Swear." They all swore.

By this time they were on the rock, and suddenly Hook remembered Tiger Lily.
"Where is the redskin ?" he demanded abruptly.
He had a playful humour at moments, and they thought this was one of the moments.
"That is all right, captain," Smee answered complacently; "we let her go." "Let her go!" cried Hook.
"'Twas your own orders," the bo'sun faltered.
"You called over the water to us to let her go," said Starkey.
"Brimstone and gall," thundered Hook, "what cozening [cheating] is going on here!" His face had gone black with rage, but he saw that they believed their words, and he was startled.

"Lads," he said, shaking a little, "I gave no such order." "It is passing queer," Smee said, and they all fidgeted uncomfortably.
Hook raised his voice, but there was a quiver in it.
"Spirit that haunts this dark lagoon to-night," he cried, "dost hear me ?" Of course Peter should have kept quiet, but of course he did not.

He immediately answered in Hook's voice: "Odds, bobs, hammer and tongs, I hear you." In that supreme moment Hook did not blanch, even at the gills, but Smee and Starkey clung to each other in terror.
"Who are you, stranger?
Speak!" Hook demanded.
"I am James Hook," replied the voice, "captain of the JOLLY ROGER." "You are not; you are not," Hook cried hoarsely.
"Brimstone and gall," the voice retorted, "say that again, and I'll cast anchor in you." Hook tried a more ingratiating manner.

"If you are Hook," he said almost humbly, "come tell me, who am I ?" "A codfish," replied the voice, "only a codfish." "A codfish!" Hook echoed blankly, and it was then, but not till then, that his proud spirit broke.