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Young Robin Hood - George Manville Fenn · The Man of the House

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  Speaker 1: Chapter one of Young Robin Hood. This is a LibriVox
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  Speaker 1: re courting. All LibriVox re courtings are in the public domain.
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  Speaker 1: For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox dot org.
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  Speaker 1: Recording by Bill Mosely. Young Robin Hood by George Finn.
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  Speaker 1: Chapter one, Sit still, will you? I never saw such
• 0:35
  Speaker 1: a boy wriggling about like a young eel. I can't
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  Speaker 1: help it, David, said the little fellow so, roughly spoken
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  Speaker 1: to by a sour looking serving man. The horse does
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  Speaker 1: jog so and it's so slippery. If I didn't keep moving,
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  Speaker 1: I should go off. You'll soon go off if you
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  Speaker 1: don't keep a little quieter, growled the man angrily. Or
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  Speaker 1: I'll pitch you among the bushes. No you won't, said
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  Speaker 1: the boy, laughing. You daren't do so what I'll let
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  Speaker 1: you see, young master. I want to know why they
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  Speaker 1: couldn't let you have a donkey or a mule instead
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  Speaker 1: of hanging you on behind me, aunt said. I should
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  Speaker 1: be safer behind you, said the boy. But I'm not.
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  Speaker 1: It's so hard to hold on by your belt because
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  Speaker 1: you're so Look here, Master Robin, I get enough of
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  Speaker 1: that from the men. If you say I'm so fat,
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  Speaker 1: I'll pitch you into the first patch of brambles we
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  Speaker 1: come to. But you are fat, said the boy, And
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  Speaker 1: you dare not. If you did, my father would punish you.
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  Speaker 1: He wouldn't know, Oh yes he would, they, said the
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  Speaker 1: little fellow, confidently the other men would tell him. They
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  Speaker 1: wouldn't know, said the man, with a chuckle. I say,
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  Speaker 1: aren't you afraid? No, said the boy, What of tumbling off?
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  Speaker 1: I could jump? Afraid of going through this great dark forest?
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  Speaker 2: No?
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  Speaker 1: What is there to be afraid of? Robbers and thieves
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  Speaker 1: and all sorts of horrid things. Why we might meet
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  Speaker 1: Robin Hood and his men. I should like that, said
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  Speaker 1: the boy. What cried the serving man, And he looked
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  Speaker 1: round at the great oak and beech trees through which
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  Speaker 1: the faintly marked road lay, and then forward and backward
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  Speaker 1: at the dozen mules laden with packs of cloth, every
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  Speaker 1: two of which were led by an armed man. You'd
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  Speaker 1: like that, yes, said the boy. I want to see him.
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  Speaker 1: Here's a pretty sort of a boy, said the man.
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  Speaker 1: Why he'd eat you like a ratish. No he wouldn't,
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  Speaker 1: said the boy, because I'm not a bit like a ratish.
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  Speaker 1: And I say, David do, turn your belt round. Turn
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  Speaker 1: my belt round, said the man in astonishment. What for
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  Speaker 1: so as to put the sword on the other side.
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  Speaker 1: It does keep on banging my legs so they're quite bruised.
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  Speaker 1: It's me that'll be bruised with you punching and sticking
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  Speaker 1: your fisties into my belt. Put your legs on the
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  Speaker 1: other side. I can't move my sword. I might want
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  Speaker 1: it to fight you know who with, asked the boy
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  Speaker 1: robbers after the bale's of cloth. I shall be precious
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  Speaker 1: glad to get them safe to the town and be
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  Speaker 1: back home again with whole bones. Sit still? Will you
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  Speaker 1: wriggling again? How am I to get you safe home
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  Speaker 1: to your father? If you keep sidling off like that,
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  Speaker 1: want me to hand you over to one of the men? Yes, please,
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  Speaker 1: said the boy dolefully. What don't want to ride on
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  Speaker 1: one of the mules, do you? Yes? I do, said
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  Speaker 1: the boy. I should be more comfortable sitting on one
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  Speaker 1: of the packs. I'm sure aunt would have said I
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  Speaker 1: was to sit there if she had known. Look here,
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  Speaker 1: young squire, said the man, sourly. You too much tongue,
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  Speaker 1: and you know too much. What aren't good for you?
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  Speaker 1: Your aunt? My old Missus says to me, David. She says,
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  Speaker 1: you are to take young muster Robin behind me, you
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  Speaker 1: on the horse, where he can hold on by your belt,
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  Speaker 1: and you'll never lose sight of him till you give
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  Speaker 1: him into his father, the Sheriff's hands, along with the
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  Speaker 1: bales of cloth. And you can tell the sheriff he
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  Speaker 1: has been a very good boy during his visit. And
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  Speaker 1: now I can't Why can't you, said the boy sharply,
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  Speaker 1: because you're doing nothing but squirming and working about behind
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  Speaker 1: my saddle. I shall never get you to town if
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  Speaker 1: you go on like this. The boy puckered up his
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  Speaker 1: forehead and was silent as he wondered whether he could
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  Speaker 1: manage to sit still for the two hours which were
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  Speaker 1: yet to elapse before they stopped for the night at
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  Speaker 1: a village on the outskirts of Sherwood Forest, ready to
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  Speaker 1: go on again the next morning. I like stopping with
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  Speaker 1: Aunt at Elton, said little fellow to himself sadly, and
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  Speaker 1: I should like to go again, but I should like
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  Speaker 1: to be fetched home next time, for old David is
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  Speaker 1: so cross every time I move. And look here, young fellow,
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  Speaker 1: growled the man, half turning in his saddle. If you
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  Speaker 1: don't sit still, I'll get one of the pack ropes
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  Speaker 1: and tie you on like a sack. I never seize
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  Speaker 1: such a fidgety young elver in my oh look at that.
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  Speaker 1: The man gave a tug at his horse's rein, but
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  Speaker 1: it was not needed, for the stout cob had cocked
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  Speaker 1: its ears forward and stopped short, just as the mules
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  Speaker 1: in front whisked themselves round, and the man who drove
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  Speaker 1: them began to huddle together in a group. For all
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  Speaker 1: at once the way was barred by about a dozen
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  Speaker 1: men in rough weather stained green jerkins, each of the
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  Speaker 1: long bow and a sheaf of arrows at his back,
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  Speaker 1: and a long quarterstaff in his hand. David, confidential servant
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  Speaker 1: and headman to aunt Hester of the cloth works at Elton,
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  Speaker 1: looked sharply round at the half dozen heavily laden mules
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  Speaker 1: behind him, and beyond them he saw another dozen or
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  Speaker 1: so of men, and more were coming from among the
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  Speaker 1: trees to right and left. Hoy, all of you, cried
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  Speaker 1: David to his men, swords out. We must fight for
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  Speaker 1: the Mistress's cloth. As he spoke, he seized the hilt
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  Speaker 1: of his sword and began to tug at it, but
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  Speaker 1: it would not leave its sheath, and all the while
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  Speaker 1: he was kicking at his horse's ribs with his heels,
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  Speaker 1: with the result that the stout cob gave a kick
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  Speaker 1: and a plunge, lowered its head and dashed off at
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  Speaker 1: a gallop, with David holding on to the pommel. Two
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  Speaker 1: of the men made a snatch at the reins, but
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  Speaker 1: they were too late and turned to the mule dry
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  Speaker 1: who were following their leader's example and trying to escape
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  Speaker 1: among the trees, leaving the mules huddled together, squealing and
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  Speaker 1: kicking in their fright. Young Robin just saw two packages
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  Speaker 1: roll to the ground as the cob dashed off. Then
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  Speaker 1: he was holding on with all his might to Old
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  Speaker 1: David's belt as the cob galloped away, with half a
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  Speaker 1: dozen of the robbers trying to cut it off. Then
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  Speaker 1: the little fellow felt that he was being jerked and
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  Speaker 1: knocked and bruised as the horse tore along with David
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  Speaker 1: head and neck stretched out. There was a rush under
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  Speaker 1: some low boughs, and another rush over a patch of
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  Speaker 1: brambles and tall bracken. Then the cob made a bold
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  Speaker 1: dash at a dense, massive low growth when there was
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  Speaker 1: a violent jerk as he made a bound, followed by
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  Speaker 1: a feeling as if the boy's arms were being torn
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  Speaker 1: out at the shoulders, a rush through the air, a
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  Speaker 1: heavy blow, and a sensation of tearing, and all was
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  Speaker 1: giddiness and pain. End of chapter one. Recording by Bill Moseley, Bernardo, Texas, USA.
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  Speaker 3: Chapter two of Young Robinhood. This is a LibriVox recording.
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  Speaker 3: All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more
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  Speaker 3: information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox dot org. Recording
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  Speaker 3: by Minnie Ann Young Robin Hood by George Fenn, Chapter two.
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  Speaker 3: It is not nice to be pitched by a man
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  Speaker 3: off a horse's back on to the top of your head.
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  Speaker 3: That's what young Robin thought as he sat up and
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  Speaker 3: rubbed the place, looking very rueful and sad. But he
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  Speaker 3: did not seem to be entirely alone there in the
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  Speaker 3: dense forest, for there was and another young Robin with
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  Speaker 3: large eyes and a speckled jacket, sitting upon a twig
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  Speaker 3: and watching him intently. Robin could think nothing but himself,
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  Speaker 3: his aching head, his scratches, some of which were bleeding.
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  Speaker 3: Then he listened and fancied that he heard shouting with
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  Speaker 3: the trampling of mules and the breaking of twigs, But
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  Speaker 3: he was giddy and puzzled, and after struggling through some undergrowth,
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  Speaker 3: he sat down upon what looked like a green velvet cushion,
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  Speaker 3: but it was only the moss covered root of a
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  Speaker 3: great beech tree, which covered him like a roof and
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  Speaker 3: made him all soft and shady. And now it was
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  Speaker 3: perfectly quiet, and it seemed RESTful. After being shaken and
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  Speaker 3: jerked about on the horse's back, Robin was tired too,
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  Speaker 3: and the dull, half stupefied state of his brain stopped
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  Speaker 3: him from being startled by his strange position. His head ached, though,
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  Speaker 3: and it seemed nice to rest it, and he stretched
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  Speaker 3: himself out on the moss and looked up through the
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  Speaker 3: leaves of the great tree, where he could see, in
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  Speaker 3: one place the ruddy rays of the evening sun glowing.
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  Speaker 3: And then he could see nothing, think nothing. Then he
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  Speaker 3: could think, though he still could not see, for it
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  Speaker 3: was very dark and silent and strange, and for some
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  Speaker 3: minutes he could not understand why he was out there
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  Speaker 3: on the moss, instead of being in Aunt Hester's house
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  Speaker 3: at Elton, or at home in Nottingham Town. But he
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  Speaker 3: understood it all at once, recollecting what had taken place,
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  Speaker 3: and for a time he felt very, very miserable. It
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  Speaker 3: was startling too, when from close at hand some one
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  Speaker 3: seemed to begin questioning him strangely by calling out who woo.
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  Speaker 3: But at the end of a minute or two he
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  Speaker 3: knew it was an owl, and soon after he was
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  Speaker 3: fast asleep and did not think again till the sun
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  Speaker 3: was shining brightly, and he sat up waiting for old
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  Speaker 3: David to come and pull him up on the horse.
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  Speaker 4: Again.
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  Speaker 3: Robin waited, for he was afraid to move. If I
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  Speaker 3: begin to wander about, he said to himself, David will
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  Speaker 3: not find me, and he will go home and tell
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  Speaker 3: father I'm lost. And when all the time he threw
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  Speaker 3: me off the horse because he was afraid and wanted
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  Speaker 3: to save himself. So the boy sat still waiting to
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  Speaker 3: be fetched. The Robin came and looked at him again,
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  Speaker 3: as if wondering that he did not pull up flowers
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  Speaker 3: by the roots and dig so that worms and grubs
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  Speaker 3: might be found, and finally flitted away. Then all at
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  Speaker 3: once there was the pattering of feet, and half a
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  Speaker 3: dozen deer came into sight with soft dappled coats, and
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  Speaker 3: one of them with large, flat pointed horns. But at
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  Speaker 3: the first movement Robin made, they dashed off among the
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  Speaker 3: trees in a series of bounds. Then there was another
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  Speaker 3: long pause, and Robin was thinking how hungry he was
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  Speaker 3: when something dropped close to him with a loud rap,
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  Speaker 3: and looking up sharply, he caught sight of a little,
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  Speaker 3: keen eyed, bushy tailed animal looking down from a great branch,
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  Speaker 3: as if in search of something it had let fall. Squirrel,
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  Speaker 3: said Robin aloud, and the animal heard and saw him
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  Speaker 3: at the same moment, showing its annoyance at the presence
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  Speaker 3: of an intruder directly for it began to switch its
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  Speaker 3: tail into scold after its fashion loudly, its utterances, seeming
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  Speaker 3: like a repetition of the word chop, more or less
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  Speaker 3: quickly made finding its scolding to be in vain and
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  Speaker 3: that the boy would not go, the squirrel did the
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  Speaker 3: next best thing bounded along from bow to bow, while
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  Speaker 3: after waiting wearily in the hope of seeing David, the
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  Speaker 3: boy began to look round this tree in the next
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  Speaker 3: and finally made his way some little distance further into
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  Speaker 3: the forest to be startled at last by a harsh cry,
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  Speaker 3: which was answered first from one place and then another
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  Speaker 3: by the noisy party of jays that had been disturbed
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  Speaker 3: in their happy solitude. To Robin, it was just as
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  Speaker 3: if the first one had cried, hoy I say, here's
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  Speaker 3: a boy, and weary with waiting and hungry as he was.
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  Speaker 3: The constant harsh shouting irritated the little fellow, so that
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  Speaker 3: he hurried away, followed by quite a burst of what
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  Speaker 3: seemed to be mocking cries, with the intention of finding
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  Speaker 3: the track leading across the forest. But he had not
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  Speaker 3: gone far before he found himself in an open glade,
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  Speaker 3: dotted with beautiful great oak trees and nearly covered with
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  Speaker 3: the broad leaves of the bracken, which were agitated by
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  Speaker 3: something passing through and beneath, giving forth a grunting sound.
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  Speaker 3: Directly after, he caught sight of a long black back,
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  Speaker 3: then of others, and he saw that he was close
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  Speaker 3: to a drove of small black pigs hunting for acorns.
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  Speaker 3: One of the pigs found him at the same moment
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  Speaker 3: and saluted him with a sharp barking sound, wonderfully like
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  Speaker 3: that of a dog. This was taken up directly by
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  Speaker 3: the other members of the drove, who, with a great
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  Speaker 3: deal of barking and grunting, came on to the attack,
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  Speaker 3: for they did not confine themselves to threatening their life
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  Speaker 3: in the forest, making them fierce enough to be dangerous.
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  Speaker 3: Robin's first thought was to run away, but he knew
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  Speaker 3: that four legs are better than two for getting over
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  Speaker 3: the ground, and felt that the drove would attack him
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  Speaker 3: more fiercely if they saw that he was afraid. His
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  Speaker 3: next idea was to climb up into the fork of
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  Speaker 3: w one of the big trees, but he knew there
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  Speaker 3: was not time, so he obeyed his third notion, which
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  Speaker 3: was to jump to where a big piece of dead
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  Speaker 3: wood lay, pick it up, and hit the foremost pig
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  Speaker 3: across the nose with it. The blow did wonders. It
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  Speaker 3: made the black pig which received it utter a dismal squeal,
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  Speaker 3: and its companions stop and stand barking and snapping all
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  Speaker 3: round him. But the blow broke the piece of dead
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  Speaker 3: wood in two, and the fierce little animals were coming
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  Speaker 3: on again when a voice cried, hi, you knocking our
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  Speaker 3: tigs about, and a rough boy about a couple of
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  Speaker 3: years older than Robin rushed into the middle of the herd,
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  Speaker 3: kicking first at one and then at another, banging them
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  Speaker 3: with a long hooked stick he held, and making them run,
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  Speaker 3: squealing in all directions. What are you knocking our tigs about?
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  Speaker 2: For?
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  Speaker 3: Cried the boy sharply, as he stared hard at the
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  Speaker 3: strange visitor to the forest, his eyes looking greedily at
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  Speaker 3: the little fellow's purple and white jerkin and his cap
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  Speaker 3: the little white feather in it. They were coming to
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  Speaker 3: bite me, said Robin quickly, while it struck him as
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  Speaker 3: funny that the boy should knock the pigs about himself.
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  Speaker 3: What are you doing here? Said the boy. Robin told
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  Speaker 3: him of his misfortune, and finished by saying, I'm so hungry,
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  Speaker 3: and I want.
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  Speaker 4: To go home.
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  Speaker 3: Where can I get some breakfast? Dunno, said the boy,
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  Speaker 3: have some of these. He took a handful of acorns
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  Speaker 3: from a dirty satchel and held them out, Robin catching
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  Speaker 3: at them eagerly, putting one beneath his white teeth and
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  Speaker 3: biting it, but only to make a face full of disgust.
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  Speaker 3: It's bitter, he said. It's not good to eat. Makes
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  Speaker 3: a tigs fat, said the boy. Look at him, But
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  Speaker 3: I'm not a pig, said Robin. I want some bread
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  Speaker 3: and milk. Where can I get some? The boy shook
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  Speaker 3: his head. Where do you live, asked Robin, along master,
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  Speaker 3: where's that? The boy shook his head and stared at
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  Speaker 3: the cap and feather, one of his hands opening and shutting.
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  Speaker 3: Will you show me the way home? Then the boy
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  Speaker 3: shook his head again, and now stared at the velvet jerkin,
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  Speaker 3: and then at his own garb, which consisted of a
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  Speaker 3: piece of sack with slits in it for his head
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  Speaker 3: and arms to come through, and a strip of cowskin
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  Speaker 3: for a belt to hold it in. I could show
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  Speaker 3: you where to get something, he said at last. Well
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  Speaker 3: show me, cried Robin. You give me that jacket and cap. Then,
• 17:19
  Speaker 3: said the boy, in a husky low voice. Give you
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  Speaker 3: my clothes, said Robin, wonderingly. I can't do that. Then
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  Speaker 3: I shall take em, said the boy in a husky growl.
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  Speaker 3: I'm so hungry, cried Robin. Show me where to get something,
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  Speaker 3: and I'll give you my cap and feather. I wants
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  Speaker 3: the jacket, too, said the boy. I tell you I
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  Speaker 3: can't give you that, cried Robin. Then I means to
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  Speaker 3: take it, Robin shrank away, and the boy turned upon
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  Speaker 3: him fiercely. None of that. He cried, See this here stick,
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  Speaker 3: if you was to try to run away, I should
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  Speaker 3: send it spinning after you, and it would break your
• 17:57
  Speaker 3: legs and knock you down. And I could send the
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  Speaker 3: tigs after you, and they'd soon bring you back. Robin
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  Speaker 3: drew a deep breath. He felt hot, and his hands
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  Speaker 3: clenched as he longed to strike out at his tyrant.
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  Speaker 3: But the young swineherd was big and strong, and the
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  Speaker 3: little fellow knew that he could next nothing against such
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  Speaker 3: an enemy. Then there was a pause. Robin stood hot,
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  Speaker 3: excited and panting. The herd boy threw himself down on
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  Speaker 3: his chest, rested his chin upon his hands as he
• 18:26
  Speaker 3: stared fiercely at Robin and kicked his feet up and down,
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  Speaker 3: while the pigs roamed here and there, nuzzling the fallen
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  Speaker 3: acorns out from the bracken and crunching them up loudly.
• 18:37
  Speaker 3: Robin wanted to run, and he did not want to run,
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  Speaker 3: and all at the same time, for his strongest desire
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  Speaker 3: just then was to fight his tyrant. And for some
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  Speaker 3: minutes neither spoke. At last, the big boy said in
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  Speaker 3: a low, growling way. Now, then, are you going to
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  Speaker 3: give me them things? No, said Robin through his set teeth. Again,
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  Speaker 3: there was silence. You give em to me, and I'll
• 19:02
  Speaker 3: show you the way to where they live, and they'll
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  Speaker 3: give you roast deer and roast pig raps for two
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  Speaker 3: of ours. Gone. Master says he counted them and they
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  Speaker 3: ain't all there, And he whales me with a strap
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  Speaker 3: because I let them take the pigs. And next time
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  Speaker 3: he counts em, there's more than there was before. But
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  Speaker 3: he's whipped me all the same. You give me them things,
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  Speaker 3: and I'll take you to where you'll get lots to
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  Speaker 3: eat and milk and eggs and apples. Ye hear, I
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  Speaker 3: won't give them to you. I can't, I mustn't, cried
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  Speaker 3: Robin passionately. The boy said nothing, but looked away at
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  Speaker 3: his pigs, two of which were fighting. Ah would you,
• 19:39
  Speaker 3: he cried, and he made believe to rush at them
• 19:42
  Speaker 3: with his big hook handled stick. Robin was thrown off
• 19:45
  Speaker 3: his guard, and before he was aware of it, the
• 19:48
  Speaker 3: boy made a side leap, and, dropping his stick, seized him,
• 19:52
  Speaker 3: threw him over on his back, and sat astride upon
• 19:54
  Speaker 3: his chest. Now, won't you give em to me, cried
• 19:58
  Speaker 3: the herd boy, and he whipped off the cap and
• 20:00
  Speaker 3: threw it to a little distance, with the result that
• 20:03
  Speaker 3: half a dozen pigs rushed at it. And as he
• 20:05
  Speaker 3: made a brave fight to get rid of his enemy,
• 20:08
  Speaker 3: the last that Robin saw of his velvet cap and
• 20:10
  Speaker 3: plume was that one black pig tore out the feather,
• 20:13
  Speaker 3: while another was champing the velvet in his mouth. It
• 20:17
  Speaker 3: was a brave fight, but all in vain, and a
• 20:19
  Speaker 3: few minutes later the boy was standing triumphantly over poor Robin,
• 20:23
  Speaker 3: with a gay jerkin rolled up under his arm, and
• 20:25
  Speaker 3: the little fellow struggled to his feet in his trunk
• 20:27
  Speaker 3: hose and white linen shirt, hot, angry and torn, and
• 20:31
  Speaker 3: wishing with all his might that he were as big
• 20:34
  Speaker 3: and strong as the tyrant who had mastered him. I
• 20:37
  Speaker 3: told yer I would, said the young ruffian with a grin.
• 20:40
  Speaker 3: Ye shud Ha given em to me at first, then
• 20:42
  Speaker 3: I shouldn't have hurt ye. Come on, I'll show you
• 20:45
  Speaker 3: now to where ye can get something to eat. In
• 20:47
  Speaker 3: his anger and shame, Robin felt that he wanted no
• 20:50
  Speaker 3: food now, only to go and hide himself away among
• 20:53
  Speaker 3: the trees. But His enemy's next words had their effect.
• 20:57
  Speaker 3: You didn't want this here, he said, You got plenty
• 21:00
  Speaker 3: on you now better nor I have there? Go straight
• 21:03
  Speaker 3: on there and i'll show ye. D'ye hear. I don't
• 21:06
  Speaker 3: want to go now, said Robin fiercely. Oh don't yer,
• 21:10
  Speaker 3: then I do. You're a goin afore I make yer.
• 21:13
  Speaker 3: And when they gives yer a lot, ye're goin to
• 21:15
  Speaker 3: eat part and bring some to me so's I can
• 21:17
  Speaker 3: help eat the rest. You bring a lot, mind, cause
• 21:20
  Speaker 3: I can eat ever so much? Now, then go on,
• 21:23
  Speaker 3: I can't. I don't want to, cried Robin. You go first?
• 21:28
  Speaker 3: What and master come perhaps and find me gone? Likely
• 21:31
  Speaker 3: he'd give me the strap again. There, get on, Robin winced,
• 21:36
  Speaker 3: for the young ruffian picked up his stick and poked
• 21:38
  Speaker 3: him as he would one of his pigs. But the
• 21:41
  Speaker 3: little fellow could not help himself, and he went on
• 21:43
  Speaker 3: in the required direction among the trees, the forest growing
• 21:46
  Speaker 3: darker and darker, till suddenly voices were heard, and the
• 21:49
  Speaker 3: boy stopped. You go straight along there, he said, And
• 21:53
  Speaker 3: I'll wait. No, you go, said Robin.
• 21:56
  Speaker 4: You know them?
• 21:57
  Speaker 3: Oh yes, and them want some more pigs? Want me
• 22:00
  Speaker 3: to be leathered again. Robin said no, but he felt
• 22:04
  Speaker 3: all the time that he should like to see the
• 22:06
  Speaker 3: young tyrant flogged and forced to return the folded up
• 22:09
  Speaker 3: doublet And he thought sadly of his spoiled and lost cat.
• 22:13
  Speaker 3: End of chapter two. Recording by Minnie I'm Greater Toronto Area.
• 22:24
  Speaker 4: Chapter three of The Young Robin Hood. This is a
• 22:27
  Speaker 4: LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain.
• 22:32
  Speaker 4: For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox dot org.
• 22:38
  Speaker 4: Recording by Anne Boulet. The Young Robin Hood by George Benn.
• 22:44
  Speaker 4: Chapter three. Now, then, don't you be long? Cried the
• 22:48
  Speaker 4: young swineherd, and he raised his stick threateningly and made
• 22:52
  Speaker 4: another thrust at Robin, which was avoided. And, feeling desperate
• 22:56
  Speaker 4: now as well as hungry, feeling too that it would
• 22:59
  Speaker 4: be better to fall into any other hands, the little
• 23:02
  Speaker 4: fellow ran on, following a faint track in and out
• 23:05
  Speaker 4: among the trees, till he came suddenly into an opening,
• 23:09
  Speaker 4: face to face with a group of fifty or sixty
• 23:12
  Speaker 4: people busily engaged around a heap beneath a spreading birch tree.
• 23:18
  Speaker 4: Robin's first act was to stand and stare, for the
• 23:21
  Speaker 4: heap consisted of bails similar to those with which he
• 23:24
  Speaker 4: had seen the mules laden a couple days back, and
• 23:27
  Speaker 4: tied up together a few yards away were the very mules,
• 23:31
  Speaker 4: while the little crowd of men who were busy bore
• 23:33
  Speaker 4: a very strong resemblance to those by whom the attack
• 23:37
  Speaker 4: was made on the previous day. Robin knew nothing in
• 23:41
  Speaker 4: those days about the old proverb of jumping out of
• 23:44
  Speaker 4: the frying pan into the fire, but he felt something
• 23:47
  Speaker 4: of the kind as he found himself face to face
• 23:49
  Speaker 4: with the marauders who had seized upon the bales of
• 23:52
  Speaker 4: cloth and put his aunt's servants to flight. And without
• 23:56
  Speaker 4: a moment's hesitation, he turned and began to hurry back,
• 24:00
  Speaker 4: but ran into the arms of a huge fellow, who
• 24:03
  Speaker 4: caught him up as if he had been a baby.
• 24:06
  Speaker 4: Hullo giant, cried the big man, who are you, And
• 24:10
  Speaker 4: the party of men with him, armed with long bows
• 24:13
  Speaker 4: and arrows, began to laugh merrily. Let me go, Let
• 24:18
  Speaker 4: me go, cried the boy, struggling angrily. Steady, steady, my
• 24:23
  Speaker 4: little cock, Robin, said the man in his big bluff way.
• 24:27
  Speaker 4: Don't fight, or you'll ruffle your feathers. The boy ceased,
• 24:31
  Speaker 4: struggling directly. How do you know my name is Robin?
• 24:35
  Speaker 4: He said? Guessed it, little one, there, I shan't hurt you.
• 24:40
  Speaker 4: Where do you come from? Elton, said the boy. And
• 24:45
  Speaker 4: what are you doing here in the forest? You came
• 24:49
  Speaker 4: and fought David and frighten him and the men away,
• 24:52
  Speaker 4: And those are our mules in the cloth? Robin stopped
• 24:56
  Speaker 4: short for the big man broke into a loud whistle,
• 24:59
  Speaker 4: and then laughed. Oh it's that.
• 25:02
  Speaker 1: Is it?
• 25:03
  Speaker 4: He said, And so your name's Robin, is it? The
• 25:07
  Speaker 4: little fellow nodded yes, he said what's yours? John, said
• 25:13
  Speaker 4: the great fellow, laughing heartily. And they call me little
• 25:16
  Speaker 4: because I'm so big. What do you think of that?
• 25:20
  Speaker 4: I think it's very stupid, said the boy. I thought
• 25:23
  Speaker 4: you must be Robin Hood. Then you thought wrong. But
• 25:27
  Speaker 4: if you thought that this one was, you would be
• 25:30
  Speaker 4: right Here he comes. The boy looked in wonder at
• 25:33
  Speaker 4: a tall man who looked short beside little John as
• 25:37
  Speaker 4: he came up in a coat of green with brown belt,
• 25:40
  Speaker 4: a sword by his side, quiver of arrows hung on
• 25:43
  Speaker 4: his back, and longbow in his hand. What woodland bird
• 25:47
  Speaker 4: have you got here, John, he said, And the boy
• 25:50
  Speaker 4: saw that. He smiled pleasantly and did not look fierce
• 25:53
  Speaker 4: or threatening. A young Robin, said the big fellow, part
• 25:58
  Speaker 4: of yesterday's plunder. I want to find my way home,
• 26:02
  Speaker 4: said the boy. Will you please show me? But you
• 26:05
  Speaker 4: did not come here into the forest in shirt and hose,
• 26:08
  Speaker 4: did you, my little man, said the great outlaw. No,
• 26:12
  Speaker 4: someone took my cap and double it away, Sir Robin
• 26:16
  Speaker 4: Hood frowned. Who was it? He cried angrily. Find out John,
• 26:21
  Speaker 4: and he shall have a bowstring about his back. Point
• 26:24
  Speaker 4: out the man who stripped you, my little lad, he continued,
• 26:27
  Speaker 4: turning to the boy. It wasn't a man, said the
• 26:31
  Speaker 4: little fellow, but a boy who minds pigs. What a
• 26:35
  Speaker 4: young swineherd, cried the outlaw, laughing. Why did you let him?
• 26:40
  Speaker 4: Why didn't you fight for your clothes like a man?
• 26:43
  Speaker 4: I did, said young Robin stoutly. But he was so
• 26:47
  Speaker 4: big he knocked me down and sat upon me. Oh
• 26:51
  Speaker 4: that makes all the difference. How big was he? Big
• 26:55
  Speaker 4: is this man? Young Robin glanced at the giant who
• 26:58
  Speaker 4: had caught him, and shook his head. No, he said,
• 27:02
  Speaker 4: not half so big as he is. But he was
• 27:04
  Speaker 4: stronger than I am, so I suppose well bring him along,
• 27:09
  Speaker 4: Little John, let's see if the women can find him
• 27:12
  Speaker 4: some clothes and a cap. You would like something more
• 27:14
  Speaker 4: to wear, wouldn't you. I should like something to eat,
• 27:18
  Speaker 4: said the boy, sadly, I have not had anything since breakfast.
• 27:22
  Speaker 4: That's not so very long, said Robin Hood. We have
• 27:26
  Speaker 4: not had anything since breakfast. But I mean since breakfast yesterday,
• 27:31
  Speaker 4: said Young Robin piteously. What cried little John? Why the
• 27:36
  Speaker 4: poor boys starved? But we can soon mend that. Come here,
• 27:41
  Speaker 4: Young Robin's first movement was to shrink from the big fellow,
• 27:44
  Speaker 4: but he smiled down in such a bluff amiable way
• 27:47
  Speaker 4: that the boy gave him his hands, and in an
• 27:50
  Speaker 4: instant he was swung up and sending six feet in
• 27:53
  Speaker 4: the air upon the great fellow's shoulders, and then rode
• 27:56
  Speaker 4: off to an open fronted shed like place thatched with reads.
• 28:00
  Speaker 4: Robin Hood with his bow over his shoulder. Walking by
• 28:04
  Speaker 4: the side. Here, Marian cried the outlaw, and Young Robin's
• 28:08
  Speaker 4: heart gave a throb and he made a movement to
• 28:11
  Speaker 4: get down to go to the sweet faced woman, who
• 28:13
  Speaker 4: came hurriedly out, wide eyed and wondering in her green curdle,
• 28:18
  Speaker 4: her long, soft, naturally curling hair rippling down her back,
• 28:22
  Speaker 4: but confined round her brow by a plain silver band
• 28:25
  Speaker 4: in which a few woodland flowers were placed. Oh, Robin,
• 28:29
  Speaker 4: she cried, flushing with pleasure. Who is this? It is
• 28:33
  Speaker 4: someone for you to take care of, said the outlaw,
• 28:36
  Speaker 4: who smiled at the bright look in the girl's face.
• 28:39
  Speaker 4: He is both hungry and tired, and his people ran
• 28:42
  Speaker 4: away and left him alone in the forest. Oh dear,
• 28:46
  Speaker 4: she cried, as Little John lightly jumped the boy down
• 28:50
  Speaker 4: at her feet. Come along, Young Robin put his hand
• 28:54
  Speaker 4: in hers, and gave her a look full of trust
• 28:56
  Speaker 4: and confidence, before turning to the two men. For all
• 28:59
  Speaker 4: his trouble seemed over now, thank you for bringing me here,
• 29:04
  Speaker 4: he said. But are you bold Robin Hood and Little
• 29:07
  Speaker 4: John of whom I've heard my father talk, I dare
• 29:11
  Speaker 4: say we are the men he has talked about, said
• 29:13
  Speaker 4: the outlaw, smiling. But who is your father? And what
• 29:16
  Speaker 4: did he say? My father is the Sheriff of Nottingham,
• 29:20
  Speaker 4: said the boy. And he said that he is going
• 29:22
  Speaker 4: to catch you and your men some day, for you
• 29:25
  Speaker 4: were very wicked and bad. But he did not know
• 29:28
  Speaker 4: how good and kind you are, and I shall tell
• 29:30
  Speaker 4: him when you send me home. The two men exchanged
• 29:34
  Speaker 4: glances with Maid Marian. We shall see, said the outlaw.
• 29:38
  Speaker 4: But you are nearly starved, aren't you. Yes, very very hungry,
• 29:43
  Speaker 4: said the boy, looking piteously at his new protector, whose
• 29:46
  Speaker 4: hand he held hungry. She cried, yes, he has had
• 29:51
  Speaker 4: nothing since yesterday morning. But you can cure that, Oh,
• 29:56
  Speaker 4: my dear, my dear, cried the woman, and she hurried
• 29:59
  Speaker 4: young beneath the shelter, and in a very short time
• 30:03
  Speaker 4: he was smiling up in her face in his thankfulness,
• 30:06
  Speaker 4: for she had placed him before a bowl of sweet
• 30:08
  Speaker 4: new milk and some of the nicest bread he had
• 30:11
  Speaker 4: ever tasted. As he ate hungrily, he had to answer
• 30:15
  Speaker 4: Maid Marian's questions about who he was and how he
• 30:18
  Speaker 4: came there, which he did readily. And it did not
• 30:21
  Speaker 4: strike him as being very dreadful that the mules and
• 30:24
  Speaker 4: their loads had been seized, for Old David had been
• 30:27
  Speaker 4: very cross and severe with him for getting tired, and
• 30:31
  Speaker 4: these people in the forest were most kind. End of
• 30:36
  Speaker 4: chapter three, Chapter four of Young robin Hood. This is
• 30:46
  Speaker 4: a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain.
• 30:52
  Speaker 4: For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox dot org.
• 30:57
  Speaker 4: Recording by Anne Boulet. Young Robin Hood by George Fenn,
• 31:03
  Speaker 4: Chapter four. It was a very strange life for a
• 31:07
  Speaker 4: boy who had been accustomed to every comfort, But Young
• 31:10
  Speaker 4: Robin enjoyed it, for everything seemed to be so new
• 31:13
  Speaker 4: and fresh, and the man treated him as if he
• 31:16
  Speaker 4: had come to them for the purpose of being made
• 31:19
  Speaker 4: into a pet. They were, of course, fierce outlaws and robbers,
• 31:24
  Speaker 4: ready to turn their bows and swords against anyone, but
• 31:27
  Speaker 4: the poor people who lived in and about the forest
• 31:30
  Speaker 4: liked and helped them, for Robin Hood's men never did
• 31:33
  Speaker 4: them harm, while as to young Robin, they were all
• 31:36
  Speaker 4: eager to take him out with them and show him
• 31:39
  Speaker 4: the wonders of the forest. On the second day after
• 31:42
  Speaker 4: his arrival in the camp, the boy asked when he
• 31:45
  Speaker 4: was to be shown the way home, and he asked
• 31:47
  Speaker 4: again on the third day, but only to be told
• 31:50
  Speaker 4: each time that he should go soon. On the fourth day,
• 31:53
  Speaker 4: he forgot to ask, for he was busy with big
• 31:56
  Speaker 4: little John, whose smiled with satisfaction when young chose to
• 32:00
  Speaker 4: stay with him instead of going with some of the
• 32:03
  Speaker 4: men into the forest after a deer, Young Robin forgot
• 32:07
  Speaker 4: to ask when he was to be shown the way home,
• 32:09
  Speaker 4: because Little John had promised to make him a bow
• 32:12
  Speaker 4: and arrows, and to teach him how to use them.
• 32:15
  Speaker 4: The great tall outlaw kept his word, too, and long
• 32:18
  Speaker 4: before evening he hung a cap upon a broken bough
• 32:21
  Speaker 4: of an oak tree and set young Robin to work
• 32:24
  Speaker 4: about twenty yards away, shooting arrows at the mark. You've
• 32:28
  Speaker 4: got to hit that every time you shoot, said little John.
• 32:31
  Speaker 4: And when you can do that at twenty yards, you
• 32:34
  Speaker 4: have got to do it at forty. Now begin, For
• 32:37
  Speaker 4: the bow was ready and made of a piece of yew,
• 32:40
  Speaker 4: and half a dozen arrows had been finished. Think you
• 32:43
  Speaker 4: can hit it, said Little John, after showing the boy
• 32:46
  Speaker 4: how to string his bow and fit the notch of
• 32:48
  Speaker 4: the arrow into the string. Oh yes, said Robin, confidently.
• 32:54
  Speaker 4: That's right. Then you will soon be able to kill
• 32:56
  Speaker 4: a deer. But I don't want to kill a deer,
• 32:59
  Speaker 4: said the boy. I want to see some, but I
• 33:02
  Speaker 4: shouldn't like to kill one. Wait till you're hungry, my
• 33:05
  Speaker 4: fine fellow, said little John, laughing. But my word, you
• 33:09
  Speaker 4: look fine. This morning, just like one of us. Did
• 33:12
  Speaker 4: Maid Marian make you that green jerkin? Yes, said the boy.
• 33:16
  Speaker 4: That's right, so's your cap and feather. But now then try,
• 33:21
  Speaker 4: if you can hit the cap, draw the arrow right
• 33:24
  Speaker 4: to the head before you let go. My word, what
• 33:28
  Speaker 4: funny little fumbling fingers yours are are? They cried Robin,
• 33:33
  Speaker 4: who thought that his teacher's hands were the biggest he
• 33:35
  Speaker 4: had ever seen. Like baby's fingers, said Little John, smiling
• 33:40
  Speaker 4: down at the boy as if very much amused. Now,
• 33:44
  Speaker 4: then draw right to the head. I can't, said the boy.
• 33:48
  Speaker 4: It's so hard. That's because you're not used to it,
• 33:52
  Speaker 4: little one. Try again, Hold tight and pull hard steadily.
• 33:58
  Speaker 4: That's the way. Now loose it and let it go.
• 34:01
  Speaker 4: Young Robin did as he was told, and away went
• 34:04
  Speaker 4: the arrow down between the trees to fall, with its
• 34:07
  Speaker 4: feathered wings just showing above the fallen leaves. That didn't
• 34:11
  Speaker 4: hit the cap, said Little John, never went near it.
• 34:15
  Speaker 4: Young Robin shook his head. Did you look at the
• 34:19
  Speaker 4: cap when you loosed the arrow? No, said Robin. I
• 34:24
  Speaker 4: shut my eyes. Try again, then, and keep them open.
• 34:29
  Speaker 4: Robin tried again and again until he had sent off
• 34:31
  Speaker 4: all six of his shafts, and then he stood and
• 34:34
  Speaker 4: looked up at Little John, and Little John looked down
• 34:37
  Speaker 4: at him. You couldn't kill a deer for dinner to day,
• 34:40
  Speaker 4: said the big fellow. No, said little Robin. It's so hard.
• 34:46
  Speaker 4: Could you have hit it? I think I could if
• 34:48
  Speaker 4: I stood ten times as far away, said the great
• 34:51
  Speaker 4: fellow quietly. Oh do try, please, cried Robin. Very well.
• 34:57
  Speaker 4: Only let's pick up your arrows first, or we may
• 35:00
  Speaker 4: lose some of them. Always pick up your arrows while
• 35:03
  Speaker 4: they are fresh, I mean, while you can remember where
• 35:05
  Speaker 4: they are. The shafts were picked up, mostly by Little John,
• 35:09
  Speaker 4: whose eyes were very sharp at seeing where the little
• 35:12
  Speaker 4: arrows lay. And then they walked back, and Robin had
• 35:15
  Speaker 4: to run by his big companion's side, for he began
• 35:18
  Speaker 4: to stride away, counting as he went, till he had
• 35:21
  Speaker 4: taken two hundred steps from the tree, all along one
• 35:25
  Speaker 4: of the alleys of the forest, when he stopped short. Now, then,
• 35:29
  Speaker 4: my little bowman, he said, think I can hit the mark? Now? No,
• 35:33
  Speaker 4: said Robin decisively. We're too far away. I can hardly
• 35:37
  Speaker 4: see the cap. Well, let's try it, said Little John,
• 35:41
  Speaker 4: stringing his bow and then carefully selecting an arrow from
• 35:44
  Speaker 4: the quiver at his back. This arrow he drew two
• 35:48
  Speaker 4: or three times through his hand so as to smooth
• 35:51
  Speaker 4: the feathering and make the web lie straight, before fitting
• 35:54
  Speaker 4: the notch to the string. So you think it's too far,
• 35:57
  Speaker 4: said Little John, Yes, for so much. Ah, well, we'll try,
• 36:03
  Speaker 4: said the big fellow coolly. Whereabout shall I hit the
• 36:07
  Speaker 4: cap in the middle, No, said Robin, Just at the
• 36:11
  Speaker 4: top of the brim. Very well, said the big fellow,
• 36:15
  Speaker 4: standing up very straight and rather sidewise, as he held
• 36:19
  Speaker 4: his bow at his left arm's length, slowly drew the
• 36:22
  Speaker 4: arrow to the head, and then, as Robin gazed in
• 36:25
  Speaker 4: the direction of the indistinctly seen hat hanging on the
• 36:28
  Speaker 4: tree trunk, twang, the arrow had been loosed, and the
• 36:32
  Speaker 4: bow had given forth a strange, deep musical sound. Robin
• 36:36
  Speaker 4: looked sharply at Little John, and the big outlaw looked
• 36:39
  Speaker 4: down at him. Where did the arrow go? Said the boy.
• 36:43
  Speaker 4: Let's see, said little John. I don't think we shall
• 36:47
  Speaker 4: ever find it again, continued Robin. They walked back, the
• 36:51
  Speaker 4: outlaw very slowly, and Robin quite fast, so as to
• 36:54
  Speaker 4: keep up with him. Perhaps not, said Little John, But
• 36:58
  Speaker 4: I don't often lose my arrow. This one has gone
• 37:02
  Speaker 4: right through the ferns, thought Robin, and he felt glad
• 37:05
  Speaker 4: with the thought of the big fellow having missed the mark.
• 37:08
  Speaker 4: But as they walked nearer, he kept his eyes fixed
• 37:11
  Speaker 4: upon the great trunk, dimly seen in the shade, being
• 37:14
  Speaker 4: tripped up twice by the bracken fronds, but he saved
• 37:17
  Speaker 4: himself from a fall and watched the tree trunk still,
• 37:20
  Speaker 4: while the hat hanging on the old bough grew plainer,
• 37:24
  Speaker 4: just as it had been before. They had walked back
• 37:27
  Speaker 4: nearly three parts of the way when Robin suddenly saw
• 37:30
  Speaker 4: something which made him start, for there was a tiny
• 37:33
  Speaker 4: bit of something white above something dark, and those marks
• 37:37
  Speaker 4: were not on the brim of the hat. Before the
• 37:40
  Speaker 4: next minute, Robin's eyes began to open wider, for he
• 37:44
  Speaker 4: knew he was looking at the feathered end of the
• 37:46
  Speaker 4: arrow pointing straight at him, and directly after as he
• 37:50
  Speaker 4: stepped a little on one side to avoid an ant hill,
• 37:53
  Speaker 4: he could see the whole of the arrow, except the
• 37:56
  Speaker 4: point which had passed through the brim of the hat.
• 37:59
  Speaker 4: Why you hid it, he cried excitedly. Well that's what
• 38:03
  Speaker 4: I tried to do, said little John. But you hit
• 38:06
  Speaker 4: it just in the place. I said. Yes, you told
• 38:09
  Speaker 4: me to, said little John, smiling. That's how you must
• 38:12
  Speaker 4: learn to shoot when you grew up to be a man.
• 38:15
  Speaker 4: Young Robin said nothing, but stood rubbing one ear very
• 38:18
  Speaker 4: gently and staring at the hat. Well, said Little John,
• 38:22
  Speaker 4: smiling down at his companion, what are you thinking about?
• 38:26
  Speaker 4: I was thinking that it is very wonderful for you
• 38:29
  Speaker 4: to stand so far off and shoot like that. Worry
• 38:32
  Speaker 4: you now, said little John, Well, it is not wonderful
• 38:35
  Speaker 4: at all. If you keep on trying for years, you
• 38:38
  Speaker 4: will be able to do quite as well. I'll teach you,
• 38:42
  Speaker 4: shall I. I should like you too, said Robin, shaking his head.
• 38:47
  Speaker 4: But I can't stop here. I must go home to
• 38:49
  Speaker 4: my father. Oh, must you, said little John, Go home
• 38:53
  Speaker 4: to your father and mother.
• 38:54
  Speaker 1: Eh.
• 38:55
  Speaker 4: Robin shook his head. No, he said, my mother's dead,
• 39:00
  Speaker 4: and I live sometimes with father and sometimes with aunt.
• 39:03
  Speaker 4: I am going home to father now, as soon as
• 39:05
  Speaker 4: you show me the way. When are you going to
• 39:08
  Speaker 4: show me? Little John screwed up his face till it
• 39:11
  Speaker 4: was full of wrinkles. Ah, he said, I don't know.
• 39:15
  Speaker 4: I must ask the captain. Who is the captain, said
• 39:19
  Speaker 4: the little boy. Uh why Robin Hood? Of course, But
• 39:23
  Speaker 4: I wouldn't ask him just yet? Why not? Uh? Why not?
• 39:28
  Speaker 4: Because it might be awkward. You see, it's a long
• 39:32
  Speaker 4: way and you couldn't do it by yourself. Well you
• 39:35
  Speaker 4: could show me, said young Robin. You would, wouldn't you?
• 39:40
  Speaker 4: I would if I could, said Little John. But I'm
• 39:43
  Speaker 4: afraid I couldn't. Oh you could, I'm sure, said Young Robin.
• 39:47
  Speaker 4: You're so big. Oh yes, I am big enough, said
• 39:51
  Speaker 4: Little John, laughing. But if I were to take you home,
• 39:54
  Speaker 4: your father would not let me come back again. And
• 39:56
  Speaker 4: besides the Captain would not let me go for fear
• 39:59
  Speaker 4: that I should be killed killed, said the boy, staring
• 40:03
  Speaker 4: at his big companion. Why who would kill you? Your father? Perhaps?
• 40:10
  Speaker 4: What for being kind to me? I can't explain all
• 40:13
  Speaker 4: these things to you, Mike. Here's someone coming. Let's ask him. Hi,
• 40:18
  Speaker 4: Captain young Squire wants me to take him home. Robin Hood,
• 40:22
  Speaker 4: who had just caught sight of the pear and come up,
• 40:25
  Speaker 4: smiled and shook his head. Not yet, little one, he said,
• 40:29
  Speaker 4: I can't spare big little John. Why aren't you happy
• 40:33
  Speaker 4: here in the merry greenwood under the trees. I thought
• 40:36
  Speaker 4: you liked us, So I do, said young Robin, And
• 40:39
  Speaker 4: I should like to stay ever so long and watch
• 40:42
  Speaker 4: the deer and the birds, and learn to shoot with
• 40:44
  Speaker 4: my bow and arrows. That's right, well, said little one,
• 40:48
  Speaker 4: said Robin Hood, patting the boy on the head. But
• 40:51
  Speaker 4: I'm afraid that my father will be very cross if
• 40:53
  Speaker 4: I don't try to come home. Then try and make
• 40:57
  Speaker 4: yourself happy, my boy, said Robin Hood. For you have
• 41:00
  Speaker 4: tried hard to go home, and you can't go. Why,
• 41:04
  Speaker 4: said young Robin. For a dozen reasons, said the outlaw, smiling.
• 41:08
  Speaker 4: Here are some. You could not find your way. You
• 41:11
  Speaker 4: would starve to death in the forest. You might meet
• 41:14
  Speaker 4: people who would behave worse to you than the young swineherd,
• 41:18
  Speaker 4: or encounter wild beasts. Then, biggest reason of all, I
• 41:22
  Speaker 4: will not let you go. Young Robin was silent for
• 41:25
  Speaker 4: a moment or two, and then he said, quickly, you
• 41:28
  Speaker 4: might tell little John to take me home. My father
• 41:31
  Speaker 4: would be so glad to see him. Robin Hood and
• 41:34
  Speaker 4: the big fellow just named looked at one another and laughed. Yes,
• 41:38
  Speaker 4: said Robin Hood, patting the boy on the shoulder. Now
• 41:42
  Speaker 4: that's just it. Your father, the sheriff, would be so
• 41:45
  Speaker 4: glad to see Little John, that he would keep him altogether,
• 41:48
  Speaker 4: and I can't spare him. I don't think my father
• 41:51
  Speaker 4: would be so unkind, said Robin. But I am sure
• 41:55
  Speaker 4: he would, little man, said the outlaw. He'd be so
• 41:58
  Speaker 4: glad to get him that he would spoil him. Eh, John,
• 42:01
  Speaker 4: what do you think aye, that he would, said Little John,
• 42:05
  Speaker 4: shaking his head. He'd be sure to spoil me. He
• 42:08
  Speaker 4: cut me shorter, perhaps, or else hang me up for
• 42:10
  Speaker 4: an ornament. No, my little man, I couldn't take you
• 42:14
  Speaker 4: home there, said the outlaw, smiling. You must wait, my boy,
• 42:19
  Speaker 4: try and be contented as you are made. Marian's very
• 42:22
  Speaker 4: kind to you, is she not?
• 42:24
  Speaker 2: Oh?
• 42:24
  Speaker 4: Yes, cried the boy, with his face lighting up. And
• 42:27
  Speaker 4: that's why I don't want to go, Hello, growled little John.
• 42:32
  Speaker 4: Why you said just now that you did want to go?
• 42:36
  Speaker 4: Did I? Said the boy thoughtfully, to be sure you did.
• 42:40
  Speaker 4: What do you mean I mean? Said the boy, who
• 42:45
  Speaker 4: looked wistfully from one to the other. Then I feel
• 42:48
  Speaker 4: as if I ought to go home, but I think
• 42:50
  Speaker 4: I should like to stay. Hooray, cried Little John, taking
• 42:54
  Speaker 4: off and waving his hat. Hear that, captain, You've got
• 42:58
  Speaker 4: another to add to your merry. Men, Young Robin, and
• 43:01
  Speaker 4: I make a capitol pair. Come along, youngster, and let's
• 43:04
  Speaker 4: practice shooting at the mark, and then we'll make enough
• 43:07
  Speaker 4: arrows to fill your quiver. Five minutes later, Young Robin
• 43:11
  Speaker 4: was standing as he had been placed by his big companion,
• 43:14
  Speaker 4: who sat down and watched him while he sturdily drew
• 43:17
  Speaker 4: the notch of his arrow right to his ear, and
• 43:19
  Speaker 4: then loosed the whizzing shaft to go flying away through
• 43:22
  Speaker 4: the woodland shade, while Little John shouted as gleefully as
• 43:26
  Speaker 4: some big boy, hooray, well done, little one. There it
• 43:30
  Speaker 4: is seeking in yonder tree. End of chapter four.
• 43:41
  Speaker 2: Chapter five of Young Robin Hood. This is a LibriVox recording.
• 43:46
  Speaker 2: All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more
• 43:50
  Speaker 2: information or to voluntei please visit LibriVox dot org. Recording
• 43:56
  Speaker 2: by Christine G. Young Robin Hood by George Fenn. Chapter five.
• 44:05
  Speaker 2: As far as you like, Robin, said the outlaw. Only
• 44:08
  Speaker 2: you must be wise. Don't go far enough to lose
• 44:11
  Speaker 2: your way. Learn the forest by degrees. Some day you
• 44:15
  Speaker 2: will not be able to lose yourself. But suppose I
• 44:20
  Speaker 2: did lose myself, said the boy, What then I should
• 44:25
  Speaker 2: have to tell Little John to bring all my merry
• 44:27
  Speaker 2: men to look for you, and Maid Marian here would
• 44:29
  Speaker 2: sit at home and cry till you were found. Then
• 44:33
  Speaker 2: I will not lose myself, said Robin and he always
• 44:37
  Speaker 2: remembered his promise when he took his bow and arrows,
• 44:39
  Speaker 2: and with his sword hanging from his belt, went away
• 44:43
  Speaker 2: from the outlaw's camp for a long ramble. His bow
• 44:47
  Speaker 2: was just as high as he was himself, that being
• 44:50
  Speaker 2: the rule in archery, and his arrows, beautifully made by
• 44:53
  Speaker 2: Little John, were just half the length of his bow.
• 44:58
  Speaker 2: As to his sword, that was a dag in a
• 45:00
  Speaker 2: green shark skin sheath, given to him by Robin Hood,
• 45:04
  Speaker 2: who said rightly enough that it was quite big enough
• 45:06
  Speaker 2: for him. Maid Marian found a suitable buckle for the belt,
• 45:12
  Speaker 2: one which little John cut out of a very soft
• 45:14
  Speaker 2: piece of deer skin, the same skin forming the cross
• 45:18
  Speaker 2: belt which went over the boy's shoulder and supported his horn,
• 45:22
  Speaker 2: for he was supplied with a horn as well, this
• 45:25
  Speaker 2: being necessary in the forest. And Robin Hood himself taught
• 45:28
  Speaker 2: him in the evenings how to blow the calls by
• 45:30
  Speaker 2: fitting his lips to the mouthpiece and altering the tone
• 45:34
  Speaker 2: by placing his hand inside the silver rim which formed
• 45:37
  Speaker 2: the mouth. It was not easy, but the little fellow
• 45:42
  Speaker 2: soon learned all the same, though he made some strange sounds.
• 45:46
  Speaker 2: At first, bad enough, Little John declared to give one
• 45:50
  Speaker 2: of Maid Marian's cows the toothache, and frightened the herds
• 45:54
  Speaker 2: of the dear father and father away. That was only
• 45:58
  Speaker 2: at the first, for young Robin very soon became quite
• 46:01
  Speaker 2: a woodman, learning fast sound his horn, to shoot and
• 46:05
  Speaker 2: hit his mark, and to find his way through the
• 46:07
  Speaker 2: great wilderness of open moorland and shady trees. But it
• 46:12
  Speaker 2: was more than once that he lost his way, for
• 46:15
  Speaker 2: the trees and beaten tracks were so much alike, and
• 46:18
  Speaker 2: all was so beautiful that it was easy to wander
• 46:21
  Speaker 2: on and forget all about finding the way back through
• 46:23
  Speaker 2: the sun dappled shades. And so it happened that one morning,
• 46:28
  Speaker 2: when the outlaw band had gone off hunting to bring
• 46:31
  Speaker 2: back a couple of fat are for robin Hood's larder,
• 46:34
  Speaker 2: young Robin started by himself bow in hand down one
• 46:38
  Speaker 2: of the lovely beech glades, and had soon gone farther
• 46:41
  Speaker 2: than he had been before the squirrels dropped the beech
• 46:46
  Speaker 2: mast and dashed away through the trees to chop and
• 46:49
  Speaker 2: scold at him. The rabbits started from out the ferns
• 46:53
  Speaker 2: and raced away fast, showing the underpart of their white
• 46:56
  Speaker 2: cotton tails before they plunged into their shady burrows. And
• 47:00
  Speaker 2: twice over. As the boy softly passed out of the
• 47:03
  Speaker 2: shade into some sunny opening, he came upon little groups
• 47:07
  Speaker 2: of deer, beautiful, large eyed, thin legged doughs with their
• 47:11
  Speaker 2: fawns grazing peacefully on the soft grass which grew in
• 47:15
  Speaker 2: patches between the tufts of golden prickly firs, For they
• 47:19
  Speaker 2: were safe enough the huntsmen being gone in search of
• 47:22
  Speaker 2: the lordy bucks with their tall, flattened horns, if they
• 47:26
  Speaker 2: were followed there small round and sharply pointed. If there
• 47:29
  Speaker 2: were rows, there was always something fresh to see, and
• 47:35
  Speaker 2: he who went slowly and softly through the forest saw most.
• 47:40
  Speaker 2: At such times as this, young robin would stop short
• 47:43
  Speaker 2: to watch the grazing dare and fawns with their soft
• 47:46
  Speaker 2: dappled hides, till all at once a pair of sharp
• 47:50
  Speaker 2: blue eyes would spy him out, and the jay who
• 47:53
  Speaker 2: owned those eyes would set up his soft speckled crest
• 47:56
  Speaker 2: show his fierce black mustachios and shouts and alarm again
• 48:00
  Speaker 2: in a harsh voice. Here's a boy, here's a boy.
• 48:05
  Speaker 2: And the dose would leave our feeting, throw up their
• 48:07
  Speaker 2: heads and away. The little herd would go nip, nip
• 48:11
  Speaker 2: nip in a series of bounds, just as if their
• 48:14
  Speaker 2: thin legs were so many springs, their black hoofs coming
• 48:18
  Speaker 2: down close together and just touching the short, elastic grass
• 48:22
  Speaker 2: which seemed to send them off again. I wish they
• 48:26
  Speaker 2: wouldn't be afraid of me, young Robin said, I shouldn't
• 48:29
  Speaker 2: hurt them. But the dos and fauns did not know that,
• 48:35
  Speaker 2: For as Robin said this, he was fitting an arrow
• 48:38
  Speaker 2: to his bowstring and threatening to send it flying after
• 48:41
  Speaker 2: the shrieking jay who had given the alarm. He forgot too,
• 48:45
  Speaker 2: that he had eaten heartily of delicious roasted fawn only
• 48:47
  Speaker 2: a few days before. As he wandered on through the
• 48:52
  Speaker 2: glades where the sun seemed to send rays of glowing
• 48:55
  Speaker 2: silver down through the oak or beech leaves, as if
• 48:58
  Speaker 2: to feel the golden cups which grew beneath them among
• 49:01
  Speaker 2: the soft green moss, he would come out suddenly, perhaps
• 49:04
  Speaker 2: on one of the sunny forest pools, perhaps where the
• 49:07
  Speaker 2: water was half covered with broad, flat leaves, among which
• 49:11
  Speaker 2: were silver blossoms, in other places golden with arrow weeded sides,
• 49:16
  Speaker 2: along with whispering reeds and swords shaped iris plants. There
• 49:22
  Speaker 2: beneath the floating leaves, great golden sided carp and tench followed,
• 49:28
  Speaker 2: and sometimes a fierce eyed, green splashed pike, while over
• 49:32
  Speaker 2: all fitted and darted upon gauzy wings, beautiful dragon flies,
• 49:37
  Speaker 2: chasing the tiny gnats blue brown, golden and golden green,
• 49:42
  Speaker 2: and now and then encountering and making their wings rustle
• 49:45
  Speaker 2: as they touched in rapid flight. Then, as he stood
• 49:49
  Speaker 2: with his hand resting against the tree trunk, peering forward,
• 49:53
  Speaker 2: a curious little head with bright crimson eyes divided the
• 49:56
  Speaker 2: sedge or reeds growing in the water, its owner looking
• 50:00
  Speaker 2: out to see if there was any danger. And as
• 50:02
  Speaker 2: it looked, Robin could see that the bird's beak seemed
• 50:06
  Speaker 2: to be continued right up into a fiat red place
• 50:09
  Speaker 2: between its eyes. Then it came sailing out, swimming by
• 50:14
  Speaker 2: means of its long, thin legs and toes, coming right
• 50:17
  Speaker 2: into the opening looking of a dark, shiny brownish green,
• 50:21
  Speaker 2: all but its stunted tail. The underpart over which was
• 50:24
  Speaker 2: pure white with a black band across. Little John told
• 50:29
  Speaker 2: him afterwards that it was a moor hen, even if
• 50:32
  Speaker 2: it was a cock bird. It was not this which
• 50:36
  Speaker 2: took so much of Robin's attention, but the seven or
• 50:38
  Speaker 2: eight little dark balls which followed it out along one
• 50:42
  Speaker 2: of their lanes of open water, swimming here and there
• 50:45
  Speaker 2: and making dabs with their little beaks at the insects
• 50:48
  Speaker 2: gliding about the top. It was so quiet and seemed
• 50:53
  Speaker 2: so safe that directly after the reeds parted again and
• 50:57
  Speaker 2: another bird swam out from among them sheltering reeds. Robin
• 51:02
  Speaker 2: knew dis directly as a drake, but he had never
• 51:05
  Speaker 2: before seen one with such a gloriously green head, rich
• 51:09
  Speaker 2: chestnut colored breast, soft gray back, or glistening metallic purple
• 51:14
  Speaker 2: wing spots. Robin could have sent a sharp pointed arrow
• 51:18
  Speaker 2: at this beautiful bird and perhaps have killed it, for
• 51:21
  Speaker 2: he knew well the rose stock or drake is very nice,
• 51:24
  Speaker 2: stuffed with sage and onions, and with green peas to
• 51:27
  Speaker 2: eat therewith. But he never thought of using his bow,
• 51:32
  Speaker 2: and he was content to feast his eyes upon the
• 51:34
  Speaker 2: bird's beauty and watch its motions. The drake took no
• 51:39
  Speaker 2: notice of the moor hen and her dusky dabs, but
• 51:41
  Speaker 2: swam right out in the middle seemed to stand up
• 51:44
  Speaker 2: on the water, stretching out his neck and flapping his
• 51:47
  Speaker 2: wings so sharply that something right on the other side
• 51:50
  Speaker 2: moved suddenly, and Robin saw that there was another bird
• 51:54
  Speaker 2: which he had not seen before, a long necked, long legged,
• 51:58
  Speaker 2: loose feathered, gray creature with sharp eyes and a thin beak,
• 52:02
  Speaker 2: standing in the water and staring eagerly at the drake,
• 52:04
  Speaker 2: as much as to say, what is the matter there?
• 52:08
  Speaker 2: While he uttered aloud the one inquiring cry quake work, work, work,
• 52:15
  Speaker 2: said the drake. Quack quack, quack, quack, came from out
• 52:19
  Speaker 2: of the reeds, and a brown duck came sailing out,
• 52:22
  Speaker 2: followed by ten little yellow balls of down with flat beaks,
• 52:26
  Speaker 2: swimming like their mother, but in a hurried pop, and
• 52:29
  Speaker 2: go on fashion in and out and round and round,
• 52:32
  Speaker 2: and seeming to go through country dances in the water,
• 52:35
  Speaker 2: in chase over water beetles and running spiders of flies,
• 52:39
  Speaker 2: while the duck kept on uttering a warning quack, and
• 52:42
  Speaker 2: the drake, who first with one eye and then with
• 52:44
  Speaker 2: the other, kept a sharp look up in the sky
• 52:47
  Speaker 2: for falcons and hawks now, and then muttered out as satisfied, work, work, work.
• 52:54
  Speaker 2: Robin had just thinking how beautiful it all was, when
• 52:58
  Speaker 2: the danger for which the drake was watching in the
• 53:00
  Speaker 2: sky suddenly came from the water beneath one of the
• 53:04
  Speaker 2: downy yellow DAPs had swum two yards away from the
• 53:06
  Speaker 2: others and his mother after a daddy long legs, which
• 53:10
  Speaker 2: had flown down on to the surface of the water
• 53:13
  Speaker 2: and had opened its little flat beak to seize it.
• 53:15
  Speaker 2: When there was a whirl in the water, a rush
• 53:18
  Speaker 2: and splash, and two great jaws armed with sharp teeth
• 53:21
  Speaker 2: closed over the duckling, which was visible one moment, gone
• 53:25
  Speaker 2: the next, and Robin drew an arrow out to fit
• 53:27
  Speaker 2: his bowstring, but he was too late to send it
• 53:31
  Speaker 2: whizzing at the great pike, which had given a whisk
• 53:34
  Speaker 2: with its tail and gone off to some land. The
• 53:36
  Speaker 2: breeds to peacefully swallow the young duck, while the rest
• 53:40
  Speaker 2: follow their quacking father and mother back to the shelter
• 53:43
  Speaker 2: of the reeds, rushes and sedge, where the more hen
• 53:46
  Speaker 2: and her brood were already safe. While startled by the alarm,
• 53:50
  Speaker 2: the heron bent down as it spread its great gray wings,
• 53:55
  Speaker 2: sprang up, gave a few flaps and flops, and began
• 53:58
  Speaker 2: to sail round above the till it grew peaceful again.
• 54:02
  Speaker 2: When stretching out its legs, the heron dropped back into
• 54:06
  Speaker 2: the water, stood motionless, gazing down with meditative eyes, as
• 54:10
  Speaker 2: if quite satisfied that no fish would touch it, and
• 54:13
  Speaker 2: then flick. It had taken place so rapidly that Robin
• 54:18
  Speaker 2: hardly saw the movement, but certainly the heron's beak was
• 54:21
  Speaker 2: darted in amongst the bottoms of the reeds where they
• 54:24
  Speaker 2: grew out of the water, and directly afterwards the bird
• 54:28
  Speaker 2: straightened itself again to stand up with a kicking green
• 54:31
  Speaker 2: frog in its scissor shaped beak. Then there was a
• 54:35
  Speaker 2: jerk or two which alted the frog's position, and the beak,
• 54:39
  Speaker 2: from being only a little way open, was shut quite close,
• 54:42
  Speaker 2: and a knob appeared in the heron's long neck, went
• 54:45
  Speaker 2: slowly lower and lower, and then disappeared altogether. Then the
• 54:50
  Speaker 2: heron shuffled its swings a little, as if to put
• 54:53
  Speaker 2: the feathers quite straight, said think loudly twice over and
• 54:57
  Speaker 2: shut one eye, for the bird had partaken of a
• 55:01
  Speaker 2: satisfactory dinner and was thinking about it while Young Robin
• 55:05
  Speaker 2: sighed and thought it seemed very dreadful. But the next
• 55:09
  Speaker 2: moment he was watching a streak of blue which was
• 55:11
  Speaker 2: a kingfisher with a tiny silver fish in its beak,
• 55:14
  Speaker 2: and thinking he was beginning to feel hungry himself, so
• 55:17
  Speaker 2: he left the side of the pool with another sigh
• 55:20
  Speaker 2: and a noisy mate, sending off the great gray heron,
• 55:23
  Speaker 2: and after a little difficulty, he found his way back
• 55:26
  Speaker 2: to the outlaws camp and his own dinner, which oddly
• 55:29
  Speaker 2: enough was not roast buck or thorn, but roast ducks
• 55:33
  Speaker 2: and a fine baked pie cooked in an earthen oven
• 55:36
  Speaker 2: with plenty of stuffing. Then, being hungry, Young Robin partook
• 55:41
  Speaker 2: of his own meal and forgot all about what he
• 55:44
  Speaker 2: had seen. End of chapter five. Recording by Christine G.
• 55:50
  Speaker 2: In Oslo, Norway, the twenty fourth of March two thousand
• 55:55
  Speaker 2: and twelve. Chapter six of Young robin Hood. This is
• 56:04
  Speaker 2: a LibriVox recording. All libervox recordings are in the public domain.
• 56:09
  Speaker 2: For more information or to volunteire, please visit LibriVox dot org.
• 56:14
  Speaker 2: Recording by Christine G. Young Robin Hood by George Fenn.
• 56:20
  Speaker 2: Chapter six It was all very wonderful to young Robin
• 56:24
  Speaker 2: when he saw Little John or one of the other
• 56:26
  Speaker 2: men let fly an arrow with a twang of the
• 56:29
  Speaker 2: bowstring in a sharp whizz of the wings through the air,
• 56:32
  Speaker 2: to quiver in a mark eighty or hundred yards away,
• 56:36
  Speaker 2: or to piece some flying wild goose or duck passing
• 56:39
  Speaker 2: in a flock high in air. But by degrees, that
• 56:43
  Speaker 2: which had seemed so marvelous soon ceased to astonish him,
• 56:47
  Speaker 2: and at last looked quite easy. For Robin was delighted
• 56:51
  Speaker 2: with his bow and arrows as soon as he found
• 56:53
  Speaker 2: that he could send one of the light winged shaft
• 56:56
  Speaker 2: whistling in a beautiful curve to stick in some big tree.
• 57:01
  Speaker 2: Then he began shooting at smaller trees, and then at saplings.
• 57:04
  Speaker 2: When he could hit the small trees, but the saplings were,
• 57:07
  Speaker 2: of course much more difficult. One day, though, he went
• 57:11
  Speaker 2: back to Little John in Triumph to tell him that
• 57:13
  Speaker 2: he had shot at a young oak about as thick
• 57:16
  Speaker 2: as his wrist. But you didn't hit it, said the
• 57:19
  Speaker 2: big fellow, smiling. I just scratched one side of it, though,
• 57:25
  Speaker 2: cried the boy. Did you now well done? You keep
• 57:29
  Speaker 2: on trying and you'll beat me some day. I don't
• 57:32
  Speaker 2: think I shall, said Robin, shaking his head thoughtfully. Oh
• 57:37
  Speaker 2: but you will if you keep on trying. A lad
• 57:39
  Speaker 2: who tries hard can do nearly anything, can he said
• 57:44
  Speaker 2: Robin to be sure he can. So you try, and
• 57:48
  Speaker 2: when you can hit anything you shoot at, you'll be
• 57:50
  Speaker 2: half a man, And when you've done growing, you'll be one.
• 57:53
  Speaker 2: Quite Shall I ever be as big as you? Asked Robin.
• 57:59
  Speaker 2: I hope not, said Little John, laughing. I'm too big,
• 58:05
  Speaker 2: are you? Said Robin. I should like to be as
• 58:09
  Speaker 2: big as you. No, no, don't, cried little John. You
• 58:14
  Speaker 2: go on growing till you are a six footer, and
• 58:16
  Speaker 2: then you stop. All that grows after that's a waste
• 58:19
  Speaker 2: of good stuff and gets in your way. Big ones
• 58:22
  Speaker 2: like me are always knocking their heads against something. But
• 58:26
  Speaker 2: how am I to know when I'm six feet high?
• 58:29
  Speaker 2: Said Robin. Oh I'll tell you. I'll keep measuring you,
• 58:33
  Speaker 2: my lad, and how am I to stop growing? Little
• 58:38
  Speaker 2: John took off his cap and scratched his head as
• 58:41
  Speaker 2: he wrinkled up his big, good humid face. Well I
• 58:45
  Speaker 2: don't quite know, he said, But there's plenty of time yet,
• 58:49
  Speaker 2: and we shall see might put a big stone in
• 58:52
  Speaker 2: your hat, or keep you in a very dry place,
• 58:54
  Speaker 2: or tie your shoulders down to your waist. No that
• 58:57
  Speaker 2: wouldn't do, why, said Robin promptly, because it wouldn't stop
• 59:04
  Speaker 2: your legs growing. And it's boy's legs that grow the
• 59:06
  Speaker 2: most when they are young. I say, though, what's become
• 59:10
  Speaker 2: of all those arrows I made? You shot them away
• 59:15
  Speaker 2: and only two left. You mustn't waste arrows like that.
• 59:18
  Speaker 2: Why didn't you look for them after you shot? I did,
• 59:22
  Speaker 2: cried Robin. But they will hide themselves, so they creep
• 59:26
  Speaker 2: right under the grass and among the wheats, so that
• 59:29
  Speaker 2: you can't find them again. But you'll make me some more,
• 59:32
  Speaker 2: won't ye, well, said little John. I suppose I must,
• 59:37
  Speaker 2: But you will have to be more careful, young un.
• 59:40
  Speaker 2: I can't spend all my time making new arrows for you.
• 59:43
  Speaker 2: But there I want you to shoot, so that the
• 59:45
  Speaker 2: captain will be proud of you. And some day you'll
• 59:47
  Speaker 2: have to shoot a deer. I don't think I should
• 59:51
  Speaker 2: like to shoot a daer, said the boy, shaking his head.
• 59:55
  Speaker 1: Why not?
• 59:56
  Speaker 2: They're good to eat, They look so nice and kind
• 59:59
  Speaker 2: with their soft eyes. Well a man, then, oh no,
• 1:00:04
  Speaker 2: I shouldn't like to shoot a man, what not one
• 1:00:07
  Speaker 2: of the captain's enemies who had come to kill him.
• 1:00:11
  Speaker 2: I don't think I should mind so much. Then look here,
• 1:00:14
  Speaker 2: little John. I'd shoot an arrow into his back to
• 1:00:16
  Speaker 2: prick him and make him run away. And so you shall,
• 1:00:20
  Speaker 2: my lad, cried Little John, and he set to work
• 1:00:24
  Speaker 2: directly to cut some wood for arrows to refill the
• 1:00:26
  Speaker 2: boy's quiver, and when those were lost, he made some more,
• 1:00:30
  Speaker 2: for Young Robin was always shooting and losing them, But
• 1:00:33
  Speaker 2: Little John said it did not matter, for he was
• 1:00:35
  Speaker 2: going to be a famous marksman. And the big fellow
• 1:00:38
  Speaker 2: looked as proud of his pupil as could be. But
• 1:00:41
  Speaker 2: Little John did not stop at teaching Young Robin to shoot.
• 1:00:45
  Speaker 2: For one day the boy found him smoothing and scraping
• 1:00:47
  Speaker 2: a nice new piece of ash as thick as his
• 1:00:50
  Speaker 2: little finger, which was not little at all. You don't
• 1:00:54
  Speaker 2: know what this is for, said the big fellow. It
• 1:00:57
  Speaker 2: looks like a little quarter staff, said young Robin, like
• 1:01:01
  Speaker 2: all the men have well done guessed it first time.
• 1:01:05
  Speaker 2: Now guess who it is for me, said the boy promptly.
• 1:01:10
  Speaker 2: And so it was. And what was more, Little John
• 1:01:13
  Speaker 2: in the days which followed taught him how to handle
• 1:01:16
  Speaker 2: it so as to give blows and guard himself, till
• 1:01:19
  Speaker 2: the little fellow became as clever and active as could be,
• 1:01:22
  Speaker 2: making the men roar with laughter when in a bout
• 1:01:24
  Speaker 2: he managed to strike sono quickly that his staff struck
• 1:01:28
  Speaker 2: lego arm before his opponent could guard. Why you're getting
• 1:01:31
  Speaker 2: quite a forester, Robin, said the captain, smiling, And what
• 1:01:35
  Speaker 2: with your skill with bow and quarter staff, you'll soon
• 1:01:38
  Speaker 2: be able to hold your own. Robin Hood's words were
• 1:01:42
  Speaker 2: put to the proof in autumn. For one day, when
• 1:01:45
  Speaker 2: the acorns had swollen to such a size that they
• 1:01:48
  Speaker 2: could no longer sit in their cups, and came rattling
• 1:01:51
  Speaker 2: down from the sunny side of the great oak trees,
• 1:01:54
  Speaker 2: young Robin was having a glorious ramble. He had filled
• 1:01:57
  Speaker 2: his satchel with brown hazel nuts, and had a good
• 1:02:00
  Speaker 2: feast of blackberries, and strained his fingers. He had had
• 1:02:04
  Speaker 2: a long talk to a tame fawn which knew him,
• 1:02:07
  Speaker 2: and came when he whistled and tempted a couple of
• 1:02:09
  Speaker 2: squirrels down with some very brown nuts, laying them upon
• 1:02:12
  Speaker 2: the bark of a fallen tree. And then drawing back
• 1:02:15
  Speaker 2: a few yards, with the result that the bushy haired
• 1:02:18
  Speaker 2: little animals crept softly down nearer and nearer, ending by
• 1:02:22
  Speaker 2: making a rush, seizing the nuts, and darting back to
• 1:02:25
  Speaker 2: the security of a high branch of a tree. I
• 1:02:28
  Speaker 2: shouldn't hurt you, said Robin, as he stood leaning upon
• 1:02:32
  Speaker 2: his little quarter staff, watching them nibble away the ends
• 1:02:35
  Speaker 2: of the nuts to get at the sweet kennel. If
• 1:02:39
  Speaker 2: I wanted you, I could unsling my bow, string it
• 1:02:41
  Speaker 2: and bring you down with an arrow. But I don't
• 1:02:44
  Speaker 2: want to. Why can't you both be as tame as
• 1:02:47
  Speaker 2: my fawn? The squirrels made no answer, but went on
• 1:02:51
  Speaker 2: nibbling the nuts and suddenly darted up higher in the tree,
• 1:02:54
  Speaker 2: while Robin grew so much interested in the movements of
• 1:02:57
  Speaker 2: the active little creatures that he heard no sound behind me,
• 1:03:00
  Speaker 2: nor did he awaken to the fact that he was
• 1:03:02
  Speaker 2: being stalked by some one creeping barefooted from tree to
• 1:03:05
  Speaker 2: tree to get within springing distance, till all at once
• 1:03:09
  Speaker 2: he felt the whole weight of something aligning on his
• 1:03:11
  Speaker 2: back and driving him forward, so that he dropped his
• 1:03:14
  Speaker 2: quarter staff and came down on hands and knees, got
• 1:03:18
  Speaker 2: yer have I at last, cried a familiar voice, as
• 1:03:22
  Speaker 2: he felt his ribs nipped his assailant, having seated himself
• 1:03:25
  Speaker 2: on his back. Didn't I tell Yer I wait? And
• 1:03:28
  Speaker 2: you was to bring me back a lot to eat?
• 1:03:31
  Speaker 2: Young Robin waited for no more, but in his agony
• 1:03:34
  Speaker 2: of spirit, he gave himself a wrench sidewise, dislodging his rider,
• 1:03:38
  Speaker 2: and made an effort to struggle up again. But his
• 1:03:41
  Speaker 2: old enemy held fast, and after a sharp struggle, Robin
• 1:03:44
  Speaker 2: stood panting, face to face with the young swineherd, who
• 1:03:47
  Speaker 2: had him tightly by the doublet with both hands. You
• 1:03:51
  Speaker 2: let go, cried young Robin fiercely. You'll tear my coat.
• 1:03:56
  Speaker 2: I means to tear it right off, bractly, said the boy, grinning.
• 1:03:59
  Speaker 2: I want a new on again, and it'll just do.
• 1:04:02
  Speaker 2: Am I goin to have em bow and arrows too,
• 1:04:04
  Speaker 2: and a knife and cap. I'll let you see go
• 1:04:06
  Speaker 2: in and hidin away all this time. When I've told
• 1:04:08
  Speaker 2: Yer to come back, you'll let me go, panted Robin,
• 1:04:12
  Speaker 2: looking vainly round for help. Nay, there aren't no one
• 1:04:16
  Speaker 2: a knight, and I've got shell fast. Why didn't he
• 1:04:18
  Speaker 2: come back as I told you. I didn't want to,
• 1:04:22
  Speaker 2: said Robin angrily. You let me go. I'll call little
• 1:04:25
  Speaker 2: John to you. Call him and I'll knock his ugly
• 1:04:28
  Speaker 2: eye out, cried the boy. I don't care for no
• 1:04:31
  Speaker 2: little John's. I've got you now, and I'm going to
• 1:04:33
  Speaker 2: pay you for not coming back before. And I know,
• 1:04:36
  Speaker 2: he snarled. You're a thief, that's what you are. I'm not,
• 1:04:41
  Speaker 2: cried Robin fiercely, and he made a desperate struggle to
• 1:04:44
  Speaker 2: get away to where his little quarter staff lay hidden
• 1:04:46
  Speaker 2: amongst the bracken. You let me go, but his efforts
• 1:04:51
  Speaker 2: to get free were vain. Yes, I'll let you go,
• 1:04:53
  Speaker 2: perhaps when I've done with you and got all I wants,
• 1:04:56
  Speaker 2: said the boy in a husky, satisfied tone, as he
• 1:04:59
  Speaker 2: seemed to glow over his victim. No I want. You're
• 1:05:03
  Speaker 2: a thief and a dare stealer, and I shall just
• 1:05:05
  Speaker 2: take Yer to one of the king's keepers. Young Robin
• 1:05:09
  Speaker 2: set his teeth and made another struggle, but quite in vain,
• 1:05:12
  Speaker 2: for he was no match in strength for his adversary.
• 1:05:17
  Speaker 2: What hold still we kicker? Quiet will Yer, snarled the boy.
• 1:05:22
  Speaker 2: If Yer don't leave off, I'll drag you through all
• 1:05:24
  Speaker 2: the worst brumblesome pitcher to my tigs day a hair,
• 1:05:27
  Speaker 2: he shouted. Robin paused breathlessly and stood gazing wildly at
• 1:05:32
  Speaker 2: his enemy. You thought I was giving her up, did yer?
• 1:05:35
  Speaker 2: But I wasn't. I've been watching for her ever since
• 1:05:37
  Speaker 2: ya run away, and knowed I should catch yer. Some die, ah, yer,
• 1:05:42
  Speaker 2: young thief. He tightened his grip of Robin's shoulders, grinned
• 1:05:47
  Speaker 2: at him like an angry dog, and gave him a
• 1:05:49
  Speaker 2: fast shake while his victim breathed hard as he pressed
• 1:05:52
  Speaker 2: his teeth together, and there was a look in his
• 1:05:54
  Speaker 2: eyes as if it was some newly captured wild creature
• 1:05:56
  Speaker 2: seeking a way to escape. Come along, snarled the young swineherd.
• 1:06:01
  Speaker 2: I dropped my staff just back there, and as soon
• 1:06:03
  Speaker 2: as I get sit, I'm gonna stand over here while
• 1:06:05
  Speaker 2: there are strips off all your things, And if ye
• 1:06:07
  Speaker 2: had tries to get away, I'll break your leg and
• 1:06:09
  Speaker 2: ye can't run. Then Robin drew a breath which sounded
• 1:06:13
  Speaker 2: like a deep sigh, and ceased his struggling, letting his
• 1:06:16
  Speaker 2: enemy force him to walk backward among the bracken and
• 1:06:19
  Speaker 2: nearly fall again and again, till all at once the
• 1:06:22
  Speaker 2: savage young loud shouted, Ah, here it is, and loosening
• 1:06:26
  Speaker 2: one hand, he was in the act of stooping to
• 1:06:28
  Speaker 2: pick up the staff he had dropped in leaping upon
• 1:06:30
  Speaker 2: his victim, who now made a bound, which sent the
• 1:06:33
  Speaker 2: boy face downward on to his staff, while Robin dashed
• 1:06:36
  Speaker 2: off to where his own quarter staff lay among the bracken,
• 1:06:40
  Speaker 2: a spot she had glanced at again and again. He
• 1:06:43
  Speaker 2: seized it in an instant and was about to bound
• 1:06:45
  Speaker 2: away among the trees. But his enemy had recovered himself
• 1:06:48
  Speaker 2: and staff in hand, came after him at so terrible
• 1:06:52
  Speaker 2: a rate that Robin only evoded a swishing blow at
• 1:06:54
  Speaker 2: his legs by dodging round the tree, which received a stroke.
• 1:06:58
  Speaker 2: The next moment Robin faced round in the open beyond
• 1:07:00
  Speaker 2: the tree and stood on guard as he had been taught.
• 1:07:04
  Speaker 2: Ach will Yer snarled, the young swineherd take that. Then
• 1:07:09
  Speaker 2: whisk went the staff and then cracked as it was
• 1:07:11
  Speaker 2: received by Robin across his own, and then, profiting by
• 1:07:14
  Speaker 2: Little John's lessons, he brought his own over from the
• 1:07:17
  Speaker 2: left and delivered a sounding blow on his silent's head.
• 1:07:21
  Speaker 2: The swineherd uttered a savage shell as he staggered back,
• 1:07:24
  Speaker 2: but came fiercely on again, striking with all his might,
• 1:07:28
  Speaker 2: but so wildly that Robin easily avoided the blow and
• 1:07:31
  Speaker 2: brought his own staff down quack crash on his enemy's shoulders,
• 1:07:35
  Speaker 2: producing a couple more yells of pain. From that moment,
• 1:07:40
  Speaker 2: Robin had it all his own way, for he easily
• 1:07:42
  Speaker 2: guarded himself from the swineherd's fierce strokes and retorted with
• 1:07:46
  Speaker 2: swinging blows on first one arm, then on the other.
• 1:07:49
  Speaker 2: Then he brought his staff down with a blow beside
• 1:07:51
  Speaker 2: his enemy's left leg, then half behind the right, making
• 1:07:54
  Speaker 2: him dance and limp as he yelled and sought in
• 1:07:57
  Speaker 2: vain to beat down his active little adversary, who delivered
• 1:08:00
  Speaker 2: a shower of cleverly directed blows in response to the
• 1:08:04
  Speaker 2: wild swoops given with the worst of aim. In the
• 1:08:07
  Speaker 2: heat and excitement, Robin had felt no fear. He was
• 1:08:11
  Speaker 2: in his mettle and fighting for liberty to gain which
• 1:08:14
  Speaker 2: he felt that he must effectually beat his enemy, and
• 1:08:17
  Speaker 2: thanks to Little John's lessons, he thrashed him so well
• 1:08:21
  Speaker 2: that at the end of five minutes, the young swineherd
• 1:08:24
  Speaker 2: received a final stroke across the knuckles which made him shriek,
• 1:08:27
  Speaker 2: drop his staff and turned to run down a long,
• 1:08:30
  Speaker 2: straight avenue in the forest where the ground was open. Robin,
• 1:08:35
  Speaker 2: in his excitement, began to run after him to continue
• 1:08:38
  Speaker 2: the beating, but the swineherd went too fast, and on
• 1:08:40
  Speaker 2: the impulse of the moment, the victor stopped short, dropping
• 1:08:44
  Speaker 2: his own staff and unslinging his bow from where it hung.
• 1:08:48
  Speaker 2: In less time than it takes to tell, the bow
• 1:08:50
  Speaker 2: was strung and an arrow fitted drawn to the head,
• 1:08:53
  Speaker 2: and with a twang it was loosed after the flying
• 1:08:55
  Speaker 2: lad now our hundred yards away. But as soon as
• 1:08:58
  Speaker 2: it was shot, Robin repairs. It will kill him, he thought,
• 1:09:02
  Speaker 2: and his heart seemed to stand still, for the boy's
• 1:09:06
  Speaker 2: teacher had taught well, and here was the proof, truly,
• 1:09:09
  Speaker 2: as if a long, careful aim had been taken. The
• 1:09:12
  Speaker 2: arrow spared many times faster than the swineherd ran, and
• 1:09:15
  Speaker 2: Robin's eyes dilated as he saw his adversary give a
• 1:09:18
  Speaker 2: sudden spring and fall upon his face, Uttering a hideous yell. Robin,
• 1:09:24
  Speaker 2: full of repentance, started off to his enemy's help, but
• 1:09:27
  Speaker 2: before he had gone many yards, the swineherd sprang up
• 1:09:30
  Speaker 2: and began to run faster than ever. While when Robin
• 1:09:32
  Speaker 2: reached the spot, there lay his arrow, But the lad
• 1:09:35
  Speaker 2: was gone. Only pricked him a bit, said little John,
• 1:09:38
  Speaker 2: when he heard of the adventure. Serve the young wretch right,
• 1:09:42
  Speaker 2: but a quarter staff, my word begone, and had given
• 1:09:45
  Speaker 2: something to have been there to hear his bones rattle. Well,
• 1:09:49
  Speaker 2: I didn't teach you for naught. But look here. If
• 1:09:51
  Speaker 2: you meet that fellow in the forest again, don't you
• 1:09:53
  Speaker 2: wait for him to begin? You go at him at once.
• 1:09:57
  Speaker 2: Robin nodded his head, but he never saw the swanherd again.
• 1:10:03
  Speaker 2: End of chapter six. Recording by Christine J. In Oslo, Norway,
• 1:10:08
  Speaker 2: the twenty fifth of March two than twelve.
• 1:10:17
  Speaker 5: Chapter seven of Young robin Hood. This is a LibriVox recording.
• 1:10:22
  Speaker 5: All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more
• 1:10:25
  Speaker 5: information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox dot org. Recording
• 1:10:29
  Speaker 5: by Gabriel V. Young Robinhood by George Fenn. Chapter seven.
• 1:10:35
  Speaker 5: Young Robin's father, the sheriff, suffered very sadly from the
• 1:10:38
  Speaker 5: loss of his son and his goods, and Robin's aunt
• 1:10:42
  Speaker 5: came to Nottingham and wept bitterly over the loss of
• 1:10:45
  Speaker 5: the little boy she loved dearly for David, the old
• 1:10:48
  Speaker 5: servant in whose charge Robin had been placed when he
• 1:10:52
  Speaker 5: was going home, had done what too many weak people do,
• 1:10:56
  Speaker 5: tried to hide one fault by committing another. Robin was
• 1:11:00
  Speaker 5: given into his charge to protect and take safely home
• 1:11:03
  Speaker 5: to his father. And when the attack was made by
• 1:11:06
  Speaker 5: the outlaw's men, instead of doing anything to protect the
• 1:11:09
  Speaker 5: little fellow and save him from being injured by robin
• 1:11:12
  Speaker 5: Hood's people, he thought only of himself. He threw his
• 1:11:16
  Speaker 5: charge into the first bushes he came to and galloped away,
• 1:11:19
  Speaker 5: hardly stopping till he reached Nottingham Town. There the first
• 1:11:24
  Speaker 5: question the sheriff asked was not what had become of
• 1:11:27
  Speaker 5: the pack mules and the consignment of cloth, but where
• 1:11:30
  Speaker 5: was Robin? And the false servants said that he had
• 1:11:34
  Speaker 5: fought hard to save him in the fight, but fought
• 1:11:36
  Speaker 5: in vain, and that the poor boy was dead. And
• 1:11:40
  Speaker 5: then months passed and a year had gone by, and
• 1:11:42
  Speaker 5: people looked solemn and said that it seemed as if
• 1:11:45
  Speaker 5: the sheriff would never hold up his head again. But
• 1:11:48
  Speaker 5: they thought that he should have gathered together a number
• 1:11:51
  Speaker 5: of fighting men gone and punished Robin Hood and his
• 1:11:55
  Speaker 5: outlaws for carrying off that valuable set of loads of cloth.
• 1:11:59
  Speaker 5: But Robin's father cared nothing for the cloth or the mules.
• 1:12:03
  Speaker 5: He could only think of the bright, happy little fellow
• 1:12:05
  Speaker 5: whom he loved so well, and whom he wept for
• 1:12:08
  Speaker 5: in secret at night when there was no one near
• 1:12:11
  Speaker 5: to see. Robin's aunt when she came and tried to
• 1:12:14
  Speaker 5: comfort him, used to shake her head and wipe her eyes.
• 1:12:18
  Speaker 5: She said, little only thought a great deal, and she
• 1:12:21
  Speaker 5: came over again and again to try and comfort her
• 1:12:23
  Speaker 5: dead sister's husband. But it made no difference, for the
• 1:12:27
  Speaker 5: sheriff was a sadly altered man. Then all at once
• 1:12:32
  Speaker 5: there was a change, and it was at a time
• 1:12:34
  Speaker 5: when Robin's Aunt was over to Nottingham. For one day
• 1:12:38
  Speaker 5: a man came to the sheriff's house and wanted him,
• 1:12:41
  Speaker 5: But the sheriff would not see him, for he took
• 1:12:43
  Speaker 5: no interest in anything now, and told his servant that
• 1:12:47
  Speaker 5: the man must send word what his business was. The
• 1:12:51
  Speaker 5: servant went out and came back directly. He says, Sir,
• 1:12:55
  Speaker 5: that he was taken prisoner by Robin Hood's men a
• 1:12:58
  Speaker 5: week ago, and that he has just come from the
• 1:13:00
  Speaker 5: camp under the greenwood tree, and has brought you news. Master.
• 1:13:04
  Speaker 5: The sheriff started up trembling and told his servant to
• 1:13:07
  Speaker 5: bring the strange man in. It was no beaten and
• 1:13:11
  Speaker 5: wounded rophian, but a hale and hearty fellow who looked
• 1:13:15
  Speaker 5: bright and happy. And before he could speak and tell
• 1:13:18
  Speaker 5: his news, the sheriff began to question him. You have
• 1:13:22
  Speaker 5: come from the outlaws camp, he said, with his voice trembling, Yes,
• 1:13:28
  Speaker 5: Master Sheriff, they took you prisoner and beaten robbed you.
• 1:13:34
  Speaker 5: Oh no, Master Sheriff. They took me before robin Hood,
• 1:13:38
  Speaker 5: and he asked me what I was doing there, and
• 1:13:40
  Speaker 5: whether I was not afraid to cross his forest, and
• 1:13:43
  Speaker 5: I up and told him plainly that I wasn't. Then
• 1:13:46
  Speaker 5: he said, how was that? When I must have heard
• 1:13:49
  Speaker 5: what a terrible robber he was. Yes, yes, cried the sheriff,
• 1:13:55
  Speaker 5: And what did you say? I said that I lived
• 1:13:58
  Speaker 5: about these parts all my life, and I never heard
• 1:14:01
  Speaker 5: that he did a poor man any harm. Then he laughed,
• 1:14:04
  Speaker 5: and all his people laughed too, and he said I
• 1:14:07
  Speaker 5: was a merry fellow. Give him plenty to eat and drink,
• 1:14:10
  Speaker 5: he said, for two or three days, and then send
• 1:14:13
  Speaker 5: him on his way, Yes, Master Sheriff, that he did,
• 1:14:17
  Speaker 5: and a fine jolly time I had. Why I almost
• 1:14:20
  Speaker 5: felt as if I should like to stay altogether. And
• 1:14:24
  Speaker 5: all this time the sheriff was watching the man very keenly,
• 1:14:28
  Speaker 5: and suddenly he caught him by the arm. Speak out,
• 1:14:32
  Speaker 5: He said, you did not come to tell me, only that.
• 1:14:36
  Speaker 5: What is it you are keeping back? Why don't you speak? Because? Master,
• 1:14:42
  Speaker 5: said the man softly. I was afraid you couldn't bear it.
• 1:14:45
  Speaker 5: For I was a father once, and my son died,
• 1:14:48
  Speaker 5: And though you never knew me, I knew you and
• 1:14:51
  Speaker 5: was sorry when the news came that your little boy
• 1:14:53
  Speaker 5: was killed? Can you bear to hear good news as
• 1:14:56
  Speaker 5: well as bad? The sheriff was silent for a few minutes,
• 1:15:00
  Speaker 5: during which he closed his eyes and his lips moved,
• 1:15:03
  Speaker 5: and he looked so strange that Robin's aunt crossed the
• 1:15:06
  Speaker 5: room to where he sat and took hold of his
• 1:15:09
  Speaker 5: hand as she whispered loving words. Yes, yes, he said softly,
• 1:15:17
  Speaker 5: I can bear it. Now speak, pray, speak and tell
• 1:15:21
  Speaker 5: me all. But you will not be angry with me
• 1:15:24
  Speaker 5: if I am wrong, Master Sheriff. No, No, said Robin's father.
• 1:15:30
  Speaker 5: Speak out at once well, master Sheriff. No one would
• 1:15:35
  Speaker 5: tell me when I ask questions. But there's a little
• 1:15:38
  Speaker 5: fellow there, dressed all in Lincoln green, like one of
• 1:15:41
  Speaker 5: Robin Hood's fighting men, with his sword and bugle and
• 1:15:44
  Speaker 5: bows and arrows. And somehow I began to think, and
• 1:15:49
  Speaker 5: then I began to ask whether he was Robin Hood's son.
• 1:15:53
  Speaker 5: But those I asked only shook their heads. That made
• 1:15:57
  Speaker 5: me think all the more. And one day I managed
• 1:16:00
  Speaker 5: to follow him, but among the trees, to where I
• 1:16:03
  Speaker 5: found him feeding one of the wild deer, which followed
• 1:16:06
  Speaker 5: him about like a dog. I waited a bit and
• 1:16:10
  Speaker 5: then stepped out to him. And what do you think
• 1:16:12
  Speaker 5: he did? He strung his bow, fitted an arrow to
• 1:16:15
  Speaker 5: it before I knew where I was, and drew it
• 1:16:18
  Speaker 5: to the head as if he was going to shoot me.
• 1:16:22
  Speaker 5: Do you know where Nottingham is? I said, and he
• 1:16:25
  Speaker 5: lowered his bow. Yes, he said, of course. Do you
• 1:16:31
  Speaker 5: know my father? Do I know the Sheriff? I said,
• 1:16:35
  Speaker 5: of course? Are you going there soon? He cried, and
• 1:16:41
  Speaker 5: I nodded. Then you go to my father, he cried,
• 1:16:44
  Speaker 5: and tell him to tell aunt that I'm quite well
• 1:16:47
  Speaker 5: and that some day I'm coming home. The man stopped
• 1:16:52
  Speaker 5: for just then the sheriff closed his eyes again and
• 1:16:55
  Speaker 5: said something very softly, which Robin's aunt heard, and she
• 1:16:59
  Speaker 5: sank upon her knees and cover her face with her hands.
• 1:17:02
  Speaker 5: Then the sheriff sprang to his feet, looking quite a
• 1:17:05
  Speaker 5: different man. Here, he said to the brink of the news,
• 1:17:09
  Speaker 5: and he gave him some gold pieces. Could you find
• 1:17:12
  Speaker 5: your way back to the outlaws camp in the forest? Oh, yes,
• 1:17:18
  Speaker 5: master Sheriff, that I could, though they did bind a
• 1:17:21
  Speaker 5: cloth over my face when they brought me away. And
• 1:17:24
  Speaker 5: you can lead me in a strong body of fighting
• 1:17:27
  Speaker 5: men right to the outlaws camp. I could, Master Sheriff,
• 1:17:32
  Speaker 5: said the man, beginning slowly to lay the gold pieces
• 1:17:35
  Speaker 5: back one by one upon the table. But I can't
• 1:17:39
  Speaker 5: do evil for good, what cried the sheriff angrily. They
• 1:17:44
  Speaker 5: are robbers and outlaws, and every subject of the king
• 1:17:48
  Speaker 5: has a right to slay them. Maybe, Master Sheriff, said
• 1:17:53
  Speaker 5: the man dryly. But I'm not going to fly at
• 1:17:56
  Speaker 5: the throat of one who did nothing but good to me.
• 1:17:59
  Speaker 5: They tell me that Robin Hood's a noble earl who
• 1:18:01
  Speaker 5: offended the king and had to fly for his life.
• 1:18:05
  Speaker 5: What I say is he's a noble, kind hearted gentleman.
• 1:18:09
  Speaker 5: And if it was my boy he had there, looking
• 1:18:11
  Speaker 5: as happy as the day is long, I'd go to
• 1:18:13
  Speaker 5: him without any fighting men. How then, cried the sheriff,
• 1:18:20
  Speaker 5: just like a father should master and ask him for
• 1:18:23
  Speaker 5: my boy, like a man that will do, said the sheriff,
• 1:18:28
  Speaker 5: you can go. The man turned to leave the room
• 1:18:31
  Speaker 5: when the sheriff said, sharply, stop you're leaving the gold
• 1:18:36
  Speaker 5: pieces I gave you. Yes, I can't take pay to
• 1:18:40
  Speaker 5: lead anyone to fight against Robin Hood and his men.
• 1:18:44
  Speaker 5: Those pieces were for the news you brought me, said
• 1:18:47
  Speaker 5: the sheriff. Yes, take them, for you have behaved like
• 1:18:51
  Speaker 5: an honest man. But the sheriff did not take the
• 1:18:54
  Speaker 5: met's advice. Neither did he listen to the appeal of
• 1:18:57
  Speaker 5: young Robin's aunt. For as sheriff of Nottingham, he said
• 1:19:01
  Speaker 5: to himself that it was his duty to destroy or
• 1:19:04
  Speaker 5: scatter the band of outlaws who had lived in Sherwood
• 1:19:07
  Speaker 5: Forest for so long a time. So he gathered a
• 1:19:10
  Speaker 5: strong body of crossbow men and others with spears and swords,
• 1:19:15
  Speaker 5: besides asking for the help of two gallant knights who
• 1:19:18
  Speaker 5: came with their esquires mounted and in armor with their men.
• 1:19:23
  Speaker 5: Somehow Robin Hood knew what was being prepared, and about
• 1:19:27
  Speaker 5: a week after, when the Sheriff and his great following
• 1:19:30
  Speaker 5: of about three hundred men, were struggling to make their
• 1:19:33
  Speaker 5: way through the forest, they heard the sound of a horn,
• 1:19:37
  Speaker 5: and all at once the thick woodland seemed to be
• 1:19:40
  Speaker 5: alive with archers, who used their bows in such a
• 1:19:43
  Speaker 5: way that first one, then a dozen, then by the
• 1:19:46
  Speaker 5: fifties the Sheriff's men began to flee, and in less
• 1:19:50
  Speaker 5: than an hour they were all crawling back to Nottingham,
• 1:19:54
  Speaker 5: badly beaten, not a man among them ready to turn
• 1:19:57
  Speaker 5: and fight. In another month the sheriff advanced again with
• 1:20:03
  Speaker 5: a stronger force, but they were driven back more easily
• 1:20:06
  Speaker 5: than the first, and the sheriff was in despair. But
• 1:20:09
  Speaker 5: a couple of days later he had the man to
• 1:20:12
  Speaker 5: whom he had given the gold pieces found, and sent
• 1:20:16
  Speaker 5: him to the outlaws camp with a letter written upon parchment,
• 1:20:20
  Speaker 5: in which he ordered Robin Hood in the King's name,
• 1:20:23
  Speaker 5: to give up the little prisoner he held there, contrary
• 1:20:26
  Speaker 5: to the law and against his own will. It was
• 1:20:31
  Speaker 5: many weary, anxious days before the messenger came back, but
• 1:20:35
  Speaker 5: without the little prisoner. What did he say, asked the sheriff.
• 1:20:40
  Speaker 5: He said, master, that if he wanted the boy, you
• 1:20:42
  Speaker 5: must go and fetch him. It was the very next
• 1:20:46
  Speaker 5: day that the sheriff went into the room where Young
• 1:20:48
  Speaker 5: Robin's aunt was seated, looking very unhappy, and she jumped
• 1:20:52
  Speaker 5: up from her chair, wonderingly on seeing that her brother
• 1:20:56
  Speaker 5: in law was dressed as if for a journey, wearing
• 1:20:59
  Speaker 5: no sword or dagger, only carrying a long stout walking staff.
• 1:21:04
  Speaker 5: Where are you going, dear, she said, Where I ought
• 1:21:09
  Speaker 5: to have gone? At first, he said, humbly into the
• 1:21:12
  Speaker 5: forest to fetch my boy. But you could never find
• 1:21:16
  Speaker 5: your way, she said, sobbing. Besides, you are the sheriff,
• 1:21:22
  Speaker 5: and these men will seize and kill you. I have
• 1:21:26
  Speaker 5: someone to show me the way, said the sheriff gently.
• 1:21:29
  Speaker 5: And somehow, though I have persecuted and fought against the
• 1:21:33
  Speaker 5: people sorely, I feel no fear. For Robin Hood is
• 1:21:37
  Speaker 5: not the man to slay a broken hearted father who
• 1:21:40
  Speaker 5: comes in search of his long lost boy. End of
• 1:21:44
  Speaker 5: chapter seven.
• 1:21:51
  Speaker 3: Chapter eight of Young robin Hood. This is a LibriVox recording.
• 1:21:56
  Speaker 3: All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more
• 1:21:59
  Speaker 3: information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox dot org. Recording
• 1:22:05
  Speaker 3: by Minnie al Young Robin Hood by George Fenn, Chapter eight.
• 1:22:13
  Speaker 3: The sun was low down in the west and shining
• 1:22:15
  Speaker 3: through and under the great oak and beech trees, so
• 1:22:18
  Speaker 3: that everything seemed to be turning to orange and gold.
• 1:22:21
  Speaker 3: It was the outlaws supper time, the sun being their
• 1:22:24
  Speaker 3: clock in the forest, and the men were gathering together
• 1:22:26
  Speaker 3: to enjoy their second great meal of the day, the
• 1:22:29
  Speaker 3: other being breakfast, after having which they always separated to
• 1:22:33
  Speaker 3: go hunting through the woods to bring in the provisions
• 1:22:35
  Speaker 3: for the next day. Robin Hood's men then were scattered
• 1:22:40
  Speaker 3: about under the shade of a huge spreading oak tree,
• 1:22:43
  Speaker 3: waiting for the roast venison, which sent a very pleasant
• 1:22:46
  Speaker 3: odor from the glowing fire of oak wood. And Young
• 1:22:49
  Speaker 3: Robin was seated on the mossy grass close by the
• 1:22:51
  Speaker 3: fated shed which formed the captain's headquarters, where Maid Marian
• 1:22:55
  Speaker 3: was busy spreading the supper for the little party who
• 1:22:57
  Speaker 3: ate with Robin Hood himself. Little John was there, lying down,
• 1:23:02
  Speaker 3: smiling and contented after a hard day's hunting, listening to
• 1:23:06
  Speaker 3: Young Robin, who was displaying the treasures he had brought
• 1:23:08
  Speaker 3: in that day, and telling his great companion where he
• 1:23:10
  Speaker 3: had found them. There were flowers for maid Marian, because
• 1:23:15
  Speaker 3: she was fond of the purple and yellow, loose strife,
• 1:23:17
  Speaker 3: and long thick reeds in a bundle. You can make
• 1:23:20
  Speaker 3: me some arrows of those, said Robin. And I've found
• 1:23:23
  Speaker 3: a young yew tree with a bough quite straight. You
• 1:23:26
  Speaker 3: must cut that down and dry it to make me
• 1:23:28
  Speaker 3: a bigger bow. This one is not strong enough. Very well,
• 1:23:32
  Speaker 3: big one, said Little John, smiling and stretching out his
• 1:23:35
  Speaker 3: hand to smooth the boy's curly brown hair. Anything else
• 1:23:39
  Speaker 3: for me to do?
• 1:23:40
  Speaker 1: Oh?
• 1:23:41
  Speaker 3: Yes, lots of things, only I can't think of them yet.
• 1:23:44
  Speaker 3: Look here I found these. The boy took some round,
• 1:23:48
  Speaker 3: prickly husks out of his pocket, chestnuts eating ones. Yes,
• 1:23:53
  Speaker 3: I know where you got them, said little John, But
• 1:23:55
  Speaker 3: they're no good. Look. He tore one of the husks
• 1:23:59
  Speaker 3: open and laid to bear the rich brown nut. But
• 1:24:02
  Speaker 3: it was, as he said, good for nothing, there being
• 1:24:05
  Speaker 3: no hard sweet kernel within, nothing but soft, pithy, wooly stuff.
• 1:24:10
  Speaker 3: No good at all, continued the great forester. But I'll
• 1:24:13
  Speaker 3: show you a tree which bears good ones only The
• 1:24:15
  Speaker 3: nuts are better if they are left till they drop
• 1:24:17
  Speaker 3: out of their husks, and then the pigs get them,
• 1:24:20
  Speaker 3: said Robin. Then you must get up before the pigs
• 1:24:24
  Speaker 3: and be first. Halloa. What now? For a horn was
• 1:24:28
  Speaker 3: blowing at a distance, and the men under the great
• 1:24:31
  Speaker 3: oak tree sprang to their feet, while Robin Hood came
• 1:24:34
  Speaker 3: out to see what the signal meant. Young Robin, who
• 1:24:38
  Speaker 3: was now quite accustomed to the forester's ways, caught up
• 1:24:41
  Speaker 3: his bow like the rest, and stood looking eagerly in
• 1:24:44
  Speaker 3: the direction from which the cheery sounding notes of the
• 1:24:46
  Speaker 3: horn were blown. He had not long to wait for
• 1:24:50
  Speaker 3: half a dozen of the merry men in green came
• 1:24:52
  Speaker 3: marching towards them, with a couple of prisoners, each having
• 1:24:55
  Speaker 3: his hands fastened behind him with a bow string and
• 1:24:58
  Speaker 3: a broad bandage tied over his eyes, so that they
• 1:25:01
  Speaker 3: should not know their way again to the outlaw stronghold prisoners,
• 1:25:06
  Speaker 3: said Young Robin. Poor men, too, grumbled Little John. Then
• 1:25:10
  Speaker 3: you'll give them their supper and send them away tomorrow morning,
• 1:25:13
  Speaker 3: said Young Robin. I suppose so, said little John, But
• 1:25:17
  Speaker 3: I don't know what made our fellows bring them in.
• 1:25:20
  Speaker 3: Let's go and see, said young Robin Little John followed
• 1:25:24
  Speaker 3: as the boy marched off bow in hand to where
• 1:25:27
  Speaker 3: Robin Hood was standing, waiting to hear what his men
• 1:25:29
  Speaker 3: had to say about the prisoners they had brought in.
• 1:25:32
  Speaker 3: And as they drew near, the boy saw that one
• 1:25:35
  Speaker 3: was a homely, poor looking man with round shoulders, the
• 1:25:38
  Speaker 3: other well dressed in sad colored clothes and thin and bent.
• 1:25:43
  Speaker 3: But the boy could see little more for the broad
• 1:25:45
  Speaker 3: bandage which nearly covered the prisoner's face and was tied
• 1:25:48
  Speaker 3: tightly behind over his long gray hair, while his gray
• 1:25:51
  Speaker 3: beard hung down low. Young Robin looked pityingly at this prisoner,
• 1:25:56
  Speaker 3: and a longing came over him to loosen the thong
• 1:25:58
  Speaker 3: which tied his hands tightly behind him, and take off
• 1:26:01
  Speaker 3: the bandage so he could breathe freely. But just then
• 1:26:04
  Speaker 3: Robin Hood cried, well, my lads, whom have we here?
• 1:26:08
  Speaker 3: The bowed down, gray haired prisoner rose erect at this
• 1:26:11
  Speaker 3: and cried, is that Robin Hood who speaks? Before the
• 1:26:16
  Speaker 3: outlaw could answer, he was stopped by a cry from
• 1:26:18
  Speaker 3: the boy, who threw down his bow and darted to
• 1:26:21
  Speaker 3: the prisoner's side. Father he cried, and he leaped up
• 1:26:25
  Speaker 3: as active now as one of the deer of the forest,
• 1:26:28
  Speaker 3: to fling his arms about the prisoner's neck, but only
• 1:26:31
  Speaker 3: for a moment. The next he had dropped to the
• 1:26:34
  Speaker 3: ground to look fiercely around at the astonished men as
• 1:26:37
  Speaker 3: he drew the dagger which hung from his belt. Who
• 1:26:40
  Speaker 3: dare do this, he cried, as he reached up to
• 1:26:43
  Speaker 3: tear the bandage from the face bending over him, and
• 1:26:46
  Speaker 3: then darted round to begin sawing at the thong which
• 1:26:48
  Speaker 3: held his father's hands. Little John took a step or
• 1:26:52
  Speaker 3: two forward to help the boy, but Robin Hood held
• 1:26:54
  Speaker 3: up his hand to keep him back, and a dead
• 1:26:57
  Speaker 3: silence fell upon the great group of foresters who had
• 1:26:59
  Speaker 3: pressed forward, and who eagerly watched the scene before them
• 1:27:03
  Speaker 3: in the soft amber sunshine which came slanting through the trees.
• 1:27:06
  Speaker 3: The task was hard, the little fellow worked well, and
• 1:27:10
  Speaker 3: many moments had not elapsed before the prisoner's hands were free, and,
• 1:27:13
  Speaker 3: as if seeing no one but the little forester before
• 1:27:15
  Speaker 3: him in green and quite regardless of all around, he
• 1:27:18
  Speaker 3: dropped upon his knees, clasped the boy to his breast,
• 1:27:21
  Speaker 3: and softly whispered the words thank God. Young Robin's arms
• 1:27:27
  Speaker 3: were tightly round his father's neck by this time, and
• 1:27:30
  Speaker 3: he was kissing the careworn face again and again. They
• 1:27:34
  Speaker 3: didn't know who you were, father, They didn't know who
• 1:27:37
  Speaker 3: you were, cried the boy, passionately, as if asking his
• 1:27:40
  Speaker 3: father's pardon for the outrage committed upon him. No, rob
• 1:27:45
  Speaker 3: said the sheriff in a choking voice. They did not
• 1:27:48
  Speaker 3: know who I was. But you know your poor old
• 1:27:50
  Speaker 3: father again, know you, again, cried the boy, hanging back
• 1:27:55
  Speaker 3: and looking at his father wonderingly.
• 1:27:57
  Speaker 4: Why.
• 1:27:58
  Speaker 3: Yes, But what a long time time you've been before
• 1:28:00
  Speaker 3: you came to fetch me. Yes, yes, my boy, A long,
• 1:28:05
  Speaker 3: long year of misery and sorrow. But I have found
• 1:28:08
  Speaker 3: you now at last. Oh I am glad, cried the boy,
• 1:28:12
  Speaker 3: struggling free and catching his father's hand to lead him
• 1:28:15
  Speaker 3: towards where Robin Hood and Marian were standing wet eyed
• 1:28:18
  Speaker 3: looking on. This is my father, cried the boy proudly.
• 1:28:23
  Speaker 3: This is Robin Hood, the Captain father, he continued, and
• 1:28:26
  Speaker 3: the sheriff bowed gravely. And this has made Marian, who
• 1:28:30
  Speaker 3: has been so good to me. The sheriff bowed slowly
• 1:28:34
  Speaker 3: and gravely, as if to the greatest lady in the land,
• 1:28:37
  Speaker 3: and then the boy dragged at his father's hand. And
• 1:28:40
  Speaker 3: this is old little John. Father, he cried, I say,
• 1:28:43
  Speaker 3: isn't he big? The sheriff bowed again, and the great
• 1:28:47
  Speaker 3: Outlaw's face wore such a comic expression of puzzlement that
• 1:28:50
  Speaker 3: Robin Hood laughed aloud and completed his great follower's confusion.
• 1:28:54
  Speaker 3: He has been so good to me, father, cried young Robin.
• 1:28:58
  Speaker 3: I can shoot with bow and arrow now, and sound
• 1:29:00
  Speaker 3: my horn.
• 1:29:01
  Speaker 4: Hark.
• 1:29:02
  Speaker 3: The boy clapped his horn to his lips and blew
• 1:29:05
  Speaker 3: a few cheery notes, which ran echoing down the forest glades,
• 1:29:08
  Speaker 3: and the men assembled gave a hearty cheer. You are
• 1:29:12
  Speaker 3: welcome to the woodlands, Master Sheriff, said Robin Hood, advancing
• 1:29:16
  Speaker 3: now with extended hand. Do not take this as the
• 1:29:18
  Speaker 3: outlaw's hand, nor extend yours as the sheriff, but let
• 1:29:22
  Speaker 3: it be the grasp of two englishmen, one of whom
• 1:29:24
  Speaker 3: receives a guest. I thank you, sir, said the sheriff slowly.
• 1:29:29
  Speaker 3: I can give you nothing but thanks for after a
• 1:29:32
  Speaker 3: year of sorrow, I find my child is after all
• 1:29:35
  Speaker 3: alive and well, and I hope not worse than when
• 1:29:38
  Speaker 3: accident brought him into our hands. What do you say,
• 1:29:41
  Speaker 3: do you find him changed, bigger and stronger, said the Sheriff,
• 1:29:46
  Speaker 3: drawing the boy closer to him, while the little fellow
• 1:29:49
  Speaker 3: clung to his hand, our woodland life. And I warrant you,
• 1:29:52
  Speaker 3: Master Sheriff, that he is none the worse, for he
• 1:29:55
  Speaker 3: is the truest, most gracious little fellow I have ever
• 1:29:58
  Speaker 3: met here. Little namesake, speak out and let your father
• 1:30:02
  Speaker 3: know you have been a good boy ever since you
• 1:30:03
  Speaker 3: came here to stay. Young Robin was silent and looked
• 1:30:07
  Speaker 3: from one to the other in a curiously abashed fashion.
• 1:30:10
  Speaker 3: Well boy, why don't you speak, cried Robin Hood merrily.
• 1:30:14
  Speaker 3: I want Master Sheriff to hear that we have not
• 1:30:16
  Speaker 3: spoiled you. Come tell him you have always been a
• 1:30:20
  Speaker 3: good boy, haven't you. Young Robin hung his head. No,
• 1:30:25
  Speaker 3: he said, slowly, with his brow wrinkled up, his head
• 1:30:29
  Speaker 3: hanging and one foot scraping softly at the mossy grass. No,
• 1:30:34
  Speaker 3: not always. Little John burst into a tremendous roar of laughter,
• 1:30:39
  Speaker 3: and began to stamp about, with the result that Young
• 1:30:41
  Speaker 3: Robin made a dash at him and tried vainly to
• 1:30:43
  Speaker 3: climb up and clap his hand over the great fellow's lips.
• 1:30:46
  Speaker 3: Don't don't tell, cried the boy. Ran at me only yesterday,
• 1:30:52
  Speaker 3: cried little John, and began to thrash me in a fashion.
• 1:30:56
  Speaker 3: Don't tell tales out of school, Little John, cried Robin Hood, laughing, there, Rob,
• 1:31:01
  Speaker 3: you must forgive him. We're none of us perfect, Master Sheriff,
• 1:31:05
  Speaker 3: And if your little fellow had been quite so, I
• 1:31:08
  Speaker 3: don't think that we should, all to a man here
• 1:31:10
  Speaker 3: have loved him half so well. But come after his confession,
• 1:31:14
  Speaker 3: I think you will grant me one thing, and that
• 1:31:16
  Speaker 3: is in spite of his having spent a year in
• 1:31:18
  Speaker 3: the outlaws camp, he is as honest as the day.
• 1:31:22
  Speaker 3: Nothing could make my Robin tell a lie, said the
• 1:31:25
  Speaker 3: Sheriff proudly. But Sir, I have come humbly to you now,
• 1:31:29
  Speaker 3: glad even to be your prisoner, so that I once
• 1:31:32
  Speaker 3: more might see my child, my prisoner, if you had
• 1:31:36
  Speaker 3: come amongst us with your posse of armed men, Sir,
• 1:31:39
  Speaker 3: said Robin Hood proudly. As it is, Master Sheriff, you
• 1:31:42
  Speaker 3: come here alone with your guide, and I bid you
• 1:31:45
  Speaker 3: welcome to our Greenwood home. Fate made me what I am,
• 1:31:48
  Speaker 3: the Sheriff's enemy, but the gentle visitor's friend, come, rob
• 1:31:53
  Speaker 3: my boy, show your father where he can take away
• 1:31:55
  Speaker 3: the travel stains, and then bring him to our humble board.
• 1:32:00
  Speaker 3: It was the next day that was to be young
• 1:32:01
  Speaker 3: Robin's last with the outlaws in the merry Greenwood, and
• 1:32:05
  Speaker 3: all were gathered together to bid him farewell and see
• 1:32:07
  Speaker 3: him safely with his father on the road. But not
• 1:32:10
  Speaker 3: as the sheriff had come wearily and on foot, for
• 1:32:13
  Speaker 3: half a dozen of the best mules were forthcoming, and
• 1:32:16
  Speaker 3: the guests were to ride back on their journey home.
• 1:32:20
  Speaker 3: Who does not know how hard it is to say
• 1:32:21
  Speaker 3: good bye? Young Robin did not till the time had come.
• 1:32:26
  Speaker 3: He awoke that morning joyful and eager to start, for
• 1:32:29
  Speaker 3: it was to go back home in company with the
• 1:32:31
  Speaker 3: father whom he loved. But when the time came he
• 1:32:33
  Speaker 3: had to learn how tightly so many of his little
• 1:32:35
  Speaker 3: heart strings had taken hold of the life under the
• 1:32:38
  Speaker 3: greenwood tree. Everything about him had grown dear, and there
• 1:32:42
  Speaker 3: was almost a mule load of treasures and pets of
• 1:32:45
  Speaker 3: his own collecting that could not be left behind. And
• 1:32:48
  Speaker 3: when they had been carefully packed in panniers by Little
• 1:32:51
  Speaker 3: John and one of the men, there was the task
• 1:32:53
  Speaker 3: of bidding them all good bye, And then those two
• 1:32:56
  Speaker 3: words grew harder every time, but he spoke up man
• 1:33:00
  Speaker 3: and well in spite of a choking sensation, till nearly
• 1:33:03
  Speaker 3: the last. For I'm coming again, he said, And you'll
• 1:33:07
  Speaker 3: take care of my pet fawn for me, little John,
• 1:33:09
  Speaker 3: and always remember to feed it well, and to forget
• 1:33:12
  Speaker 3: the dog and that dormouse we couldn't find, so that
• 1:33:16
  Speaker 3: I can have it when I come back. And croak,
• 1:33:20
  Speaker 3: what was that? It was a peculiar sound made up
• 1:33:23
  Speaker 3: in the air by little John, and that did it.
• 1:33:26
  Speaker 3: For when young Robin looked up in astonishment, it was
• 1:33:29
  Speaker 3: to see the great Fellow's face all puckered up. And yes,
• 1:33:34
  Speaker 3: there were two great tears rolling down his cheeks as
• 1:33:37
  Speaker 3: he caught the boy in his arms and kissed him.
• 1:33:40
  Speaker 3: And so it was that when Young Robin ran to
• 1:33:42
  Speaker 3: bid Maid Marian good bye, he could no longer hold
• 1:33:45
  Speaker 3: it back as he clasped his arms about her neck
• 1:33:48
  Speaker 3: and kissed her passionately. Again and again. The sobs came fast,
• 1:33:53
  Speaker 3: but the word goodbye would not come at all. And
• 1:33:56
  Speaker 3: when they rode away, the boy dared not look back,
• 1:33:58
  Speaker 3: for fear the men should see his red and swollen eyes,
• 1:34:01
  Speaker 3: so he only waved his hat and kept waving it
• 1:34:04
  Speaker 3: to the last. But he was to see some of
• 1:34:07
  Speaker 3: his friends again. For about a year after the Sheriff
• 1:34:10
  Speaker 3: of Nottingham had the strangest visitors of his lifetime at
• 1:34:13
  Speaker 3: his house, and Young Robin enjoyed the task of welcoming them. For,
• 1:34:17
  Speaker 3: as one old history says, robin hood was forgiven and
• 1:34:21
  Speaker 3: restored by the King to his rightful possessions. And then
• 1:34:24
  Speaker 3: it was that he was gladly welcomed by the Sheriff,
• 1:34:27
  Speaker 3: who said he was honored by the visit of the
• 1:34:29
  Speaker 3: nobleman and his lady. But it was nothing to young
• 1:34:32
  Speaker 3: Robin that his old friend was an earl and his
• 1:34:35
  Speaker 3: lady a countess. They were still Robin Hood and maid
• 1:34:37
  Speaker 3: Marian to him, and big little John their follower, his
• 1:34:41
  Speaker 3: old friend and companion, full of memories of his year's
• 1:34:44
  Speaker 3: happy life in the Merry Greenwood. End of chapter eight
• 1:34:50
  Speaker 3: recording by Minnie Ann Greater Toronto area. End of Young
• 1:34:55
  Speaker 3: Robin Hood by George Fenn