the merry adventures of robin hood-第14章

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not　have　turned　butcher。　As　for　my　land；　I　have　never　asked　my　steward　how　many　acres　I　have。〃

At　this　the　Sheriff's　eyes　twinkled；　and　he　chuckled　to　himself。　〃Nay；　good　youth；〃　quoth　he；　〃if　thou　canst　not　sell　thy　cattle；　it　may　be　I　will　find　a　man　that　will　lift　them　from　thy　hands；　perhaps　that　man　may　be　myself；　for　I　love　a　merry　youth　and　would　help　such　a　one　along　the　path　of　life。　　Now　how　much　dost　thou　want　for　thy　horned　cattle？〃

〃Well；〃　quoth　Robin；　〃they　are　worth　at　least　five　hundred　pounds。〃

〃Nay；〃　answered　the　Sheriff　slowly；　and　as　if　he　were　thinking　within　himself；　〃well　do　I　love　thee；　and　fain　would　I　help　thee　along；　but　five　hundred　pounds　in　money　is　a　good　round　sum；　besides　I　have　it　not　by　me。　Yet　I　will　give　thee　three　hundred　pounds　for　them　all；　and　that　in　good　hard　silver　and　gold。〃

〃Now　thou　old　miser！〃　quoth　Robin；　〃well　thou　knowest　that　so　many　horned　cattle　are　worth　seven　hundred　pounds　and　more；　and　even　that　is　but　small　for　them；　and　yet　thou；　with　thy　gray　hairs　and　one　foot　in　the　grave；　wouldst　trade　upon　the　folly　of　a　wild　youth。〃

At　this　the　Sheriff　looked　grimly　at　Robin。　　〃Nay；〃　quoth　Robin；　〃look　not　on　me　as　though　thou　hadst　sour　beer　in　thy　mouth；　man。　I　will　take　thine　offer；　for　I　and　my　brothers　do　need　the　money。　We　lead　a　merry　life；　and　no　one　leads　a　merry　life　for　a　farthing；　so　I　will　close　the　bargain　with　thee。　　But　mind　that　thou　bringest　a　good　three　hundred　pounds　with　thee；　for　I　trust　not　one　that　driveth　so　shrewd　a　bargain。〃

〃I　will　bring　the　money；〃　said　the　Sheriff。　　〃But　what　is　thy　name；　good　youth？〃

〃Men　call　me　Robert　o'　Locksley；〃　quoth　bold　Robin。

〃Then；　good　Robert　o'　Locksley；〃　quoth　the　Sheriff；　〃I　will　come　this　day　to　see　thy　horned　beasts。　　But　first　my　clerk　shall　draw　up　a　paper　in　which　thou　shalt　be　bound　to　the　sale；　for　thou　gettest　not　my　money　without　I　get　thy　beasts　in　return。〃

Then　Robin　Hood　laughed　again。　　〃So　be　it；〃　he　said；　smiting　his　palm　upon　the　Sheriff's　hand。　　〃Truly　my　brothers　will　be　thankful　to　thee　for　thy　money。〃

Thus　the　bargain　was　closed；　but　many　of　the　butchers　talked　among　themselves　of　the　Sheriff；　saying　that　it　was　but　a　scurvy　trick　to　beguile　a　poor　spendthrift　youth　in　this　way。

The　afternoon　had　come　when　the　Sheriff　mounted　his　horse　and　joined　Robin　Hood；　who　stood　outside　the　gateway　of　the　paved　court　waiting　for　him；　for　he　had　sold　his　horse　and　cart　to　a　trader　for　two　marks。　Then　they　set　forth　upon　their　way；　the　Sheriff　riding　upon　his　horse　and　Robin　running　beside　him。　　Thus　they　left　Nottingham　Town　and　traveled　forward　along　the　dusty　highway；　laughing　and　jesting　together　as　though　they　had　been　old　friends。　　But　all　the　time　the　Sheriff　said　within　himself；　〃Thy　jest　to　me　of　Robin　Hood　shall　cost　thee　dear；　good　fellow；　even　four　hundred　pounds；　thou　fool。〃　For　he　thought　he　would　make　at　least　that　much　by　his　bargain。

So　they　journeyed　onward　till　they　came　within　the　verge　of　Sherwood　Forest；　when　presently　the　Sheriff　looked　up　and　down　and　to　the　right　and　to　the　left　of　him；　and　then　grew　quiet　and　ceased　his　laughter。　〃Now；〃　quoth　he；　〃may　Heaven　and　its　saints　preserve　us　this　day　from　a　rogue　men　call　Robin　Hood。〃

Then　Robin　laughed　aloud。　　〃Nay；〃　said　he；　〃thou　mayst　set　thy　mind　at　rest；　for　well　do　I　know　Robin　Hood　and　well　do　I　know　that　thou　art　in　no　more　danger　from　him　this　day　than　thou　art　from　me。〃

At　this　the　Sheriff　looked　askance　at　Robin；　saying　to　himself；　〃I　like　not　that　thou　seemest　so　well　acquainted　with　this　bold　outlaw；　and　I　wish　that　I　were　well　out　of　Sherwood　Forest。〃

But　still　they　traveled　deeper　into　the　forest　shades；　and　the　deeper　they　went；　the　more　quiet　grew　the　Sheriff。　　At　last　they　came　to　where　the　road　took　a　sudden　bend；　and　before　them　a　herd　of　dun　deer　went　tripping　across　the　path。　　Then　Robin　Hood　came　close　to　the　Sheriff　and　pointing　his　finger；　he　said；　〃These　are　my　horned　beasts；　good　Master　Sheriff。　　How　dost　thou　like　them？　Are　they　not　fat　and　fair　to　see？〃

At　this　the　Sheriff　drew　rein　quickly。　　〃Now　fellow；〃　quoth　he；　〃I　would　I　were　well　out　of　this　forest；　for　I　like　not　thy　company。　Go　thou　thine　own　path；　good　friend；　and　let　me　but　go　mine。〃

But　Robin　only　laughed　and　caught　the　Sheriff's　bridle　rein。　〃Nay；〃　cried　he；　〃stay　awhile；　for　I　would　thou　shouldst　see　my　brothers；　who　own　these　fair　horned　beasts　with　me。〃　So　saying；　he　clapped　his　bugle　to　his　mouth　and　winded　three　merry　notes；　and　presently　up　the　path　came　leaping　fivescore　good　stout　yeomen　with　Little　John　at　their　head。

〃What　wouldst　thou　have；　good　master？〃　quoth　Little　John。

〃Why；〃　answered　Robin；　〃dost　thou　not　see　that　I　have　brought　goodly　company　to　feast　with　us　today？　　Fye；　for　shame！　Do　you　not　see　our　good　and　worshipful　master；　the　Sheriff　of　Nottingham？　　Take　thou　his　bridle；　Little　John；　for　he　has　honored　us　today　by　coming　to　feast　with　us。〃

Then　all　doffed　their　hats　humbly；　without　smiling　or　seeming　to　be　in　jest；　while　Little　John　took　the　bridle　rein　and　led　the　palfrey　still　deeper　into　the　forest；　all　marching　in　order；　with　Robin　Hood　walking　beside　the　Sheriff；　hat　in　hand。

All　this　time　the　Sheriff　said　never　a　word　but　only　looked　about　him　like　one　suddenly　awakened　from　sleep；　but　when　he　found　himself　going　within　the　very　depths　of　Sherwood　his　heart　sank　within　him；　for　he　thought；　〃Surely　my　three　hundred　pounds　will　be　taken　from　me；　even　if　they　take　not　my　life　itself；　for　I　have　plotted　against　their　lives　more　than　once。〃　But　all　seemed　humble　and　meek　and　not　a　word　was　said　of　danger；　either　to　life　or　money。

So　at　last　they　came　to　that　part　of　Sherwood　Forest　where　a　noble　oak　spread　its　branches　wide；　and　beneath　it　was　a　seat　all　made　of　moss；　on　which　Robin　sat　down；　placing　the　Sheriff　at　his　right　hand。　〃Now　busk　ye；　my　merry　men　all；〃　quoth　he；　〃and　bring　forth　the　best　we　have；　both　of　meat　and　wine；　for　his　worship　the　Sheriff　hath　feasted　me　in　Nottingham　Guild　Hall　today；　and　I　would　not　have　him　go　back　empty。〃

All　this　time　nothing　had　been　said　of　the　Sheriff's　money；　so　presently　he　began　to　pluck　up　heart。　　〃For；〃　said　he　to　himself；　〃maybe　Robin　Hood　hath　forgotten　all　about　it。〃

Then；　while　beyond　in　the　forest　bright　fires　crackled　and　savory　smells　of　sweetly　roasting　venison　and　fat　capons　filled　the　glade；　and　brown　pasties　warmed　beside　the　blaze；　did　Robin　Hood　entertain　the　Sheriff　right　royally。　　First；　several　couples　stood　forth　at　quarterstaff；　and　so　shrewd　were　they　at　the　game；　and　so　quickly　did　they　give　stroke　and　parry；　that　the　Sheriff；　who　loved　to　watch　all　lusty　sports　of　the　kind；　clapped　his　hands；　forgetting　where　he　was；　and　crying　aloud；　〃Well　struck！　Well　struck；　thou　fellow　with　the　black　beard！〃　little　knowing　that　the　man　he　called　upon　was　the　Tinker　that　tried　to　serve　his　warrant　upon　Robin　Hood。

Then　several　yeomen　came　forward　and　spread　cloths　upon　the　green　grass；　and　placed　a　royal　feast；　while　others　still　broached　barrels　of　sack　and　Malmsey　and　good　stout　ale；　and　set　them　in　jars　upon　the　cloth；　with　drinking　horns　about　them。　Then　all　sat　down　and　feasted　and　drank　merrily　together　until　the　sun　was　low　and　the　half…moon　glimmered　with　a　pale　light　betwixt　the　leaves　of　the　trees　overhead。

Then　the　Sheriff　arose　and　said；　〃I　thank　you　all；　good　yeomen；　for　the　merry　entertainment　ye　have　given　me　this　day。　Right　courteously　have　ye　used　me；　showing　therein　that　ye　have　much　respect　for　our　glorious　King　and　his　deputy　in　brave　Nottinghamshire。　　But　the　shadows　grow　long；　and　I　must　away　before　darkness　comes；　lest　I　lose　myself　within　the　forest。〃

Then　Robin　Hood　and　all　his　merry　men　arose　also；　and　Robin　said　to　the　Sheriff；　〃If　thou　must　go；　worshipful　sir；　go　thou　must；　but　thou　hast　forgotten　one　thing。〃

〃Nay；　I　forgot　nought；〃　said　the　Sheriff；　yet　all　the　same　his　heart　sank　within　him。

〃But　I　say　thou　hast　forgot　something；〃　quoth　Robin。　　〃We　keep　a　merry　inn　here　in　the　greenwood；　but　whoever　becometh　our　guest　must　pay　his　reckoning。〃

Then　the　Sheriff　laughed；　but　the　laugh　was　hollow。　　〃Well；　jolly　boys；〃　quoth　he；　〃we　have　had　a　merry　time　together　tod