Part 23 (1/2)
”He is more deadly than your Lady in Yellow, I promise you,” said Stuteley ”Be wary, and let at least six of you surround hi the time of five of us,” answered old Warrenton, in an off-hand way; ”I will go alone”
”Let soes for our Warrenton, and take my shi+rt for them He will need such service”
Warrenton and Berry, with another, ran off at this Robin saw that Stuteley was not so near his end as he affected to iine; and made hiave him some drink, and ministered to him considerately
The old man-at-ar to be on his mettle, as it were So he ran as fast as he could before the other two; but not so fast as to catch up with the ht
Presently he espied hi a shorter path to Lincoln, whither he judged the man was bound, Warrenton called to the others and they struck away from the road
They th cut off the enemy
He did not look so formidable as Stuteley had painted him; and as he drew near they felt this was an easy business Two of the his twisted stick, dragged it violently out of his hands Warrenton flashed a dagger at his breast, saying sinisterly: ”Friend, if you utter any alarht properly with our coreedily for you”
”Give me the chance,” answered the fellow, valiantly, ”and I will fight with you all”
Berry and the other outlaw instantly gave hi the road; but the villain struggled so fiercely that they presently began to tire
”Now grant ood s, which I proive into the hands of a wicked usurer in Lincoln”
”Well,” said Berry, pausing, ”this is a fair suht heal our companion's wounds very coo back for his staff Without that he cannot do ain ”I am a miller, friends,”
said he, mucha good bargain in wheat Also, I am esteemed a fair archer, and, since I perceive that you are foresters all, this matter will tell with you in my favor I could draw you a pretty bow had I but the use of my arms”
”Nay, ht, and take your skill for granted,” answered the outlaw
Berry caround at a little distance
”Now count out your pieces,and the ave hiruffly to him: ”Count,then,” said the rogue He unfastened it froround, took off his patched cloak He placed his bag carefully upon it, holding the bag as though it were heavy indeed Then he crouched down over it and fuathered closely before hi were too pecks of finemiller had filled his hands full he suddenly drew theer faces of theby the two corners and shook out the rest of thecloud about Warrenton and the rest, and filled their eyes so utterly as to leave theht up his stick and began to belabor them soundly
”Since I have dirtied your clothes, friends,” cried he, between the blows, ”'tis only right that I should dust them for you! Here are my hundred 'pieces'; how like you them?”
Each as accompanied by a tremendous thwack He fell so heartily into the business as to beco and noise, ca down the road, with Stuteley recovered already They chanced on a strange sight
Berry, old Warrenton, and the outlaere dancing about in an agony of rage, helpless and blind, and striking vain blows at e thehly as to have become a man with no hat at all They all were tumbled upon the road
”Why all this haste?” roared he, not noticing Robin or the others ”Why will you not tarry for e that no enerous aHis feet encountered one of his many hats and ruthlessly kicked it aside