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20 - Merry Adventures of Robin Hood by Howard Pyle · Merry Adventures of Robin Hood

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Speaker 1: Hood by Howard Pyle, Chapter twenty, Robin Hood and Ghey
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Speaker 1: of Gisborne. A long time passed after the Great Shooting Match,
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Speaker 1: and during that time Robin followed one part of the
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Speaker 1: advice of Sir Robert Lee to wit, that of being
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Speaker 1: less bold in his comings and goings. For though mayhap
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Speaker 1: he may not have been more honest as most folks
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Speaker 1: regard honesty, he took good care not to travel so
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Speaker 1: far from Sherwood that he could not reach it, both
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Speaker 1: easily and quickly. Great changes had fallen in this time,
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Speaker 1: for King Henry had died, and King Richard had come
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Speaker 1: to the crown that fitted him so well, through many
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Speaker 1: hard trials and through adventures as stirring as any that
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Speaker 1: ever befell robin Hood. But though great changes came, they
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Speaker 1: did not reach to Sherwood shades. For there Robin Hood
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Speaker 1: and his men dwelled as merrily as they ever had done,
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Speaker 1: with hunting and feasting and singing and blythe woodland sports.
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Speaker 1: For it was little the outside strivings of the world
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Speaker 1: troubled them. The dawning of a summer's day was fresh
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Speaker 1: and bright, and the birds sang sweetly in a great
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Speaker 1: tumult of sound, so loud was there singing, that it
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Speaker 1: awaken Robin Hood where he lay sleeping, so that he
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Speaker 1: stirred and turned and arose up rose little John also
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Speaker 1: and all the merry men. And then after that they
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Speaker 1: broke their fast, and they set forth hither and thither
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Speaker 1: upon the doings of the day. Robin Hood and Little
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Speaker 1: John walked down a forest path, where all around the
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Speaker 1: leaves danced and twinkled, as the breeze trembled through them,
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Speaker 1: and the sunlight came flickering down, quoth Robin Hood. I
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Speaker 1: may make my vow, Little John. My blood tickles my
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Speaker 1: veins as it flows through them this gay morn. What
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Speaker 1: sayest thou to our seeking adventures, each one upon his
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Speaker 1: own account? With all my heart, said little John, we
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Speaker 1: have had more than one pleasant doing in that way,
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Speaker 1: Good Master, here are two paths. Take thou the one
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Speaker 1: to the right hand, and I will take the one
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Speaker 1: to the left. And then let each of us walk
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Speaker 1: straight ahead till he tumbles into some merry doing or other.
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Speaker 1: I like thy plan, quoth Robin Therefore we will part here.
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Speaker 1: But look thee little John, keep thyself out of mischief,
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Speaker 1: for I would not have ill befall THEE for all
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Speaker 1: the world marry come up, quoth little John, how thou talkest,
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Speaker 1: methinks thou art wont to give thyself into tighter coils
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Speaker 1: than I am like to do. At this robin Hood left.
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Speaker 1: Why in sooth Little John said he thou hast a blundering,
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Speaker 1: hard headed way that seemeth to bring THEE right side
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Speaker 1: uppermost in all thy troubles. But let us see who
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Speaker 1: cometh out best this day. So saying, he clapped his
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Speaker 1: palm to Little John's, and each departed upon his way,
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Speaker 1: the trees quickly shutting the one from the other's sight.
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Speaker 1: Robin Hood strolled onward till he came to where a
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Speaker 1: broad woodland road stretched before him. Overhead, the branches of
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Speaker 1: the trees laced together in flickering foliage, all goldenware. It
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Speaker 1: grew thin to the sunlight. Beneath his feet, the ground
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Speaker 1: was soft and moist from the sheltering shade. Here, in
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Speaker 1: this pleasant spot, the sharpest adventure that ever befel robin
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Speaker 1: Hood came upon him. For as he walked down the
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Speaker 1: woodland path, thinking of naught but the songs of the birds,
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Speaker 1: he came of a sudden to where a man was
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Speaker 1: seated upon the mossy roots beneath the shade of a broad,
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Speaker 1: spreading oak tree. Robin Hood saw that the stranger had
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Speaker 1: not caught sight of him. So he stopped and stood
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Speaker 1: quite still, looking at the other, a long time before
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Speaker 1: he came forward. And the stranger I walked was well
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Speaker 1: worth looking at, for never had Robin Hood seen a
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Speaker 1: figure like that sitting beneath the tree. From his head
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Speaker 1: to his feet, he was clad in a horse's hide,
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Speaker 1: dressed with the hair upon it. Upon his head was
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Speaker 1: a cow that hid his face from sight, and which
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Speaker 1: was made of the horse's skin. The ears wereof stuck
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Speaker 1: up like those of a rabbit. His body was glad,
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Speaker 1: and a jacket made of the hide, and his legs
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Speaker 1: were covered with the hairy skin. Likewise, by his side
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Speaker 1: was a heavy broadsword and a sharp double edged dagger.
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Speaker 1: A quiver of smooth round arrows hung across his shoulders,
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Speaker 1: and his stout bow of ewe leaned against the tree
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Speaker 1: beside him. HALLO friend, cried Robin, coming forward. At last,
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Speaker 1: Who art thou that sittest there? And what is it
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Speaker 1: that thou hast upon thy body?
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Speaker 2: I make my vow.
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Speaker 1: I hath never seen such a sight in all my
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Speaker 1: life before, had I done an evil thing, or did
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Speaker 1: my conscience trouble me, I would be afraid of thee,
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Speaker 1: thinking that thou wast someone from down below bringing a
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Speaker 1: message bidding me come straightway to King Nicholas. To this speech,
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Speaker 1: the other answered not a word, but he pushed the
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Speaker 1: cowl back from his head, and showed a knit brow,
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Speaker 1: a hooked nose, and a pair of fierce, restless black eyes,
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Speaker 1: which altogether made Robin Hood think of a hawk as
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Speaker 1: he looked on his face. But besides this, there was
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Speaker 1: something about the lines of the stranger's face, and his thin,
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Speaker 1: cruel mouth, and the hard glare of his eyes that
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Speaker 1: made one's flesh creep to look upon who art thou? Rascal,
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Speaker 1: said he at last, in a loud, harsh voice, Tut tut,
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Speaker 1: quoth Mary, Robin speak not so sourly, brother, hast thou
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Speaker 1: fed upon vinegar and nettles this morning? That thy speech
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Speaker 1: is so stinging. An thou likest not my words, said
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Speaker 1: the other fiercely, Thou hast best be jogging, For I
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Speaker 1: tell THEE plainly, my deeds match them nay, but I
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Speaker 1: do like thy words, thou sweet pretty thing, quoth Robin,
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Speaker 1: squatting down upon the grass in front of the other. Moreover,
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Speaker 1: I tell THEE thy speech as witty and games as
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Speaker 1: any I ever heard in all my life. The other
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Speaker 1: said not a word, but he glared upon Robin with
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Speaker 1: a wicked and baleful look, such as a fierce dog
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Speaker 1: bestows upon a man ere it springs at his throat.
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Speaker 1: Robin's returned the gaze with one of wide eyed innocence,
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Speaker 1: not a shadow of a smile twinkling in his eyes
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Speaker 1: or twitching at the corners of his mouth. So they
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Speaker 1: sat staring at one another for a long time until
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Speaker 1: the stranger broke the silence. Suddenly, what is thy name?
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Speaker 2: Fellow?
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Speaker 1: Said he now, quoth Robin. I am right glad to
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Speaker 1: hear THEE speak, for I began to fear the sight
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Speaker 1: of me had stricken THEE dumb As for my name.
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Speaker 1: It may be this, or it may be that, But
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Speaker 1: methinks it is more meet for THEE to tell me thine,
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Speaker 1: seeing that thou art thy greater stranger in these parts, prithee,
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Speaker 1: tell me, sweet Chuck, why wearest thou that dainty garb
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Speaker 1: upon thy pretty body. At these words, the other broke
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Speaker 1: into a short, harsh roar of laughter. By thy bones
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Speaker 1: of the damon Oden said he, thou art the boldest
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Speaker 1: spoken man that ever I have seen in all my life.
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Speaker 1: I know not why I do not smite thee down
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Speaker 1: where thy sittest. For only two days ago I skewered
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Speaker 1: a man back at Nottingham Town for saying not half
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Speaker 1: so much to me as thou hast done. I wear
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Speaker 1: this garb, thou fool, to keep my body warm. Likewise,
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Speaker 1: it is near as good as a coat of steel
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Speaker 1: against a common sword thrust. As for my name, I
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Speaker 1: care not who knoweth it. It is Ghee of Gisborne, and
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Speaker 1: thou mayst have heard it before. I come from the
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Speaker 1: woodlands over in Herefordshire, upon the lands of the Bishop
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Speaker 1: of that Ilk. I am an outlaw, and I get
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Speaker 1: my living by hook and by crook, in a manner
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Speaker 1: at boots not now tell thee of Not long since
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Speaker 1: the Bishop sent for me and said that if I
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Speaker 1: would do a certain thing that the Sheriff of Nottingham
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Speaker 1: would ask of me, he would get me a free
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Speaker 1: pardon and give me ten score pounds to boot. So
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Speaker 1: straightway I came to Nottingham Town and found my sweet Sheriff.
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Speaker 1: And what thinkest thou he wanted of me? Why forsooth
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Speaker 1: to come here to Sherwood to hunt one Robin Hood
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Speaker 1: also an outlood low and take him alive or dead.
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Speaker 1: It seemeth that they have no one here to face
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Speaker 1: that old fellow. So so he sent all the way
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Speaker 1: to Herefordshire to me. For thou knowest thou old saying,
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Speaker 1: set a thief to catch a thief. As for the
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Speaker 1: slaying of this fellow, it galleth me not a whit,
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Speaker 1: for I would shed the blood of my own brother
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Speaker 1: for the half of two hundred pounds. To all this
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Speaker 1: Robin listened, and as he listened, his gorge rose.
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Speaker 2: Well.
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Speaker 1: He knew of this key of Gisborne, and of all
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Speaker 1: the bloody and murderous deeds that he had done in Herbordshire.
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Speaker 1: For his doings were famous throughout all the land. Yet
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Speaker 1: although he loathed the very presence of the man, he
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Speaker 1: held his, for he had an end to serve. Truly,
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Speaker 1: quoth he I have heard of thy gentle doings. Methinks
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Speaker 1: there is no one in all the world that Robin
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Speaker 1: Hood would rather meet than thee at this key of
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Speaker 1: Gisborne gave another harsh laugh. Why quoth he, it is
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Speaker 1: a merry thing to think of one stout outlaw like
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Speaker 1: Robin Hood meeting another stout outlaw, like the guy of Gisborne.
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Speaker 1: Only in this case it will be an ill happening
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Speaker 1: for Robin Hood, For the day he meets Gy of Gisborne,
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Speaker 1: he shall die. But thou, gentle, merry spirit, quoth Robin
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Speaker 1: dost thou not think that, mayhap this same Robin Hood
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Speaker 1: may be the better man of the two. I know
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Speaker 1: him right well, and many think that he is one
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Speaker 1: of the stoutest men hereabouts. He may be the stoutest
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Speaker 1: of men hereabouts, quoth Hee of Gisborne. Yet I tell
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Speaker 1: thee fellow, this sty of yours is not the wide world.
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Speaker 1: I lay my life upon it. I am the better
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Speaker 1: man of the two. He an outlaw forsooth? Why I
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Speaker 1: hear that he had never let blood in all his life,
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Speaker 1: saying when he first came to the forest, some call
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Speaker 1: him a great archer merry. I would not be afraid
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Speaker 1: to stand against him all the days of the year
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Speaker 1: with a bow in my hand. Why truly, some folk
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Speaker 1: do call him a great archer, said Robin Hood. But
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Speaker 1: we of Nottinghamshire are famous hands with the longbow. Even I,
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Speaker 1: though but a simple hand at the craft, would not
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Speaker 1: fear to try about with thee. At these words, gi
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Speaker 1: of Gisborne looked upon Robin with wondering eyes, and then
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Speaker 1: gave another roar of laughter till the woods rang. Now,
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Speaker 1: quoth he thou art a bold fellow to talk to
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Speaker 1: me in this way. I like thy spirit in so
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Speaker 1: speaking up to me, for few men have dared to
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Speaker 1: do so. Put up a garland, lad, and I will
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Speaker 1: try about with thee. Tut tut, quoth Robin. Only babes
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Speaker 1: shooted garlands hereabouts. I will put up a good Nottingham
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Speaker 1: mark for thee. So saying he arose, and going to
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Speaker 1: a hazel thicket not far off, he cut a wand
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Speaker 1: about twice the thickness of a man's thumb. From this
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Speaker 1: he peeled the bark, sharpening the point, stuck it up
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Speaker 1: in the ground in front of a great oak tree.
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Speaker 1: Thence he measured off four score paces, which brought him
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Speaker 1: beside the tree where the other sat there. Quoth he
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Speaker 1: is the kind of mark that Nottingham yeoman shoot at
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Speaker 1: now let me see thee split thou wand if thou
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Speaker 1: art an archer, then Gy of Gisborne arose now out
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Speaker 1: upon it, cried he the devil himself could not hit
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Speaker 1: such a mark as that. Mayhap he could, and mayhap
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Speaker 1: he could not, quoth Mary Robin, but that we shall
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Speaker 1: never know till thou hast shot thereat. At these words,
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Speaker 1: Guy of Gisborne looked upon Robin with knit brows, but
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Speaker 1: as the Yeoman still looked innocent of any ill meaning,
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Speaker 1: he bottled his words and strung his bow in silence.
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Speaker 1: Twice he shot, but neither time did he hit the
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Speaker 1: wand missing it in the first time by a span
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Speaker 1: and the second time by a good palm's breath. Robin
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Speaker 1: laughed and laughed. I see now, quoth he that the
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Speaker 1: devil himself could not hit thy mark, good fellow. If
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Speaker 1: thou art no better with the broadsword than thou art
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Speaker 1: with the beau and arrow, thou wilt never overcome Robin.
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Speaker 1: Hood At these words, gi of Gisborne glared savagely upon Robin.
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Speaker 1: Quoth he, thou hast a merry tongue, thou villain, But
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Speaker 1: take care that thou makest not too free with it,
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Speaker 1: or I may cut it out with thy throat.
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Speaker 2: For thee.
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Speaker 1: Robin Hood strung his bow and took his place with
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Speaker 1: nearer word, albeit his heart strings quivered with anger and loathing.
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Speaker 1: Twice he shot, the first time hitting within an inch
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Speaker 1: of the wand the second time splitting it fairly in
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Speaker 1: the middle. Then, without giving the other a chance for speech,
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Speaker 1: he flung his bow upon the ground. There, thy buddy,
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Speaker 1: bloody villain, cried, he fiercely. Let that show THEE how
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Speaker 1: little thou knowest of manly sports. And now look thy
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Speaker 1: last upon the daylight. For the good earth hath been
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Speaker 1: befowled long enough by THEE, thou vile beast. This day
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Speaker 1: our lady willing thou diest, I am robin Hood, so saying,
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Speaker 1: he flashed forth his bright sword in the sunlight.
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Speaker 2: For a time.
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Speaker 1: Gye of Gisborne stared upon Robin as though bereft of wits,
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Speaker 1: but his wonder quickly passed to a wild rage. Art thou, indeed,
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Speaker 1: robin Hood cried, he Now I am glad to meet THEE.
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Speaker 1: Thou poor wretch. Strive thyself, for thou wilt have no
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Speaker 1: time for striving when I am done with thee, so saying,
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Speaker 1: he also drew his sword, and now came the fiercest
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Speaker 1: fight that ever Sherwood saw, for each man knew that
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Speaker 1: either he or the other must die, and that no
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Speaker 1: mercy was to be had in this battle. Up and
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Speaker 1: down they fought, till all the sweet green grass was
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Speaker 1: crushed and ground beneath the trampling of their heels. More
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Speaker 1: than once the point of Robin Hood's sword felt the
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Speaker 1: softness of flesh, and presently the ground began to be
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Speaker 1: sprinkled with bright red drops, albeit not one of them
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Speaker 1: came from Robin's veins. At last, Gi of Gisbourne made
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Speaker 1: a fierce and deadly thrust at Robin Hood, from which
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Speaker 1: he leaped back quickly. But in so leaping he caught
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Speaker 1: his heel in a root and fell heavily upon his back. Now,
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Speaker 1: Holy Marry, aid me, muttered he as the other leaped
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Speaker 1: at him, with a grin of rage upon his face. Fiercely,
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Speaker 1: Guy of Gisborne stabbed at the other with his great sword,
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Speaker 1: but Robin caught the blade in his naked hand, and
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Speaker 1: though it cut his palm, he turned the point away
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Speaker 1: so that it plunged deep into the ground close beside him.
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Speaker 1: Then ere a blow could be struck again. He leaped
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Speaker 1: to his feet with his good sword in his hand.
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Speaker 1: And now despair felt upon Ghiy of Gisborne's heart in
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Speaker 1: a black cloud, and he looked around him wildly like
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Speaker 1: a wounded hawk.
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Speaker 2: Seeing that his.
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Speaker 1: Strength was going from him, Robin leaped forward and quick
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Speaker 1: as a flash, struck a broad handed blow beyond the
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Speaker 1: sword arm. Down fell the sword from Ghi of Gisborne's grasp,
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Speaker 1: and back he staggered at the stroke, and ere he
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Speaker 1: could regain himself. Robin's sword passed through and through his body.
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Speaker 1: Round he spun his heels, and, flinging his hands aloft
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Speaker 1: with a shrill, wild cry, fell prone upon his face
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Speaker 1: upon the green sod. Then Robin hood wiped his sword
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Speaker 1: and thrust it back into the scabbard, and coming to
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Speaker 1: where Guy of Gisborne lay, he stood over him with
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Speaker 1: folded arms, talking to himself for the while, this is
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Speaker 1: the first man I have slain, since I shot the
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Speaker 1: King's forest, or in the hot days of my youth.
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Speaker 1: I oftimes think bitterly even yet of that first life
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Speaker 1: I took. But of this, I am glad as thou
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Speaker 1: I had slain a wild boar that lay waste a
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Speaker 1: fair country. Since the Sheriff of Nottingham hath sent such
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Speaker 1: a one as this against me, I will put on
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Speaker 1: the fellow's garb and go forth to see whether I
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Speaker 1: may not find his worship, and perchance pay him back
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Speaker 1: some of the debt I owe him upon this score. So,
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Speaker 1: saying Robin Hood, stripped the hairy garments from off the
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Speaker 1: dead man, put them on himself, all bloody as they were,
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Speaker 1: then strapping the other's sword and tagger around his body,
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Speaker 1: and carrying his own in his hand, together with the
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Speaker 1: two bows of you. He drew the cowl of horses
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Speaker 1: hide over his face, so that none could tell who
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Speaker 1: he was, and set forth from the forest, turning his
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Speaker 1: steps towards the eastward in Nottingham Town. As he strode
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Speaker 1: along the country roads, men, women and children hid away
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Speaker 1: from him, for the terror of Gey, of Gisborne's name,
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Speaker 1: and of his doings had spread far and near. And
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Speaker 1: now let us see what befell little John. While these
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Speaker 1: things were happening, Little John walked on his way through
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Speaker 1: the forest pass until he had come to the outskirts
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Speaker 1: of the woodlands, where here and there fields of barley,
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Speaker 1: corn and green meadows lands lay smiling in the sun.
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Speaker 1: So he came to the high road, and to where
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Speaker 1: a little thatched cottage stood, black of cluster and twisted
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Speaker 1: crab trees with flowers in front of it. Here he
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Speaker 1: stopped of a sudden, for he thought that he heard
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Speaker 1: the sound of some one in sorrow. He listened and
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Speaker 1: found that it came from the cottage. So, turning his
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Speaker 1: footsteps thither, he pushed open the wicket and entered the place.
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Speaker 1: There he saw a gray haired dame sitting beside a
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Speaker 1: cold hearthstone, rocking herself to and fro weeping bitterly. Now
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Speaker 1: little John had a tender heart for the sorrows of
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Speaker 1: other folk, So, coming to the old woman, and patting
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Speaker 1: her kindly upon the shoulder, he spoke comforting words to her,
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Speaker 1: bidding her cheer up and tell him her troubles, for
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Speaker 1: that mayhap he may do something to ease them. At
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Speaker 1: all this the good dame shook her head, but all
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Speaker 1: the same his kind words did soothe her somewhat. So
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Speaker 1: after a while she told him all that bore upon
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Speaker 1: her mind, that that morning she had three as fair
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Speaker 1: tall sons beside her as one could find in all Nottinghamshire,
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Speaker 1: but that they were now taken from her and were
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Speaker 1: like to be hanged straightway, that one having come upon them,
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Speaker 1: Her eldest boy had gone out the night before into
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Speaker 1: the forest and had slain the hind in the winter moonlight.
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Speaker 1: That the King's rangers had followed the blood upon the
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Speaker 1: grass until they had come to her cottage, and had
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Speaker 1: there found the deer's meat in the cupboard. That as
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Speaker 1: neither of the younger sons would betray their brother, the
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Speaker 1: forester had taken all three away in spite of the oldest,
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Speaker 1: saying that he alone had slain the deer. That as
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Speaker 1: they went, she had heard the rangers talking among themselves,
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Speaker 1: saying that the Sheriff had sworn that he would put
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Speaker 1: a check upon the great slaughter of deer that had
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Speaker 1: been going on of late, hanging the first road caught
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Speaker 1: thereupon the nearest tree, and that they would take the
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Speaker 1: three use to the King's Head Inn, near Nottingham Town,
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Speaker 1: where the Sheriff was biding that day there to await
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Speaker 1: the return of a certain fellow he had sent into
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Speaker 1: Sherwood to seek for robin Hood.
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Speaker 2: To all this, little.
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Speaker 1: John listened, shaking his head sadly. Now and then alas
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Speaker 1: quoth he when the good Dame had finished her speech,
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Speaker 1: This is indeed an ill case. But who is this
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Speaker 1: that goeth into sherwood after robin Hood? And why doth
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Speaker 1: he go to seek him? But no matter for that now,
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Speaker 1: only that I would that robin Hood were here to
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Speaker 1: advise us. Nevertheless, no time may be lost in sending
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Speaker 1: for him at this hour. If we would save the
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Speaker 1: lives of thy three sons, Tell me, hast thou any
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Speaker 1: clothes hereon that I may put in a place of
17:42
Speaker 1: these of Lincoln Green, marry. If our stout sheriff catcheth
17:46
Speaker 1: me without disguise, I am like to be run up
17:48
Speaker 1: more quickly than thy sons. Tell me tell me, Dame.
17:52
Speaker 1: Then the old woman told him that she had in
17:54
Speaker 1: the house some of the clothes of her good husband,
17:56
Speaker 1: who had only died two years before. These she to
18:00
Speaker 1: little John, who, doffing his garb of Lincoln Green, put
18:03
Speaker 1: them on its stead. Then, making a wig and a
18:05
Speaker 1: false beard of uncarted wool, he covered his own brown
18:08
Speaker 1: hair and beard, and putting on a great tall hat
18:10
Speaker 1: that had belonged to the old peasant. He took his
18:13
Speaker 1: staff into one hand and his bow in the other,
18:16
Speaker 1: and set forth with all the speed to where the
18:18
Speaker 1: Sheriff had taken up his inn. A mile or more
18:22
Speaker 1: from Nottingham Town, and not far from the southern borders
18:25
Speaker 1: of Sherwood Forest, stood the cozy inn bearing the sign
18:27
Speaker 1: of the King's head. Here was a great bustle and
18:30
Speaker 1: stir on this bright morning, for the Sheriff and a
18:32
Speaker 1: score of his men had come to stop there and
18:34
Speaker 1: await Giy of Gisborne's return from the forest. Great hiss
18:38
Speaker 1: and fuss of cooking was going on in the kitchen,
18:40
Speaker 1: and great wrapping and tapping of wine kegs and beer
18:43
Speaker 1: barrels was going on in the cellar. The Sheriff sat
18:47
Speaker 1: with in, feasting merrily of the best the place afforded,
18:51
Speaker 1: and the Sheriff's men sat upon the bench before the door,
18:54
Speaker 1: quaffing ale, and lay beneath the shade of a broad
18:56
Speaker 1: spreading oak trees, talking and jesting and laughing. All around
19:01
Speaker 1: stood the horses of the band, with a great noise
19:03
Speaker 1: of stamping feet and the great switching of tails. To
19:06
Speaker 1: this inn came the King's rangers, driving the widow's three
19:10
Speaker 1: sons before them. The hands of the three youths were
19:12
Speaker 1: tied tightly behind their backs, and a cord from neck
19:15
Speaker 1: to neck fastened them all together. So they were marched
19:18
Speaker 1: to the room where the sheriff sat at meat, and
19:20
Speaker 1: stood trembling before him as he scowled sternly upon them.
19:25
Speaker 1: So quoth he in a great loud, angry voice. Ye
19:28
Speaker 1: have been poaching upon the King's deer, have you?
19:31
Speaker 2: Now?
19:31
Speaker 1: I will make short work of you this day, for
19:33
Speaker 1: I will hang up all three of you as a
19:35
Speaker 1: farmer would hang up three crows to scare others of
19:37
Speaker 1: the kind from the field. Our fair county of Nottingham
19:41
Speaker 1: hath been too long a breeding place for such naughty
19:44
Speaker 1: knaves as ye are. I have put up with these
19:46
Speaker 1: things for many years, But now I will stamp them
19:49
Speaker 1: out at once.
19:49
Speaker 2: For all I will with you. I will begin. Then.
19:53
Speaker 1: One of the poor fellows opened his mouth to speak,
19:55
Speaker 1: but the sheriff roared at him in a loud voice
19:58
Speaker 1: to be silent, and bade the rangers to take him
20:00
Speaker 1: away till he had done his eating and could attend
20:02
Speaker 1: to the matters concerning them. So the three poor youths
20:06
Speaker 1: were marched outside, where they stood with bowed heads and
20:09
Speaker 1: despairing hearts, till after a while the sheriff came forth.
20:13
Speaker 1: Then he called his men about him, and quoth he
20:15
Speaker 1: these three villains shall be hanged straightway, but not here,
20:19
Speaker 1: lest they breed ill luck to this goodly in. We
20:22
Speaker 1: will take them over yonder, to that belt of woodlands.
20:24
Speaker 1: For I would fain hang them upon the very trees
20:27
Speaker 1: of Sherwood itself, to show these vile outlaws therein what
20:30
Speaker 1: they may expect of me. Ifever I have the good
20:32
Speaker 1: luck to lay hands upon them, So saying, he mounted
20:36
Speaker 1: his horse, as did his men at arms. Likewise, and
20:39
Speaker 1: all together they set forth for the belt of woodlands.
20:42
Speaker 1: He had spoken of the poor youths walking in their midst,
20:44
Speaker 1: guarded by the rangers.
20:46
Speaker 2: So they came at.
20:47
Speaker 1: Last to the spot, and here nooses were fastened around
20:50
Speaker 1: their necks of the three, and the ends of the
20:52
Speaker 1: cords flung over the branch of a great oak tree
20:54
Speaker 1: that stood there. Then the three youths fell upon their
20:58
Speaker 1: knees and loudly besought mercy of the sheriff. But the
21:01
Speaker 1: Sheriff of Nottingham laughed scornfully. Now quoth he, I would
21:06
Speaker 1: that I had a priest here to shrive you, But
21:08
Speaker 1: as none is nigh, you must then travel your road
21:11
Speaker 1: with all your sins packed upon your backs, and trust
21:14
Speaker 1: to Saint Peter to let you in through the gates
21:16
Speaker 1: of Paradise, like three peddlers.
21:18
Speaker 2: Into the town.
21:19
Speaker 1: In the meantime, while all this had been going forward,
21:22
Speaker 1: an old man had drawn near and stood leaning on
21:24
Speaker 1: his staff, looking on His hair and beard were all
21:27
Speaker 1: curly and white, and across his back was a bow
21:30
Speaker 1: of you that looked much too strong for him to draw.
21:33
Speaker 1: As the sheriff looked around ere, he ordered his men
21:35
Speaker 1: to string the three youths up to the oak tree.
21:37
Speaker 1: His eyes fell upon this strange old man, and then
21:40
Speaker 1: his worship beckoned him to say, come hither, Father, I
21:44
Speaker 1: have a few words to say to thee. So little John,
21:47
Speaker 1: for it was none other than he, came forward, and
21:50
Speaker 1: the sheriff looked upon him, thinking that there was something
21:53
Speaker 1: strangely familiar in the face before him. How now said
21:57
Speaker 1: he me, things I have seen THEE before. What may
22:00
Speaker 1: thy name be?
22:01
Speaker 2: Father?
22:03
Speaker 1: Please your worship, said Little John, in a cracked voice
22:06
Speaker 1: like that of an old man. My name is Giles's
22:09
Speaker 1: Hobble at your worship service, Giles Hobble. Giles Hobble, muttered
22:16
Speaker 1: the sheriff to himself, turning over the name that he
22:18
Speaker 1: had in his mind to try to find one to
22:20
Speaker 1: fit to this. I remember not thy name, said he
22:25
Speaker 1: at last. But it matters not hast thou a mind
22:28
Speaker 1: to earn sixpence? This breke morn I marry, quoth little John,
22:33
Speaker 1: for money is not so plenty with me that I
22:35
Speaker 1: should cast sixpence away, and I could earn it by
22:38
Speaker 1: an honest turn. What is it your worship would have
22:41
Speaker 1: me do? Why this, said syff. Here are three men
22:45
Speaker 1: that need hanging as badly as any air I saw.
22:48
Speaker 1: If thou wouldst string them up, I will pay thee
22:51
Speaker 1: twopence apiece for them. I like not that my men
22:54
Speaker 1: at arms should turn hangman. Wilst THU try thy hand
22:59
Speaker 1: in sooth, said little John, still in his old man's voice.
23:02
Speaker 1: I had never done such a thing before, But a
23:05
Speaker 1: sixpence is to be earned so easily I might as
23:08
Speaker 1: well have as anybody. But your worship, are these naughty
23:12
Speaker 1: fellows strived?
23:15
Speaker 2: Nay?
23:15
Speaker 1: Said Sheriff, laughing, never a whit, But thou wit mayest
23:18
Speaker 1: turn thy hand to that also if thou art so minded,
23:22
Speaker 1: but he'st and eye prithee, thee I would get back
23:25
Speaker 1: to mine inn betimes. So Little John came to where
23:29
Speaker 1: the three youths stood, trembling, and putting his face to
23:32
Speaker 1: the first fellow's cheek as though he were listening to him,
23:35
Speaker 1: he whispered softly into his ear, stand still, brother, when
23:39
Speaker 1: thou feelest thy bands cut, But when THEE seest me
23:42
Speaker 1: throw my woolen, wig and beard from my head and face,
23:46
Speaker 1: cast thy noose from thy neck, and run for the woodlands.
23:49
Speaker 1: Then he slyly cut the cord that bound the youth's hands, who,
23:53
Speaker 1: upon his part, stood still as though he were yet bound.
23:57
Speaker 1: Then he went to the second fellow and spoke to
23:59
Speaker 1: him in the same way, and also cut his bounds.
24:02
Speaker 1: This he did to the third likewise, but all so
24:04
Speaker 1: slyly that the sheriff, who sat upon his horse laughing,
24:07
Speaker 1: wotted not what was being done, nor his men either.
24:11
Speaker 1: Then Little John turned to the sheriff, Please your worship,
24:15
Speaker 1: said he will you give me leave to string my bow?
24:18
Speaker 1: For I would fain help these fellows along the way
24:21
Speaker 1: when they are swinging with an arrow beneath the ribs.
24:24
Speaker 1: With all my heart, said the Sheriff. Only as I
24:27
Speaker 1: said before, make thou haste in thy doings. Little John
24:31
Speaker 1: put the tip of his bow to his instep and
24:33
Speaker 1: strung the weapons so deftly that all wondered to see
24:36
Speaker 1: an old man so strong. Next, he drew a good
24:40
Speaker 1: smooth arrow from his quiver and fitted it to the string,
24:43
Speaker 1: And then, looking all around to see that the way
24:45
Speaker 1: was clear behind him, he suddenly cast away the wool
24:48
Speaker 1: from his head and face, shouting in a mighty voice.
24:50
Speaker 1: Run quick as a flash. The three youths flung the
24:54
Speaker 1: nooses from their necks and sped across the open to
24:56
Speaker 1: the woodlands. As the arrow speeds from the bow. Little
25:00
Speaker 1: John also flew toward the cover like a greyhound, while
25:03
Speaker 1: the sheriff and his men gazed after him, all bewildered
25:06
Speaker 1: with the sudden doings. But ere the yeomen had gone far,
25:09
Speaker 1: the Sheriff roused himself after him. He roared in a
25:13
Speaker 1: mighty voice, for he knew now what it was with
25:15
Speaker 1: whom he had been talking, and wondered that he had
25:18
Speaker 1: not known him before. Little John heard the Sheriff's words,
25:22
Speaker 1: and seeing that he could not hope to reach the
25:24
Speaker 1: woodlands before they would be upon him, he stopped and turned, suddenly,
25:27
Speaker 1: holding his bow as though he were about to shoot.
25:30
Speaker 1: Stand back, cried he fiercely. The first man that cometh
25:33
Speaker 1: a foot forward a toucheth finger to bowstring dieth At
25:38
Speaker 1: these words, the sheriff's men stood as still as stalks,
25:41
Speaker 1: for they knew right well that little John would be
25:43
Speaker 1: as good as his word, and that to disify him
25:46
Speaker 1: meant death in vain. The sheriff roared at them, calling
25:50
Speaker 1: them cowards, and urging them forward in a body. They
25:53
Speaker 1: would not budge an inch, but stood and watched Little
25:56
Speaker 1: John as he moved slowly away toward the forest, keeping
25:59
Speaker 1: his gaze fixed upon them. But when the Sheriff saw
26:02
Speaker 1: his enemy thus slipping betwixt his fingers, he grew mad
26:06
Speaker 1: with rage, so that his head swam, and he knew
26:09
Speaker 1: not what he did. Then of a sudden he turned
26:11
Speaker 1: his horse's head, and, plunging his spurs into its sides,
26:14
Speaker 1: he gave a great shout, and rising in his stirrups,
26:18
Speaker 1: came down upon little John like the wind. Then little
26:21
Speaker 1: John raised his deadly bow and drew the gray goose
26:25
Speaker 1: feather to his cheek. But alas for him, for ere
26:28
Speaker 1: he could lose the shaft the good bow that had
26:31
Speaker 1: served him so long, split in his hands, and the
26:34
Speaker 1: arrow fell harmless at his feet. Seeing what had happened,
26:37
Speaker 1: the sheriff's men raised a shout, and, following their master,
26:41
Speaker 1: came rushing down upon Little John. But the sheriff was
26:44
Speaker 1: ahead of the others, and so caught up with the
26:46
Speaker 1: yeoman before he reached the shelter of the woodlands. Then,
26:49
Speaker 1: leaning forward, he struck a mighty blow. Little John ducked,
26:53
Speaker 1: and the Sheriff's sword turned in his hand, but the
26:55
Speaker 1: flat of the blade struck the other upon the head
26:57
Speaker 1: and smote him down. Stunned and sense now I am
27:02
Speaker 1: right glad, said the Sheriff, when the men came up
27:04
Speaker 1: and found that Little John was not dead, that I
27:07
Speaker 1: have not slain this man in my haste. I would
27:09
Speaker 1: rather lose five hundred pounds than have him die. Thus,
27:12
Speaker 1: instead of hanging as such a vile thief should do,
27:15
Speaker 1: go get some water from the yonder fountain Willem, and
27:19
Speaker 1: poured it over his head. The man did as he
27:22
Speaker 1: was bidden and presently little John opened his eyes and
27:24
Speaker 1: looked around him, all dazed and bewildered with the stunt
27:27
Speaker 1: of the blow. Then they tied his hands behind him, and,
27:31
Speaker 1: lifting him up, set him upon the back of one
27:34
Speaker 1: of the horses, with his face to its tail, and
27:36
Speaker 1: his feet strapped beneath its belly. So they took him
27:39
Speaker 1: back to the King's head in laughing and rejoicing as
27:41
Speaker 1: they went along. But in the meantime the widow's three
27:44
Speaker 1: sons had gotten safely away and were hidden in the woodlands.
27:48
Speaker 1: Once more, the Sheriff of Nottingham sat with the King's
27:51
Speaker 1: head in his heart, rejoiced within him, for he had
27:54
Speaker 1: last done that which he had sought to do for years,
27:57
Speaker 1: taken little John prisoner. Quoth he to himself, this time
28:01
Speaker 1: tomorrow the rogue shall hang upon the gallows tree in
28:04
Speaker 1: front of the great gate of Nottingham Town. And thus
28:07
Speaker 1: shall I make my long score with him. Even so
28:10
Speaker 1: saying he took a deep draft of kennery. But it
28:14
Speaker 1: seemed as if the Sheriff had swallowed a thought with
28:17
Speaker 1: his wine, for he shook his head and put the
28:19
Speaker 1: cup down hastily. Now he muttered himself, I would not
28:24
Speaker 1: for a thousand pounds have this fellow slipped through my fingers.
28:27
Speaker 1: Yet should his master escape that foul gee of Gisborne,
28:31
Speaker 1: there is no knowing what he may do, for he
28:34
Speaker 1: is the cunningest knave in all the world. This same
28:37
Speaker 1: robin hood be like, I had better not wait until
28:40
Speaker 1: tomorrow to hang this fellow. So saying, he pushed his
28:43
Speaker 1: chair back hastily, and going forth from the inn, called
28:46
Speaker 1: his men together, quoth he, I will not wait no
28:50
Speaker 1: longer for the hanging of this rogue, but it shall
28:52
Speaker 1: be done forthwith, and that from that very tree. Whence
28:56
Speaker 1: he saved those three young villains by stepping betwixt them
28:58
Speaker 1: with the law. So get ye ready straightway. Then once
29:03
Speaker 1: more they sat little John upon the horse, with his
29:05
Speaker 1: face to the tail, and so one leading the horse
29:08
Speaker 1: whereon he sat, and the others riding around him. They
29:11
Speaker 1: went forward to that tree, from the branches of which
29:14
Speaker 1: they had thought to hang the poachers on. They went
29:17
Speaker 1: rattling and jingling along the road till they came to
29:20
Speaker 1: the tree. Here one of the men spoke to the sheriff.
29:23
Speaker 1: Of a sudden, your worship, cried, he is not yon
29:27
Speaker 1: fellow coming along toward us, that same Gee of Gisborne,
29:30
Speaker 1: whom thou dissent in the forest to seek Robin Hood.
29:33
Speaker 1: At these words, the sheriff shaded his eyes and looked eagerly.
29:37
Speaker 1: Why sirtis quoth he yon fellow is the same?
29:40
Speaker 2: Now?
29:41
Speaker 1: Heaven send that he has slain the master thief, as
29:43
Speaker 1: we will presently slay the man. When little John heard
29:47
Speaker 1: this speech, he looked up and straightway his heart crumbled
29:50
Speaker 1: away within him, For not only were the man's garments
29:53
Speaker 1: all covered with blood, but he wore Robin Hood's bugle
29:56
Speaker 1: horn and carried his bow and broadsword. How now, cried
30:01
Speaker 1: the sheriff, when Robin Hood of in Guy of Gisborne's
30:04
Speaker 1: clothes that come nigh to them, What luck hath befallen
30:06
Speaker 1: thee in the forest? Why man, thy clothes are all
30:09
Speaker 1: covered with blood? An thou likest not my clothes, said Robin,
30:14
Speaker 1: in a harsh voice like that of Gey of Gisborne.
30:16
Speaker 1: Thou mayst shut thine eyes, marry. The blood upon me
30:19
Speaker 1: is that of the vile outlaw that ever trod the woodlands,
30:22
Speaker 1: and one whom I have slain this day, albeit not
30:25
Speaker 1: without wound to myself. Then out spake little John for
30:29
Speaker 1: the first time since he had fallen into the Sheriff's hands. O,
30:33
Speaker 1: thy vile, bloody wretch, I know.
30:35
Speaker 2: Thee Gey of Gisborne.
30:36
Speaker 1: For who is thee there that hath not heard of thee?
30:39
Speaker 1: And curseth thee for the vile deeds of blood and rapine?
30:43
Speaker 1: Is it by such a hand as thine that the
30:45
Speaker 1: gentlest heart that ever beat is stilled in death? Truly
30:49
Speaker 1: thou art a fit tool for this coward Sheriff of Nottingham.
30:52
Speaker 1: Now I die joyfully, nor do I care how I die,
30:56
Speaker 1: for life is not to me. So spake little John,
30:59
Speaker 1: the salt tear rolling down his brown cheeks. But the
31:03
Speaker 1: Sheriff of Nottingham clapped his hands for joy. Now, Ghi
31:06
Speaker 1: of Gisborne, cried he. If what thou tellest me is true,
31:10
Speaker 1: I will be the best days doing for THEE that
31:12
Speaker 1: ever thou hast done in all thy life. What I
31:16
Speaker 1: have told THEE is sooth, and I lie not, said
31:19
Speaker 1: Robin still in Guy of Gisborne's voice. Look is not
31:22
Speaker 1: this Robin Hood's sword? And is not this his good
31:24
Speaker 1: bow of you? And is not this his bugle horn?
31:27
Speaker 1: Thinkest thou he would have given them to Gee of
31:30
Speaker 1: Gisborne of his own free will. Then the sheriff laughed
31:33
Speaker 1: aloud for joy.
31:34
Speaker 2: This is a good day, cried he, the.
31:37
Speaker 1: Great outlaw dead, and his right hand man in my hands.
31:40
Speaker 1: Ask what thou wilt me, Ghi of Gisborne.
31:42
Speaker 2: And it is thine? Then I ask of thee, said Robin.
31:47
Speaker 1: As I have slain the master, I would now kill
31:50
Speaker 1: the man. Give this fellow's life into my hands, Sir Sheriff.
31:55
Speaker 1: Now thou art thou art a fool, cried Sheriff. Thou
31:58
Speaker 1: mightest have had money enough for a knight's ransom if
32:01
Speaker 1: thou hadn't asked for it. I like ill to let
32:04
Speaker 1: this fellow pass from my hands. But as I have promised,
32:07
Speaker 1: thou shalt have him. I thank THEE right heartily for
32:10
Speaker 1: thy gift, cried Robin. Take the rogue down from the
32:14
Speaker 1: horse men and lean him against the onder tree, while
32:16
Speaker 1: I show you how we stick a porker. Whence I
32:19
Speaker 1: come at these words, some of the Sheriff's men shook
32:22
Speaker 1: their heads for thou. They cared not a whit whether
32:24
Speaker 1: Little John were hanged or not. They hated to see
32:26
Speaker 1: him butchered in cold blood. But the sheriff called to
32:30
Speaker 1: them in a loud voice, ordering them to take the
32:32
Speaker 1: yeoman down from the horse and lean him against the tree,
32:35
Speaker 1: and as the others be. While they were doing this,
32:38
Speaker 1: Robin Hood strung both his bow and that of GhIE
32:40
Speaker 1: of Gisborne, albeit none of them took notice of his
32:44
Speaker 1: doing so. Then, when Little John stood against the tree,
32:47
Speaker 1: he drew Ghi of Gisborne's sharp double edged dagger. Fall back,
32:51
Speaker 1: fall back, cried he would ye crowd so on my pleasure.
32:55
Speaker 1: Ye unmannerly knaves back, I say farther. Yet so they
32:58
Speaker 1: crowded back as he ordered, many of them turning their
33:01
Speaker 1: faces away that they might not see what was about
33:04
Speaker 1: to happen. Come, cried little John. Here is my breast.
33:08
Speaker 1: It is meet that the same hand that slew my
33:12
Speaker 1: dear master should butcher me. Also, I know thee Gee
33:14
Speaker 1: of Gisborne.
33:17
Speaker 2: Peace, little John, said Robin in a low voice.
33:19
Speaker 1: Twice thou hast said, thou knowest me, And yet thou
33:22
Speaker 1: knowest me not at all? Couldst thou not tell me
33:25
Speaker 1: beneath this wild beast's side, yonder just in front of
33:28
Speaker 1: thee lie my bow and arrow. Likewise, my broadsword. Take
33:32
Speaker 1: them when I cut thy mindes, Now quickly get them,
33:36
Speaker 1: so saying, he cut the bonds, and Little John, quick
33:39
Speaker 1: as a wink, leaped forward and caught up the bow
33:41
Speaker 1: and arrows and the broadsword. At the same time, Robin
33:44
Speaker 1: Hood threw back the cowl of horses hide from his face,
33:46
Speaker 1: and bent gy of Gisborne's bow with a keen barbed
33:49
Speaker 1: arrow fitted to the string stand back, cried he sternly.
33:53
Speaker 1: The first man that touches finger to bowstring, dieth I
33:56
Speaker 1: have slain thy man, Sheriff, take heed that it is
34:00
Speaker 1: not thy turn. Next, Then, seeing that Little John had
34:03
Speaker 1: armed himself, he clapped his bugle horn to his lips
34:05
Speaker 1: and blew his three blasts, both loud and shrill. Now,
34:09
Speaker 1: when the Sheriff of Nottingham saw whose face it was
34:12
Speaker 1: beneath the of Gisborne's hood, and when he heard those
34:15
Speaker 1: bugle notes ring in his ear, he felt as if
34:17
Speaker 1: his hour had come. Robin Hood roared he and without
34:22
Speaker 1: another word, he wheeled his horse in the road and
34:24
Speaker 1: went off in a cloud of dust. The sheriff's men,
34:27
Speaker 1: seeing their master thus fleeing for his life, thought that
34:30
Speaker 1: it was not their business. To tarry longer, so, clapping
34:33
Speaker 1: spurs to their horses, they also dashed away after him.
34:37
Speaker 1: But though the Sheriff of Nottingham went fast, he could
34:40
Speaker 1: not outstrip a clothiard arrow. Little John twanged his bowstring
34:44
Speaker 1: with a shot, and when the sheriffs dashed in through
34:46
Speaker 1: the gates of Nottingham Town at full speed, a gray
34:49
Speaker 1: goose chef stuck out behind him like a molting sparrow
34:53
Speaker 1: with one feather in its tail. For a month afterward,
34:56
Speaker 1: the poor sheriff could sit upon nought but the softest
35:00
Speaker 1: cushion that.
35:00
Speaker 2: Could be gotten for him.
35:01
Speaker 1: Thus the Sheriff and a score of men ran away
35:04
Speaker 1: from Robin Hood and Little John, so that when the
35:07
Speaker 1: will Stuteley and a dozen or more of stout yeomen
35:10
Speaker 1: burst from out of the cover, they saw nought of
35:12
Speaker 1: their master's enemies, for the sheriff and his men were
35:15
Speaker 1: scurrying away in the distance, hidden with a cloud of
35:17
Speaker 1: dust like a thunder storm. Then they all went back
35:20
Speaker 1: into the forest once more, where they found the widow's
35:23
Speaker 1: three sons, who ran to Little John and kissed his hands.
35:27
Speaker 1: But it would not do for them to roam the
35:29
Speaker 1: forest at large any more, so they promised that after
35:32
Speaker 1: they had gone and told their mother of their escape,
35:35
Speaker 1: they would come that night to the Greenwood Tree and
35:37
Speaker 1: henceforth become men of the Bond. End of Chapter twenty