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round sharply； though they were really himself sneezing。 There
was something he wanted very much； but； though he knew he wanted
it； he could not think what it was。 What he wanted so much was
his mother to blow his nose； but that never struck him； so he
decided to appeal to the fairies for enlightenment。 They are
reputed to know a good deal。
There were two of them strolling along the Baby Walk； with their
arms round each other's waists； and he hopped down to address
them。 The fairies have their tiffs with the birds； but they
usually give a civil answer to a civil question； and he was quite
angry when these two ran away the moment they saw him。 Another
was lolling on a garden…chair； reading a postage…stamp which some
human had let fall； and when he heard Peter's voice he popped in
alarm behind a tulip。
To Peter's bewilderment he discovered that every fairy he met
fled from him。 A band of workmen； who were sawing down a
toadstool； rushed away； leaving their tools behind them。 A
milkmaid turned her pail upside down and hid in it。 Soon the
Gardens were in an uproar。 Crowds of fairies were running this
away and that； asking each other stoutly； who was afraid； lights
were extinguished； doors barricaded； and from the grounds of
Queen Mab's palace came the rubadub of drums； showing that the
royal guard had been called out。 A regiment of Lancers came
charging down the Broad Walk； armed with holly…leaves； with which
they jog the enemy horribly in passing。 Peter heard the little
people crying everywhere that there was a human in the Gardens
after Lock…out Time； but he never thought for a moment that he
was the human。 He was feeling stuffier and stuffier； and more
and more wistful to learn what he wanted done to his nose； but he
pursued them with the vital question in vain； the timid creatures
ran from him； and even the Lancers； when he approached them up
the Hump； turned swiftly into a side…walk； on the pretence that
they saw him there。
Despairing of the fairies； he resolved to consult the birds； but
now he remembered； as an odd thing； that all the birds on the
weeping beech had flown away when he alighted on it； and though
that had not troubled him at the time； he saw its meaning now。
Every living thing was shunning him。 Poor little Peter Pan； he
sat down and cried； and even then he did not know that； for a
bird； he was sitting on his wrong part。 It is a blessing that he
did not know； for otherwise he would have lost faith in his power
to fly； and the moment you doubt whether you can fly； you cease
forever to be able to do it。 The reason birds can fly and we
can't is simply that they have perfect faith； for to have faith
is to have wings。
Now； except by flying； no one can reach the island in the
Serpentine； for the boats of humans are forbidden to land there；
and there are stakes round it； standing up in the water； on each
of which a bird…sentinel sits by day and night。 It was to the
island that Peter now flew to put his strange case before old
Solomon Caw； and he alighted on it with relief； much heartened to
find himself at last at home； as the birds call the island。 All
of them were asleep； including the sentinels； except Solomon； who
was wide awake on one side； and he listened quietly to Peter's
adventures； and then told him their true meaning。
〃Look at your night…gown； if you don't believe me；〃 Solomon said；
and with staring eyes Peter looked at his night…gown； and then at
the sleeping birds。 Not one of them wore anything。
〃How many of your toes are thumbs？〃 said Solomon a little
cruelly； and Peter saw to his consternation； that all his toes
were fingers。 The shock was so great that it drove away his
cold。
〃Ruffle your feathers；〃 said that grim old Solomon； and Peter
tried most desperately hard to ruffle his feathers； but he had
none。 Then he rose up； quaking； and for the first time since he
stood on the window…ledge； he remembered a lady who had been very
fond of him。
〃I think I shall go back to mother；〃 he said timidly。
〃Good…bye；〃 replied Solomon Caw with a queer look。
But Peter hesitated。 〃Why don't you go？〃 the old one asked
politely。
〃I suppose；〃 said Peter huskily； 〃I suppose I can still fly？〃
You see； he had lost faith。
〃Poor little half…and…half；〃 said Solomon； who was not really
hard…hearted； 〃you will never be able to fly again； not even on
windy days。 You must live here on the island always。〃
〃And never even go to the Kensington Gardens？〃 Peter asked
tragically。
〃How could you get across？〃 said Solomon。 He promised very
kindly； however； to teach Peter as many of the bird ways as could
be learned by one of such an awkward shape。
〃Then I sha'n't be exactly a human？〃 Peter asked。
〃No。〃
〃Nor exactly a bird？〃
〃No。〃
〃What shall I be？〃
〃You will be a Betwixt…and…Between；〃 Solomon said； and certainly
he was a wise old fellow； for that is exactly how it turned out。
The birds on the island never got used to him。 His oddities
tickled them every day； as if they were quite new； though it was
really the birds that were new。 They came out of the eggs daily；
and laughed at him at once； then off they soon flew to be humans；
and other birds came out of other eggs； and so it went on
forever。 The crafty mother…birds； when they tired of sitting on
their eggs； used to get the young one to break their shells a day
before the right time by whispering to them that now was their
chance to see Peter washing or drinking or eating。 Thousands
gathered round him daily to watch him do these things； just as
you watch the peacocks； and they screamed with delight when he
lifted the crusts they flung him with his hands instead of in the
usual way with the mouth。 All his food was brought to him from
the Gardens at Solomon's orders by the birds。 He would not eat
worms or insects （which they thought very silly of him）； so they
brought him bread in their beaks。 Thus； when you cry out；
〃Greedy！ Greedy！〃 to the bird that flies away with the big crust；
you know now that you ought not to do this； for he is very likely
taking it to Peter Pan。
Peter wore no night…gown now。 You see； the birds were always
begging him for bits of it to line their nests with； and； being
very good…natured； he could not refuse； so by Solomon's advice he
had hidden what was left of it。 But； though he was now quite
naked； you must not think that he was cold or unhappy。 He was
usually very happy and gay； and the reason was that Solomon had
kept his promise and taught him many of the bird ways。 To be
easily pleased； for instance； and always to be really doing
something； and to think that whatever he was doing was a thing of
vast importance。 Peter became very clever at helping the birds
to build their nests； soon he could build better than a
wood…pigeon； and nearly as well as a blackbird； though never did
he satisfy the fi