We 'll right the ship when she 's gone . ' Some of them remembered that this had been a saying of Flint 's . ` It 's worth trying , ' they said doubtfully . ` Fling the girl overboard , ' cried Hook ; and they made a rush at the figure in the cloak . ` There 's none can save you now , missy , ' Mullins hissed jeeringly . ` There 's one , ' replied the figure . ` Who 's that ? ' ` Peter Pan the avenger ! ' came the terrible answer ; and as he spoke Peter flung off his cloak . Then they all knew who 't was that had been undoing them in the cabin , and twice Hook essayed to speak and twice he failed . In that frightful moment I think his fierce heart broke . At last he cried , ` Cleave him to the brisket , ' but without conviction . ` Down , boys , and at them , ' Peter 's voice rang out ; and in another moment the clash of arms was resounding through the ship . Had the pirates kept together it is certain that they would have won ; but the onset came when they were all unstrung , and they ran hither and thither , striking wildly , each thinking himself the last survivor of the crew . Man to man they were the stronger ; but they fought on the defensive only , which enabled the boys to hunt in pairs and choose their quarry . Some of the miscreants leapt into the sea ; others hid in dark recesses , where they were found by Slightly , who did not fight , but ran about with a lantern which he flashed in their faces , so that they were half blinded and fell an easy prey to the reeking swords of the other boys . There was little sound to be heard but the clang of weapons , an occasional screech or splash , and Slightly monotonously counting -- five -- six -- seven -- eight -- nine -- ten -- eleven . I think all were gone when a group of savage boys surrounded Hook , who seemed to have a charmed life , as he kept them at bay in that circle of fire . They had done for his dogs , but this man alone seemed to be a match for them all . Again and again they closed upon him , and again and again he hewed a clear space .
He had lifted up one boy with his hook , and was using him as a buckler , when another , who had just passed his sword through XXXXX , sprang into the fray .
Cleave Flint Mullins Pan Peter avenger brisket fire recesses right