`` 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 Leader , 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 . They could not follow him in this with much success , so perhaps it was rather like showing off , especially as he kept looking behind to see how many tails they missed . `` You must be nice to him , '' Wendy impressed on her brothers . `` What could we do if he were to leave us ! '' `` We could go back , '' Michael said . `` How could we ever find our way back without him ? '' `` Well , then , we could go on , '' said John . `` That is the awful thing , John . We should have to go on , for we do n't know how to stop . '' This was true , Peter had forgotten to show them how to stop . John said that if the worst came to the worst , all they had to do was to go straight on , for the world was round , and so in time they must come back to their own window . `` And who is to get food for us , John ? '' `` I nipped a bit out of that eagle 's mouth pretty neatly , Wendy . ''
`` After the twentieth try , '' XXXXX reminded him .
John Leader Michael Peter Wendy sea shark sport street variety