At that they fell on their knees . ` No , no , ' they cried so piteously that every pirate smiled . ` Fetch the cat , Jukes , ' said Hook ; ` it 's in the cabin . ' The cabin ! Peter was in the cabin ! The children gazed at each other . ` Ay , ay , ' said Jukes blithely , and he strode into the cabin . They followed him with their eyes ; they scarce knew that Hook had resumed his song , his dogs joining in with him : ` Yo ho , yo ho , the scratching cat , Its tails are nine , you know , And when they 're writ upon your back -- What was the last line will never be known , for of a sudden the song was stayed by a dreadful screech from the cabin . It wailed through the ship , and died away . Then was heard a crowing sound which was well understood by the boys , but to the pirates was almost more eerie than the screech . ` What was that ? ' cried Hook . ` Two , ' said Slightly solemnly . The Italian Cecco hesitated for a moment and then swung into the cabin . He tottered out , haggard . ` What 's the matter with Bill Jukes , you dog ? ' hissed Hook , towering over him . ` The matter wi ' him is he 's dead , stabbed , ' replied Cecco in a hollow Voice . ` Bill Jukes dead ! ' cried the startled pirates .
` The cabin 's as black as a pit , ' XXXXX said , almost gibbering , ` but there is something terrible in there : the thing you heard crowing . '
Ay Cecco Jukes Peter cabin cat children dogs pirates wi