This had got on Hook 's nerves ; it made his iron claw twitch , and at night it disturbed him like an insect . While Peter lived , the tortured man felt that he was a lion in a cage into which a sparrow had come . The question now was how to get down the trees , or how to get his dogs down ? He ran his greedy eyes over them , searching for the thinnest ones . They wriggled uncomfortably , for they knew he would not scruple to ram them down with poles . In the meantime , what of the boys ? We have seen them at the first clang of weapons , turned as it were into stone figures , open-mouthed , all appealing with outstretched arms to Peter ; and we return to them as their mouths close , and their arms fall to their sides . The pandemonium above has ceased almost as suddenly as it arose , passed like a fierce gust of wind ; but they know that in the passing it has determined their fate . Which side had won ? The pirates , listening avidly at the mouths of the trees , heard the question put by every boy , and alas , they also heard Peter 's answer . ` If the redskins have won , ' he said , ` they will beat the tom-tom ; it is always their sign of victory . ' Now Smee had found the tom-tom , and was at that moment sitting on it . ` You will never hear the tom-tom again , ' he muttered , but inaudibly of course , for strict silence had been enjoined . To his amazement Hook signed to him to beat the tom-tom ; and slowly there came to Smee an understanding of the dreadful wickedness of the order . Never , probably , had this simple man admired Hook so much . Twice Smee beat upon the instrument , and then stopped to listen gleefully . ` The tom-tom , ' the miscreants heard Peter cry ; ` an Indian victory ! ' The doomed children answered with a cheer that was music to the black hearts above , and almost immediately they repeated their goodbyes to Peter . This puzzled the pirates , but all their other feelings were swallowed by a base delight that the enemy were about to come up the trees . They smirked at each other and rubbed their hands .
Rapidly and silently XXXXX gave his orders : one man to each tree , and the others to arrange themselves in a line two yards apart .
Hook boy dogs eyes hearts moment music order trees wickedness