If only one of us had a pocket, Peter said, we could carry her in
it. However, they had set off in such a hurry that there was not a
pocket between the four of them.
He had a happy idea. John s hat!
Tink agreed to travel by hat if it was carried in the hand. John
carried it, though she had hoped to be carried by Peter. Presently
Wendy took the hat, because John said it struck against his knee as he
flew; and this, as we shall see, led to mischief, for Tinker Bell hated
to be under an obligation to Wendy.
In the black topper the light was completely hidden, and they flew on
in silence. It was the stillest silence they had ever known, broken
once by a distant lapping, which Peter explained was the wild beasts
drinking at the ford, and again by a rasping sound that might have been
the branches of trees rubbing together, but he said it was the redskins
sharpening their knives.
Even these noises ceased. To Michael the loneliness was dreadful. If
only something would make a sound! he cried.
As if in answer to his request, the air was rent by the most tremendous
crash he had ever heard. The pirates had fired Long Tom at them.
The roar of it echoed through the mountains, and the echoes seemed to
cry savagely, Where are they, where are they, where are they?
Thus sharply did the terrified three learn the difference between an
island of make-believe and the same island come true.
When at last the heavens were steady again, John and Michael found
themselves alone in the darkness. John was treading the air
mechanically, and Michael without knowing how to float was floating.
Are you shot? John whispered tremulously.
I haven t tried yet, Michael whispered back.
44