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           ’

           AtthismomentWendywasgrand.’Thesearemylastwords,dearboys,’shesaidfirmly.’IfeelthatIhaveamessagetoyoufromyourrealmothers,anditisthis:"WehopeoursonswilldielikeEnglishgentlemen."’

           Eventhepirateswereawed;andTootlescriedouthysterically,’Iamgoingtodowhatmymotherhopes.Whatareyoutodo,Nibs?’

           ’Whatmymotherhopes.Whatareyoutodo,Twin?’

           ’Whatmymotherhopes.John,whatare——’

           ButHookhadfoundhisvoiceagain.

           ’Tieherup,’heshouted.

           ItwasSmeewhotiedhertothemast.’Seehere,honey,’hewhispered,’I’llsaveyouifyoupromisetobemymother.’

           ButnotevenforSmeewouldshemakesuchapromise.’Iwouldalmostratherhavenochildrenatall,’shesaiddisdainfully.

           ItissadtoknowthatnotaboywaslookingatherasSmeetiedhertothemast;theeyesofallwereontheplank:thatlastlittlewalktheywereabouttotake.Theywerenolongerabletohopethattheywouldwalkitmanfully,forthecapacitytothinkhadgonefromthem;theycouldstareandshiveronly.

           Hooksmiledonthemwithhisteethclosed,andtookasteptowardWendy.Hisintentionwastoturnherfacesothatsheshouldseetheboyswalkingtheplankonebyone.Butheneverreachedher,heneverheardthecryofanguishhehopedtowringfromher.Heheardsomethingelseinstead.

           Itwastheterribletick-tickofthecrocodile.

           Theyallheardit—pirates,boys,Wendy;andimmediatelyeveryheadwasblowninonedirection;nottothewaterwhencethesoundproceeded,buttowardHook