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 . He saw his men draw back from him . ` Have we been captained all this time by a codfish ! ' they muttered . ` It is lowering to our pride . ' They were his dogs snapping at him , but , tragic figure though he had become , he scarcely heeded them . Against such fearful evidence it was not their belief in him that he needed , it was his own . He felt his ego slipping from him . ` Do n't desert me , bully , ' he whispered hoarsely to it . In his dark nature there was a touch of the feminine , as in all the great pirates , and it sometimes gave him intuitions .
Suddenly he XXXXX the guessing game .
Do blanch cast clung cried felt lowering replied retorted tried