Next moment he was standing erect on the rock again , with that smile on his face and a drum beating within him . It was saying , `` To die will be an awfully big adventure . '' Chapter 9 THE NEVER BIRD The last sound Peter heard before he was quite alone were the mermaids retiring one by one to their bedchambers under the sea . He was too far away to hear their doors shut ; but every door in the coral caves where they live rings a tiny bell when it opens or closes -LRB- as in all the nicest houses on the mainland -RRB- , and he heard the bells . Steadily the waters rose till they were nibbling at his feet ; and to pass the time until they made their final gulp , he watched the only thing on the lagoon . He thought it was a piece of floating paper , perhaps part of the kite , and wondered idly how long it would take to drift ashore . Presently he noticed as an odd thing that it was undoubtedly out upon the lagoon with some definite purpose , for it was fighting the tide , and sometimes winning ; and when it won , Peter , always sympathetic to the weaker side , could not help clapping ; it was such a gallant piece of paper . It was not really a piece of paper ; it was the Never bird , making desperate efforts to reach Peter on the nest . By working her wings , in a way she had learned since the nest fell into the water , she was able to some extent to guide her strange craft , but by the time Peter recognised her she was very exhausted . She had come to save him , to give him her nest , though there were eggs in it . I rather wonder at the bird , for though he had been nice to her , he had also sometimes tormented her . I can suppose only that , like Mrs. Darling and the rest of them , she was melted because he had all his first teeth . She called out to him what she had come for , and he called out to her what she was doing there ; but of course neither of them understood the other 's language . In fanciful stories people can talk to the birds freely , and I wish for the moment I could pretend that this were such a story , and say that Peter replied intelligently to the Never bird ; but truth is best , and I want to tell you only what really happened . Well , not only could they not understand each other , but they forgot their manners . `` I -- want -- you -- to -- get -- into -- the -- nest , '' the bird called , speaking as slowly and distinctly as possible , `` and -- then -- you -- can -- drift -- ashore , but -- I -- am -- too -- tired -- to -- bring -- it -- any -- nearer -- so -- you -- must -- try to -- swim -- to -- it . '' `` What are you quacking about ? '' Peter answered . `` Why do n't you let the nest drift as usual ? '' `` I -- want -- you -- '' the bird said , and repeated it all over .
Then XXXXX tried slow and distinct .
Darling Peter bedchambers bell course feet first gulp mermaids rings