(The baying wolves are upon them quicker than any boy can scuttle down his tree.)
NIBS (falling among his comrades). Save me, save me!
TOOTLES. What should we do?
SECOND TWIN. What would Peter do?
SLIGHTLY. Peter would look at them through his legs; let us do what Peter would do.
(The boys advance backwards, looking between their legs at the snarling red-eyed enemy, who trot away foiled.)
FIRST TWIN (swaggering). We have saved you, Nibs. Did you see the pirates?
NIBS (sitting up, and agreeably aware that the centre of interest is now to pass to him). No, but I saw a wonderfuller thing, Twin. (All mouths open for the information to be dropped into them.) High over the lagoon I saw the loveliest great white bird. It is flying this way. (They search the firmament.)
TOOTLES. What kind of a bird, do you think?
NIBS (awed). I don’t know; but it looked so weary, and as it flies it moans ‘Poor Wendy.’
