` I 've waited long to shake his hand with this . Oh , I 'll tear him . ' ` And yet , ' said Smee , ' I have often heard you say that hook was worth a score of hands , for combing the hair and other homely uses . ' ` Ay , ' the captain answered , ` if I was a mother I would pray to have my children born with this instead of that , ' and he cast a look of pride upon his iron hand and one of scorn upon the other . Then again he frowned . ` Peter flung my arm , ' he said , wincing , ` to a crocodile that happened to be passing by . ' ' I have often , ' said Smee , ` noticed your strange dread of crocodiles . ' ` Not of crocodiles , ' Hook corrected him , ` but of that one crocodile . ' He lowered his voice . ` It liked my arm so much , Smee , that it has followed me ever since , from sea to sea and from land to land , licking its lips for the rest of me . ' ` In a way , ' said Smee , ` it 's a sort of compliment . ' ' I want no such compliments , ' Hook barked petulantly . ' I want Peter Pan , who first gave the brute its taste for me . ' He sat down on a large mushroom , and now there was a quiver in his voice . ` Smee , ' he said huskily , ` that crocodile would have had me before this , but by a lucky chance it swallowed a clock which goes tick tick inside it , and so before it can reach me I hear the tick and bolt . ' He laughed , but in a hollow way . ` Some day , ' said Smee , ` the clock will run down , and then he 'll get you . ' Hook wetted his dry lips . ` Ay , ' he said , ` that 's the fear that haunts me . ' Since sitting down he had felt curiously warm .
` XXXXX , ' he said , ` this seat is hot . '
Ay Pan Peter Smee clock crocodiles day first quiver taste