All the time though the lad was scanning the rocky face, first to right then to left, to seek for a way by which he could climb down, escape upwards being impossible; and he had quickly come to the conclusion that if unmolested he could manage, by taking his time, to get down in safety.
He had just decided this when Ralph, who had remained perfectly silent, exclaimed abruptly, "Now then, come up." Mark took not the slightest notice, and the order was repeated.
"Hear what the young master says ?" growled Nick.

"Come up!" "Are you speaking to me, fellow ?" cried Mark angrily.

"Be off, I tell you, before I come up and chastise you." "Going to stand this, Master Ralph ?" growled the man.

"Shall I heave a bit o' stone down upon him, and knock him off ?" For answer, Ralph drew back out of sight, and the two men followed at a sign, leaving Mark alone, seated upon his perilous perch; but directly after Ralph's head reappeared, and Nick's close beside it, when Mark realised--rightly--that the other man had been sent on some mission-- what, he could not tell, but in all probability to fetch more help, so as to be sure of taking him.
"Now," said Ralph sternly, "are you coming up to surrender ?" "What!" said Mark sharply; "why am I to surrender to you ?" "For trespass and robbery.

This is my father's land, and those are our birds." Mark laughed scornfully to hide his annoyance, for conscience pricked hard.
"Your land, indeed!" he cried.