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,
You walks along it so,
Till it goes down and you goes down
To Davy Jones below!
To terrorise the prisoners the more, though with a certain loss of
dignity, he danced along an imaginary plank, grimacing at them as he
sang; and when he finished he cried, Do you want a touch of the cat
before you walk the plank?
At that they fell on their knees. No, no! they cried so piteously
that every pirate smiled.
Fetch the cat, Jukes, said Hook; it s in the cabin.
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