Приключения Робин Гуда
How Robin Hood Came to Be an Outlaw
NeverdidtheKnightsofArthur’sRoundTablemeetinastouterfightthandidthesetwo.InamomentRobinsteppedquicklyuponthebridgewherethestrangerstood;firsthemadeafeint,andthendeliveredablowatthestranger’sheadthat,haditmetitsmark,wouldhavetumbledhimspeedilyintothewater.Butthestrangerturnedtheblowrightdeftlyandinreturngaveoneasstout,whichRobinalsoturnedasthestrangerhaddone.Sotheystood,eachinhisplace,neithermovingafinger’s-breadthback,foronegoodhour,andmanyblowsweregivenandreceivedbyeachinthattime,tillhereandthereweresorebonesandbumps,yetneitherthoughtofcrying"Enough,"norseemedlikelytofallfromoffthebridge.Nowandthentheystoppedtorest,andeachthoughtthatheneverhadseeninallhislifebeforesuchahandatquarterstaff.AtlastRobingavethestrangerablowupontheribsthatmadehisjacketsmokelikeadampstrawthatchinthesun.Soshrewdwasthestrokethatthestrangercamewithinahair’s-breadthoffallingoffthebridge,butheregainedhimselfrightquicklyand,byadexterousblow,gaveRobinacrackonthecrownthatcausedthebloodtoflow.ThenRobingrewmadwithangerandsmotewithallhismightattheother.ButthestrangerwardedtheblowandonceagainthwackedRobin,andthistimesofairlythathefellheelsoverheadintothewater,asthequeenpinfallsinagameofbowls.
"Andwhereartthounow,mygoodlad?"shoutedthestranger,roaringwithlaughter.
"Oh,inthefloodandfloatingadownwiththetide,"criedRobin,norcouldheforbearlaughinghimselfathissorryplight.Then,gaininghisfeet,hewadedtothebank,thelittlefishspeedinghitherandthither,allfrightenedathissplashing.
