the merry adventures of robin hood-第27章

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is　throat；　setting　him　a…coughing　till　he　could　scarcely　stand。

Then；　while　all　four　stumbled　about；　roaring　with　the　smart　of　the　meal　in　their　eyeballs；　and　while　they　rubbed　their　eyes　till　the　tears　made　great　channels　on　their　faces　through　the　meal；　the　Miller　seized　another　handful　of　flour　and　another　and　another；　throwing　it　in　their　faces；　so　that　even　had　they　had　a　glimmering　of　light　before　they　were　now　as　blind　as　ever　a　beggar　in　Nottinghamshire；　while　their　hair　and　beards　and　clothes　were　as　white　as　snow。

Then　catching　up　his　great　crabstaff；　the　Miller　began　laying　about　him　as　though　he　were　clean　gone　mad。　This　way　and　that　skipped　the　four；　like　peas　on　a　drumhead；　but　they　could　see　neither　to　defend　themselves　nor　to　run　away。　Thwack！　thwack！　went　the　Miller's　cudgel　across　their　backs；　and　at　every　blow　great　white　clouds　of　flour　rose　in　the　air　from　their　jackets　and　went　drifting　down　the　breeze。

〃Stop！〃　roared　Robin　at　last。　　〃Give　over；　good　friend；　I　am　Robin　Hood！〃

〃Thou　liest；　thou　knave；〃　cried　the　Miller；　giving　him　a　rap　on　the　ribs　that　sent　up　a　great　cloud　of　flour　like　a　puff　of　smoke。　〃Stout　Robin　never　robbed　an　honest　tradesman。　　Ha！　thou　wouldst　have　my　money；　wouldst　thou？〃　　And　he　gave　him　another　blow。　〃Nay；　thou　art　not　getting　thy　share；　thou　long…legged　knave。　Share　and　share　alike。〃　　And　he　smote　Little　John　across　the　shoulders　so　that　he　sent　him　skipping　half　across　the　road。　〃Nay；　fear　not；　it　is　thy　turn　now；　black　beard。〃　　And　he　gave　the　Tanner　a　crack　that　made　him　roar　for　all　his　coughing。　〃How　now；　red　coat；　let　me　brush　the　dust　from　thee！〃　cried　he；　smiting　Will　Scarlet。　　And　so　he　gave　them　merry　words　and　blows　until　they　could　scarcely　stand；　and　whenever　he　saw　one　like　to　clear　his　eyes　he　threw　more　flour　in　his　face。　At　last　Robin　Hood　found　his　horn　and　clapping　it　to　his　lips；　blew　three　loud　blasts　upon　it。

Now　it　chanced　that　Will　Stutely　and　a　party　of　Robin's　men　were　in　the　glade　not　far　from　where　this　merry　sport　was　going　forward。　　Hearing　the　hubbub　of　voices；　and　blows　that　sounded　like　the　noise　of　a　flail　in　the　barn　in　wintertime；　they　stopped；　listening　and　wondering　what　was　toward。　Quoth　Will　Stutely；　〃Now　if　I　mistake　not　there　is　some　stout　battle　with　cudgels　going　forward　not　far　hence。　　I　would　fain　see　this　pretty　sight。〃　So　saying；　he　and　the　whole　party　turned　their　steps　whence　the　noise　came。　When　they　had　come　near　where　all　the　tumult　sounded　they　heard　the　three　blasts　of　Robin's　bugle　horn。

〃Quick！〃　cried　young　David　of　Doncaster。　　〃Our　master　is　in　sore　need！〃　So；　without　stopping　a　moment；　they　dashed　forward　with　might　and　main　and　burst　forth　from　the　covert　into　the　highroad。

But　what　a　sight　was　that　which　they　saw！　　The　road　was　all　white　with　meal；　and　five　men　stood　there　also　white　with　meal　from　top　to　toe；　for　much　of　the　barley　flour　had　fallen　back　upon　the　Miller。

〃What　is　thy　need；　master？〃　cried　Will　Stutely。　　〃And　what　doth　all　this　mean？〃

〃Why；〃　quoth　Robin　in　a　mighty　passion；　〃yon　traitor　felt　low　hath　come　as　nigh　slaying　me　as　e'er　a　man　in　all　the　world。　Hadst　thou　not　come　quickly；　good　Stutely；　thy　master　had　been　dead。〃

Hereupon；　while　he　and　the　three　others　rubbed　the　meal　from　their　eyes；　and　Will　Stutely　and　his　men　brushed　their　clothes　clean；　he　told　them　all；　how　that　he　had　meant　to　pass　a　jest　upon　the　Miller；　which　same　had　turned　so　grievously　upon　them。

〃Quick；　men；　seize　the　vile　Miller！〃　cried　Stutely；　who　was　nigh　choking　with　laughter　as　were　the　rest；　whereupon　several　ran　upon　the　stout　fellow　and　seizing　him；　bound　his　arms　behind　his　back　with　bowstrings。

〃Ha！〃　cried　Robin；　when　they　brought　the　trembling　Miller　to　him。　〃Thou　wouldst　murder　me；　wouldst　thou？　　By　my　faith〃　Here　he　stopped　and　stood　glaring　upon　the；　Miller　grimly。　But　Robin's　anger　could　not　hold；　so　first　his　eyes　twinkled；　and　then　in　spite　of　all　he　broke　into　a　laugh。

Now　when　they　saw　their　master　laugh；　the　yeomen　who　stood　around　could　contain　themselves　no　longer；　and　a　mighty　shout　of　laughter　went　up　from　all。　　Many　could　not　stand；　but　rolled　upon　the　ground　from　pure　merriment。

〃What　is　thy　name；　good　fellow？〃　said　Robin　at　last　to　the　Miller；　who　stood　gaping　and　as　though　he　were　in　amaze。

〃Alas；　sir；　I　am　Midge；　the　Miller's　son；〃　said　he　in　a　frightened　voice。

〃I　make　my　vow；〃　quoth　merry　Robin；　smiting　him　upon　the　shoulder；　〃thou　art　the　mightiest　Midge　that　e'er　mine　eyes　beheld。　Now　wilt　thou　leave　thy　dusty　mill　and　come　and　join　my　band？　By　my　faith；　thou　art　too　stout　a　man　to　spend　thy　days　betwixt　the　hopper　and　the　till。〃

〃Then　truly；　if　thou　dost　forgive　me　for　the　blows　I　struck；　not　knowing　who　thou　wast；　I　will　join　with　thee　right　merrily；〃　said　the　Miller。

〃Then　have　I　gained　this　day；〃　quoth　Robin；　〃the　three　stoutest　yeomen　in　all　Nottinghamshire。　　We　will　get　us　away　to　the　greenwood　tree；　and　there　hold　a　merry　feast　in　honor　of　our　new　friends；　and　mayhap　a　cup　or　two　of　good　sack　and　canary　may　mellow　the　soreness　of　my　poor　joints　and　bones；　though　I　warrant　it　will　be　many　a　day　before　I　am　again　the　man　I　was。〃　So　saying；　he　turned　and　led　the　way；　the　rest　following；　and　so　they　entered　the　forest　once　more　and　were　lost　to　sight。

So　that　night　all　was　ablaze　with　crackling　fires　in　the　woodlands；　for　though　Robin　and　those　others　spoken　of；　only　excepting　Midge；　the　Miller's　son；　had　many　a　sore　bump　and　bruise　here　and　there　on　their　bodies；　they　were　still　not　so　sore　in　the　joints　that　they　could　not　enjoy　a　jolly　feast　given　all　in　welcome　to　the　new　members　of　the　band。　Thus　with　songs　and　jesting　and　laughter　that　echoed　through　the　deeper　and　more　silent　nooks　of　the　forest；　the　night　passed　quickly　along；　as　such　merry　times　are　wont　to　do；　until　at　last　each　man　sought　his　couch　and　silence　fell　on　all　things　and　all　things　seemed　to　sleep。

But　Little　John's　tongue　was　ever　one　that　was　not　easy　of　guidance；　so　that；　inch　by　inch；　the　whole　story　of　his　fight　with　the　Tanner　and　Robin's　fight　with　Will　Scarlet　leaked　out。　And　so　I　have　told　it　that　you　may　laugh　at　the　merry　tale　along　with　me。



Robin　Hood　and　Allan　a　Dale

IT　HAS　just　been　told　how　three　unlucky　adventures　fell　upon　Robin　Hood　and　Little　John　all　in　one　day　bringing　them　sore　ribs　and　aching　bones。　So　next　we　will　tell　how　they　made　up　for　those　ill　happenings　by　a　good　action　that　came　about　not　without　some　small　pain　to　Robin。

Two　days　had　passed　by；　and　somewhat　of　the　soreness　had　passed　away　from　Robin　Hood's　joints；　yet　still；　when　he　moved　of　a　sudden　and　without　thinking；　pain　here　and　there　would；　as　it　were；　jog　him；　crying；　〃Thou　hast　had　a　drubbing；　good　fellow。〃

The　day　was　bright　and　jocund；　and　the　morning　dew　still　lay　upon　the　grass。　Under　the　greenwood　tree　sat　Robin　Hood；　on　one　side　was　Will　Scarlet；　lying　at　full　length　upon　his　back；　gazing　up　into　the　clear　sky；　with　hands　clasped　behind　his　head；　upon　the　other　side　sat　Little　John；　fashioning　a　cudgel　out　of　a　stout　crab…tree　limb；　elsewhere　upon　the　grass　sat　or　lay　many　others　of　the　band。

〃By　the　faith　of　my　heart；〃　quoth　merry　Robin；　〃I　do　bethink　me　that　we　have　had　no　one　to　dine　with　us　for　this　long　time。　Our　money　groweth　low　in　the　purse；　for　no　one　hath　come　to　pay　a　reckoning　for　many　a　day。　　Now　busk　thee；　good　Stutely；　and　choose　thee　six　men；　and　get　thee　gone　to　Fosse　Way　or　thereabouts；　and　see　that　thou　bringest　someone　to　eat　with　us　this　evening。　Meantime　we　will　prepare　a　grand　feast　to　do　whosoever　may　come　the　greater　honor。　　And　stay；　good　Stutely。　　I　would　have　thee　take　Will　Scarlet　with　thee；　for　it　is　meet　that　he　should　become　acquaint　with　the　ways　of　the　forest。〃

〃Now　do　I　thank　thee；　good　master；〃　quoth　Stutely；　springing　to　his　feet；　〃that　thou　hast　chosen　me　for　this　adventure。　　Truly；　my　limbs　do　grow　slack　through　abiding　idly　here。　　As　for　two　of　my　six；　I　will　choose　Midge　the　Miller　and　Arthur　a　Bland；　for；　as　well　thou　knowest；　good　master；　they　are　stout　fists　at　the　quarterstaff。　Is　it　not　so；　Little　John？〃

At　this　all　laughed　but　Little　John　and　Robin；　who　twisted　up　his　face。　〃I　can　speak　for　Midge；〃　s