Chapter XIII. DO YOU BELIEVE IN FAIRIES? · page 21 2101He could take his medicine.102His hand closed on the fatal draught.103“No!” shrieked Tinker Bell, who had heard Hook mutter about his deed as he sped through the forest.104“Why not?”105“It is poisoned.”106“Poisoned?107Who could have poisoned it?”108“Hook.”109“Don’t be silly.110How could Hook have got down here?”111Alas, Tinker Bell could not explain this, for even she did not know the dark secret of Slightly’s tree.112Nevertheless Hook’s words had left no room for doubt.113The cup was poisoned.114“Besides,” said Peter, quite believing himself, “I never fell asleep.”115He raised the cup.116No time for words now; time for deeds; and with one of her lightning movements Tink got between his lips and the draught, and drained it to the dregs.117“Why, Tink, how dare you drink my medicine?”118But she did not answer.119Already she was reeling in the air.120“What is the matter with you?” cried Peter, suddenly afraid.121“It was poisoned, Peter,” she told him softly; “and now I am going to be dead.”122“O Tink, did you drink it to save me?”123“Yes.”124“But why, Tink?”125Her wings would scarcely carry her now, but in reply she alighted on his shoulder and gave his nose a loving bite.126She whispered in his ear “You silly ass,” and then, tottering to her chamber, lay down on the bed.127His head almost filled the fourth wall of her little room as he knelt near her in distress.128Every moment her light was growing fainter; and he knew that if it went out she would be no more.129She liked his tears so much that she put out her beautiful finger and let them run over it.130Her voice was so low that at first he could not make out what she said.131Then he made it out.132She was saying that she thought she could get well again if children believed in fairies.133Peter flung out his arms.134There were no children there, and it was night time; but he addressed all who might be dreaming of the Neverland, and who were therefore nearer to him than you think: boys and girls in their nighties, and naked papooses in their baskets hung from trees.135“Do you believe?” he cried.136Tink sat up in bed almost briskly to listen to her fate.137She fancied she heard answers in the affirmative, and then again she wasn’t sure.138“What do you think?” she asked Peter.139“If you believe,” he shouted to them, “clap your hands; don’t let Tink die.”140Many clapped.141Some didn’t.142A few beasts hissed.143The clapping stopped suddenly; as if countless mothers had rushed to their nurseries to see what on earth was happening; but already Tink was saved.144First her voice grew strong, then she popped out of bed, then she was flashing through the room more merry and impudent than ever.145She never thought of thanking those who believed, but she would have liked to get at the ones who had hissed.146“And now to rescue Wendy!”147The moon was riding in a cloudy heaven when Peter rose from his tree, begirt with weapons and wearing little else, to set out upon his perilous quest.148It was not such a night as he would have chosen.149He had hoped to fly, keeping not far from the ground so that nothing unwonted should escape his eyes; but in that fitful light to have flown low would have meant trailing his shadow through the trees, thus disturbing birds and acquainting a watchful foe that he was astir.150He regretted now that he had given the birds of the island such strange names that they are very wild and difficult of approach.151There was no other course but to press forward in redskin fashion, at which happily he was an adept.152But in what direction, for he could not be sure that the children had been taken to the ship?153A light fall of snow had obliterated all footmarks; and a deathly silence pervaded the island, as if for a space Nature stood still in horror of the recent carnage.154He had taught the children something of the forest lore that he had himself learned from Tiger Lily and Tinker Bell, and knew that in their dire hour they were not likely to forget it.155Slightly, if he had an opportunity, would blaze the trees, for instance, Curly would drop seeds, and Wendy would leave her handkerchief at some important place.156The morning was needed to search for such guidance, and he could not wait.157The upper world had called him, but would give no help.158The crocodile passed him, but not another living thing, not a sound, not a movement; and yet he knew well that sudden death might be at the next tree, or stalking him from behind.159He swore this terrible oath: “Hook or me this time.”160Now he crawled forward like a snake, and again erect, he darted across a space on which the moonlight played, one finger on his lip and his dagger at the ready.161He was frightfully happy.1 2← previousChapter XII. THE CHILDREN ARE CARRIED OFFnext →Chapter XIV. THE PIRATE SHIP↑ back to Peter PanThis page in Markdown → https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg16/14/page/2/