The young good-for-nothings!" "I will wake them," answered Pasquale.

"I supposed that they were allowed to sleep after daylight." A moment later Zorzi heard him apostrophising the three lads with his usual vigour of language.

Judging from the sounds that accompanied the words he was encouraging their movements by other means also.

Presently one of the three set up a howl.
"Oh, you sons of snails and codfish, I will teach you!" growled Pasquale; and he proceeded to teach them, till they were all three howling at once.
Zorzi knew that they deserved a beating, but he was naturally tender-hearted.
"Pasquale!" he called out.

"Let them alone! Let them make up the fire!" Pasquale came back, and the yells subsided.
"I have knocked their empty heads together," he observed.