Part 34 (2/2)
”'Tis yours,” answered Robin, hearing joyfully the approach of his ht produced a whistle and caused a shrill note to issue forth fro to Robin's rescue on one hand, twenty and five great dogs sprang out of the bushes on the opposite bank
Warrenton and his fellows i beasts; but, juht the arrows in their mouths, even as they flew!
”I never have seen the like of this in my days!” cried Little John, amazed ”'Tis rank sorcery and witchcraft”
”Take off your dogs, friar,” cried Middle, as the least surprised of them all, ”else ill will befall both them and you”
”He calls you friar,” said Robin, astounded; ”are you not a knight, in sooth?”
”I am but a poor anchorite, a curtal friar,” replied the other, pushi+ng out for his side of the river ”By name Friar Tuck of Fountain's Dale
Are these your men, forester?”
”This is Robin Hood, co you to a sick-bedside,” the tinker told him ”'Tis a sorry welcome that you accord to hi in his turn regained the river-bank ”And surely your naht then lifted his visor, and Robin gave a cry of joy It was the merry face of the Clerk of Copmanhurst that beamed upon him from under the mailed cap ”God save you, dear friend, why did you not say 'twas you?”
”To tell truth, Robin,” answered the clerk, coave me pause to eat my pie, let alone announce ood friend Warrenton? Wait until I have chained ive you all such welcome as this place does know”
They stayed with the worthy friar of Fountain's Dale long enough for them to be all refreshed and rested; then started upon the return journey into Barnesdale with good speed Friar Tuck--for so we ladly, and bring his dogs also, for a year had been sufficient for his liking of Fountain's Abbey The place was too quiet and deadly; and although he had succeeded to these dumb and faithful friends, he had eht hi patiently their return, and so allowed no pause
They ca encountered and levied toll upon some rich merchants--penitents bound with presents for the Priory of York
Midge was found to be vastly recovered fro of Mistress Fennel and herto be forgiven by Master Tuck for not giving hi to be shrived, notwithstanding, if the priest felt aggrieved
Little John, re his oords of ood friar should have ht! By my faith, but here is a notion for the use of him and for yourself, Robin Your name is not your own until Mother Church has put it properly upon you So therefore let us have a christening, since by good fortune we ”
”I aht bravely,” cried Tuck, whistling to his dogs ”Co as these woods have ne'er dreamed of Get hing, ”I think that you baptized h in the river by Fountain's Dale! 'Twill be fitting, to my mind, if noe have the feast which follows upon all christenings Bring out of our best, coht wine fill our bodies Aftere can hold carnival, and the friar shall sho he can use the bow”
”Ay, hed the fat clerk, ”and I have learned other things in this year beside that You are wondering to see ed, doubtless, but I must tell you that the life at Fountain's Dale has not been an easy one I have had to hold ainst the earls and squires of the borders, who have sought to robthat every son of Mother Church must needs be wealthy So I have learned to use the broadsword and quarter-staff as well as the bow”
”Father,” exclaimed Hal, ”you kne to play all these very prettily when you were Clerk of Coph then you chose to have folks believe that naught but holiness was in you”
”A man should not boast of all there is in him,” answered the friar
”But now, since I am found out, you know me for what I am”
”I am well content with you, anyway,” Robin told hiether with thes there--save three--and returned to Copain as ive news to Robin and hear the itereenwood men had for him 'Twas from Friar Tuck that the outlaws learnedof them whether they were rich, whether worthy, or whether they were poor and deserving of help rather than taxing