PART III THE MERMAIDS' LAGOON
SHE WAS COMBING HER LONG TRESSES]
One fine summer evening Peter, with Wendy and their littlefamily, went down to the Lagoon where the Mermaids lived. TheNever-Never-Never Land, as you see, is full of the most strange andinteresting creatures; some of them dreadful, like the Pirates,wolves, and crocodiles; others, like the fairies and the mermaids,altogether beautiful and charming. Wendy and her brothers, who hadnever seen a real mermaid with a tail, were very much excited, and, asluck would have it, just as they arrived at the lagoon, one of them,seated on a rock, was combing her long tresses, on which the sunlightgleamed, until they shone like a mixture of gold and bronze, for theyhad a beautiful greenish tinge. As she combed her hair she sang such awonderful melody that the boys longed to catch her. They instantlydashed into the water, but with a piercing cry of "Mortals!" theMermaid dived out of their reach into the lowest depths.
"But look! here is another little mermaid! Surely we can catch her!"said John Napoleon Darling, and he very nearly did. Mermaids, however,are hard to catch, and when caught, are still harder to hold. Johnsucceeded in getting the little sprite in his hands but, wrigglinglike an eel, she slipped out of his grasp. Breathless withexcitement, the whole band of children clambered on to the rocks, whenall at once a cry went up: "The Pirates!" Sure enough a boat wasapproaching, and in it were seated the two pirate lieutenants, Smeeand Starkey. The boys were already swimming to the shore as fast asthey could, when to his horror Peter recognised Tiger Lily sitting inthe stern, tightly bound with ropes. In a flash he guessed what wastheir intention. The wretches meant to leave her, all bound as shewas, upon the rock, until the tide came up and drowned her.
SHE SLIPPED OUT OF HIS GRASP]
Determined to save her, Peter thought of a clever trick. Imitating thewicked Captain's voice he called out: "Cut her bonds and let her go!"The effect was marvellous: the astonished buccaneers, fearing todisobey their Captain, instantly released Tiger Lily, who leapt intothe water and swam towards the boys.
The Pirates had turned and were rowing back, when they saw Hookswimming towards them, and learnt from him how they had been duped.Horribly enraged, he chased them out of the boat, leaving them to swimback to the ship as best they might, while he himself set aboutrecapturing Tiger Lily.
But the Pirates once safely out of the way, Peter and his friends wentback to the rock to attack the Captain, who was now single-handed. Afierce fight ensued, Hook using his iron prong to some purpose on poorPeter, while the boys, seizing Hook's boat, rowed off with Tiger Lilyin it. At last, finding himself outdone, the Captain gave up thefight, and in all haste swam back to his ship.
A FIERCE FIGHT ENSUED]
Peter, left alone on the rock with Wendy, found her so exhausted thatshe could neither swim nor fly any farther. With difficulty he managedto help her to a firm footing, but the tide was rising, and theywere both in great danger. As he watched the water silently creepingnearer, Peter almost despaired. But all at once a large kite cameflying slowly over the lagoon. In a second Peter had seized its tailand, binding it tightly round Wendy, he sent her sailing away insafety, bravely calling, "Good-bye Wendy!" until she was out of sight.
Then indeed, as the tide rose steadily, Peter was in great peril. Thewater reached his feet, and he was beginning to think it would be a"tremendous adventure to die," when who should come sailing by but agreat sea-bird on its nest, which had been blown off the cliffs by therising storm. "Hurrah!" cried Peter, "there's a lovely boat for me!"and chasing the bird off, in he stepped, curled himself round and,spreading out his coat to the wind, sailed swiftly and merrily afterWendy.
SPREADING HIS COAT TO THE WIND, HE SAILED MERRILY.]
The Story of Peter Pan, Retold from the fairy play by Sir James Barrie Page 3