` Not now , Smee , ' Hook said darkly . ` He is only one , and I want to mischief all the seven . Scatter and look for them . ' The pirates disappeared among the trees , and in a moment their captain and Smee were alone . Hook heaved a heavy sigh ; and I know not why it was , perhaps it was because of the soft beauty of the evening , but there came over him a desire to confide to his faithful bo ` sun the story of his life . He spoke long and earnestly , but what it was all about Smee , who was rather stupid , did not know in the least . Anon he caught the word Peter . ` Most of all , ' Hook was saying passionately , ' I want their captain , Peter Pan . 'T was he cut off my arm . ' He brandished the hook threateningly . ` 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 XXXXX , ` it 's a sort of compliment . ' '
Anon Ay Pan Peter Smee captain children crocodiles evening pirates