Приключения Робин Гуда
Little John and the Tanner of Blyth
AtlastLittleJohnstrucklikeaflash,and—"rap!"—theTannermettheblowandturneditaside,andthensmotebackatLittleJohn,whoalsoturnedtheblow;andsothismightybattlebegan.Thenupanddownandbackandforththeytrod,theblowsfallingsothickandfastthat,atadistance,onewouldhavethoughtthathalfascoreofmenwerefighting.Thustheyfoughtfornighahalfanhour,untilthegroundwasallplowedupwiththediggingoftheirheels,andtheirbreathinggrewlaboredliketheoxinthefurrow.ButLittleJohnsufferedthemost,forhehadbecomeunusedtosuchstifflabor,andhisjointswerenotassuppleastheyhadbeenbeforehewenttodwellwiththeSheriff.
AllthistimeRobinHoodlaybeneaththebush,rejoicingatsuchacomelyboutofquarterstaff."Bymyfaith!"quothhetohimself,"neverhadIthoughttoseeLittleJohnsoevenlymatchedinallmylife.Belike,though,hewouldhaveovercomeyonfellowbeforethishadhebeeninhisformertrim."
AtlastLittleJohnsawhischance,and,throwingallthestrengthhefeltgoingfromhimintooneblowthatmighthavefelledanox,hestruckattheTannerwithmightandmain.AndnowdidtheTanner’scowhidecapstandhimingoodstead,andbutforithemightneverhaveheldstaffinhandagain.Asitwas,theblowhecaughtbesidetheheadwassoshrewdthatitsenthimstaggeringacrossthelittleglade,sothat,ifLittleJohnhadhadthestrengthtofollowuphisvantage,itwouldhavebeenillforstoutArthur.
