It was a dark, starless night. The moon was hidden in the cloudy sky.
Peter crawled on his belly, snake-like, across the ground.
This was one of many useful things the Indians had taught him.
Tinker Bell was still too weak to fly and light the way, so Peter had decided not to fly himself.
He knew where he was headed—the pirate ship, the Jolly Roger!
Suddenly, Peter caught sight of the crocodile, which was also creeping in the dark.
No other living creature seemed to be awake but the boy and the crocodile.
And they were both after the same prey—Captain Hook.
In the silence of the night, Peter realized something was different about the crocodile.
The clock inside it had finally stopped ticking.
At that moment, Peter had an idea.
He was determined to rescue Wendy and the boys, but he was also eager to destroy his rival.
"This time, it's Hook or me!" he thought with great excitement.
And he started to form a plan.
The Jolly Roger was anchored not far from the shore of Kidd's Creek.
On board, some of the pirates were sleeping, and others were playing dice and cards.
Even though it was after midnight, Smee sat at the ship's sewing machine, busily mending the captain's clothes.
Hook walked the deck deep in thought.
This should have been his moment of triumph. Peter was dead.
The boys were tied up and soon would walk the plank.
And Wendy was his captive. But Hook felt unhappy and alone.
Even among his pirates, Hook was lonely.
They were no better than dogs that obeyed him.
They certainly were not equals who could listen to his feelings.
How cruel fate had been to the captain! Hook hadn't always been a pirate.
Hook wasn't even his real name.
Once, he had been a promising young man at a private school.
There he had learned the manners and fancy dress that could have made him a gentleman.
But he had wanted fame, and evil had taken hold of him.
"What good are all my evil triumphs in the end?
No little children love me," he thought.
It was strange that he should suddenly think of these things.
Maybe it was the sound of Smee's sewing machine.
Even though he was a pirate, old Smee was lovable.
There was not a child on board the ship who did not already love Smee.
He had given Wendy a cloak to keep warm, and Michael had even tried on his glasses.
"What does Smee have that I do not?" wondered Hook.
He needed to do something wicked to feel better again.
Standing a little taller, Hook shouted to his men, "Are all the boys chained so they cannot fly away?"
"Ay, ay," they answered.
"Then bring them up," he ordered.
The poor prisoners were dragged from the hold below.
The eight boys stood in a line in front of him.
"Six of you will walk the plank tonight.
But I will keep two to be my cabin boys. Who wishes to serve me?"
The boys were silent. Finally Tootles spoke up.
"Sir, I don't think my mother would like me to be a pirate.
Would your mother like you to be a pirate, Slightly?"
"I don't think so," Slightly answered sadly, as if he wished it were otherwise. The other boys agreed.
Hook was angry. He looked directly at John.
"You seem to have a little more courage, boy," he said.
"Did you ever want to be a pirate?"
John became thoughtful. "Yes, there was a time when I wanted to be a pirate."
Then he looked around at his friends. "But that was long ago."
"Then go to your doom!" Hook roared.
To his men he said, "Get the plank ready!
And bring up their mother to watch!"