They recalled with contempt that not so long ago they had thought themselves fine fellows for being able to fly round a room . Not long ago . But how long ago ? They were flying over the sea before this thought began to disturb Wendy seriously . John thought it was their second sea and their third night . Sometimes it was dark and sometimes light , and now they were very cold and again too warm . Did they really feel hungry at times , or were they merely pretending , because Peter had such a jolly new way of feeding them ? His way was to pursue birds who had food in their mouths suitable for humans and snatch it from them ; then the birds would follow and snatch it back ; and they would all go chasing each other gaily for miles , parting at last with mutual expressions of good-will . But Wendy noticed with gentle concern that Peter did not seem to know that this was rather an odd way of getting your bread and butter , nor even that there are other ways . Certainly they did not pretend to be sleepy , they were sleepy ; and that was a danger , for the moment they popped off , down they fell . The awful thing was that Peter thought this funny . `` There he goes again ! '' he would cry gleefully , as Michael suddenly dropped like a stone . `` Save him , save him ! '' cried Wendy , looking with horror at the cruel sea far below . Eventually Peter would dive through the air , and catch Michael just before he could strike the sea , and it was lovely the way he did it ; but he always waited till the last moment , and you felt it was his cleverness that interested him and not the saving of human life . Also he was fond of variety , and the sport that engrossed him one moment would suddenly cease to engage him , so there was always the possibility that the next time you fell he would let you go . He could sleep in the air without falling , by merely lying on his back and floating , but this was , partly at least , because he was so light that if you got behind him and blew he went faster . `` Do be more polite to him , '' Wendy whispered to John , when they were playing `` Follow my Leader . '' `` Then tell him to stop showing off , '' said John .
When playing Follow my XXXXX , Peter would fly close to the water and touch each shark 's tail in passing , just as in the street you may run your finger along an iron railing .
John Leader Michael Peter Wendy back contempt night saving second