It was only in Peter 's absence that they could speak of mothers , the subject being forbidden by him as silly . ` All I remember about my mother , ' Nibs told them , ` is that she often said to father , `` Oh , how I wish I had a cheque-book of my own . '' I do n't know what a cheque-book is , but I should just love to give my mother one . ' While they talked they heard a distant sound . You or I , not being wild things of the woods , would have heard nothing , but they heard it , and it was the grim song : ` Yo ho , yo ho , the pirate life , The flag o ' skull and bones , A merry hour , a hempen rope , And hey for Davy Jones . ' At once the lost boys -- but where are they ? They are no longer there . Rabbits could not have disappeared more quickly . I will tell you where they are . With the exception of Nibs , who has darted away to reconnoitre , they are already in their home under the ground , a very delightful residence of which we shall see a good deal presently . But how have they reached it ? for there is no entrance to be seen , not so much as a pile of brushwood , which if removed would disclose the mouth of a cave . Look closely , however , and you may note that there are here seven large trees , each having in its hollow trunk a hole as large as a boy . These are the seven entrances to the home under the ground , for which Hook has been searching in vain these many moons . Will he find it to-night ? As the pirates advanced , the quick eye of Starkey sighted Nibs disappearing through the wood , and at once his pistol flashed out . But an iron claw gripped his shoulder . ` Captain , let go , ' he cried , writhing . Now for the first time we hear the voice of Hook . It was a black voice .
` Put back that pistol XXXXX , ' it said threateningly .
Captain Jones Nibs Peter brushwood cheque-book first hempen hour to-night