Приключения Робин Гуда
Little John and the Tanner of Blyth
Atthis,RobinHoodstoppedandlistened."Surely,"quothhetohimself,"thatisLittleJohn’svoice,andheistalkinginangeralso.Methinkstheotherisstrangetomyears.NowHeavenforfendthatmygoodtrustyLittleJohnshouldhavefallenintothehandsoftheKing’srangers.Imustseetothismatter,andthatquickly."
ThusspokeRobinHoodtohimself,allhisangerpassingawaylikeabreathfromthewindowpane,atthethoughtthatperhapshistrustyright-handmanwasinsomedangerofhislife.Socautiouslyhemadehiswaythroughthethicketswhencethevoicescame,and,pushingasidetheleaves,peepedintothelittleopenspacewherethetwomen,staffinhand,werecomingslowlytogether.
"Ha!"quothRobintohimself,"hereismerrysportafoot.NowIwouldgivethreegoldenangelsfrommyownpocketifyonstoutfellowwouldgiveLittleJohnarightsounddrubbing!Itwouldpleasemetoseehimwellthumpedforhavingfailedinmybidding.Ifearme,though,thereisbutpoorchanceofmyseeingsuchapleasantsight."Sosaying,hestretchedhimselfatlengthupontheground,thathemightnotonlyseethesportthebetter,butthathemightenjoythemerrysightathisease.
Asyoumayhaveseentwodogsthatthinktofight,walkingslowlyroundandroundeachother,neithercurwishingtobeginthecombat,sothosetwostoutyeomenmovedslowlyaround,eachwatchingforachancetotaketheotherunaware,andsogetinthefirstblow.
