“Of course it’s not a trap, dear fellow,” said James, laughing and feeling guilty that it was exactly that. He wasn’t afraid anymore that his plan wouldn’t work, but he did feel sorry he was about to betray his friends.

“You remember the Lost Boys,” Peter said, and before James could say hello, the little hellions swarmed the banquet tables, making a mess of everything.

“Where’s the cake? We were promised chocolate cake!” said Foxy, scouring the table with Cubby and Skunk, throwing the chickens this way and that, making Smee scurry behind them cleaning up their mess. James couldn’t help but laugh watching Smee catching chickens as they were tossed in the air.

“Adults always lie! We knew there wouldn’t be cake!” said Rabbit, riling up all the Lost Boys, who were now surrounding James with angry faces.

“Yeah, let’s leave! There’s no cake!” said the Raccoon Twins, stamping their feet with their fists clenched. “We came here for the cake!”

“Calm down, boys, calm down,” James said, laughing. “Smee! I think it’s time to bring out the cake!” he cried, flourishing his pirate coat like he was onstage and not aboard a ship.

Smee scurried off to the galley, and within moments wheeled out a gigantic chocolate cake, even larger than the one James had gotten from Tiddlebottom’s and Butterpants’s Bakery for the Odd Sisters. It was covered in heaps of chocolate frosting, and on the top was a large replica of the Jolly Roger carved out of chocolate. Smee had even managed to include the skull and crossbones flag. It was a marvel. The Lost Boys nearly knocked Smee over as they surrounded the cake, making him spin like a dervish before he righted himself.

“Gentleman, please!” cried Smee as he tried to hand them plates, but the Lost Boys had no need of them. They were taking handfuls of cake and shoving them into their mouths greedily, and taking great bites out of the chocolate Jolly Roger, making a mess of their hands and faces. James was so happy to see his friends having such a good time, he just stood there laughing, and enjoying the scene, feeling like he was one step closer to befriending Peter and the Lost Boys again. Smee quickly cut two slices of cake, put them on plates, and brought them to Peter and James.

“Here you go, sirs,” he said, handing the slices over.

“What’s wrong with you? Why do you look so nervous?” asked Peter, eyeing Smee suspiciously.

“It’s nothing, young sir, it’s only . . .” he said, looking around anxiously. “It’s just that a crocodile has been circling the ship. . . . Yes, a crocodile, and I’d hate for any of our spirited friends to fall into the water.”