have been unfair to him he will love you again, but will never
afterwards be quite the same boy. No one ever gets over the first
unfairness; no one except Peter. He often met it, but he always forgot
it. I suppose that was the real difference between him and all the
rest.
So when he met it now it was like the first time; and he could just
stare, helpless. Twice the iron hand clawed him.
A few moments afterwards the other boys saw Hook in the water striking
wildly for the ship; no elation on the pestilent face now, only white
fear, for the crocodile was in dogged pursuit of him. On ordinary
occasions the boys would have swum alongside cheering; but now they
were uneasy, for they had lost both Peter and Wendy, and were scouring
the lagoon for them, calling them by name. They found the dinghy and
went home in it, shouting Peter, Wendy as they went, but no answer
came save mocking laughter from the mermaids. They must be swimming
back or flying, the boys concluded. They were not very anxious,
because they had such faith in Peter. They chuckled, boylike, because
they would be late for bed; and it was all mother Wendy s fault!
When their voices died away there came cold silence over the lagoon,
and then a feeble cry.
Help, help!
Two small figures were beating against the rock; the girl had fainted
and lay on the boy s arm. With a last effort Peter pulled her up the
rock and then lay down beside her. Even as he also fainted he saw that
the water was rising. He knew that they would soon be drowned, but he
could do no more.
As they lay side by side a mermaid caught Wendy by the feet, and began
pulling her softly into the water. Peter, feeling her slip from him,
woke with a start, and was just in time to draw her back. But he had to
tell her the truth.
We are on the rock, Wendy, he said, but it is growing smaller. Soon
the water will be over it.
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