Without giving a thought to what might be the feelings of a fellow-creature thus abruptly deprived of its closest companion , Peter began to consider how he could turn the catastrophe to his own use ; and he decided to tick , so that wild beasts should believe he was the crocodile and let him pass unmolested . He ticked superbly , but with one unforeseen result . The crocodile was among those who heard the sound , and it followed him , though whether with the purpose of regaining what it had lost , or merely as a friend under the belief that it was again ticking itself , will never be certainly known , for , like slaves to a fixed idea , it was a stupid beast . Peter reached the shore without mishap , and went straight on , his legs encountering the water as if quite unaware that they had entered a new element . Thus many animals pass from land to water , but no other human of whom I know . As he swam he had but one thought : `` Hook or me this time . '' He had ticked so long that he now went on ticking without knowing that he was doing it . Had he known he would have stopped , for to board the brig by help of the tick , though an ingenious idea , had not occurred to him . On the contrary , he thought he had scaled her side as noiseless as a mouse ; and he was amazed to see the pirates cowering from him , with Hook in their midst as abject as if he had heard the crocodile . The crocodile ! No sooner did Peter remember it than he heard the ticking . At first he thought the sound did come from the crocodile , and he looked behind him swiftly . Then he realised that he was doing it himself , and in a flash he understood the situation . `` How clever of me ! '' he thought at once , and signed to the boys not to burst into applause . It was at this moment that Ed Teynte the quartermaster emerged from the forecastle and came along the deck . Now , reader , time what happened by your watch . Peter struck true and deep . John clapped his hands on the ill-fated pirate 's mouth to stifle the dying groan . He fell forward .
Four XXXXX caught him to prevent the thud .
applause beasts boys crocodile deck feelings flash thought use watch