"Fools that we be," cried he, "that stain our hands in this foul work upon these paltry runaways, while he, the chief cause of these men's offending, still goes free!"
"See," I said, "the monster gazes down on the downfall of his lieges, and sees them die without a care!"
"Ay, for he knows," said Hugo, "there is plenty of evil men in the world for him still to lead."
With that Hugo picked out some twenty of his most trusted men and bade us follow him.
So we started up the cliff side by a little path that wound upward amid the gorse. And still all the time as we toiled with foot and hand at climbing, upon the summit sat the Sarrasin, as though with a proud air deriding our attack.
"Whom seek you, good gentlemen?" he cried to us as we climbed below.
"A vile knave and caitiff!" Hugo cried back.
"He hath not passed this way," shouted the Sarrasin, "so lose not your labour, good sirs, at this boys' play of climbing."
"It is not boys' play down yonder!" returned Hugo. "Oh, villain, cursed villain, we will mete you the same measure!"
"Then you must rival my Pearl of Seville!" he cried, just galloping lightly away as we landed on the summit.