Приключения Робин Гуда
How Little John Lived at the Sheriff’s
Buterewego,goodfriend,itseemethtometobeavastpitythat,aswehavehadsomuchoftheSheriff’sfood,weshouldnotalsocarryoffsomeofhissilverplatetoRobinHood,asapresentfromhisworship."
"Ay,marryisit,"saidtheCook.Andsotheybeganhuntingabout,andtookasmuchsilverastheycouldlayhandsupon,clappingitintoabag,andwhentheyhadfilledthesacktheysetforthtoSherwoodForest.
Plungingintothewoods,theycameatlasttothegreenwoodtree,wheretheyfoundRobinHoodandthreescoreofhismerrymenlyinguponthefreshgreengrass.WhenRobinandhismensawwhoitwasthatcame,theyleapedtotheirfeet."Nowwelcome!"criedRobinHood."Nowwelcome,LittleJohn!Forlonghathitbeensincewehaveheardfromthee,thoughweallknewthatthouhadstjoinedtheSheriff’sservice.Andhowhastthoufaredalltheselongdays?"
"RightmerrilyhaveIlivedattheLordSheriff’s,"answeredLittleJohn,"andIhavecomestraightthence.See,goodmaster!Ihavebroughttheehiscook,andevenhissilverplate."ThereuponhetoldRobinHoodandhismerrymenthatwerethere,allthathadbefallenhimsincehehadleftthemtogototheFairatNottinghamTown.Thenallshoutedwithlaughter,exceptRobinHood;buthelookedgrave.
"Nay,LittleJohn,"saidhe,"thouartabravebladeandatrustyfellow.Iamgladthouhastbroughtthyselfbacktous,andwithsuchagoodcompanionastheCook,whomweallwelcometoSherwood.