Part 13 (1/2)

”Now, by the breath of my body!” cried the other, ”I do believe from my heart that thou arthis ar him upon the cheek

Then once th and scanned him keenly froe is here? Verily, soreat joints and ill-hung liht a fellow as e'er I set mine eyes upon Dost thou not reoose feather betwixt thy fingers and throw out thy bow ar a keen archer And dost thou not el?”

”Yea,” said young Gaht thee so above all other men that, I make my vow, had I knoho thou wert, I would never have dared to lift hand against thee this day I trust I did thee no great har sideways at Little John, ”thou didst not harm me But say no more of that, I prythee Yet I will say, lad, that I hope I ive ernail to elbow

Truly, I thought that I was palsied for life I tell thee, coz, that thou art the strongest man that ever I laid mine eyes upon I take my vow, I felt reen tree as thou didst But tell me, how camest thou to leave Sir Edward and thyGamwell, ”it is an ill story, uncle, that I have to tell thee My father's steward, who ca died, was ever a saucy varlet, and I know not why all me to hear him speak up so boldly to my father, who, thou knowest, was ever a patient er and harsh words Well, one day--and an ill day it was for that saucy fellow--he sought to berate ood uncle, so, stepping forth, I gave him a box o' the ear, and-- wouldst thou believe it?--the fellow straightway died o't I think they said I broke his neck, or so o' the like So off they packed me to seek thee and escape the laas on my hen thou sawest me, and here I am”

”Well, by the faith ofthe law, thou wast taking it the most easily that ever I beheld in all my life Whenever did anyone in all the world see one who had slain a hway like a dainty court da at a rose the while?”

”Nay, uncle,” answered Will Gaood butter, as the old saying hath it Moreover, I do verily believe that this overstrength of my body hath taken the nimbleness out of my heels

Why, thou didst but just now rapthee by th”

”Nay,” quoth Robin, ”let us say no lad to see thee, Will, and thou wilt add great honor and credit to e thy naainst thee; so, because of thy gay clothes, thou shalt henceforth and for aye be called Will Scarlet”

”Will Scarlet,” quoth Little John, stepping forward and reaching out his great palm, which the other took, ”Will Scarlet, the na us I am called Little John; and this is a new member who has just joined us, a stout tanner named Arthur a Bland Thou art like to achieve fame, Will, letabout the country, and ht Little John and Arthur a Bland the proper way to use the quarterstaff; likewise, as it were, how our good e a piece of cake that he choked on it”

”Nay, good Little John,” quoth Robin gently, for he liked ill to have such a jest told of him ”Why should we speak of this littleourselves”

”With all ht that thou didst love a merry story, because thou hast so often made a jest about a certain increase of fatness onwith the Sheriff of--”

”Nay, good Little John,” said Robin hastily, ”I do bethink h on that score”

”It is well,” quoth Little John, ”for in truth I myself have tired of it somewhat But now I bethink me, thou didst also seeht; so--”

”Nay, then,” said Robin Hood testily, ”I was mistaken I remember me now it did seem to threaten rain”

”Truly, I did think so myself,” quoth Little John, ”therefore, no doubt, thou dost think it ise of ht at the Blue Boar Inn, instead of venturing forth in such storue of thee and thy doings!” cried Robin Hood ”If thou wilt have it so, thou wert right to abide wherever thou didst choose”

”Once more, it is well,” quoth Little John ”As for myself, I have been blind this day I did not see thee drubbed; I did not see thee tumbled heels over head in the dust; and if any man says that thou wert, I can with a clear conscience rattle his lying tongue betwixt his teeth”

”Co his nether lip, while the others could not forbear laughing ”We will go no farther today, but will return to Sherwood, and thou shalt go to Ancaster another time, Little John”

So said Robin, for now that his bones were sore, he felt as though a long journey would be an ill thing for hi their backs, they retraced their steps whence they cae the Miller's Son

WHEN THE four yeoh noontide being past, they began to wax hungry Quoth Robin Hood, ”I would that I had soood loaf of white bread, with a piece of snohite cheese, washed doith a draught of hu”

”Since thou speakest of it,” said Will Scarlet, ”methinks it would not be aood friend, victuals!'”

”I know a house near by,” said Arthur a Bland, ”and, had I but theye that ye speak of; to wit, a sweet loaf of bread, a fair cheese, and a skin of brown ale”

”For the ood master,”

quoth Little John