Приключения Робин Гуда
How Robin Hood Came to Be an Outlaw
"Knowestthounot,"saidanother,"thatthouhastkilledtheKing’sdeer,and,bythelawsofourgraciouslordandsovereignKingHarry,thineearsshouldbeshavenclosetothyhead?"
"Catchhim!"criedathird.
"Nay,"saidafourth,"lethime’engobecauseofhistenderyears."
NeverawordsaidRobinHood,buthelookedattheforesterswithagrimface;then,turningonhisheel,strodeawayfromthemdowntheforestglade.Buthisheartwasbitterlyangry,forhisbloodwashotandyouthfulandpronetoboil.
Now,wellwouldithavebeenforhimwhohadfirstspokenhadheleftRobinHoodalone;buthisangerwashot,bothbecausetheyouthhadgottenthebetterofhimandbecauseofthedeepdraughtsofalethathehadbeenquaffing.So,ofasudden,withoutanywarning,hesprangtohisfeet,andseizeduponhisbowandfittedittoashaft."Ay,"criedhe,"andI’llhurrytheeanon."AndhesentthearrowwhistlingafterRobin.
ItwaswellforRobinHoodthatthatsameforester’sheadwasspinningwithale,orelsehewouldneverhavetakenanotherstep.Asitwas,thearrowwhistledwithinthreeinchesofhishead.Thenheturnedaroundandquicklydrewhisownbow,andsentanarrowbackinreturn.
"YesaidIwasnoarcher,"criedhealoud,"butsaysonowagain!"
Theshaftflewstraight;thearcherfellforwardwithacry,andlayonhisfaceupontheground,hisarrowsrattlingabouthimfromoutofhisquiver,thegraygooseshaftwetwithhis;heart’sblood.Then,beforetheotherscouldgathertheirwitsaboutthem,RobinHoodwasgoneintothedepthsofthegreenwood.
