the merry adventures of robin hood-第33章

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down　his　face　in　beads　from　the　hardness　of　his　journey　and　the　heaviness　of　his　load。　　Meantime；　the　Friar　kept　digging　his　heels　into　Robin's　sides　and　bidding　him　hasten；　calling　him　many　ill　names　the　while。　To　all　this　Robin　answered　never　a　word；　but；　having　softly　felt　around　till　he　found　the　buckle　of　the　belt　that　held　the　Friar's　sword；　he　worked　slyly　at　the　fastenings；　seeking　to　loosen　them。　Thus　it　came　about　that；　by　the　time　he　had　reached　the　other　bank　with　his　load；　the　Friar's　sword　belt　was　loose　albeit　he　knew　it　not；　so　when　Robin　stood　on　dry　land　and　the　Friar　leaped　from　his　back；　the　yeoman　gripped　hold　of　the　sword　so　that　blade；　sheath；　and　strap　came　away　from　the　holy　man；　leaving　him　without　a　weapon。

〃Now　then；〃　quoth　merry　Robin；　panting　as　he　spake　and　wiping　the　sweat　from　his　brow；　〃I　have　thee；　fellow。　　This　time　that　same　saint　of　whom　thou　didst　speak　but　now　hath　delivered　two　swords　into　my　hand　and　hath　stripped　thine　away　from　thee。　Now　if　thou　dost　not　carry　me　back；　and　that　speedily；　I　swear　I　will　prick　thy　skin　till　it　is　as　full　of　holes　as　a　slashed　doublet。〃

The　good　Friar　said　not　a　word　for　a　while；　but　he　looked　at　Robin　with　a　grim　look。　　〃Now；〃　said　he　at　last；　〃I　did　think　that　thy　wits　were　of　the　heavy　sort　and　knew　not　that　thou　wert　so　cunning。　　Truly；　thou　hast　me　upon　the　hip。　Give　me　my　sword；　and　I　promise　not　to　draw　it　against　thee　save　in　self…defense；　also；　I　promise　to　do　thy　bidding　and　take　thee　upon　my　back　and　carry　thee。〃

So　jolly　Robin　gave　him　his　sword　again；　which　the　Friar　buckled　to　his　side；　and　this　time　looked　to　it　that　it　was　more　secure　in　its　fastenings；　then　tucking　up　his　robes　once　more；　he　took　Robin　Hood　upon　his　back　and　without　a　word　stepped　into　the　water；　and　so　waded　on　in　silence　while　Robin　sat　laughing　upon　his　back。　At　last　he　reached　the　middle　of　the　ford　where　the　water　was　deepest。　Here　he　stopped　for　a　moment；　and　then；　with　a　sudden　lift　of　his　hand　and　heave　of　his　shoulders；　fairly　shot　Robin　over　his　head　as　though　he　were　a　sack　of　grain。

Down　went　Robin　into　the　water　with　a　mighty　splash。　〃There；〃　quoth　the　holy　man；　calmly　turning　back　again　to　the　shore；　〃let　that　cool　thy　hot　spirit；　if　it　may。〃

Meantime；　after　much　splashing；　Robin　had　gotten　to　his　feet　and　stood　gazing　about　him　all　bewildered；　the　water　running　from　him　in　pretty　little　rills。　At　last　he　shot　the　water　out　of　his　ears　and　spat　some　out　of　his　mouth；　and；　gathering　his　scattered　wits　together；　saw　the　stout　Friar　standing　on　the　bank　and　laughing。　　Then；　I　wot；　was　Robin　Hood　a　mad　man。　〃Stay；　thou　villain！〃　roared　he；　〃I　am　after　thee　straight；　and　if　I　do　not　carve　thy　brawn　for　thee　this　day；　may　I　never　lift　finger　again！〃　So　saying；　he　dashed；　splashing；　to　the　bank。

〃Thou　needst　not　hasten　thyself　unduly；〃　quoth　the　stout　Friar。　　〃Fear　not；　I　will　abide　here；　and　if　thou　dost　not　cry　‘Alack…a…day'　ere　long　time　is　gone；　may　I　never　more　peep　through　the　brake　at　a　fallow　deer。〃

And　now　Robin；　having　reached　the　bank；　began；　without　more　ado；　to　roll　up　his　sleeves　above　his　wrists。　　The　Friar；　also；　tucked　his　robes　more　about　him；　showing　a　great；　stout　arm　on　which　the　muscles　stood　out　like　humps　of　an　aged　tree。　Then　Robin　saw；　what　he　had　not　wotted　of　before；　that　the　Friar　had　also　a　coat　of　chain　mail　beneath　his　gown。

〃Look　to　thyself；〃　cried　Robin；　drawing　his　good　sword。

〃Ay；　marry；〃　quoth　the　Friar；　who　held　his　already　in　his　hand。　　So；　without　more　ado；　they　came　together；　and　thereupon　began　a　fierce　and　mighty　battle。　Right　and　left；　and　up　and　down　and　back　and　forth　they　fought。　The　swords　flashed　in　the　sun　and　then　met　with　a　clash　that　sounded　far　and　near。　　I　wot　this　was　no　playful　bout　at　quarterstaff；　but　a　grim　and　serious　fight　of　real　earnest。　Thus　they　strove　for　an　hour　or　more；　pausing　every　now　and　then　to　rest；　at　which　times　each　looked　at　the　other　with　wonder；　and　thought　that　never　had　he　seen　so　stout　a　fellow；　then　once　again　they　would　go　at　it　more　fiercely　than　ever。　Yet　in　all　this　time　neither　had　harmed　the　other　nor　caused　his　blood　to　flow。　　At　last　merry　Robin　cried；　〃Hold　thy　hand；　good　friend！〃　whereupon　both　lowered　their　swords。

〃Now　I　crave　a　boon　ere　we　begin　again；〃　quoth　Robin；　wiping　the　sweat　from　his　brow；　for　they　had　striven　so　long　that　he　began　to　think　that　it　would　be　an　ill…done　thing　either　to　be　smitten　himself　or　to　smite　so　stout　and　brave　a　fellow。

〃What　wouldst　thou　have　of　me？〃　asked　the　Friar。

〃Only　this；〃　quoth　Robin；　〃that　thou　wilt　let　me　blow　thrice　upon　my　bugle　horn。〃

The　Friar　bent　his　brows　and　looked　shrewdly　at　Robin　Hood。　　〃Now　I　do　verily　think　that　thou　hast　some　cunning　trick　in　this；〃　quoth　he。　〃Ne'ertheless；　I　fear　thee　not；　and　will　let　thee　have　thy　wish；　providing　thou　wilt　also　let　me　blow　thrice　upon　this　little　whistle。〃

〃With　all　my　heart；〃　quoth　Robin；　〃so；　here　goes　for　one。〃　So　saying；　he　raised　his　silver　horn　to　his　lips　and　blew　thrice　upon　it；　clear　and　high。

Meantime；　the　Friar　stood　watching　keenly　for　what　might　come　to　pass；　holding　in　his　fingers　the　while　a　pretty　silver　whistle；　such　as　knights　use　for　calling　their　hawks　back　to　their　wrists；　which　whistle　always　hung　at　his　girdle　along　with　his　rosary。

Scarcely　had　the　echo　of　the　last　note　of　Robin's　bugle　come　winding　back　from　across　the　river；　when　four　tall　men　in　Lincoln　green　came　running　around　the　bend　of　the　road；　each　with　a　bow　in　his　hand　and　an　arrow　ready　nocked　upon　the　string。

〃Ha！　　Is　it　thus；　thou　traitor　knave！〃　cried　the　Friar。　　〃Then；　marry；　look　to　thyself！〃　　So　saying；　he　straightway　clapped　the　hawk's　whistle　to　his　lips　and　blew　a　blast　that　was　both　loud　and　shrill。　　And　now　there　came　a　crackling　of　the　bushes　that　lined　the　other　side　of　the　road；　and　presently　forth　from　the　covert　burst　four　great；　shaggy　hounds。　〃At　'em；　Sweet　Lips！　　At　'em；　Bell　Throat！　　At　'em；　Beauty！　　At　'em；　Fangs！〃　cried　the　Friar；　pointing　at　Robin。

And　now　it　was　well　for　that　yeoman　that　a　tree　stood　nigh　him　beside　the　road；　else　had　he　had　an　ill　chance　of　it。　Ere　one　could　say　〃Gaffer　Downthedale〃　the　hounds　were　upon　him；　and　he　had　only　time　to　drop　his　sword　and　leap　lightly　into　the　tree；　around　which　the　hounds　gathered；　looking　up　at　him　as　though　he　were　a　cat　on　the　eaves。　　But　the　Friar　quickly　called　off　his　dogs。　〃At　'em！〃　cried　he；　pointing　down　the　road　to　where　the　yeomen　were　standing　stock　still　with　wonder　of　what　they　saw。　As　the　hawk　darts　down　upon　its　quarry；　so　sped　the　four　dogs　at　the　yeomen；　but　when　the　four　men　saw　the　hounds　so　coming；　all　with　one　accord；　saving　only　Will　Scarlet；　drew　each　man　his　goose　feather　to　his　ear　and　let　fly　his　shaft。

And　now　the　old　ballad　telleth　of　a　wondrous　thing　that　happened；　for　thus　it　says；　that　each　dog　so　shot　at　leaped　lightly　aside；　and　as　the　arrow　passed　him　whistling；　caught　it　in　his　mouth　and　bit　it　in　twain。　Now　it　would　have　been　an　ill　day　for　these　four　good　fellows　had　not　Will　Scarlet　stepped　before　the　others　and　met　the　hounds　as　they　came　rushing。　　〃Why；　how　now；　Fangs！〃　cried　he　sternly。　〃Down；　Beauty！　　Down；　sirrah！　　What　means　this？〃

At　the　sound　of　his　voice　each　dog　shrank　back　quickly　and　then　straightway　came　to　him　and　licked　his　hands　and　fawned　upon　him；　as　is　the　wont　of　dogs　that　meet　one　they　know。　　Then　the　four　yeomen　came　forward；　the　hounds　leaping　around　Will　Scarlet　joyously。　〃Why；　how　now！〃　cried　the　stout　Friar；　〃what　means　this？　Art　thou　wizard　to　turn　those　wolves　into　lambs？　　Ha！〃　cried　he；　when　they　had　come　still　nearer；　〃can　I　trust　mine　eyes？　What　means　it　that　I　see　young　Master　William　Gamwell　in　such　company？〃

〃Nay；　Tuck；〃　said　the　young　man；　as　the　four　came　forward　to　where　Robin　was　now　clambering　down　from　the　tree　in　which　he　had　been　roosting；　he　having　seen　that　all　danger　was　over　for　the　time；　〃nay；　Tuck；　my　name　is　no　longer　Will　Gamwell；　but　Will　Scarlet；　and　this　is　my　good　uncle；　Robin　Hood；　with　whom　I　am　abiding　just　now。〃

〃Truly；　good　master；〃　said　the　Friar；　looking　somewhat　abashed　and　reaching　out　his　great　palm　to　Robin；　〃I　ha'　oft　heard　thy　name　both　sung　and　spoken　of；