Приключения Робин Гуда
Robin Hood Seeks the Curtal Friar
"DidnottheholySaintChristopherevercarrythestrangeracrosstheriver?AndshouldI,poorsinnerthatIam,beashamedtodolikewise?Comewithme,stranger,andIwilldothybiddinginanhumbleframeofmind."Sosaying,heclamberedupthebank,closelyfollowedbyRobin,andledthewaytotheshallowpebblyford,chucklingtohimselfthewhileasthoughhewereenjoyingsomegoodlyjestwithinhimself.
Havingcometotheford,hegirdeduphisrobesabouthisloins,tuckedhisgoodbroadswordbeneathhisarm,andstoopedhisbacktotakeRobinuponit.Suddenlyhestraightenedup."Methinks,"quothhe,"thou’ltgetthyweaponwet.Letmetuckitbeneathminearmalongwithmineown."
"Nay,goodfather,"saidRobin,"Iwouldnotburdentheewithaughtofminebutmyself."
"Dostthouthink,"saidtheFriarmildly,"thatthegoodSaintChristopherwouldha’soughthisowneaseso?Nay,givemethytoolasIbidthee,forIwouldcarryitasapenancetomypride."
Uponthis,withoutmoreado,RobinHoodunbuckledhisswordfromhissideandhandedittotheother,whothrustitwithhisownbeneathhisarm.ThenoncemoretheFriarbenthisback,and,Robinhavingmounteduponit,hesteppedsturdilyintothewaterandsostrodeonward,splashingintheshoal,andbreakingallthesmoothsurfaceintoever-wideningrings.AtlasthereachedtheothersideandRobinleapedlightlyfromhisback.
"Manythanks,goodfather,"quothhe.