the merry adventures of robin hood-第43章

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ike　swift…running　water。

And　now　each　man　spat　upon　his　hands　and；　clapping　them　upon　his　knees；　squatted　down；　watching　the　other　keenly；　so　as　to　take　the　vantage　of　him　in　the　grip。　Then　like　a　flash　they　leaped　together；　and　a　great　shout　went　up；　for　William　had　gotten　the　better　hold　of　the　two。　For　a　short　time　they　strained　and　struggled　and　writhed；　and　then　stout　William　gave　his　most　cunning　trip　and　throw；　but　the　stranger　met　it　with　greater　skill　than　his；　and　so　the　trip　came　to　nought。　　Then；　of　a　sudden；　with　a　twist　and　a　wrench；　the　stranger　loosed　himself；　and　he　of　the　scar　found　himself　locked　in　a　pair　of　arms　that　fairly　made　his　ribs　crack。　　So；　with　heavy；　hot　breathing；　they　stood　for　a　while　straining；　their　bodies　all　glistening　with　sweat；　and　great　drops　of　sweat　trickling　down　their　faces。　But　the　stranger's　hug　was　so　close　that　at　last　stout　William's　muscles　softened　under　his　grip；　and　he　gave　a　sob。　Then　the　youth　put　forth　all　his　strength　and　gave　a　sudden　trip　with　his　heel　and　a　cast　over　his　right　hip；　and　down　stout　William　went；　with　a　sickening　thud；　and　lay　as　though　he　would　never　move　hand　nor　foot　again。

But　now　no　shout　went　up　for　the　stranger；　but　an　angry　murmur　was　heard　among　the　crowd；　so　easily　had　he　won　the　match。　Then　one　of　the　judges；　a　kinsman　to　William　of　the　Scar；　rose　with　trembling　lip　and　baleful　look。　　Quoth　he；　〃If　thou　hath　slain　that　man　it　will　go　ill　with　thee；　let　me　tell　thee；　fellow。〃　　But　the　stranger　answered　boldly；　〃He　took　his　chance　with　me　as　I　took　mine　with　him。　No　law　can　touch　me　to　harm　me；　even　if　I　slew　him；　so　that　it　was　fairly　done　in　the　wrestling　ring。〃

〃That　we　shall　see；〃　said　the　judge；　scowling　upon　the　youth；　while　once　more　an　angry　murmur　ran　around　the　crowd；　for；　as　I　have　said；　the　men　of　Denby　were　proud　of　stout　William　of　the　Scar。

Then　up　spoke　Sir　Richard　gently。　　〃Nay；〃　said　he；　〃the　youth　is　right；　if　the　other　dieth；　he　dieth　in　the　wrestling　ring；　where　he　took　his　chance；　and　was　cast　fairly　enow。〃

But　in　the　meantime　three　men　had　come　forward　and　lifted　stout　William　from　the　ground　and　found　that　he　was　not　dead；　though　badly　shaken　by　his　heavy　fall。　　Then　the　chief　judge　rose　and　said；　〃Young　man；　the　prize　is　duly　thine。　Here　is　the　red…gold　ring；　and　here　the　gloves；　and　yonder　stands　the　pipe　of　wine　to　do　with　whatsoever　thou　dost　list。〃

At　this；　the　youth；　who　had　donned　his　clothes　and　taken　up　his　staff　again；　bowed　without　a　word；　then；　taking　the　gloves　and　the　ring；　and　thrusting　the　one　into　his　girdle　and　slipping　the　other　upon　his　thumb；　he　turned　and；　leaping　lightly　over　the　ropes　again；　made　his　way　through　the　crowd；　and　was　gone。

〃Now；　I　wonder　who　yon　youth　may　be；〃　said　the　judge；　turning　to　Sir　Richard；　〃he　seemeth　like　a　stout　Saxon　from　his　red　cheeks　and　fair　hair。　This　William　of　ours　is　a　stout　man；　too；　and　never　have　I　seen　him　cast　in　the　ring　before；　albeit　he　hath　not　yet　striven　with　such　great　wrestlers　as　Thomas　of　Cornwall；　Diccon　of　York；　and　young　David　of　Doncaster。　　Hath　he　not　a　firm　foot　in　the　ring；　thinkest　thou；　Sir　Richard？〃

〃Ay；　truly；　and　yet　this　youth　threw　him　fairly；　and　with　wondrous　ease。　I　much　wonder　who　he　can　be。〃　　Thus　said　Sir　Richard　in　a　thoughtful　voice。

For　a　time　the　Knight　stood　talking　to　those　about　him；　but　at　last　he　arose　and　made　ready　to　depart；　so　he　called　his　men　about　him　and；　tightening　the　girths　of　his　saddle；　he　mounted　his　horse　once　more。

Meanwhile　the　young　stranger　had　made　his　way　through　the　crowd；　but；　as　he　passed；　he　heard　all　around　him　such　words　muttered　as　〃Look　at　the　cockerel！〃　　〃Behold　how　he　plumeth　himself！〃　〃I　dare　swear　he　cast　good　William　unfairly！〃　　〃Yea；　truly；　saw　ye　not　birdlime　upon　his　hands？〃　　〃It　would　be　well　to　cut　his　cock's　comb！〃　　To　all　this　the　stranger　paid　no　heed；　but　strode　proudly　about　as　though　he　heard　it　not。　So　he　walked　slowly　across　the　green　to　where　the　booth　stood　wherein　was　dancing；　and　standing　at　the　door　he　looked　in　on　the　sport。　As　he　stood　thus；　a　stone　struck　his　arm　of　a　sudden　with　a　sharp　jar；　and；　turning；　he　saw　that　an　angry　crowd　of　men　had　followed　him　from　the　wrestling　ring。　　Then；　when　they　saw　him　turn　so；　a　great　hooting　and　yelling　arose　from　all；　so　that　the　folk　came　running　out　from　the　dancing　booth　to　see　what　was　to　do。　At　last　a　tall；　broad…shouldered；　burly　blacksmith　strode　forward　from　the　crowd　swinging　a　mighty　blackthorn　club　in　his　hand。

〃Wouldst　thou　come　here　to　our　fair　town　of　Denby；　thou　Jack　in　the　Box；　to　overcome　a　good　honest　lad　with　vile；　juggling　tricks？〃　growled　he　in　a　deep　voice　like　the　bellow　of　an　angry　bull。　〃Take　that；　then！〃　　And　of　a　sudden　he　struck　a　blow　at　the　youth　that　might　have　felled　an　ox。　　But　the　other　turned　the　blow　deftly　aside；　and　gave　back　another　so　terrible　that　the　Denby　man　went　down　with　a　groan；　as　though　he　had　been　smitten　by　lightning。　When　they　saw　their　leader　fall；　the　crowd　gave　another　angry　shout；　but　the　stranger　placed　his　back　against　the　tent　near　which　he　stood；　swinging　his　terrible　staff；　and　so　fell　had　been　the　blow　that　he　struck　the　stout　smith　that　none　dared　to　come　within　the　measure　of　his　cudgel；　so　the　press　crowded　back；　like　a　pack　of　dogs　from　a　bear　at　bay。　But　now　some　coward　hand　from　behind　threw　a　sharp　jagged　stone　that　smote　the　stranger　on　the　crown；　so　that　he　staggered　back；　and　the　red　blood　gushed　from　the　cut　and　ran　down　his　face　and　over　his　jerkin。　Then；　seeing　him　dazed　with　this　vile　blow；　the　crowd　rushed　upon　him；　so　that　they　overbore　him　and　he　fell　beneath　their　feet。

Now　it　might　have　gone　ill　with　the　youth；　even　to　the　losing　of　his　young　life；　had　not　Sir　Richard　come　to　this　fair；　for　of　a　sudden；　shouts　were　heard；　and　steel　flashed　in　the　air；　and　blows　were　given　with　the　flat　of　swords；　while　through　the　midst　of　the　crowd　Sir　Richard　of　the　Lea　came　spurring　on　his　white　horse。　Then　the　crowd；　seeing　the　steel…clad　knight　and　the　armed　men；　melted　away　like　snow　on　the　warm　hearth；　leaving　the　young　man　all　bloody　and　dusty　upon　the　ground。

Finding　himself　free；　the　youth　arose　and；　wiping　the　blood　from　his　face；　looked　up。　　Quoth　he；　〃Sir　Richard　of　the　Lea；　mayhap　thou　hast　saved　my　life　this　day。〃

〃Who　art　thou　that　knowest　Sir　Richard　of　the　Lea　so　well？〃　quoth　the　Knight。　　〃Methinks　I　have　seen　thy　face　before；　young　man。〃

〃Yea；　thou　hast；〃　said　the　youth；　〃for　men　call　me　David　of　Doncaster。〃

〃Ha！〃　said　Sir　Richard；　〃I　wonder　that　I　knew　thee　not；　David；　but　thy　beard　hath　grown　longer；　and　thou　thyself　art　more　set　in　manhood　since　this　day　twelvemonth。　　Come　hither　into　the　tent；　David；　and　wash　the　blood　from　thy　face。　And　thou；　Ralph；　bring　him　straightway　a　clean　jerkin。　Now　I　am




sorry　for　thee；　yet　I　am　right　glad　that　I　have　had　a　chance　to　pay　a　part　of　my　debt　of　kindness　to　thy　good　master　Robin　Hood；　for　it　might　have　gone　ill　with　thee　had　I　not　come；　young　man。〃

So　saying；　the　Knight　led　David　into　the　tent；　and　there　the　youth　washed　the　blood　from　his　face　and　put　on　the　clean　jerkin。

In　the　meantime　a　whisper　had　gone　around　from　those　that　stood　nearest　that　this　was　none　other　than　the　great　David　of　Doncaster；　the　best　wrestler　in　all　the　mid…country；　who　only　last　spring　had　cast　stout　Adam　o'　Lincoln　in　the　ring　at　Selby；　in　Yorkshire；　and　now　held　the　mid…country　champion　belt；　Thus　it　happened　that　when　young　David　came　forth　from　the　tent　along　with　Sir　Richard；　the　blood　all　washed　from　his　face；　and　his　soiled　jerkin　changed　for　a　clean　one；　no　sounds　of　anger　were　heard；　but　all　pressed　forward　to　see　the　young　man；　feeling　proud　that　one　of　the　great　wrestlers　of　England　should　have　entered　the　ring　at　Denby　fair。　For　thus　fickle　is　a　mass　of　men。

Then　Sir　Richard　called　aloud；　〃Friends；　this　is　David　of　Doncaster；　so　think　it　no　shame　that　your　Denby　man　was　cast　by　such　a　wrestler。　He　beareth　you　no　ill　will　for　what　hath　passed；　but　let　it　be　a　warning　to　you　how　ye　treat　strangers　henceforth。　　Had　ye　slain　him　it　would　have　been　an　ill　day　for　you；　for　Robin　Hood　would　have　harried　your　town　as　the　kestrel　harries　the　dovecote。　　I　have　bou