"Now, comrades, for a climb up the hill!" It was a steep ascent, and more than once one had to be helped up by the others, and then in turn to assist them to get up beside him.

Louder and louder rose the shouts of the pirates, but the knights did not glance back until they reached the top of the hill; then they turned and looked round.

A swarm of men were climbing after them, and were already halfway up the cliff.
"Heave them down!" Sir John exclaimed, pointing to some loose rocks, and set the example by lifting a great stone and hurling it over the edge.
Harcourt and Gervaise at once did the same, and twenty or thirty rocks were speedily sent rolling down the steep ascent, and yells, shouts, and cries were heard below.
"That will check them a bit.

Now let us be off," Sir John Boswell said, and they at once started.

After crossing a hundred yards of bare rock they stood at the edge of another slope into a deep valley, beyond which rose the central hill of the island.