Hurrah!
So we lie, and rob, or kill—
Hurrah!
‘Every man to mind himself,’
Is the rule of Captain Ralph;
With a fa, lal, la, la, la!”
No wonder poor Eric trembled as he heard that lawless band thus glorying in their shame, and like demons singing their horrid song in praise of all that was most dreadful and most wicked. He had read stories of robbers, which sometimes made him think that they were fine, brave fellows, but now that he was among them, he saw how depraved, cruel, and frightful they were. Their savage, coarse looks terrified him; but he was held by Ralph on the table.
When the song was ended, one of them asked, “Whom have we got here?”
“Who do you think?” replied Ralph. “What would you say, my men, to a young prince—no less than the son of our great enemy, King Magnus?”
“A young prince! The son of Magnus! What a prize!” they exclaimed. “What shall we do with him?”