and as he held on for a
few moments and looked down, he saw that there was a good-sized ledge in
front of a cranny, in which the nest must be, and upon this ledge,
bones, bits of wool, feathers, and remains of rabbits' fur, were
scattered, showing how hard the old birds had worked to feed their
young.

He saw, too, something else which completely upset one of his plans,
which was, to continue his descent right to the bottom of the cliff,
after securing the young ravens; for the strata retired for some
distance below the bush, and he grasped at once the fact, that he must
return by the way he descended.

"Wish I had a bag with me," he thought, as he heard a peculiar squeaking
arise from beneath his feet. "Never mind: I'll tie their legs together
with my handkerchief, or thrust them into toy breast."

_Croak_--_croak_--_craw_--_awk_! came from one of the ravens, as it
swept by him with a rush.

"Wait a minute, my fine fellow, or madam," said the boy. "Hard for you,
perhaps; but how many chickens and ducklings have you stolen? how many
unfortunate lambs have you blinded this spring? Can't have ravens here.
Hah! that's it."

For upon forcing his hands well into a fault in the rock, he had lowered
his feet and found good foot-hold on the ledge, lowered himself a little
more, and saw that he could easily sit down, hold on by his left hand,
the stout bush being ready, and draw out a pair of well-grown nestlings
as soon as he liked.

"I'm afraid, Master Rayburn, that if there are eggs I should get them
broken if I put them in my pocket," he said aloud; "and if they do
break, phew! It would be horrible. Ah, put them in my cap. Let's
see."

He thrust his right hand into the niche, and snatched it back, for the
young ravens were big enough to use their beaks fiercely, and set up a
loud, hoarse series of cries, as soon as they found that an enemy was at
the gate.

"You vicious little wretches!" he cried. "My word, they can bite. Ah,
would you!"

This was to one of the ravens, which rendered frantic by the cries of
the young, swooped at him, and struck him with a wing in passing.

"Declaration of war, eh!" he said. "Well, it's your doing, you
murderous creatures, you lamb-slayers. I did not know you could be so
fierce."

The raven had sailed off to a distance now, croaking loudly, and joined
its mate; and as at the next movement of Mark, seated on his perilous
perch, the young ravens screeched hoarsely aga