Chapter 7
THE HOME UNDER THE GROUNDOne of the first things Peter did next day was to measure Wendy
and John and Michael for hollow trees. Hook, you remember, had
sneered at the boys for thinking they needed a tree apiece, but
this was ignorance, for unless your tree fitted you it was
difficult to go up and down, and no two of the boys were quite the
same size. Once you fitted, you drew in [let out] your breath at
the top, and down you went at exactly the right speed, while to
ascend you drew in and let out alternately, and so wriggled up. Of
course, when you have mastered the action you are able to do these
things without thinking of them, and nothing can be more
graceful.
But you simply must fit, and Peter measures you for your tree as
carefully as for a suit of clothes: the
