فصل 55

CHAPTER 55

THE GIANT EYE

PLEASE GET UP, MR. SMEE,” whispered Shining Pearl, glancing nervously back down the jungle hillside. “Hurry!”

Smee lay where he’d fallen, having tripped on a vine for at least the hundredth time. Sweat dripped from his round face; it gleamed in the light of the meteor shower, which filled the normally dark nighttime jungle with an unearthly flashing light.

“I don’t think I can keep going,” he panted.

“You must!” said Shining Pearl, again looking down the hill. “He’s coming!”

Smee turned his head and moaned in fear. The treetops shook as the huge beast shoved his way through the thick jungle growth. Mister Grin had been following Shining Pearl and the seven pirates for hours now, never seeming to tire. At one point he had come so close that Shining Pearl, in desperation, had dropped the lure—Hook’s smelly pants—onto the ground, leaving them behind as the little group continued up the mountainside. This had stopped Mister Grin, but only for as long as it took him to gulp down the garment. Then, with a roar, the monster croc had resumed following Shining Pearl and the pirates, who realized to their horror that the beast thought Hook was still among them.

Now there was no turning back; they had to continue over the mountain to the Mollusk camp and hope that Mister Grin would turn his attention from them to the Scorpions.

Shining Pearl looked up the hillside; the other pirates were almost out of sight.

“Help!” she called. “Mr. Smee has fallen again!”

Two pirates, Hurky and Boggs, turned and came trotting down.

“Cap’n,” said Hurky. “You have to get up.”

“I can’t,” said Smee. “I’m too…OW!”

“Sorry, sir,” said Hurky, as he and Boggs, one grabbing each arm, jerked Smee to his feet, put his arms over their shoulders, and began dragging the little round man up the hill, with Shining Pearl right behind. She stopped for a moment to glance back at the jungle. The shaking trees were only a dozen yards away. She caught a glimpse of a giant eye glowing red in the meteor light. It seemed to be looking right at her.

Shining Pearl turned and started running again.