But I see how it is: I shall have to go and do it myself." Ralph was not sorry to get away from the ungracious old dame, who stood at her door, shouting messages to his father about his duty and her intentions, till the lad was out of sight, when he could not help seeing the comic side of the matter, and wondered, laughingly, what his father would say to her if she kept her word, and came up to the castle to ask him why he and her son, Nick, did not go and punish those wicked men for coming and stealing her bag of meal.
"I should like to be there," said Ralph, half-aloud, as he tramped on: and then his thoughts took a serious turn again, and he began to ponder upon the possibilities of his father and their men attacking Captain Purlrose, and the chances of success.
"It ought to be done," thought Ralph, as he began to climb the path leading to the shelf upon which Master Rayburn's cottage was built, half-a-mile farther on, "so as to take them by surprise when part of the men are away.

It can hardly be called cowardly with men like them.
Then we could hide in the cavern, and wait till the rest came back, and take them prisoners too.

What's that ?" He listened, and made out the sound of a horse galloping, wondering the while who it could be.

Then his interest increased, for the track was narrow and stony, and ran along like a shelf beside the cliff, with a steep descent to the river--altogether about as dangerous a place for a canter as any one could choose.

But he recalled immediately how sure-footed the ponies of the district were, and thought no more of it for a few moments.