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of his night…gown； and though it was still rather like a
night…gown it made a lovely sail。 And that night； the moon being
full； and all the birds asleep； he did enter his coracle （as
Master Francis Pretty would have said） and depart out of the
island。 And first； he knew not why； he looked upward； with his
hands clasped； and from that moment his eyes were pinned to the
west。
He had promised the thrushes to begin by making short voyages；
with them to his guides； but far away he saw the Kensington
Gardens beckoning to him beneath the bridge； and he could not
wait。 His face was flushed； but he never looked back； there was
an exultation in his little breast that drove out fear。 Was
Peter the least gallant of the English mariners who have sailed
westward to meet the Unknown？
At first； his boat turned round and round； and he was driven back
to the place of his starting； whereupon he shortened sail； by
removing one of the sleeves； and was forthwith carried backward
by a contrary breeze； to his no small peril。 He now let go the
sail； with the result that he was drifted toward the far shore；
where are black shadows he knew not the dangers of； but suspected
them； and so once more hoisted his night…gown and went roomer of
the shadows until he caught a favouring wind； which bore him
westward； but at so great a speed that he was like to be broke
against the bridge。 Which； having avoided； he passed under the
bridge and came； to his great rejoicing； within full sight of the
delectable Gardens。 But having tried to cast anchor； which was a
stone at the end of a piece of the kite…string； he found no
bottom； and was fain to hold off； seeking for moorage； and；
feeling his way； he buffeted against a sunken reef that cast him
overboard by the greatness of the shock； and he was near to being
drowned； but clambered back into the vessel。 There now arose a
mighty storm； accompanied by roaring of waters； such as he had
never heard the like； and he was tossed this way and that； and
his hands so numbed with the cold that he could not close them。
Having escaped the danger of which； he was mercifully carried
into a small bay； where his boat rode at peace。
Nevertheless； he was not yet in safety； for； on pretending to
disembark； he found a multitude of small people drawn up on the
shore to contest his landing； and shouting shrilly to him to be
off； for it was long past Lock…out Time。 This； with much
brandishing of their holly…leaves； and also a company of them
carried an arrow which some boy had left in the Gardens； and this
they were prepared to use as a battering…ram。
Then Peter； who knew them for the fairies； called out that he was
not an ordinary human and had no desire to do them displeasure；
but to be their friend； nevertheless； having found a jolly
harbour； he was in no temper to draw off therefrom； and he warned
them if they sought to mischief him to stand to their harms。
So saying； he boldly leapt ashore； and they gathered around him
with intent to slay him； but there then arose a great cry among
the women； and it was because they had now observed that his sail
was a baby's night…gown。 Whereupon； they straightway loved him；
and grieved that their laps were too small； the which I cannot
explain； except by saying that such is the way of women。 The
men… fairies now sheathed their weapons on observing the
behaviour of their women； on whose intelligence they set great
store； and they led him civilly to their queen； who conferred
upon him the courtesy of the Gardens after Lock…out Time； and
henceforth Peter could go whither he chose； and the fairies had
orders to put him in comfort。
Such was his first voyage to the Gardens； and you may gather from
the antiquity of the language that it took place a long time ago。
But Peter never grows any older； and if we could be watching for
him under the bridge to…night （but； of course； we can't）； I
daresay we should see him hoisting his night…gown and sailing or
paddling toward us in the Thrush's Nest。 When he sails； he sits
down； but he stands up to paddle。 I shall tell you presently how
he got his paddle。
Long before the time for the opening of the gates comes he steals
back to the island； for people must not see him （he is not so
human as all that）； but this gives him hours for play； and he
plays exactly as real children play。 At least he thinks so； and
it is one of the pathetic things about him that he often plays
quite wrongly。
You see； he had no one to tell him how children really play； for
the fairies were all more or less in hiding until dusk； and so
know nothing； and though the birds pretended that they could tell
him a great deal； when the time for telling came； it was
wonderful how little they really knew。 They told him the truth
about hide… and…seek； and he often plays it by himself； but even
the ducks on the Round Pond could not explain to him what it is
that makes the pond so fascinating to boys。 Every night the
ducks have forgotten all the events of the day； except the number
of pieces of cake thrown to them。 They are gloomy creatures； and
say that cake is not what it was in their young days。
So Peter had to find out many things for himself。 He often
played ships at the Round Pond； but his ship was only a hoop
which he had found on the grass。 Of course； he had never seen a
hoop； and he wondered what you play at with them； and decided
that you play at pretending they are boats。 This hoop always
sank at once； but he waded in for it； and sometimes he dragged it
gleefully round the rim of the pond； and he was quite proud to
think that he had discovered what boys do with hoops。
Another time； when he found a child's pail； he thought it was for
sitting in； and he sat so hard in it that he could scarcely get
out of it。 Also he found a balloon。 It was bobbing about on the
Hump； quite as if it was having a game by itself； and he caught
it after an exciting chase。 But he thought it was a ball； and
Jenny Wren had told him that boys kick balls； so he kicked it；
and after that he could not find it anywhere。
Perhaps the most surprising thing he found was a perambulator。
It was under a lime…tree； near the entrance to the Fairy Queen's
Winter Palace （which is within the circle of the seven Spanish
chestnuts）； and Peter approached it warily； for the birds had
never mentioned such things to him。 Lest it was alive； he
addressed it politely； and then； as it gave no answer； he went
nearer and felt it cautiously。 He gave it a little push； and it
ran from him； which made him think it must be alive after all；
but； as it had run from him； he was not afraid。 So he stretched
out his hand to pull it to him； but this time it ran at him； and
he was so alarmed that he leapt the railing and scudded away to
his boat。 You must not think； however； that he was a coward； for
he came back next night with a crust in one hand and a stick in
the other； but the perambulator had gone； and he never saw
another one。 I have promised to tell you also about his paddle。
It was a child's spade which he had found near St。 Govor's Well；
and he thought it was a paddle。
Do you pity Peter Pan for making these mistakes？ If so； I think
it rather silly of you。 What I mean is that； of course； one must
pity him now and then； but to pity him all the time would be
impertinence。 He thought he had the most splendid time in the
Gardens； and to think you have it is almost quite as good as
really to have it。 He played without ceasing； while you often
waste time by being mad…dog or Mary…Annish。 He could be neither
of these things； for he had never heard of them； but do you think
he is to be pitied for that？
Oh； he was merry。 He was as much merrier than you； for instance；
as you are merrier than your father。 Sometimes he fell； like a
spinning…top； from sheer merriment。 Have you seen a greyhound
leaping the fences of the Gardens？ That is how Peter leaps them。
And think of the music of his pipe。 Gentlemen who walk home at
night write to the papers to say they heard a nightingale in the
Gardens； but it is really Peter's pipe they hear。 Of course； he
had no motherat least； what use was she to him？ You can be
sorry for him for that； but don't be too sorry； for the next
thing I mean to tell you is how he revisited her。 It was the
fairies who gave him the chance
XVI
Lock…Out Time
It is frightfully difficult to know much about the fairies； and
almost the only thing known for certain is that there are fairies
wherever there are children。 Long ago children were forbidden
the Gardens； and at that time there was not a fairy in the place；
then the children were admitted； and the fairies came trooping in
that very evening。 They can't resist following the children； but
you seldom see them； partly because they live in the daytime
behind the railings； where