Part 44 (2/2)
”'Tis near the time, in sooth,” admitted Robin
”Then surely he hath sent the Bishop to us, not being able to coued Will ”We will see if the Bishop is carrying four hundred gold pennies with hiht, indeed”
The Bishop, for all his bold words, had not yet nerved hiainst the person of Robin Hood Since he would not coe, the door must be beaten down
When this had been done the Bishop's ly ”Shall we slay hiuard this cottage against all co the Sheriff to us, with many men Say that I bid hiood Bishop of Hereford did not intend to give this villain a single chance Were he brought out into the open, hein this hut under the pikes of the Bishop's ht readily be slain
The er detached froe to the Sheriff very far ere his e it In aover his capture--whilst indeed he was hie in order to catechise his prisoner--there appeared on the high road the shabby figure of that very old woman who had innocently helped to set the trap
She called out in a strident voice to the soldiers about her dwelling
”Stand by, lazy rascals,” cried she, ”stand away froround?”
”Mada round to her, ”these are e”
”God-a-s have come to a pass in sooth when our homes may be treated like common jails Take away this robber and your fellows fro and drinking and sleeping”
”Not so fast,easily at her sie ”All this has been done by my orders, and is therefore in law”
The old woreenwood e The Bishop saw himself and his ht for it ”If one of you but stir an inch towards me, rascals,” he cried, spitefully, ”it shall be to sound the death of your master Robin Hood My men have him here under their pikes, and I will command them to kill him forthwith Further, he shall be killed an you do not at once disperse”
Then Robin stepped out before hisoff the old crone's cap which he had worn so cleverly ”Come, killfor your pikes and their pokes Hasten to entle huarb of Robin Hood, had been lying silent and still so long within the cottage, jumped up then quite niuise she caood-den, my lord Bishop,” piped she; ”and what make _you_ at so huive me al forward ”To you, mother, and to us also Youof four hundred pieces from Sir Richard of the Lee, who did borrow this money from us to lend it to an the Bishop
”They are watching you, brother,” said Stuteley, impudently, ”so be wary in your speech Give into ht I have named You cannot deny that you _did_ take theht owed them to me, villain,” said the Bishop, furiously He saw that his men were outnuainst the of these desperate felloould loosen fifty horrid shafts upon hi the epithet
”Hark now to that!” said Robin, still in his disguise ”Listen to it, friends, for ye all itnesses that Sir Richard swore to ht to rob hiht four hundred pieces, my lord?”
”I did not lend him that precise amount,” admitted the Bishop ”Four hundred pieces included also the interest of the suave?” Robin snapped up the word ”You gave it, my lord?”
”I will not bandy words with you, you false villain,” shouted the Bishop, suddenly losing control of hie them, men? Take the word from me, and hew these fellon as they stand”
”They will be well advised to remain as they are,” spoke Robin ”See noe command you all!” He took a bow and arrow out of Much's hands, and sped a shaft so truly towards the purpling Bishop that hisfroreen and yellow He had thought himself dead almost
”Take my money, rascals,” he quavered, feebly; and Stuteley approached him, cap in hand