That way of escape was too desperate, and the more repellent from the fact that the beech-trees below prevented him from seeing what awaited him. He busied himself in pretending to examine the knot he had made about the birds' legs, and then, raising his sword-belt, he passed one young raven inside, leaving the other out, so that they hung from his back, not in a very comfortable position for them, but where they would not be hurt. All the time though the lad was scanning the rocky face, first to right then to left, to seek for a way by which he could climb down, escape upwards being impossible; and he had quickly come to the conclusion that if unmolested he could manage, by taking his time, to get down in safety. He had just decided this when Ralph, who had remained perfectly silent, exclaimed abruptly, "Now then, come up." Mark took not the slightest notice, and the order was repeated. "Hear what the young master says?" growled Nick. "Come up!" "Are you speaking to me, fellow?" cried Mark angrily. "Be off, I tell you, before I come up and chastise you." "Going to stand this, Master Ralph?" growled the man. "Shall I heave a bit o' stone down upon him, and knock him off?" For answer, Ralph drew back out of sight, and the two men followed at a sign, leaving Mark alone, seated upon his perilous perch; but directly after Ralph's head reappeared, and Nick's close beside it, when Mark realised--rightly--that the other man had been sent on some mission-- what, he could not tell, but in all probability to fetch more help, so as to be sure of taking him. "Now," said Ralph sternly, "are you coming up to surrender?" "What!" said Mark sharply; "why am I to surrender to you?" "For trespass and robbery. This is my father's land, and those are our birds." Mark laughed scornfully to hide his annoyance, for conscience pricked hard. "Your land, indeed!" he cried. "Wild moorland, open to anybody; and as to the birds, are all the crows yours too?" Ralph did not condescend to reply, but lay there looking down at the young representative of his father's rival. "I wish you good day, Master Owner of the land, and lord of the birds of the air," said Mark mockingly. "If you had asked me civilly, I might perhaps have given you a young raven. As it is, I shall not." "What are you going to do?" said Ralph sharply. "Wait and see," was the mocking reply. "Shan't I heave this stone down on his head, Master Ralph?" said Nick in a low tone; but the words came plainly to Mark's ear, and sent a cold chill of horror thrilling through his nerves; but he felt better the next moment, and then anger took the place of dread, for Ralph said sharply, "Put the stone down, sirrah! You know I want to take the wolf's cub alive." "Wolf's cub!" said Mark to himself. "Never mind; I may meet him some day when it is not three to one, and then he shall find that the wolf's cub can bite."