We must tell this terrible story quickly. Curly was the first boy to come out of his tree. A pirate named Cecco caught Curly. Cecco threw Curly to Smee. Smee threw him to Starkey. Starkey threw him to Bill Jukes. Bill Jukes threw him to Noodler. Finally, Curly fell at the feet of the black pirate. The pirates caught all the boys this way. They threw the boys through the air like bags of clothes.
Wendy came out of her tree last. Captain Hook was very polite to Wendy, but he was not kind. He gave Wendy his arm and walked with her. Captain Hook led Wendy to the place where the pirates were tying the boys. Captain Hook acted like a grand gentleman. Wendy was only a little girl. She was too surprised and scared to cry out.
Wendy was almost interested in Captain Hook for a moment. This was a mistake. If Wendy had pushed Captain Hook away, the pirates would have thrown her through the air. Then Captain Hook would not have stayed to watch the pirates tie the children. If he had not stayed, he would not have found out Slightly’s secret. Without the secret, Captain Hook could not have tried to kill Peter Pan later.
The black pirate cut a rope into nine pieces. Then the pirates tied the children up tightly with the ropes. Everything was fine until the pirates tried to tie Slightly. Slightly was too round. The pirates were angry and they kicked Slightly. Captain Hook told the pirates to stop.
Captain Hook saw that Slightly was very fat. Slightly was white with fear. Captain Hook knew Slightly’s secret now. Slightly loved to drink water when he was hot. The water made Slightly’s body grow large. Slightly had to cut the inside of his tree to make it wider. Peter and the other boys did not know this.
Captain Hook knew that he could reach Peter now. Captain Hook told the pirates to take the children to the ship. He wanted to be alone. The pirates put the children into the little house. Four strong pirates carried the house on their shoulders. The other pirates walked behind them and sang a loud song.
A small puff of smoke came out of the chimney of the little house. Captain Hook saw the smoke. This made Captain Hook very angry. He did not feel sorry for Peter anymore. Captain Hook wanted to finish his dark plan.
Captain Hook was alone now. The night was dark. Captain Hook went to Slightly’s tree. He wanted to see if he could fit inside. Captain Hook looked at the ground and thought. His blue eyes looked soft, but his thoughts were very dark. He listened for any sound from under the ground. Everything was quiet.
Was Peter asleep? Was Peter waiting at the bottom of the tree with a knife? Captain Hook did not know. Captain Hook took off his cloak. He stepped into the tree. He was a brave man, but he was nervous. He moved down inside the dark tree.
Captain Hook reached the bottom of the tree. He saw the big bed. Peter was fast asleep on the bed. Peter did not know about the pirates. Earlier, after the children left, Peter played his music happily. He forgot to take his medicine before he went to sleep.
Peter lay on top of the bed. Usually, Wendy tucked Peter in under the blankets. Sometimes Peter had bad dreams. Usually, Wendy sat with Peter and held him. But tonight, Peter was alone.
Captain Hook stood at the small doorway, unable to get through it and reach Peter. Captain Hook hated Peter with all his heart. He saw Peter’s open mouth and his happy face. This made Captain Hook very angry. He wanted to kill his enemy.
Captain Hook saw Peter’s medicine on a shelf. Captain Hook had a poison. He always carried this yellow liquid with him. He put five drops of the poison into Peter’s cup. His hand shook, but he was happy. Then Captain Hook climbed back up the tree and walked away.
Peter continued to sleep. The light in the room went out. At ten o’clock, Peter woke up. He heard a soft tap on the door of his tree. Peter grabbed his dagger. He asked who was there. Nobody answered at first. Then, a voice spoke.
It was Tinker Bell. Peter opened the door. Tinker Bell flew in. Her face was red and her dress was dirty. Tinker Bell told Peter the news. The pirates caught Wendy and the boys! Peter was very worried.
Wendy was on the pirate ship. Peter wanted to save Wendy immediately. He took his weapons. Then Peter remembered his medicine. He wanted to please Wendy, so he picked up the cup. Tinker Bell shouted, "No!" She told Peter that the medicine was poisoned.
Peter did not believe Tinker Bell. He did not think Captain Hook could get into the room. Peter lifted the cup to his mouth. Tinker Bell quickly flew to the cup. She drank all the medicine before Peter could touch it. Peter was angry at first.
Then Peter saw that Tinker Bell was falling. Tinker Bell told Peter that the medicine was poisoned. She drank it to save Peter. She was dying. Her light was becoming very weak. Peter knelt near her. He was very sad.
Tinker Bell whispered to Peter. She said she could live if children believed in fairies. Peter spoke to all the children in the world. He asked the children to believe. He told the children to clap their hands. "Don't let Tinker Bell die!" he cried.
Many children clapped their hands. Suddenly, Tinker Bell was well again. Her light was bright and she was happy. She flew around the room. "Now I must save Wendy!" Peter cried. He put on his weapons and left the tree.
The night was cloudy. Peter did not fly because he did not want the pirates to see him. He moved through the forest like a hunter. He looked for signs of the children. He looked for footprints or broken branches on the ground.
The forest was very quiet. Peter saw the crocodile, but no other animals. Peter made a promise. He said, "Hook or me this time." Peter moved like a snake through the trees. He held his dagger and he was ready to fight.