADS, NO, IT'S THE GIRL. ╬EVER WAS LUCK ON A PIRATE SHIP
- ╧-187: WI' A WOMAN ON BOARD. ╫E'LL RIGHT THE SHIP WHEN SHE'S GONE."
-
- ╧-188: ╙OME OF THEM REMEMBERED THAT THIS HAD BEEN A SAYING OF
- ╧-189: ╞LINT'S. "╔T'S WORTH TRYING," THEY SAID DOUBTFULLY.
-
- ╧-190: "╞LING THE GIRL OVERBOARD," CRIED ╚OOK; AND THEY MADE A RUSH AT
- ╧-191: THE FIGURE IN THE CLOAK.
-
- ╧-192: "╘HERE'S NONE CAN SAVE YOU NOW, MISSY," ═ULLINS HISSED
- ╧-193: JEERINGLY.
-
- ╧-194: "╘HERE'S ONE," REPLIED THE FIGURE.
-
- ╧-195: "╫HO'S THAT?"
-
- ╧-196: "╨ETER ╨AN THE AVENGER!" CAME THE TERRIBLE ANSWER; AND AS HE
- ╧-197: SPOKE ╨ETER FLUNG OFF HIS CLOAK. ╘HEN THEY ALL KNEW WHO 'TWAS
- ╧-198: THAT HAD BEEN UNDOING THEM IN THE CABIN, AND TWICE ╚OOK ESSAYED
- ╧-199: TO SPEAK AND TWICE HE FAILED. ╔N THAT FRIGHTFUL MOMENT ╔ THINK
- ╧-200: HIS FIERCE HEART BROKE.
-
- ╧-201: ┴T LAST HE CRIED, "├LEAVE HIM TO THE BRISKET!" BUT WITHOUT
- ╧-202: CONVICTION.
-
- ╧-203: "─OWN, BOYS, AND AT 'EM!" ╨ETER'S VOICE RANG OUT; AND IN
- ╧-204: ANOTHER MOMENT THE CLASH OF ARMS WAS RESOUNDING THROUGH THE SHIP.
- ╧-205: ╚AD THE PIRATES KEPT TOGETHER IT IS CERTAIN THAT THEY WOULD HAVE
- ╧-206: WON; BUT THE ONSET CAME WHEN THEY WERE STILL UNSTRUNG, AND THEY
- ╧-207: RAN HITHER AND THITHER, STRIKING WILDLY, EACH THINKING HIMSELF
- ╧-208: THE LAST SURVIVOR OF THE CREW. ═AN TO MAN THEY WERE THE STRONGER;
- ╧-209: SBUT THEY FOUGHT ON THE DEFENSIVE ONLY, WHICH ENABLED THE BOYS TO
- ╧-210: TO HUNT IN PAIRS AND CHOOSE THEIR QUARRY. ╙OME OF THE MISCREANTS
- ╧-211: LEAPT INTO THE SEA; OTHERS HID IN DARK RECESSES, WHERE THEY WERE
- ╧-212: FOUND BY ╙LIGHTLY, WHO DID NOT FIGHT, BUT RAN ABOUT WITH A
- ╧-213: WITH A LANTERN WHICH HE FLASHED IN THEIR FACES, SO THAT THEY WERE
- ╧-214: HALF BLINDED AND FELL AS AN EASY PREY TO THE REEKING SWORDS OF
- ╧-215: THE OTHER BOYS. ╘HERE WAS LITTLE SOUND TO BE HEARD BUT THE CLANG
- ╧-216: OF WEAPONS, AN OCCASIONAL SCREECH OR SPLASH, AND ╙LIGHTLY
- ╧-217: MONOTONOUSLY COUNTING -- FIVE -- SIX -- SEVEN -- EIGHT -- NINE --
- ╧-218: TEN -- ELEVEN.
-
- ╧-219: ╔ THINK ALL WERE GONE WHEN A GROUP OF SAVAGE BOYS SURROUNDED
- ╧-220: ╚OOK, WHO SEEMED TO HAVE A CHARMED LIFE, AS HE KEPT THEM AT BAY
- ╧-221: IN THAT CIRCLE OF FIRE. ╘HEY HAD DONE FOR HIS DOGS, BUT THIS MAN
- ╧-222: ALONE SEEMED TO BE A MATCH FOR THEM ALL. ┴GAIN AND AGAIN THEY
- ╧-223: CLOSED UPON HIM, AND AGAIN AND AGAIN HE HEWED A CLEAR SPACE. ╚E
- ╧-224: HAD LIFTED UP ONE BOY WITH HIS HOOK, AND WAS USING HIM AS A
- ╧-225: BUCKLER [SHIELD], WHEN ANOTHER, WHO HAD JUST PASSED HIS SWORD
- ╧-226: THROUGH ═ULLINS, SPRANG INTO THE FRAY.
-
- ╧-227: "╨UT UP YOUR SWORDS, BOYS," CRIED THE NEWCOMER, "THIS MAN IS
- ╧-228: MINE."
-
- ╧-229: ╘HUS SUDDENLY ╚OOK FOUND HIMSELF FACE TO FACE WITH ╨ETER. ╘HE
- ╧-230: OTHERS DREW BACK AND FORMED A RING AROUND THEM.
-
- ╧-231: ╞OR LONG THE TWO ENEMIES LOOKED AT ONE ANOTHER, ╚OOK SHUDDERING
- ╧-232: SLIGHTLY, AND ╨ETER WITH THE STRANGE SMILE UPON HIS FACE.
-
- ╧-233: "╙O, ╨AN," SAID ╚OOK AT LAST, "THIS IS ALL YOUR DOING."
-
- ╧-234: "┴Y, ╩AMES ╚OOK," CAME THE STERN ANSWER, "IT IS ALL MY DOING."
-
- ╧-235: "╨ROUD AND INSOLENT YOUTH," SAID ╚OOK, "PREPARE TO MEET THY
- ╧-236: DOOM."
-
- ╧-237: "─ARK AND SINISTER MAN," ╨ETER ANSWERED, "HAVE AT THEE."
-
- ╧-238: ╫ITHOUT MORE WORDS THEY FELL TO, AND FOR A SPACE THERE WAS NO
- ╧-239: ADVANTAGE TO EITHER BLADE. ╨ETER WAS A SUPERB SWORDSMAN, AND
- ╧-240: PARRIED WITH DAZZLING RAPIDITY; EVER AND ANON HE FOLLOWED UP A
- ╧-241: FEINT WITH A LUNGE THAT GOT PAST HIS FOE'S DEFENCE, BUT HIS
- ╧-242: SHORTER REACH STOOD HIM IN ILL STEAD, AND HE COULD NOT DRIVE THE
- ╧-243: STEEL HOME. ╚OOK, SCARCELY HIS INFERIOR IN BRILLIANCY, BUT NOT
- ╧-244: QUITE SO NIMBLE IN WRIST PLAY, FORCED HIM BACK BY THE WEIGHT OF
- ╧-245: HIS ONSET, HOPING SUDDENLY TO END ALL WITH A FAVOURITE THRUST,
- ╧-246: TAUGHT HIM LONG AGO BY ┬ARBECUE AT ╥IO; BUT TO HIS ASTONISHMENT HE
- ╧-247: FOUND THIS THRUST TURNED ASIDE AGAIN AND AGAIN. ╘HEN HE SOUGHT TO
- ╧-248: CLOSE AND GIVE THE QUIETUS WITH HIS IRON HOOK, WHICH ALL THIS TIME
- ╧-249: HAD BEEN PAWING THE AIR; BUT ╨ETER DOUBLED UNDER IT AND, LUNGING
- ╧-250: FIERCELY, PIERCED HIM IN THE RIBS. ┴T THE SIGHT OF HIS OWN BLOOD,
- ╧-251: WHOSE PECULIAR COLOUR, YOU REMEMBER, WAS OFFENSIVE TO HIM,
- ╧-252: THE SWORD FELL FROM ╚OOK'S HAND, AND HE WAS AT ╨ETER'S MERCY.
-
- ╧-253: "╬OW!" CRIED ALL THE BOYS, BUT WITH A MAGNIFICENT GESTURE ╨ETER
- ╧-254: INVITED HIM OPPONENT TO PICK UP HIS SWORD. ╚OOK DID SO INSTANTLY,
- ╧-255: BUT WITH A TRAGIC FEELING THAT ╨ETER WAS SHOWING GOOD FORM.
-
- ╧-256: ╚ITHERTO HE HAD THOUGHT IT WAS SOME FIEND FIGHTING HIM, BUT
- ╧-257: DARKER SUSPICIONS ASSAILED HIM NOW.
-
- ╧-258: "╨AN, WHO AND WHAT ART THOU?" HE CRIED HUSKILY.
-
- ╧-259: "╔'M YOUTH, ╔'M JOY," ╨ETER ANSWERED AT A VENTURE, "╔'M A
- ╧-260: LITTLE BIRD THAT HAS BROKEN OUT OF THE EGG."
-
- ╧-261: ╘HIS, OF COURSE, WAS NONSENSE; BUT IT WAS PROOF TO THE UNHAPPY
- ╧-262: ╚OOK THAT ╨ETER DID NOT KNOW IN THE LEAST WHO OR WHAT HE WAS,
- ╧-263: WHICH IS THE VERY PINNACLE OF GOOD FORM.
-
- ╧-264: "╘O'T AGAIN," HE CRIED DESPAIRINGLY.
-
- ╧-265: ╚E FOUGHT NOW LIKE A HUMAN FLAIL, AND EVERY SWEEP OF THAT
- ╧-266: TERRIBLE SWORD WOULD HAVE SEVERED IN TWAIN ANY MAN OR BOY WHO
- ╧-267: OBSTRUCTED IT; BUT ╨ETER FLUTTERED ROUND HIM AS IF THE VERY WIND
- ╧-268: IT MADE BLEW HIM OUT OF THE DANGER ZONE. ┴ND AGAIN AND AGAIN HE
- ╧-269: DARTED IN AND PRICKED.
-
- ╧-270: ╚OOK WAS FIGHTING NOW WITHOUT HOPE. ╘HAT PASSIONATE BREAST NO
- ╧-271: LONGER ASKED FOR LIFE; BUT FOR ONE BOON IT CRAVED: TO SEE ╨ETER
- ╧-272: SHOW BAD FORM BEFORE IT WAS COLD FOREVER.
-
- ╧-273: ┴BANDONING THE FIGHT HE RUSHED INTO THE POWDER MAGAZINE AND
- ╧-274: FIRED IT.
-
- ╧-275: "╔N TWO MINUTES," HE CRIED, "THE SHIP WILL BE BLOWN TO PIECES."
-
- ╧-276: ╬OW, NOW, HE THOUGHT, TRUE FORM WILL SHOW.
-
- ╧-277: ┬UT ╨ETER ISSUED FROM THE POWDER MAGAZINE WITH THE SHELL IN HIS
- ╧-278: HANDS, AND CALMLY FLUNG IT OVERBOARD.
-
- ╧-279: ╫HAT SORT OF FORM WAS ╚OOK HIMSELF SHOWING? ═ISGUIDED MAN
- ╧-280: THOUGH HE WAS, WE MAY BE GLAD, WITHOUT SYMPATHISING WITH HIM,
- ╧-281: THAT IN THE END HE WAS TRUE TO THE TRADITIONS OF HIS RACE. ╘HE
- ╧-282: OTHER BOYS WERE FLYING AROUND HIM NOW, FLOUTING, SCORNFUL; AND HE
- ╧-283: STAGGERED ABOUT THE DECK STRIKING UP AT THEM IMPOTENTLY, HIS MIND
- ╧-284: WAS NO LONGER WITH THEM; IT WAS SLOUCHING IN THE PLAYING FIELDS
- ╧-285: OF LONG AGO, OR BEING SENT UP [TO THE HEADMASTER] FOR GOOD, OR
- ╧-286: WATCHING THE WALL-GAME FROM A FAMOUS WALL. ┴ND HIS SHOES WERE
- ╧-287: RIGHT, AND HIS WAISTCOAT WAS RIGHT, AND HIS TIE WAS RIGHT, AND
- ╧-288: HIS SOCKS WERE RIGHT.
-
- ╧-289: ╩AMES ╚OOK, THOU NOT WHOLLY UNHEROIC FIGURE, FAREWELL.
-
- ╧-290: ╞OR WE HAVE COME TO HIS LAST MOMENT.
-
- ╧-291: ╙EEING ╨ETER SLOWLY ADVANCING UPON HIM THROUGH THE AIR WITH
- ╧-292: DAGGER POISED, HE SPRANG UPON THE BULWARKS TO CAST HIMSELF INTO
- ╧-293: THE SEA. ╚E DID NOT KNOW THAT THE CROCODILE WAS WAITING FOR HIM;
- ╧-294: FOR WE PURPOSELY STOPPED THE CLOCK THAT THIS KNOWLEDGE MIGHT BE
- ╧-295: SPARED HIM: A LITTLE MARK OF RESPECT FROM US AT THE END.
-
- ╧-296: ╚E HAD ONE LAST TRIUMPH, WHICH ╔ THINK WE NEED NOT GRUDGE HIM.
- ╧-297: ┴S HE STOOD ON THE BULWARK LOOKING OVER HIS SHOULDER AT ╨ETER
- ╧-298: GLIDING THROUGH THE AIR, HE INVITED HIM WITH A GESTURE TO USE HIS
- ╧-299: FOOT. ╔T MADE ╨ETER KICK INSTEAD OF STAB.
-
- ╧-300: ┴T LAST ╚OOK HAD GOT THE BOON FOR WHICH HE CRAVED.
-
- ╧-301: "┬AD FORM," HE CRIED JEERINGLY, AND WENT CONTENT TO THE
- ╧-302: CROCODILE.
-
- ╧-303: ╘HUS PERISHED ╩AMES ╚OOK.
-
- ╧-304: "╙EVENTEEN!" ╙LIGHTLY SANG OUT; BUT HE WAS NOT QUITE CORRECT
- ╧-305: IN HIS FIGURES. ╞IFTEEN PAID THE PENALTY FOR THEIR CRIMES THAT
- ╧-306: NIGHT; BUT TWO REACHED THE SHORE: ╙TARKEY TO BE CAPTURED BY THE
- ╧-307: REDSKINS, WHO MADE HIM NURSE FOR ALL THEIR PAPOOSES, A MELANCHOLY
- ╧-308: COME-DOWN FOR A PIRATE; AND ╙MEE, WHO HENCEFORTH WANDERED ABOUT
- ╧-309: THE WORLD IN HIS SPECTACLES, MAKING A PRECARIOUS LIVING BY SAYING
- ╧-310: HE WAS THE ONLY MAN THAT ╩AS. ╚OOK HAD FEARED.
-
- ╧-311: ╫ENDY, OF COURSE, HAD STOOD BY TAKING NO PART IN THE FIGHT,
- ╧-312: THOUGH WATCHING ╨ETER WITH GLISTENING EYES; BUT NOW THAT ALL WAS
- ╧-313: OVER SHE BECAME PROMINENT AGAIN. ╙HE PRAISED THEM EQUALLY, AND
- ╧-314: SHUDDERED DELIGHTFULLY WHEN ═ICHAEL SHOWED HER THE PLACE WHERE HE
- ╧-315: HAD KILLED ONE; AND THEN SHE TOOK THEM INTO ╚OOK'S CABIN AND
- ╧-316: POINTED TO HIS WATCH WHICH WAS HANGING ON A NAIL. ╔T SAID "HALF-
- ╧-317: PAST ONE!"
-
- ╧-318: ╘HE LATENESS OF THE HOUR WAS ALMOST THE BIGGEST THING OF ALL.
- ╧-319: ╙HE GOT THEM TO BED IN THE PIRATES' BUNKS PRETTY QUICKLY, YOU MAY
- ╧-320: BE SURE; ALL BUT ╨ETER, WHO STRUTTED UP AND DOWN ON THE DECK,
- ╧-321: UNTIL AT LAST HE FELL ASLEEP BY THE SIDE OF ╠ONG ╘OM. ╚E HAD ONE
- ╧-322: OF HIS DREAMS THAT NIGHT, AND CRIED IN HIS SLEEP FOR A LONG TIME,
- ╧-323: AND ╫ENDY HELD HIM TIGHTLY.
-
- [ ├ONTINUED IN ├HAPTER 16. ]
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