Peter Pan: The Boy Who Would Never Grow Up by J. M. Barrie

Page 1


T!IJ:: LOST HOYS t,;:-;ELT BEFORE IIER.


PETER PAN THE BOY WHO WOULD NEVER ,t ,t GROW UP TO BE A MAN ,t ,c RETOLD • FROM • SIR • JAMES • M • BARRIE'S FAMOUS· PLAY EDITED AND ARRANGED BY

FREDERICK ORVILLE PERKINS EDITOR OF '' THE BLUE BIRD," t."TC.

WITH SIXTEEN ILLUSTRATIONS BY

ALICE B. WOODWARD

ffBil

� SILVER, BURDETT & COMPANY BOSTON

NEW YORK

CHICAGO

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BY SILVER,

BURDETT &

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Dedication To AII l/7/20 Lo·ve and Bclic·vc in Fairies



Introduction "Jl7ho are you, Pan?" "I am routh, Eternal routh I I am the Sun rising, I am Poets singing, I am the New World. I am a little bird That has broken out of the egg, I am ]OJ', ]OJ', Joy." S1R JAMES MATTHEW BARRIE'S delightful creation, "Peter Pan," has by this time taken a secure place in the hearts of children of all ages, and there are few homes in the land in which Peter, Wendy, Tinker Bell, Captain Hook and his Pirates, the Mermaids and Redskins, and the exciting world in which they live are not as familiar as the most time-honored lore of fairyland. "Peter Pan" as a play is a little closer to the affections of most children and grown-ups than any other play of our time. "Peter Pan" ranks with Maeterlinck's child's classic,"The Blue Bird." Both plays are unique in having an equally strong appeal to children and adults. "I'm Youth, Eternal Youth," cries Barrie's immortal boy. And this is the spirit of Peter Pan -joy and innocence, fresh­ ness of morning; the buoyant, creative, upbuilding energy of life at the springtime. V


Introduction "Peter Pan" has become and will remain a ·radiant center of good-will and good fellowship. Its influence is like sun­ shine. Playing " Peter Pan" is not acting a role; it is embodying a living thought; it is expressing a life force in the simplest, most beautiful way by teaching us to look at life from a child's point of view. So looked at it follows quite naturally that it is liked not only by children but by men and women who love each other, have homes and little children, and sorrows that love can heal, and joys that leave no bitter taste. Realities that seemed formidable are found not to be real at all and all sorts of lovely illusions are dreams that may come true. "Peter Pan" is not to be judged by the ordinary standards. It is a pure fantasy by the one writer, since Rob­ ert Louis Stevenson, who has most truly kept the heart and mind of a child. Boys and girls of all ages love it because it is a boy's mind turned inside out. Everything in it happens precisely as it would happen in a world made by a healthy boy of imagination. All the best things come true. Very few plays written in the English language in the last fifty years are half so sure of a place in the living theatre of the next century as this airy fantasy of Barrie's. It was on the night of November 6th, 1905, that "Peter Pan " was played for the first time in America. It had been produced triumphantly in London the year before and quite a fever of expectancy awaited its production in America. The first reviews of the play were unfavorable. Few, if any, read its successful future, and it is to he gravely doubted"if Barrie himself believed at the start that his play, about the boy who would not grow up, would bring him more fame than any other work he had ever written. Sir H nbert Tree, the emi­ nent English actor, writing to a friend said," Barrie has gone


Introduction quite out of his mind. I am sorry to say it, but you ought to know it. He has just read me a play. I know I have not gone woozy in my mind, but Barrie must be mad. He has written four acts about fairies, children and Indians run­ ning through the most incoherent story you ever listened to, and what do you suppose? The last act is to be set on the tops of trees." It is interesting to note that from such a doubtful beginning, this famous story very soon reached a high rank as a piece of play-writing, and has now become estab­ lished as a really great English classic. The very high place this play holds is destined to be retained, and to give con­ tinued delight to millions of lovers of really fine literature. The manuscript of the play has never been published. It is in curious script with its striking contrasts, - the most amazing flights of fancy, the most delicate gossamer of playful humor followed hy the most prosaic and the most mechanically exact stage directions wherein is planned every detail of the immensely complicated machinery for putting " Peter Pan" upon the stage. Here is included the missing scene, Ma­ rooner's Rock of the Mermaid's Lagoon, a scene now long omitted from the play as produced. " Peter Pan " was created in the mind of a man of insight and gentleness, one of the most brilliant figures in modern literature. James Matthew Barrie was born at Kirriemuir, Scotland, May 9th, 1860, and was educated at the famous Dumfries Academy and Edinburgh University. In 1883 he went to Nottingham, England, as a writer on the staff of the No1tingl1am Journal, and for a year and a half contributed to that Journal. He then went to London and was a frequent con�ributor to the St. James G11zi:tte and other English papers. His first notable book was "Auld Licht Idylls," written m


Introduction 1888, which is an account of life in his native village. This was followed by "A Window in Thrums " and " My Lady Nicotine." In 1891 Barrie wrote "The Little Minister," which was his first serious attempt at a long novel. " Mar­ garet Ogilvy" (a biography of his mother) and "Sentimental Tommy" appeared in 1896; the latter being followed by a sequel, "Tommy and Grizel." Then followed such stories as " The Professor's Love Story," "What Every Woman Knows," "Alice-Sit-by-the-Fire," etc. In recognition of his literary work Barrie was knighted, and now holds one of the highest places among contemporary writers.

VIII


Contents EARLY

. . • • • • •

DAYS

THE

N EVER-NEVER-NEVER-LAND •

THE

MERMAIDS

,

THE UNDERGROUND THE

PIRATE SHIP •

Ho:rvrn, SWEET

LAGOON

22

37

. • • • • • . • • •

ix

I

HoME

HoME .

PAGE

43

57 69



List of Illustrations The Lost Boys knelt hefore her

Frontispi'ece

With Michael sitting on her back

FACING PAGE

2

Peter's shadow made pa�terns on the floor

12

A way they floated .

20

Slightly was da-ncing merrily with an ostrich

23

The Indians crept silently up

26

"The Crocodile ! the Crocodile ! "

29

She was comhing her long tresses

37

She slipped out of his grasp

38

A fierce fight ensued .

40

Spreading his coat to the wind, he sailed merrily

42

Seized by one of the swarthy ruffians .

51

He caught sight of Tinker Bell in his glass

54

The pirate ship .

57 Xl


List of Illustrations Right into the jaws of the crocodile

PACING PAGE

66

68

Nurse to the Papooses ! He would live in the kennel till his children's return

..

Xll


Peter Pan Early Days



EARLY DAYS ONCE upon a time there lived three dear little children called John Napoleon, Wendy Moira Angela, and l\1ichael. They were Mr. and Mrs. Darling's children, and their nursery was the cosiest, prettiest room you ever saw. It was wide and airy, with large windows and a deep fireplace with a high fire-guard around it. Over in one corner there was a big clock, and the walls were covered with pretty nursery-rhyme pictures. It was in many ways a most interesting and unusual household. For one thing, although there was a pretty little serving­ maid called Liza, the childrcq were bathed and dressed by a big dog. Nana was the d�g's name and her kennel was kept in the nursery, a most delightful arrangement. I

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Google


Peter Pan

On the Nana

evening

was

when

her paws .

Darling were getting

to dinner, and Nana was charge of the children . struck —

one,

two ,

time to begin to Nana and

got

neatly

Then down

After feeling that it was for Michael. the

three

bed first,

to be left in

sole

five ,

stretched

on the

six ,

to

bed.

herself,

electric light.

been surprised to see how to

do

turned

she

hung

the

with her

bedclothes

the little

turned

it with too

that

pajamas

She then trotted up to

and

not

out

quickly,

and

bathroom

go

children

over the fire- guard . the

ready to

three , four ,

managed

she

Mr. and

put the

up

You would have

mouth.

begins,

Presently the clock

carefully switched

cleverly

story

dozing peacefully by the fireside,

with her head between Mrs.

our

on

the

water.

her paw to make

sure

to

look

hot, she

went

Michael was the youngest

children ,

and

although like

was

always

put

to

many little boys

he

always wanted to stay up longer. 2

of


WITH MICHAEL SITTING ON HER BACK.



Early Days

She ting

returned

astride

a pony . to

her

immediately back

Michael ,

be bathed,

that

he

though

of course ,

him

sit-

she

were

did not

want

but Nana was very firm , and

taking him to the so

as

with

bathroom, shut the door

should

not

be

in

a

draught.

Then Mrs. Darling came to peep at him as he splashed about in the nice warm water.

While

Mrs.

Darling

was

in

the

nursery,

she heard a slight noise outside the window. A

tiny figure,

tried

the

no

little

boy ,

vanished

sud-

bigger than

window-latch,

and

denly at her cry of surprise .

a

She flung the

window open, but there was nothing to

be

seen, nothing but the dim roofs of the neighboring houses, and the deep blue sky above. Mrs.

Darling

was

quite

frightened ,

be-

cause the same thing had happened the day before.

She and Nana had gone into the nursery and

had

seen

the

strange

little

standing in the middle of the room . 3

creature Nana


Peter Pan

growled and sprang lightly

through

at the boy, who leaped

the

The

window.

dog had shut the window down so

good

quickly

that she had cut off the boy's shadow.

Mrs.

Darling had found

and

had folded

it in

Nana's

up carefully and

it

mouth

put it away.

But she soon felt reassured when her children came in together in answer to

her call .

John Napoleon and Wendy were playing at favorite

their

Mother,

game Mrs.

and

of

Father

and

beautiful

face

being

Darling's

beamed with delight as she listened to them . Suddenly, much his

in

excited

evening

rushed

because

tie

Mr.

he

(evening

Darling,

could ties

things to fasten, you know) .

very

not fasten

are

difficult

He had been

trying to tie it by practicing it around a bed post,

but

with

no

Mrs.

result.

easily managed the tie for him, soon skipping about the room on

his

back,

dropping

him

bed with a big " bump- ah ! "

4

Darling

and he was

with

finally

Michael into

his


Early Days

The

ended

fun

with

the

appearance

of

bathroom ,

had

. Nana,

who,

in going to the

accidentally beautifully

brushed pressed

against

black

Mr.

Darling's

trousers

and

left

some of her gray, clinging hairs upon

them .

Now

hairy

no

grown-up

trousers, so Mr.

person

likes

Darling was very cross with

Nana, and spoke of dismissing her , saying it was

a

great

nurse .

Mr.

mistake

to

wrong,

But Mrs. and

a

dog

for

a

Darling had always had a feel-

ing that Nana looked puppies.

have

that

upon the

children

Darling insisted

Nana

knew

the

he

as

was

children

had souls .

Mrs.

Darling

apparition

at

told

the

him

the

how

Nana

window,

barked at it and shut the fast

that its

shadow

off,

and

left

behind.

had

weird

about

had

window down been

cut

so

entirely

She showed him the

shadow, which he examined thoughtfully , and told him how glad she

was

treasure as Nana for a nurse . 5

to

have such

a


Peter Pan

" You see how very useful Nana is," concluded Mrs. Darling. Just

then

Michael's

Michael it.

bottle

was

There

Wendy,

the faithful

cough

of

naughty, was

being

a

a

dog

and

came

in

with

mixture . would

fine

fuss

clever

little

not

take

it,

but

over

girl,

But

hit

on

a

brilliant idea. " Father cine to

keep

66 Very shall

see

should

Michael

well," who

take

is

some

of his medi-

company."

said

Mr.

Darling.

the

braver."

Two glasses were brought and moment.

"One, two, three, "

glass behind his the

act .

in a

Mr. Dar-

to, and quietly hid the

back .

"Father

filled

cried Wendy ;

Michael took his like a man , but ling only pretended

" We

John

hasn't

caught him in

taken

cried, and Michael, seeing that

his ! "

he had

he

been

tricked , burst into a loud " Boo - hoo - oo ! " Mr. Darling, to

appease

of what seemed to

Michael , thought

him an

6

excellent

joke.


Early Days

He poured his medicine ing - bowl , that

it

and

was

when

into

poor

something

Nana's drink-

Nana,

nice,

ran

thinking

eagerly

to

lap it up, he roared with laughter to see the reproachful eyes she turned upon him .

The

children , who

nurse

very

she

slunk

dearly,

were

loved

terribly

their

old

distressed

as

to her kennel , looking as woeful and as hurt in her feelings as ever a dog did .

Mr.

Darling

himself,

but

coaxed

Nana

frightfully

was

would

he out

ashamed

give

not

of He

in .

of her kennel, seized

her

by the collar, and dragged her off in disgrace, to be chained

up

place for dogs,"

in

the yard ,

"the proper

he said , in spite of the per-

suasions and pleadings of them all . Mrs. Darling comforted the children , kissing

them

very

tenderly

as

mothers

always

do , tucked them up in their beds, sang them to sleep, and leaving the night-lights burning for

company,

crept

softly out

of the

room

to go to the dinner party with Mr. Darling. 7


LULLABY

'VOICE.

your eyes,


Early Days Everything in the big nursery was now still and quiet, except for the occasional barking of Nana, who was chained up in the yard. Suddenly the pretty little night-lights flickered, waned, and went out one by one. A tiny ball of fire, hundreds of times brighter than the night-lights, darted into the room. It Bitted uneasily all over the nursery. It went into all the bureau drawers, it rummaged in the wardrobe, turning every pocket inside out, and, finally, vanished into a jug! , Then the same slender, graceful figure that had so startled Mrs. Darling leaped from the darkness outside the window. There was just one click, the window was open, and the little creature stepped cautiously in. He seemed to be looking for something; and you will easily guess that what he was looking for was his shadow. "Tink, where are you? " he whispered, and seeing the light shining in the jug he went on, "Tink, do you know where they have put it?" 9


Peter Pan

Now this

of light

little ball

was

really

a

fairy girl who knew everything worth knowMost fairies do .

ing.

could see of

All you

her was the little flame, but you her

she

distinctly ;

made

could hear noise

a tinkling

like a little silver bell (it is the fairy language, you

know) .

Tinker

Bell .

That was why she

was

called

children

can

never

Ordinary language .

If by any

chance

hear the

fairy

they ever

do, they know they have heard it

before . Tinker Bell at last rested a few moments on the second drawer of the nursery dresser ; instantly the boy ran joyfully to it, and pulling open the drawer snatched out his shadow, neatly left it.

rolled

up , just

But when

as

Mrs.

Darling

he had found

had

it ,

he

he

would

did

not know how to put it on again . A happy thought struck him ; stick

it

on

with

soap

from the

bathroom !

Sitting on the hearth- rug, he soaped his feet and then he soaped his shadow, but whichΙΟ


Early Days

ever way he soaped they would not stick toThere is no use in having a shadow

gether.

if it will not stick to you .

After trying and

trying in vain, the poor little fellow gave up the attempt, buried his face in his hands, and sobbed despairingly . She sat It was then right up in said

that Wendy awoke .

bed ,

courteously :

and , not

at

all

frightened ,

" Little boy , why are

you

crying ? " The elfin creature sprang to his feet, and taking Wendy

off

his

curtsied

cap,

bowed

in

return ,

very

politely.

though

she

found it a difficult thing to do in bed .

" What's

your

name ? "

asked

the

little

boy. 66 Wendy Moira Angela

Darling.

What's

yours ? " " Peter Pan ."

" Where do you live ? " " Second turning to the right, and straight on till morning ." II


Peter Pan

This

seemed She

address.

Wendy

to

Peter

told

awfully sorry for

But

No wonder he was cry-

Peter

was

crying

get

his

shadow

Wendy

could

not

help

said.

" Shall

because

he

stick

on.

when

she

to

smiling

trying to make it stay

saw that he had been with soap .

But she was

so .

couldn't

on

" It must be sewn I

funny

Peter when she heard that

he had no mother. ing !

very

a

do

for

it

on, "

you ? "

she She

jumped out of bed to get her sewing basket and set to

work at

once.

It hurts a good

deal to have a shadow sewn on to your feet, It was the right

but Peter bore it bravely.

thing to do , for the shadow held on beautifully,

and

danced up

Peter and

was

so

delighted

down the

that

he

nursery watching

it make patterns on the floor as he flung his arms and legs about . " Oh, the cleverness of me ! " cried Peter , overcome

with

joy,

and

he

crowed

pleasure, for all the world like a rooster. I2

with


PETER'S SHADOW MADE PATTERNS ON THE FLOOR.



Early Days

"You

Wendy

exclaimed

conceit,"

in-

dignantly, " of course I did nothing ! “ Oh ,

you

did

replied

little ! "

a

Peter,

dancing on . "A little ! withdraw,"

If I am

no

use ,

I can at least

she said , jumping back

and covering her

head

in

a

into

bed

dignified

way

with the bedclothes. " Oh !

Wendy,

Peter exclaimed

please

don't

withdraw,"

" I can't

in great distress .

help crowing when I'm pleased with myself. One girl is more use than twenty boys." This was rather clever of Peter.

Wendy

his pleading voice

and got

She even offered to give

Peter a

could

not resist

up again .

kiss if he liked .

seeing

the

thought

Peter looked puzzled, but

thimble

she

meant

on

Wendy's

to give

held out his hand for it.

him

finger

he

that ,

and

Now Wendy saw

at a glance that the poor boy did not

even

know what a kiss was, but being a nice little girl of motherly disposition , she did not hurt

13


Peter Pan

his

feelings by laughing

at him,

but

simply

very

much .

placed the thimble on his finger. Peter " Shall

admired

I

give

the

you

a' kiss ? "

he

asked ,

and

acorn

button

off

his

coat ,

a

chain

jerking

an

solemnly

presented

at

Wendy

thimble

it

to

her.

it

fastened

once

on

which she wore about her neck, and , forgetting the puzzle in

his mind , she once more

asked him for a kiss . Immediately " Oh,

I

he

didn't

returned

mean

a

the

kiss,

thimble . meant

I

a

thimble ! " What's that ?" he asked .

" It's like this ," replied Wendy, and gently kissed his cheek. Oh," began

to

cried

Peter, " how nice ! " and he

give

her thimbles in

ever afterwards

he

called

a

return ,

kiss

a

and

thimble,

and a thimble a kiss .

" But,

Peter,

how

old

tinued Wendy.

14

are

you ? "

con-


Early Days

“ I

don't

know,

but

I

young.

quite

am

I ran away the day I was born ." Why ? "

"Ran away ? " Because

I

heard

my father and

mother

talking about what I was to be when I became

a

I want fun .

man .

I

always to

So

I

ran

don't want

to

be

boy and

a little

away

to

be

a man . have

fairi

live

s."

among the

Wendy was almost speechless with delight at the thought

of sitting beside a

boy who

knew fairies, and after a minute said :

" Peter,

do you really know fairies ? " "Yes,

but

they're

nearly

all

dead

now.

You see, Wendy, when the first baby laughed for

the

first

thousand

time,

its

pieces, and

laugh

broke

into

a

they all went skipping

about, and that was the beginning of fairies. And now, whenever a new baby is first laugh becomes a fairy. to

be

but

a

fairy for

there

isn't.

So

every

little

You

see,

15

born , its

there ought

boy and

children

girl ,

know


Peter Pan

such a lot fairies,

in

now .

whenever

and

don't believe in

a

believe

won't

They soon

says :

child

I

fairies ,' there's a fairy some-

where that falls down dead ." Peter thought he had now talked enough about

looked

suddenly

and

fairies,

about

he were

searching for

the room , as

though

something.

Tinker Bell had disappeared !

Before he could grow anxious , however, a gentle

tinkling

of

bells

was

heard ,

and

Peter, who knew the fairy language well, of course

understood

it.

He

quickly

pulled

open the drawer in which his shadow had been hidden ,

and

out

sprang

Tinker

Bell ,

very

angry with him

for having accidentally shut

her up

She skipped about the room

there.

tinkling with anger, but Wendy gave such a cry

of delight

fairy,

that

at

Tinker

the idea was

of seeing

frightened

a

real

and

hid

behind the clock . " But, Peter, "

ou don't

cried Wendy, " if y

live with the fairies, where do you live ? " 16


Early Days

" I live with the Lost Boys."

" Who are they ? " 66

Why, they are the children who fall out of their

baby

are looking claimed

carriages when

mothers

If they are not

the other way.

within seven days, they are sent

far

Never - Never- Never- Land

to

away to

the

I'm their Captain ."

defray expenses . " Oh ! Peter,

their

what

why

did

fun

that

you

come

must to

be ! our

But,

nursery

window ? Peter told her that he came

to listen to

the lovely stories Wendy's mother related to her

children ,

for

the

Lost

Boys

had

no

mothers, and no one to tell them any stories. He also told her how he led the boys against their

enemies,

the

pirates

and

the

wolves,

and how they enjoyed bathing in the Lagoon , where beautiful mermaids sang and swam all day long. " I must go back now," he went on ; " the boys will be anxious to hear the end of the

17


Peter Pan

story about the Prince and the glass slipper . I told them as much as

I knew, and they're

longing to hear the rest ." Wendy begged him to stay . tell

" I'll

you lots

more,"

promised,

she

" ever so many stories if you'll only stay.” Come, Wendy ! " exclaimed Peter, struck

stories

there,

make

pockets

night.

and

darn

our

stockings ,

us,

and

tuck

for

We have no one to

ings , and no one to boys long for

a

us all the

" You can tell

with a new idea .

tuck

in

at

darn our stock-

us

All the

in !

Oh,

mother.

us

and

Wendy,

do

come ! '

It was a tempting sudden

thought

" Peter, I

can't !

idea to Wendy, but a

came

across

her

Think of Mamma !

mind. Be-

sides, I can't fly."

“ I'll teach you , Wendy." This was too much for her.

" Peter , will

you teach John and Michael to fly as well ? "

"Yes , if you like. ”

18


Early Days

So John and Michael were awakened, and directly they heard that there were pirates in the Never- Never- Never- Land, they began to clamor to go at once.

They watched Peter

fly about the room , and tried to imitate him , flapping

their

arms

clumsily

at

first

like

young birds, and flopping about all over the place .

It

looked

they

tried

went

down

" I've

and

got

but soon

quite

tried

instead it

found

easy, but

jumping

although

they

always

cried

John ,

of up.

now, Wendy ! "

Not one

that he had not.

of them could fly an inch . " That must

will

never

do ,"

fairy dust

blow some

Peter on

said ,

" I

Now

you .

waggle your shoulders as I do .” So they tried, and fly ; floor

found

that they could

just a little at first, from the bed to the and

back

grew braver,

again ;

over

the

and bed

then , and

as

across

room, almost as easily as Peter himself. and

they the Up

down they went, and round and round .

19


Peter Pan

66 Tink, lead the way ! " the fairy shot

out

called

like a little

Peter, and

star .

None

of the children had time to put on their day clothes, but John snatched his top hat as he flew out of the window, followed by Michael . Peter

Pan

they floated the

starry

into the

dark

blue

and

away

depths

afterwards,

Mrs.

Darling,

from

the

party ,

returned

just

hand,

of

night.

A minute had

Wendy's

held

who

rushed

into the nursery with Nana at her heels, for Nana had been and

had

chain . were

just

about her

anxious succeeded

in

But it was too late . already

on

their

Never-Never- Land .

20

way

charges,

breaking

her

The children to

the

Never-


AWAY THEY FLOATED.



The Never-Never-Never-Land



THE ARRIVAL OF WENDY

Andante con espressione

L. H.

p R. H.

PIANO.

R. H.

L.H.

R.H.

R.H

9

21


THE

NEVER -NEVER- NEVER - LAND

FAR

away in the

the

Lost

Boys

in the

depths

of the

of a lake

now

covered

lived

banks

forest on the

The trees were bare without their

with ice.

howled

in

the

snarled

in

the

Pirates

sailed

Red

and

distance ,

and

prowled

wolves

and

dress ,

summer

the

Never- Never- Never- Land ,

beasts

wild

Dangerous

undergrowth .

lake,

up

and

down

the

Indians,

who

were

friends

and

of the

boys, lived secretly in their wigwams hidden in the shadows of deep woods . The Lost looked

Boys ,

more

anxiously

who,

in their

bears

than

like

awaiting

Peter's

fur

coats,

boys,

were

return .

There

were six of them, Slightly Soiled , the

eldest ;

then

and

Curly,

much

alike

came

and the

Tootles,

Twins ,

who

and

Nibs ,

were

22

so


SLIGHTLY WAS DAl'iCING MERRILY WITH AN OSTRICH.



The Never-Never- Never- Land

that one name did for both of them , so each was

called

under and

the

the

staircase

Twin .

They

ground,

for

lived

fear

wolves.

Each

hollowed

in

moles

of the

Pirates

had

special

one tree

a

like

a

trunk,

so

that

they could easily run down among the roots of the trees into their home. They were playing happily about, although they

were

that

Peter

beginning was

to

so

be

long

a little

anxious

away.

During

Peter's absence , things were usually quiet in the take

Never- Never- Never- Land . an

hour

beasts

attend

feed

heartily .

Peter,

who

under

way

Slightly

longer to

the

in

The

morning,

their young, the But

dislikes

with

fairies

the

laziness,

the

Redskins

coming they

are

of all

again . was

dancing

quite

partner

(a

tootling merrily,

on

a

with

an

queer companion,

whistle,

and

ostrich

for

you

will say) ,

when suddenly the gruff voices of the Pirates were

heard.

Nibs,

who

23

was

very

brave,


Peter Pan

slipped away through the trees to

scout, but

the

to

others

down the

had

only just

stairs

in the

time

scuttle

hollow trees

before

the big ugly buccaneers came tramping up, hauling state

their

upon

You

a

captain ,

who

was

sitting

in

sledge.

could

not

imagine a more

dreadful

looking villain than that Pirate Captain was. His

name

was

him

perfectly. his

James

Hook,

and

He

had

two

face

was

seamed

it

suited

evil - looking

black

eyes,

which

clearly expressed his wicked thoughts,

his hideous chin , as

ink

and

as

with

lines

all unshaven , was as black

prickly

hair was long and

as

black ,

a

furze - bush ,

and

his

hung around

his face in greasy curls .

He treated his men as dogs, and like dogs his

men

horrible

obeyed song,

him .

keeping

He was

singing

a

time by swinging in

the air the gruesome stump of his right arm , on which

a

double

iron - pronged

fixed instead of a hand . 24

hook

was

Hence his name .


The Never-Never-Never-Land Hook was the wickedest pirate who ever lived!

He simply wallowed in wickedness!

Even his own crew dreaded him; and they were as bad as ·could be.

So no wonder

the Lost Boys darted like rabbits to their cave. Now Captain Hook most of all wanted to find Peter Pan, for it was Peter, who, a long time before, in an encounter between the Pirates and the Lost Boys, had cut off his right arm and Rung it to a passing croc­ odile.

The crocodile had liked the taste

of it so much that ever since he had wan­ dered from land to land and from sea to sea licking his lips for the rest of the Captain. In a way it was a sort of compliment, but Hook didn't care for that kind of a compli­ ment. The Captain had naturally some reason for hating Peter, for he had a dreaµful time eluding the voracious crocodile.

The beast

dogged his footsteps, and followed him on 25


Peter Pan and on and on by land and sea wherever he went. The Captain only got a start when the crocodile was asleep, and with that and a swift ship, he had managed so far to escape. It was an awful life to live. Fortunately for Hook, the crocodile had once swallowed an alarm clock (one of those patent ninety-nine years clocks, warranted to go any time, anywhere and anyhow). Go it did, and it ticked so loudly that the Cap­ tain could always hear it coming. It was the signal for him to bolt! But Hook lived in terror for fear that the clock would some day run down. He knew that if it should, the crocodile could creep up behind him and swallow him in one gulp before he had heard a sound. Now Hook sat down on one of the enormous forest mushrooms (in the Never­ Never-Nevcr�Land mushrooms grow to a gigantic size) to deliberate about his mode of n.:venge. He was in the middle of a tor26


TH.I,; INDIANS CR.1,;l'T SILENTLY UP.



The Never-Never-Never-Land

rent of braggings and boastings when he felt his seat getting not only warm, but much too warm. There was little wonder in that, for when he furiously leaped up, he found that he had really been sitting on a chimney of the underground home which Peter had so cleverly disguised. Hook examined the mushroom and tried to pull it up. It came away at once in his hand, for it had no root. Stranger still, . smoke began to ascend. He could hear, too, the sound of children's voices, for the Boys felt so safe in their hiding place that they were chattering gayly. Hook realized at once that the Lost Boys must be living in safety down below. Very soon he had a wicked, treacherous plan settled. He determined to cook a huge, rich cake; with beautiful green 1c1ng and a poisoned filling. He was sure that ·the Lost Bovs, who had no mother to look after them, would eat 1t greedily, and die .I

27


Peter Pan

with awful pains inside. Smee, as the Cap­ tain's wily lieutenant was called, was over­ joyed when he heard of this plan, and chuckled loudly. "Shake hands on't," said Hook, but Smee did not want to, and begged to be excused. " Paw, Smee, paw," said the Captain in an awful voice, so Smee had to take the horrid hook in his hands, and they both danced round while Hook sang with hor­ rible glee: "Yo ho, yo ho, when I say 'Paw' By fear they're overtook;

Naught's left upon your hones when you Have shaken hands with Hook."

Just as he was gloating over his pleasant scheme, a queer sound was heard, like a corncrake coming nearer and nearer through a barley field. " Tick, tack, tick, tack." It was indeed the crocodile which had passed the Redskins who were on the trail of the other pirates. 28



"THE CROCODILE!

THE CROCODILE I "


The Never-Never-Ne'L•er-Land

" The Crocodile ! the Crocodile ! " the Pirate Captain yelled, and in a moment was flying for his life. The Pirates had scarcely disappeared in the depths of the forest, when the Indians crept silently up in pursuit of them. Tiger Lily, their chieftainess, was at their head, now running swiftly under the trees, now listening with her ear to the ground, to find out where her enemies had gone. For, like Tinker Bell, and Wendy, she loved Peter Pan, and his enemies were her enemies. The Redskins slid along, following the Pirates with steps as quiet as those of a beetle crawling through the grass. They soon passed far out of sight, and then, one by one, the Lost Boys peeped from their tree trunks, and seeing all was quiet, came • out again to their playground in the woods. But their safety did not last for long. A fierce barking of wolves was heard, and Nibs, who had gone away by himself, rushed 29


Peter Pan quite out of breath into the midst of the Boys, closely pursued by a pack of lean and hungry wolves with glittering fiery eyes. Their yelping was horrible. "Save me, save me! " cried Nibs, falling to the ground. What were the Lost Boys to do in this terrible plight, when their leader was far away? "What would Peter do?" the Boys cried all together. Fortunately, one of them remembered Peter's way of frightening wolves. Whenever he was attacked bv wild beasts Peter used to run at them through his legs. The Lost Boys did this all together, and rca11 y ? it was so astonishing that the wolves dropped their tails and slunk away with ter­ rified howls to the thickets where they lived. Then Nibs told the Bovs how he had . seen the loYclicst white bird imaginable. "It was flying this way," he said. "It looked so wearied, and as it flew it moaned ' Poor \Vend v .' " 30 Digitized by

Google


The Never- Never-Never- Land

you

"Are

was

it it

sure sure

they

bird ? "

a

asked . Nibs was quite

sure, and almost

once,

at

they saw Wendy flying through the trees Tinker

her white nightgown . her

side,

darting

at her,

Bell was by

pinching

her

agely every time she came near, and the

Boys

Tinker

that

was

Peter

rather

wanted

bad

a

in

telling

her

little

sav-

shot .

fairy some-

times, and now was very jealous of Wendy .

Instantly , arrow

and

Wendy

seized

Tootles

shot

at

the

his

bird , as

fell fainting to the

bow

and

he thought .

ground with

an

arrow in her breast. At once the Boys saw that she was not a bird at all , but a little girl, and perhaps very

mother

bring

them .

and

soon

dreadful with

whom

had

They were

were

sure

thing, for

John

Peter

and

that

Peter

Michael,

inquired after Wendy.

31

the

promised

to

very frightened, they

had

done

came flying and

a

down

immediately


Peter Pan

" She flew this

way.

Haven't you

seen

Tootles,

trembling,

and

her ? " he asked . " Yes, " pointed

said

to her as she lay motionless

on the

ground.

Peter bent

over her and took the arrow,

and in his anger with

it,

if Wendy

feebly moving all

would have killed Tootles

glad, for

had

her

Then

hand .

Wendy

stayed

not

was

not

him, by

they were

dead, as

they

The arrow

had thought, but only stunned .

had

fortunately

Peter and

had

given

which

she

struck

the

her

mistake

had

in

strung

button for

which a kiss ,

about her neck.

Soon she was quite well again , but faint and tired , after her long flight through the air. The

Boys

They did the

cave,

did

not like as

it

not to

might

to

do .

carry her down

into

know

over her.

Only they

kind of house to build .

32

be

not

respectful, so they planned did

what

to

sufficiently

build a house

not

know what


The Never-Never-Never-Land Then Wendy sang in her half-sleep the kind of house she wanted:

PIANO.

33


Peter Pan

and

Boys

the

brought

logs

out

of

a forest ,

and a grate and a rug from the underground cave and built a beautiful home for her out of wood,

and

tarpaulin ,

and

make - believe .

They made a chimney out of John's tall hat , and a splendid knocker out of the sole of one of Tootles' boots. with

moss ;

they

and

leaves for down ,

Nothing

fists

ordering

was

his

strolled

finishing

eager

through

hung large

Peter

blinds.

escaped

When it

pushed their

make windows and

the walls to yellow

They carpeted the ground

up

touches .

eyes.

finished it was

built round

Peter Wendy as knocked

lay

on

the

ground .

solemnly at the door,

opened it happy.

she

and

The

came

Lost

out , very

Boys

knelt

and

Wendy

pleased

and

before

her,

and begged her to be their Mother, and tuck them in at night time, and tell them stories before they went to bed . was

not

quite

sure

She said that she

if she

could ,

but

would do her best, if only Peter would 34

she be


The Never- Never- Never- Land

Father ,

and

to

this

plan

Peter

consented

" you

may

very readily and willingly .

come

have just time to finish

I

like, for

in if you

said,

she

now,"

And

the story of Cinderella

before

I

put you to

bed ." In

they

bundled

listen to the tale. was

room

very tight

in the so

after the

other to

I do not know how there

them ,

for

They were

one

but

you

squeeze

can

Never- Never- Never- Land .

big,

and

the

house

was

so

small , that they must

have been packed like

sardines

a sort

like

inside .

that

wanted ,

was ,

and

But

I

expect,

this was

the

of cosy

just

feeling

what

beginning

they

of the

many joyous evenings they had with Wendy.

she

tucked

By

and

by,

great

bed

in

roots

of the

trees.

night

in the

house the

their

house She

them

into

the

down among the herself slept

boys

had

that

built for

her.

Then evening fell softly on the forest, and 35


Peter Pan

shadows

the

came,

everything

that

so

was

dark and still, save for the occasional baying of

a

wolf,

and

the

noise

of

the

Pirates

carousing far away. Lights were lit in the ing it

look

when

it

with

his

was

very

cosy

quite

sword ,

and

little house , safe.

and

night,

Peter

walked

up

mak-

At last, came and

out

down

like a sentry, to guard the new little mother he had brought for the Lost Boys .

36


The Mermaids' Lagoon


SHE WAS COMBING HER LONG TRESSES.


THE MERMAIDS' LAGOON ONE fine summer evening Peter, with Wendy and their little family, went down to the Lagoon where the mermaids lived. The N ever-Never-Never-Land, you see, is full of the most strange and interesting creatures; some of them terrible, like the Piraces, wolves, and crocodiles ; others, like the fair­ ies and the mermaids, altogether beautiful and charming. Wendy and her brothers, who had never seen a real mermaid with a tail, were very much excited as they drew near the lagoon. As luck would have it, just as they arrived they saw a mermaid seated on a rock comb­ ing her long tresses. The sunlight gleamed on her beautiful greenish gold hair until it shone like bronze. And she was singing 37


Peter Pan

such

a

wonderful

melody

longed to catch her. into

water,

the

" Mortals ! "

but

the

that

the

boys

They instantly dashed with a

piercing cry of

Mermaid

dived

out

of

their reach into the lowest depths .

" But maid !

look !

here is

Surely

we

another

little

mer-

catch

her ! "

said

can

John Napoleon Darling, and he almost did . Mermaids , and

caught, are

when

are

however,

still

hard

to

catch,

harder

to

hold .

John succeeded in getting the little sprite in his

but

hands ,

out

of

excitement ,

the

slipped

wriggling his

grasp .

whole

an

like

eel ,

Breathless

band

of

she

with

children

clambered on to the rocks, when all at once a cry went up :

"The Pirates ! "

Sure enough , a boat was approaching, and in it were seated the two Smee and

Starkey.

pirate lieutenants ,

The boys were already

swimming to the shore as fast as they could, when to

his horror

Lily sitting

Peter

in the stern 38

recognized

Tiger

tightly bound with


SHE SLIPPED OUT OF HIS GRASP.



The Mermaids'

ropes .

In

Pirates

were

meant

to leave

upon

a

going

do.

all

bound

and impassive .

the

wretches she

was ,

the

tide came up

and

Tiger

Lily looked

calm

her

Yet

what

The

to

the rock , until

drowned her.

guessed

he

flash

Lagoon

as

She was the daughter of an

Indian chief, too proud to offer a vain resistance, ready to

die

a

fearless death , as

befits

the daughter of a chief. her, Peter thought of

Determined to save a clever

Imitating the wicked

trick .

tain's voice he called out :

" Cut her

Capbonds

and let her go ! "

" But, Captain " At once, do

you hear, " cried

Peter, " or

I'll plunge my hook in you ."

" Better

do

what

the

Captain

orders,"

said Starkey nervously. The ished

effect

was

buccaneers,

Captain,

released

marvelous ; fearing

to

Tiger

Lily,

the

disobey who

astontheir leaped

into the water and swam towards the Boys . 39


Peter Pan

The Pirates had turned when

back,

towards they he

they

them,

had

been

chased

them to

learned

duped .

them

out

swimming

Hook

saw

and

were rowing

and

from

Horribly of the

he himself set

enraged , leaving

boat,

swim back to the ship as

might, while

him how

best they

about recaptur-

ing Tiger Lily. once safely

Pirates

the

But

of the

out

way, Peter and his friends went back to the rock

to

attack

A fierce fight ensued, Hook

single- handed . iron

using

his

poor

Peter,

now

Captain, who was

the

some

prong to

Boys, seizing

while the

Tiger

boat, rowed off with last ,

finding

himself

gave

up the

fight,

purpose

outdone,

and

in

in

Lily

all

the

on

Hook's it .

At

Captain

haste

swam

back to his ship . Peter, left alone on the rock with Wendy, found

her

so

neither swim

maid

exhausted nor

fly

that

could

she

any farther.

A

caught Wendy by the feet and

40

mer-

began


A Flt:RLt: FIL;tl'l' t:�SUt:I>.



The Mermaids' L agoon pulling her gently into the water. But Peter, feeling her slip, was just in time to draw her back. With difficulty he managed to help her to a firm footing, but the tide was rising, and they were both in great dan­ ger. As he watched the water silently creeping nearer, Peter almost despaired, for Hook had wounded him in the fight, and he could neither fly nor swim. But all at once a large kite came flying slowly over the Lagoon. It was a kite that Michael had made some days before, and it had torn itself out of his hands and floated ,, Michael's kite," Peter away in the air. exclaimed. In a second Peter had seized its tail, and binding it tightly round Wendy, he sent her sailing away in safety, bravely calling, "Good-by, Wendy!" until she was out of sight. Then indeed, as the tide rose steadily, Peter was in great peril. He was quite alone on the Lagoon. The water reached 41


Peter Pan

his

feet, and

he

was

beginning

to

think

would be a " tremendous adventure to when

who

should

great sea-bird

sailing by

come

on its

nest ,

which

it

die ,"

but

had

a

been

blown off the cliffs by the rising storm .

" Hurrah ! " cried Peter, " there's a lovely boat for he

me ! " and

stepped ,

spreading

chasing

curled

out

his

the bird

himself

coat

to

off, in

round ,

and

wind,

sailed

the

swiftly and merrily after Wendy. When Peter landed , he beached the nestbarque in a place where the bird could easily find

it

home

again . under

Wendy

had

Then he the

ground

only

just

had carried her hither Lagoon,

while

straight

towards

rejoicings when

the

went and

found

that

arrived .

The

kite

and

wind

shore.

back to the

thither had

driven

Great

Peter arrived ,

over the Peter

were

the

and the Lost

Boys were several hours late for bed because they had

to

hear all about Wendy's

and Peter's marvelous adventure .

42

escape


Sl'IU'.Al>ll'iG HIS COAT TU TUE WINO, HE SAILED MERRILY,



The Underground Home



THE

UNDERGROUND

passed

days

THE

merrily

HOME

the

in

under-

ground home, where Wendy was the sweetest bravest

father

you could ever have found anywhere .

The

mother ,

little

and

Peter the

cave was large and roomy , and the rocks out of which it

was

There was a

brown color. place, and

hollowed were

overhead ,

near

fine

the

of a

deep

large

fire-

ceiling were

hung baskets and fishing- tackle and all sorts of things likely to be useful to cave - dwellers. Wendy

had

not

been

long

there

before

she had improved the home and made it as comfortable as her own nursery .

It is won-

derful

even

the

what

poorest

clever

girls

materials .

can

do ,

There

huge bed for all the Boys, and

was

with

now

a

a basket for

Michael, because he was the littlest and be43


Peter Pan

cause a cradle is such a homely thing to have about the

And in

house.

corner of the

a

room, hidden behind a tiny crimson

curtain ,

there

Tinker

was

a

wee

little

chamber for

Bell , daintily furnished to suit the tastes of a girl fairy. rooms

There were stools made of mush-

for the

Boys,

and

chairs made of pumpkins,

two

comfortable

where

Peter and

Wendy could sit in state , as was

fitting the

father and mother of the little family . One Saturday night, Wendy and the Boys were

all

downstairs

together,

waiting

for

Peter to come back

from a hunting expedi-

tion .

faithful

her

Outside,

the

Indian

Red

against the

band

Tiger

were

Lily

and

keeping guard

big attack by the Pirates , which

surely could not be much longer delayed .

Presently the

crackling

of branches

in-

dicated Peter's approach through the underwood.

Tiger

and the

Lost

stairways

to

Lily sprang up to meet him , Boys

ran

welcome 44

to

the

tree- trunk

him

on

his

return .


The Underground Home

He was the best of fathers ; got to

be a little boy, for

pockets been

with

good,

fruit and

and

he

for the he

through and through

let his

never

had

boys

filled his who

had

rummage

them

coat

for-

like rats in a

corn sack.

Then he turned very

busy

with

toward Wendy, who was

her

workbasket ,

mending

the children's socks by the fireside, and every stocking had a hole in it ! charming

in

her

color of autumn in

pretty

She looked very

brown

frock

leaves , with scarlet

her hair, and she made

as they exchanged

the

berries

Peter very happy

thimbles and

talked over

the boys and their doings as if they had really been their father and mother . When the children clamored for Peter even said that he was too

a

dance,

old for such

a game, and that his old bones would simply rattle ;

but as a matter of fact , he was really

much the best dancer among them . also

thought

that the 45

mother

of

Wendy such

an


Peter Pan

armful

could

not

go

skipping

about

with

her children .

So

Peter sang " Sally in our

Alley," which

song Wendy thought

no

one

else in all the world could sing more sweetly than

Peter, while

the

dances, and

bolster

low

and

fights,

beds , and

did

others

dances, and fought

turned

all

danced pillow

the

somersaults

pil-

on the

other jolly and

lively

things that every one wants to do just about bedtime, when one ought to be thinking of going

to

song ! And

sleep .

What

What an

a

deliciously

uproariously

how they buffeted

each

gay

other,

creepy dance ! on

the

bed and out of it !

At tell

last

they quieted down for Wendy to

them just

were

tucked

one

in

for

more

story

before

the night .

tered eagerly round, interrupting tence,

as

of them,

children while

always do ,

Wendy

they

They clusevery sen-

even the best

told her

story,

the

story the children loved best, the story Peter hated.

46


The Underground Home

What

John ,

to

familiar

and

seemed

somehow

them

told

she

Peter,

and

Michael,

Darling,

for it was the tale of Mr. and Mrs.

poor dears, who had lost their children

one

boys

how

winter sad

Mr.

how

Wendy

night. and

lonely

told

Darling

Mrs.

and

they felt

window

would

always be

for the

children

if ever

the

about

were

how the

it ,

nursery

kept open

ready

should

come

they

flying home again .

When

she had

finished ,

Peter

Wendy,"

he

" I

stood

up

thought

so

sadly. " No,

said,

once, but you

cannot be sure that the win-

dow

kept

will

be

open .

When

I went

back to my mother, the window was barred , and there was another my cradle. me."

little boy sleeping in

Mother had forgotten all about

Perhaps

it

was

not

true,

but

Peter

thought it was.

At that thought, Wendy started a look of horror

in

her face : 47

up

with

Perhaps by


Peter Pan

may

be in

ing," she exclaimed , and

John

time,

this

Mother

half- mournMichael

and

moment

felt they dared not stay another

in

the Never-Never- Never - Land . What

would

they

do

if they

late in coming back, and dren

in

their

beds ;

found

other

children

and

decided

resolutely that they must

at once. in

her

by

too

other chil-

bathed

dressed

were

Nana ?

being

Wendy go

home

The dread of finding other children

nursery

made

her

forgetful

of what

Peter's feelings might be at their parting. The

crowded

Boys

around

ploring her not to leave them. was firm .

She was

going

Wendy,

But Wendy

home, and

all

come

with

me,"

she

said ,

" I

sure my mother and father will adopt

As soon as they heard to go with Wendy, the as

larks.

have

a

For

true

now

mother

themselves

in 48

am

you ."

invited

as

happy

of them

would

Boys were

each

John

"If you

and Michael were going with her. will

im-

Mrs.

Darling,

and


The Underground Home

would live in a house a

moment

clothes,

and

they

were

were

like

other

packing

ready

boys. their

In baby

to

start

on

He

was

miserable

their

journey.

at

Peter

alone

the

thought

couldn't

refused . of

losing

Wendy,

but

to

grow

old

have

consent

and

he a

beard, as he knew he must do if he left the Never,

Never-Never - Never- Land.

There was

could he do that ! him, then , but

to

Peter's

medicine,

faithfully to

But

air

was

take

it

made

every

there

pouring out promise

him

night.

was

stamping

a

all

before

was

still.

with

shrieks,

and

a

where filled

Wendy was

mother in

and

suddenly

overhead

nothing for

stay behind.

as careful as a little

never ,

The

banging

and a clashing, and a shouting, and a sound of heavy people wrestling

and

struggling to

the

Red

and fro rent the air. The

Pirates

by surprise.

had

taken

The children 49

heard

Indians

the

fight-


Peter Pan

ing, and listened

bravely with

Peter waited battle

while

his sword .

The

over.

very soon

was

be,

could

as

frightened

as

cats,

of

mice to the squalling

like

were beaten

and ran like

dangerously

wounded

Redskins

The

hares, or crawled thickets .

the

into

The triumphant Pirates were left victorious, little

a

though

out

close

of breath,

above

the children's heads .

Captain , more wicked look-

Hook, their ing

ever,

than

chimney,

wanted ,

Peter

he

their

band,

such

a

there

small

the

Peter

chiefly

boy that

hatred

was

goaded

but

of him.

something Captain

to

mushroom Redskins

not the

was

capture but

he had come to

Pirate's

it

because

the

at

listened

Peter.

It was and

Wendy

and Peter.

Peter was

one wonders

at the that

The

truth

is

about

Peter

which

frenzy,

and

we

all

know what it was. " If the

Indians have won,"

Hook heard

Peter say, " they'll beat the tomtom."

50




The Underground Home

" Aha ! "

Hook,

thought

picked

and he

up a tomtom that one of the flying Indians sounded

and

behind,

left

had

loudly ;

it

" rub a dub , rub a dub , dub , dub , dub . " " Hurrah ! "

below.

will

go

way."

the

children

down

" An Indian victory ! "

" All may

shouted

be

now ! And

safe,"

said

Peter.

Tink

will

show

bidding

Peter, they all went

a

hurried

" You you

the

good - by to

up the stairways in the

tree trunks, out into the forest .

As The each

Pirates

child

seized

by

were

came one

Gecco,

arms

of

who

flung

to

Bill

him

Jukes ,

the

ruffians

swarthy

who to

who

flung

flung

from

he

the feet

grabbed

his

one

their

Smee,

flung

him

Noodler ,

to

of Hook.

from 51

to

to

him

till

boys were

him

Starkey, who

so he was tossed from at

come

who

He rose out of it into the

and

fell

them .

the ground, he was

The first to

tree was Curley.

for

above

of

stood waiting .

ready

trees

another All the in this


Peter Pan rough manner; and several of them were in the air at a time, like bales of goods, flung from hand to hand. One by one and silently they were cap­ tured and flung into boats and transported to the pirate ship which had anchored in the lake close by. There they were tied with ropes to prevent them from flying away. Everything had been done so quietly that Peter was quite unaware of his friends' sad fate. He only knew that he was all alone, that Wendy and �1ichael, and John, and all the Lost Boys who had been his companions were on their way from the Never-Never­ Never-Land to the country of the ordinary people who wear tall hats and frock coats as soon as they are old enough, and grow up one after the other. Not knowing what was going on above ground, Peter had continued for a little while after the chil­ dn:n had left, to play gaily on his pipes, no 52

Digitized by

Google


The Underground Home

doubt rather a sad attempt to prove to himself that he did not care .

and

bed

his

threw himself on

Poor Peter then sobbed him-

self to sleep . Hook

was

still

lurking

about,

for

the

thing that annoyed him most was that Peter had not left the cave with

the rest, and was

as yet safe. Intently he the

listened

underground

below as above . or

did

he

for

home,

any sound

but

all

from

was

silent

Was that boy Peter asleep ,

stand

waiting

at

the

foot

of

Slightly's tree, with his dagger in his hand ? There

was

no

a

wipe

moment he his

of

knowing,

Hook was a

going down. for

way

brow ,

had to

which

was

brave stop

save

by

man , but

there

dripping

and

like

a

candle. In his wicked already his

risen

enemy.

by

heart a wicked scheme had which

He had

Wendy's last words : 53

he

hoped

carefully

to

listened

kill to


Peter Pan

“ Be sure and take your medicine, Peter ." Here was the down to the his

long

and

Captain's

round

triumph

cloak

on

over

the

ledge

few drops

a

into the medicine of

Creeping

door of the cave, he

arm

poured

chance !

his

glass .

his

just

inside,

deadly

poison

Then with a

ugly

shoulder

Tap, tap , tap ."

of

stretched

face,

and

grin

he

threw

stole

away.

a

Somebody was knock-

ing at the door.

" Who's there ? "

asked Peter sleepily .

Tap, tap, tap ." He got up and opened the door. Bell, tinkling

excitedly , flew into

" The Pirates

have captured

tinkled , “ the Pirates have As and

Peter

excitedly

sharpened

caught

sight

medicine .

it

the room .

them ! "

she

captured them !

snatched up on

Tinker

the

of Tinker Bell

his

dagger

grindstone ,

he

in his

of

glass

He soon learned the reason when

his little fairy told him in a weak voice that it was poisoned , and that she had drunk the

54


HE CAUGHT SIGHT OF TINKER PELL IN HIS GLASS,



The Underground Home

poison as the only way to save his life . was

indeed

an

act

of sell- sacrifice ;

well did Tink know how much

It

for too

Peter loved

Wendy, and that no warning of hers would prevent him from keeping his promise.

certainly have

would most

dying !

was

Bell

Tinker

Poor

died if

Peter, in

in

his eyes,

a frenzy of grief and with tears had not

made

children :

your

poor

dren there

hands and

and

it

all

fairies ?

If

that will

save

were

There

Bell."

Tinker

appeal to

in

believe

you

" Do

you do, clap

passionate

this

no

time,

night

was

She

chil-

but he

addressed all who might be dreaming of the Never-Land to

him

than

lieve ? " he

you

"Do

think.

you

be-

cried.

round the world, there

As

his

plea

rang

came

an

echo

of sound

little

hands clapping,

throughout

therefore nearer

and who were

the

of course they

as

world

believed 55

as

of millions

if all

knew in

the

of

children

suddenly that

fairies.


Peter Pan

The

result

was

magical.

Tinker

Bell

had been

get-

grew brighter

and

was

saved ;

her light, which

ting

fainter

and

brighter again ;

fainter,

the merry sound of tinkling

(her way of speaking almost

died

stronger. little

away,

She

was

fairy that

to

now

Peter ) which

had

stronger

and

grew

once

escorted

more Peter

the

to

ling nursery, and

again under her

Peter

to

set

forth

rescue

the

bright

the

Dar-

guidance, Boys

and

Wendy. He swore

this

terrible

me this time ! "

56

oath :

" Hook

or


The Pirate Ship


Tl!E PIRATE SHIP.


THE

THE

ship

pirate

craft with cordage,

its

was

its

The

driven

into

Hook walked self to think

terribly evil - looking sails ,

its

the

children

dark

the

heavy tarred skull

and

it, flapping grimly at the

poor

the

SHIP

flag with

upon

stern .

a

painted

and

cross bones

PIRATE

and

were

dirty

at

once

hold

while

deck , chuckling

that at last

to

him-

he had them in his

power. " Are

all

they can't

the

prisoners

fly away ? "

he

chained

so

that

asked Smee, who

was very busy at his sewing-machine .

" Aye, who

was

" Then

Captain ,"

aye, always hoist

answered

industrious them

up ,"

and

Smee,

obliging .

shouted

the

Captain. He

seated

himself 57

on

a

chair

covered


Peter Pan

with

a

white

Boys,

whose

were

dragged

bearskin ,

wrists

were

while

chained

time Hook

conscious of their presence . ease

humming a

rude song

pack

of

Every

cards .

brought

seemed un-

He and

now

the

together,

out of the hold and For a

before him .

waiting

sat

at his

fingering a

and

then

the

light from his cigar gave a touch of color to his face . Six

of them,

plank who

he

at

once, but

were

willing

said, he to

were

to

would

be

walk the

save any two

cabin

boys.

The

children were not at first sure what walking the

plank

meant,

ened

them

voice

a

by

song

to

tipped

they

Hook

roaring in

show

hook

but

out

soon in

a

enlightdreadful

explanation ,

waving

how

the

would

be

when

shot

into

the

his

plank

water

and drowned .

Turning toward he shouted : pluck

in

John

Napoleon Darling

" You look as if you had some

you ! "

John 58

hesitated.

In

his


The Pirate Ship

YO HO ! YO HO ! THE FRISKY PLANK

Moderato

PIANO.

Yo

ho! yo

ho!

the

frisky plank , you

។ walks along it

you goes down to

Till

so

too - ral

95

59

it goes down and

loo - ral

lo-


Peter Pan

school - boy pirate's ward,

days

life

he

he

name

and

" Will

promised

Michael

slapped

him

the

on the

foe ,"

Michael was But when of

course

neither

me

Red-

laughed with

give

up

to

shoulder .

him

that

him

and

"What will

he asked .

" Black-

the

Captain .

answered

naturally very much impressed . they were

swear

told

" Down

Michael nor

becoming

call

crew.

went

you call me if I join ? " Bearded

to

a

stepping for-

you

The captain

if he joined

Then

always thought

very attractive, so

said :

handed Jack ? " delight,

had

pirate

that they must

with the

John would consent to

cabin - boys .

then pushed to one

side and

doom

was

while

angry,

buffeted

sealed,

King ! "

them

in

They

were

told that their

Hook , the

horribly

mouth,

shouted, " Bring up their mother !

and

Get the

plank ready ! " In

a

moment Wendy was

dragged from

the hold, and when the Boys rushed to pro-

69


RIGHT 11-TO THE JAWS OF THE CROCODILE I



The Pirate Ship

tect her they were standing

alone

pretty

in

brown

cloak

pulled

back , leaving her

looking very frightened

her

brown

dress,

with

a

wrapped

round

her .

but long

Hook

asked her if she had any last message for her sons who were about to die.

Wendy

spoke

beautifully

telling them she was would wish Even the age

so

cried

them

sure their die

to

pirates were

inspired they

the

would

to

the

real mothers gentlemen .

like

awed, and children

do

what

Boys,

her

that

cour-

they

their

all

mothers

wished.

Upon

Wendy to

carried

being

But just as

while

mast

the

his

tie

to

Smee

ordered

Hook

this,

orders

were

out. the Boys' fate

mined,

something

Hook's

glee

dreaded

sound.

into

happened terror.

It was

tick !

ter - ick ,

tick ,

tick !

" The

crocodile ! " he

61

the

to

He

change heard

horrible

of the

yelled .

deter-

seemed

a

tick !

crocodile !

" Hide

me !


Peter Pan

me ! "

hide

ship , while

of the

corner

abject fear

In

was

from the jaws

frightful

over the

a deap

to

see

shielding their

terrible

on

the

change

Hook.

that

He fell

Even

deck .

It

monster.

of the

the

. crowded

his men

round him , intent only upon captain

to a

rushed

he

the

came

down p on

in

claw

seemed struck with terror . The

Boys waited , breathless

until

with

saw,

not

sudden

crocodile,

the

captain Peter Pan

rapture

and but

horror,

their

appearing over

they

beloved

the

ship's

In one hand, at arm's length, he held

side. an

relief

with

made

the

ticking

of

which

had

believe

that the

crocodile

was

clock ,

alarm

Hook

upon him. Making a sign to his friends, Peter dashed into

the

cabin

unseen

by the

Pirates

and

The ticking ceased directly,

shut the door.

and Hook's terror vanished . Returning

to

his

dreadful

cried : 62

purpose,

he


The Pirate Ship

And " Now here's to

Johnny

Plank ! ”

sing, " Yo ho ! yo ho ! the

again he began to frisky plank . "

But the Boys, filled with hope and excitement,

drowned

Britannia. "

his voice

Just

as

the

by singing

" Rule

Pirate

about

was

to vent his rage upon them, he was

silenced

by a shrill and piercing crow from the cabin .

motionless

Struck looked tion .

to

their

Hook

men, to

captain

ordered

enter the

the matter.

with

for

and

First flinging up

the

Boys

crew

listened

very

intently .

heard

a

did

not

explana-

one

of

his

see what was his

and

death screech, and

arms

the

de-

Pirate

Then

again

the

Hook waited , but

they shrill Gecco

return .

" Some one must bring dledoo,"

crew

There was no more

Both

mysterious crow.

the

some

Gecco ,

cabin

spairingly, Gecco went. singing.

terror,

me out that doo-

roared the Captain , and

volunteered,

" I

thought 63

I

as

heard

no

one

Starkey


Peter Pan

volunteer,"

he

said,

pointing

his

hook

at

help

but

all

terror,

of

the

Starkey. Starkey

looked

deserted

him.

hook

well

in

as

the

the

Mad as

cabin ,

deck , and

round

for

with

of the

Starkey

uncanny

rushed

finally, to

creature

wildly

escape

round

both , flung

himself overboard into the sea. Furious at this

mutinous behavior,

Hook

shouted , " I'll bring that doodledoo out myself! "

He

seized

into the cabin . immediately,

a

lantern

and

rushed

But he came running back

shaking with

" Some-

terror .

thing blew out the light," he said, unsteadily.

A

happy

idea

the Boys in

now

let them

struck

Drive

him .

fight the

doodledoo

— if they kill him so much the better, if he kills them we're none the worse . This,

of course,

was just

what

the

chil-

dren wanted .

Concealing their delight and

pretending to

struggle, they allowed

selves

to

be

pushed

them-

roughly into the cabin .

64


The Pirate Ship

Wendy was but

left,

unafraid .

bound

to

the

mast,

She was watching

alone

and wait-

ing for the appearance of Peter.

know,

are

very

you

Sailors,

faces.

their

hiding

together,

huddled

Pirates

In the meantime , all the

superstitious,

and

they

all

one

saw

thought the ship was bewitched. So Peter

terrified steal

were

they that

followed

out,

no

by

the

They all crept silently up the ladder higher

No

deck.

ropes which

one

saw

bound Wendy.

Peter

Boys . to

the

cut the

He whispered

to her to conceal herself with the Boys, and , covering his face with her

brown

cloak

so

that he could pass for her, he took her place at the mast. " It's the

never luck aboard ;

girl ! "

on

let's

a

Hook .

cried

pirate

throw

" There's

ship with a woman

her

over."

All

the

men knew that their Captain was

right, and

started up and

shook his

one of the Pirates

fist at the brown - robed figure at the mast.

65


Peter Pan

nothing

" There's

can

you

now .

ringing

voice ,

save

Missy," he cried . " There

is

with

the

and

Peter

stood

a

of lightning

quickness flung

was

cloak

brown

came

one ,"

Pah .

" Down, Boys, and at them ," he and

with

there

and

aside

the

a

rush

the

Boys ,

shouted ,

armed

with

weapons which Peter had found in the cabin , swarmed down upon the lower deck .

The

Pirates

believed

that

all

the

Boys

had been slain by the mysterious doodledoo , and

were

them

with swords and daggers.

panic-stricken

when

they

saw

Hook tried

to encourage them, but like the dogs he had made

them,

they

showed

him

their

fangs .

He knew that if he took his eyes off them, they would leap at him . rushed to board ;

the

others

bulwarks with

Some of the crew and jumped

their

knives

fell

overupon

the Boys, while Hook backed into the cabin fighting for his life .

66


The Pirate Ship

Put mine ! "

up

your

cried

Peter,

pointing

found

himself face

Suddenly Hook with

Peter .

knives, Boys, that

The

others

is

Hook .

to

drew

formed a ring around them .

man

to

face

back

and

Hook tried to

speak, but failed . The Boys then the who

turned

their

attention

remaining members of the were

one

by one

forced

pirate into

to

crew,

the

sea,

while the two mortal enemies appeared at the cabin door

closed

in

deadly combat .

was determined to kill the

other.

Each

Step by

step Hook was driven back to the side of the ship .

He

spair he ing me !

felt

himself weakening.

cried out :

"'Tis

cried Peter.

bird that has broken out

With

some fiend

de-

fight-

Who are you, Pan ? "

" I'm youth ! "

youth !

In

" I'm a little

of the

egg.

I'm

I'm joy ! " that

he

wrenched

Hook's

sword

from him and pushed him into the sea , right into the jaws of the waiting

67

crocodile who


Peter Pan

caught him at last .

Thus perished miserably

the wicked Pirate James Hook . The

Boys

they crowded

burst

into

ringing

round their hero .

cheers

as

He stood

like a conquering Napoleon while the pirate flag was lowered .

FATE

THE

OF

THE

PIRATES

ALL the pirates save two , Smee and Starkey, perished miserably in that awful fight . Smee,

the

Irish

Pirate,

wicked as the rest of the

who

was

not

so

crew, managed to

escape , and subsequently became a reformed character and a brave sailor in the navy. Starkey, who had been ashore Ever

had

never

shed

guilty of many cruel deeds, swam

and

was

afterward

Great Big

captured he led

Little White

a

by

the

Panther, the Indian

him to act

papooses

tribe -a sad

a

of the

pirate !

68

Redskins .

miserable life , for

chief, compelled

for

blood, but

as nurse

to the

come- down


NURSle: TO THle: PAPOOSle:S I



Home

Sweet

Home



HOME

BUT

this

all

household

SWEET

time

home

at

there

HOME

was

in

deep

the

Darling

sorrow .

Mr.

Darling, as a punishment to himself for takchildren's

ing his

guardian Nana

vowed that he would Wendy

and

John

away, had

live in the kennel till

and

Michael

returned .

For months now he had lived in it, and had been

carried

ing, much

to

business in it every morn-

to

the

disgust of the prim

little

housemaid Liza . Mr. rity ,

Darling

and

had

great

become

ladies,

quite

leaders

a

of

celebsociety,

found him so interesting and touching, that they all come in

the

asked

cried out as

to

dinner

at

kennel ! " him to write

he passed by, " Oh , do our

All

house ,

the

do

newspapers

the cricket and

69

come had

football


Peter Pan

news

for them,

and

his

picture

were

to

at

every

shop

be

seen

One

evening,

business,

carried

was taken

when as

up to

he

where Mrs. Darling

window.

returned

usual in

the

postcards

the

kennel , he

now desolate

spent

most

mourning for

her

faithful Nana

tried in vain

lost

from

nursery ,

of her time

children ,

while

the

to cheer her up .

66 George, ginning

to

proachfully

George,

I

believe

you

are

be-

like

kennel,"

she

said

re-

as

that

he

crawled

out.

He denied the charge, however, and tried to comfort Mrs. Darling, who never for one moment

forgot

the silence Then he fire ,

Mrs.

the

little

empty

and cheerlessness

left her, and Darling

beds

sitting

down

alone

with

was

and

of the nursery . by the her

sad

thoughts.

Scarcely, however, had

she closed her eyes

when three little figures flew in at the window and nestled cosily in their beds . softly

Wendy

called

to 70

her

mother .

Then But


HE WOULD LIVE IN THE KENNEL TILL 111S CIIILDREN'S RETURN,



Home Sweet Home

when Mrs. Darling looked round she simply couldn't

believe

that

the

children

were

really there. She

had

dreamed

of their return , that

so

it was

three

crowded round

that

they

had

what joy to

many

her

indeed

not

come

from

night

air

pressed

tears ;

to

hear

those

sweet

the

voices

realized Oh !

home.

flight

through the

hers,

hot

the

sound

of

all

talked

at

more as

she

those dear faces

against

once

before

till they all

that

feel once more

cool and fresh

times

they

with

once . At

last,

she

when

was

a

little

calm ,

Wendy began

telling her

about

Peter

Pan

and

Boys,

with

Peter

Pan

the

Lost

himself were

all

who

waiting

outside .

Directly

Mrs. Darling saw them, and heard that they had all .

no mothers, she instantly adopted them Though

the

house

would

be

rather

crowded, she could easily put up some extra beds in the drawing- room, she said, and by 71


Peter Pan

using

a

screen

on

her

" At

Home "

days,

everything could be comfortably managed .

The

Peter.

with

lay

difficulty

only

Much as he loved Mrs. Darling at first sight, much as

he

loved Wendy, he

couldn't con-

So at last it was arranged

sent to grow up .

fly back alone to the Never-

that he should

Never-Never- Land,

that

and

once

a

year

Mrs. Darling would allow Wendy to go and for

stay with him

a

whole week

to

do

his

spring cleaning.

THE

TREE

HIGH in the

tree

tops of the Never - Never-

Never - Land,

Tinker

house that was

built

TOPS

Bell

placed

for Wendy.

the

little

The tree

tops are soft

as velvet and in the evening at

twilight are

all

bejeweled with

and

white,

ones

are

boy fairies, the

and

the

blue lights

and

blue

lights.

are

white,

tiny

mauve ,

The

mauve

girl

fairies,

darling little

who are not quite sure what they are. 72

sillies


Home Sweet Home

And the still air is filled with the singing of birds and the· ringing of hundreds of lit­ tle fairy bells. But the sweetest ·sound of all is the. fluting of Peter Pan's pipe as he sits outside the little house and calls to the spring to make haste, because with the spring comes Wendy. THE

END

73 Digitized by

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