Peter slid up his tunnel and went out to make arrangements for Wendy, John, and Michael's trip home.
He gave orders to the Indians to guide Wendy and her brothers through the woods.
Then Peter returned to the underground home, where an unfortunate sight greeted him.
Upset that they were going to lose Wendy, the Lost Boys were frantic.
"After you leave, things will be worse than before you came!"
"We won't let you go."
"We'll keep you as our prisoner."
"Chain her up!"
They shouted at her.
Only Tootles protected Wendy. He took out his sword and faced the other boys.
This wasn't like the usual Tootles.
He stood up tall and straight and proud.
"I will strike the first one who does not behave well toward Wendy," he said bravely.
The other boys backed off.
Then they noticed Peter. They saw that he would not support them either.
"I would never," said Peter, "keep a girl in Neverland against her will.
I've asked the Indians to guide you through the woods," he explained to Wendy.
"Then Tinker Bell will take you across the sea. Wake Tinker Bell up, Nibs."
Nibs knocked twice on the wall beside Tinker Bell's nook.
Her curtains were drawn, but of course she had been listening all along.
The fairy was delighted that Wendy was leaving, but she did not want to be her guide.
Without opening her curtains, she refused.
"Tink says she won't go!" Nibs yelled.
He was surprised that she dared to disobey Peter.
Peter went directly to Tinker Bell himself.
"Tink," he demanded, "if you don't get up and dress at once, I will open your curtains.
Then we will see you in your nightgown."
This made the vain fairy leap to the floor.
"Who said I wasn't getting up?" she cried.
Meanwhile, Wendy, John, and Michael were getting ready for their journey.
The Lost Boys watched, growing sadder and sadder at the thought of Wendy leaving.
When they began to cry, Wendy softly said, "Dear boys, if you want to come with me, I'm sure my mother and father will adopt you."
This invitation was actually meant for Peter, but she offered it to the rest of the boys out of kindness.
"Peter, can we go with Wendy?" they asked.
"All right," he said with a bitter smile.
They went to pack their knapsacks for the trip.
Wendy and the boys both thought Peter would be joining them.
But Peter, of course, had no intention of going.
"Get your things, Peter," said Wendy.
"No," he answered, pretending not to care. "I'm not going with you."
Then to show that none of this mattered to him, he skipped around the room playing his flute.
"Don't you want to find your mother?" Wendy asked.
She didn't want to leave him behind.
"Even if I had one, I hardly remember her," said Peter.
"Anyway, she would just force me to grow up.
And I want to stay a little boy and have fun."
When Wendy told the boys that Peter wasn't coming, they wondered if he would let them go without him.
"Let's not make a fuss," said Peter, too proud to show his feelings.
"Good-bye, boys. Good-bye, Wendy." He held out his hand to her.
She took it sadly, but wished he had hugged or kissed her instead.
"Please remember to eat properly, Peter," she said, almost crying.
"And don't forget to take your medicine. I've put it in a cup for you."
A sad moment followed. The sadness made Peter uncomfortable, so he interrupted the silence.
"Are you ready, Tink?" he called out. "Lead the way."
Tinker Bell darted up the nearest tunnel to the outside world.
But before anyone could follow her, the sound of a brutal battle erupted above.
At that very moment, the pirates had attacked the Indians on top of the Lost Boys' home.