Picture Dictionary & Books : Free for English Learner!

Peter reached the shore without mishap, and went straight on, his legs encountering the water as if quite unaware that they had entered a new element.

Thus many animals pass from land to water, but no other human of whom I know.

As he swam he had but one thought: "Hook or me this time." He had ticked so long that he now went on ticking without knowing that he was doing it.

Had he known he would have stopped, for to board the brig by help of the tick, though an ingenious idea, had not occurred to him.

On the contrary, he thought he had scaled her side as noiseless as a mouse; and he was amazed to see the pirates cowering from him, with Hook in their midst as abject as if he had heard the crocodile.

The crocodile! No sooner did Peter remember it than he heard the ticking.

At first he thought the sound did come from the crocodile, and he looked behind him swiftly.

Then he realised that he was doing it himself, and in a flash he understood the situation.

"How clever of me!" he thought at once, and signed to the boys not to burst into applause.

It was at this moment that Ed Teynte the quartermaster emerged from the forecastle and came along the deck.

Now, reader, time what happened by your watch.

Peter struck true and deep.

John clapped his hands on the ill-fated pirate's mouth to stifle the dying groan.

He fell forward.

Four boys caught him to prevent the thud.

Peter gave the signal, and the carrion was cast overboard.

There was a splash, and then silence.

How long has it taken?

"One!" (Slightly had begun to count.)

None too soon, Peter, every inch of him on tiptoe, vanished into the cabin; for more than one pirate was screwing up his courage to look round. They could hear each other's distressed breathing now, which showed them that the more terrible sound had passed.

"It's gone, captain," Smee said, wiping off his spectacles. "All's still again."

Slowly Hook let his head emerge from his ruff, and listened so intently that he could have caught the echo of the tick. There was not a sound, and he drew himself up firmly to his full height.

"Then here's to Johnny Plank!" he cried brazenly, hating the boys more than ever because they had seen him unbend. He broke into the villainous ditty:

"Yo ho, yo ho, the frisky plank,

Table of Contents