'Bout half-fledged, that's what they be." "Make haste, then," cried Ralph; and as they hurried on as fast as the steep ascent would allow, they saw the ravens rise and stoop, again and again.

Then only one reappeared, and a few moments later, neither.
"We shall be too late," cried Ralph excitedly.

"They must have killed him, and are now tearing his eyes out." "And sarve him right," cried Nick savagely.

"What does he do on our cliff, a-maddling wi' our birds ?" "But it would be such a pity not to take him alive, Nick," panted Ralph breathlessly.
"How were you going to catch him alive ?" growled the man.

"Wouldn't catch us going down to fight un, and you wouldn't like to crawl down there." "Get a rope with a loop, noose him, and drag him up," cried Ralph.
"Eh?
Hear him, Ram?
Who'd ha' thought of that?
Comes o' larning, that does, and going away to school.