're afraid to attack. Must be something there, or they wouldn't
keep on flying to and fro like that. Well; bother! I don't care.
Sheep and lambs ought to know better."

He tried to take his thoughts back to the castle and its defensive
powers, if the Edens, strengthened by the gang of mercenaries, should
attack them, but it was too hard work to think of the imaginary, when
the real was before him in the shape of a pair of great black ravens,
flying round and round, and showing plainly against the great grey
crags, threatening from moment to moment to attack something down below.

"Here, I must go and see what there is to make them fly about like
that," said the lad to himself, at last, his curiosity getting the
better of his laziness; and, springing up, he began to descend the
slope, making a circuit, so as to reach the high cliff, away from the
precipice, and ascend where he could do so, unseen by the birds.

But before he was half-way down, he caught sight of the two men coming
in his direction rapidly; and as soon as they caught sight of him, they
began to gesticulate, beckoning, waving their caps, and generally
indicating that he was to hurry to their side.

"Oh, you idle beauties!" muttered Ralph. "I should like to give you a
lesson. Spoiled by father's indulgence, you do just as you like. I'm
to run to you, am I? Come here, you lazy dogs!"

He waved his hand to them in turn, but instead of coming on, they
stopped short, and pointed back toward the highest part of the cliff.

"Come here!" roared Ralph, though he knew that they were quite out of
hearing. "You won't come, won't you? Oh, don't I wish I was behind you
with my riding-boots on! I'd give you such a kicking, or use the spurs.
Come here!" he roared. "I want to send one of them for a crossbow.
Well, I don't like doing it, my fine fellows, but if you won't move, I
must. One of you will have to go, though, and walk all the farther.
That's it. I'm right," he continued to himself, as he saw the men keep
on pointing upwards. "Why, what's the matter with them? Dancing about
like that, and slapping their legs. Stop a moment: went up the side gap
to chip out stones for Minnie. Why--yes--no--oh! hang the ravens!
they've hit upon a vein of rich lead, and we shall be as rich as the
Edens."

Ralph set off at a trot down the slope, and this seemed to have an
effect upon the two men, who now began to run, with the result that they
were bound to mee