Peter spoke indignantly. You don t think I would kill him while he was
sleeping! I would wake him first, and then kill him. That s the way I
always do.
I say! Do you kill many?
Tons.
John said How ripping, but decided to have tea first. He asked if
there were many pirates on the island just now, and Peter said he had
never known so many.
Who is captain now?
Hook, answered Peter, and his face became very stern as he said that
hated word.
Jas. Hook?
Ay.
Then indeed Michael began to cry, and even John could speak in gulps
only, for they knew Hook s reputation.
He was Blackbeard s bo sun, John whispered huskily. He is the worst
of them all. He is the only man of whom Barbecue was afraid.
That s him, said Peter.
What is he like? Is he big?
He is not so big as he was.
How do you mean?
I cut off a bit of him.
You!
Yes, me, said Peter sharply.
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