"Perhaps it's a sheep, and they're afraid to attack.

Must be something there, or they wouldn't keep on flying to and fro like that.

Well; bother! I don't care.
Sheep and lambs ought to know better." He tried to take his thoughts back to the castle and its defensive powers, if the Edens, strengthened by the gang of mercenaries, should attack them, but it was too hard work to think of the imaginary, when the real was before him in the shape of a pair of great black ravens, flying round and round, and showing plainly against the great grey crags, threatening from moment to moment to attack something down below.
"Here, I must go and see what there is to make them fly about like that," said the lad to himself, at last, his curiosity getting the better of his laziness; and, springing up, he began to descend the slope, making a circuit, so as to reach the high cliff, away from the precipice, and ascend where he could do so, unseen by the birds.
But before he was half-way down, he caught sight of the two men coming in his direction rapidly; and as soon as they caught sight of him, they began to gesticulate, beckoning, waving their caps, and generally indicating that he was to hurry to their side.
"Oh, you idle beauties!" muttered Ralph.

"I should like to give you a lesson.

Spoiled by father's indulgence, you do just as you like.