Приключения Робин Гуда
Robin Hood and Will Scarlet
LittleJohnandtheTannerhadbeenwatchingallthatpassed,butwhentheysawthestrangerdragthesaplingupfromtheearth,andheardtherendingandsnappingofitsroots,theTannerpursedhislipstogether,drawinghisbreathbetweentheminalonginwardwhistle.
"Bythebreathofmybody!"saidLittleJohn,assoonashecouldgatherhiswitsfromtheirwonder,"sawestthouthat,Arthur?Marry,Ithinkourpoormasterwillstandbutanillchancewithyonfellow.ByOurLady,hepluckedupyongreentreeasitwereabarleystraw."
WhateverRobinHoodthought,hestoodhisground,andnowheandthestrangerinscarletstoodfacetoface.
WelldidRobinHoodholdhisownthatdayasamid-countryyeoman.Thiswayandthattheyfought,andbackandforth,Robin’sskillagainstthestranger’sstrength.Thedustofthehighwayroseuparoundthemlikeacloud,sothatattimesLittleJohnandtheTannercouldseenothing,butonlyheartherattleofthestavesagainstoneanother.ThriceRobinHoodstruckthestranger;onceuponthearmandtwiceupontheribs,andyethadhewardedalltheother’sblows,onlyoneofwhich,haditmetitsmark,wouldhavelaidstoutRobinlowerinthedustthanhehadevergonebefore.
