In the midst of them , the blackest and largest jewel in that dark setting , reclined James Hook , or as he wrote himself , Jas . Hook , of whom it is said he was the only man that the Sea-Cook feared . He lay at his ease in a rough chariot drawn and propelled by his men , and instead of a right hand he had the iron hook with which ever and anon he encouraged them to increase their pace . As dogs this terrible man treated and addressed them , and as dogs they obeyed him . In person he was cadaverous and blackavized , and his hair was dressed in long curls , which at a little distance looked like black candles , and gave a singularly threatening expression to his handsome countenance . His eyes were of the blue of the forget-me-not , and of a profound melancholy , save when he was plunging his hook into you , at which time two red spots appeared in them and lit them up horribly . In manner , something of the grand seigneur still clung to him , so that he even ripped you up with an air , and I have been told that he was a raconteur of repute . He was never more sinister than when he was most polite , which is probably the truest test of breeding ; and the elegance of his diction , even when he was swearing , no less than the distinction of his demeanour , showed him one of a different caste from his crew . A man of indomitable courage , it was said of him that the only thing he shied at was the sight of his own blood , which was thick and of an unusual colour . In dress he somewhat aped the attire associated with the name of Charles II. , having heard it said in some earlier period of his career that he bore a strange resemblance to the ill-fated Stuarts ; and in his mouth he had a holder of his own contrivance which enabled him to smoke two cigars at once . But undoubtedly the grimmest part of him was his iron claw . Let us now kill a pirate , to show Hook 's method . Skylights will do . As they pass , Skylights lurches clumsily against him , ruffling his lace collar ; the hook shoots forth , there is a tearing sound and one screech , then the body is kicked aside , and the pirates pass on . He has not even taken the cigars from his mouth . Such is the terrible man against whom Peter Pan is pitted . Which will win ? On the trail of the pirates , stealing noiselessly down the war-path , which is not visible to inexperienced eyes , come the redskins , every one of them with his eyes peeled . They carry tomahawks and knives , and their naked bodies gleam with paint and oil . Strung around them are scalps , of boys as well as of pirates , for these are the Piccaninny tribe , and not to be confused with the softer-hearted Delawares or the Hurons .
In the van , on all fours , is Great Big Little Panther , a brave of so many XXXXX that in his present position they somewhat impede his progress .
Hook II. Jas demeanour redskins right scalps seigneur stealing war-path