the merry adventures of robin hood-第47章

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ept　his　merriment　down；　for　he　wished　not　to　bring　the　ill…will　of　the　brothers　of　Fountain　Abbey　upon　him　by　unseemly　mirth。　So　the　two　brethren；　as　they　could　do　nought　else；　having　mounted　their　nags；　turned　their　noses　toward　Lincoln　and　rode　away。

〃I　cannot　stay　longer；　sweet　friends；〃　quoth　Little　John；　as　he　pushed　in　betwixt　the　two　cobs；　〃therefore　I　wish　you　good　den。　　Off　we　go；　we　three。〃　So　saying；　he　swung　his　stout　staff　over　his　shoulder　and　trudged　off；　measuring　his　pace　with　that　of　the　two　nags。

The　two　brothers　glowered　at　Little　John　when　he　so　pushed　himself　betwixt　them；　then　they　drew　as　far　away　from　him　as　they　could；　so　that　the　yeoman　walked　in　the　middle　of　the　road；　while　they　rode　on　the　footpath　on　either　side　of　the　way。　As　they　so　went　away；　the　Tinker；　the　Peddler；　and　the　Beggar　ran　skipping　out　into　the　middle　of　the　highway；　each　with　a　pot　in　his　hand；　and　looked　after　them　laughing。

While　they　were　in　sight　of　those　at　the　inn；　the　brothers　walked　their　horses　soberly；　not　caring　to　make　ill　matters　worse　by　seeming　to　run　away　from　Little　John；　for　they　could　not　but　think　how　it　would　sound　in　folks'　ears　when　they　heard　how　the　brethren　of　Fountain　Abbey　scampered　away　from　a　strolling　friar；　like　the　Ugly　One；　when　the　blessed　Saint　Dunstan　loosed　his　nose　from　the　red…hot　tongs　where　he　had　held　it　fast；　but　when　they　had　crossed　the　crest　of　the　hill　and　the　inn　was　lost　to　sight；　quoth　the　fat　Brother　to　the　thin　Brother；　〃Brother　Ambrose；　had　we　not　better　mend　our　pace？〃

〃Why　truly；　gossip；〃　spoke　up　Little　John；　〃methinks　it　would　be　well　to　boil　our　pot　a　little　faster；　for　the　day　is　passing　on。　So　it　will　not　jolt　thy　fat　too　much；　onward；　say　I。〃

At　this　the　two　friars　said　nothing；　but　they　glared　again　on　Little　John　with　baleful　looks；　then；　without　another　word；　they　clucked　to　their　horses；　and　both　broke　into　a　canter。　So　they　galloped　for　a　mile　and　more；　and　Little　John　ran　betwixt　them　as　lightly　as　a　stag　and　never　turned　a　hair　with　the　running。　　At　last　the　fat　Brother　drew　his　horse's　rein　with　a　groan；　for　he　could　stand　the　shaking　no　longer。　〃Alas；〃　said　Little　John；　with　not　so　much　as　a　catch　in　his　breath；　〃I　did　sadly　fear　that　the　roughness　of　this　pace　would　shake　thy　poor　old　fat　paunch。〃

To　this　the　fat　Friar　said　never　a　word；　but　he　stared　straight　before　him；　and　he　gnawed　his　nether　lip。　　And　now　they　traveled　forward　more　quietly；　Little　John　in　the　middle　of　the　road　whistling　merrily　to　himself；　and　the　two　friars　in　the　footpath　on　either　side　saying　never　a　word。

Then　presently　they　met　three　merry　minstrels；　all　clad　in　red；　who　stared　amain　to　see　a　Gray　Friar　with　such　short　robes　walking　in　the　middle　of　the　road；　and　two　brothers。　with　heads　bowed　with　shame；　riding　upon　richly　caparisoned　cobs　on　the　footpaths。　　When　they　had　come　near　to　the　minstrels；　Little　John　waved　his　staff　like　an　usher　clearing　the　way。　〃Make　way！〃　he　cried　in　a　loud　voice。　　〃Make　way！　make　way！　For　here　we　go；　we　three！〃　　Then　how　the　minstrels　stared；　and　how　they　laughed！　　But　the　fat　Friar　shook　as　with　an　ague；　and　the　lean　Friar　bowed　his　head　over　his　horse's　neck。

Then　next　they　met　two　noble　knights　in　rich　array；　with　hawk　on　wrist；　and　likewise　two　fair　ladies　clad　in　silks　and　velvets；　all　a…riding　on　noble　steeds。　　These　all　made　room；　staring；　as　Little　John　and　the　two　friars　came　along　the　road。　　To　them　Little　John　bowed　humbly。　　〃Give　you　greetings；　lords　and　ladies；〃　said　he。　〃But　here　we　go；　we　three。〃

Then　all　laughed；　and　one　of　the　fair　ladies　cried　out；　〃What　three　meanest　thou；　merry　friend？〃

Little　John　looked　over　his　shoulder；　for　they　had　now　passed　each　other；　and　he　called　back；　〃Big　Jack；　lean　Jack　and　fat　Jack…pudding。〃

At　this　the　fat　Friar　gave　a　groan　and　seemed　as　if　he　were　like　to　fall　from　his　saddle　for　shame；　the　other　brother　said　nothing；　but　he　looked　before　him　with　a　grim　and　stony　look。

Just　ahead　of　them　the　road　took　a　sudden　turn　around　a　high　hedge；　and　some　twoscore　paces　beyond　the　bend　another　road　crossed　the　one　they　were　riding　upon。　　When　they　had　come　to　the　crossroad　and　were　well　away　from　those　they　had　left；　the　lean　Friar　drew　rein　suddenly。　〃Look　ye；　fellow；〃　quoth　he　in　a　voice　quivering　with　rage；　〃we　have　had　enough　of　thy　vile　company；　and　care　no　longer　to　be　made　sport　of。　Go　thy　way；　and　let　us　go　ours　in　peace。〃

〃La　there；　now！〃　quoth　Little　John。　　〃Methought　we　were　such　a　merry　company；　and　here　thou　dost　blaze　up　like　fat　in　the　pan。　But　truly；　I　ha'　had　enow　of　you　today；　though　I　can　ill　spare　your　company。　　I　know　ye　will　miss　me；　but　gin　ye　want　me　again；　whisper　to　Goodman　Wind；　and　he　will　bring　news　thereof　to　me。　But　ye　see　I　am　a　poor　man　and　ye　are　rich。　　I　pray　you　give　me　a　penny　or　two　to　buy　me　bread　and　cheese　at　the　next　inn。〃

〃We　have　no　money；　fellow；〃　said　the　lean　Friar　harshly。　〃Come；　Brother　Thomas；　let　us　forward。〃

But　Little　John　caught　the　horses　by　the　bridle　reins；　one　in　either　hand。　〃Ha'　ye　in　truth　no　money　about　you　whatsoever？〃　said　he。　〃Now；　I　pray　you；　brothers；　for　charity's　sake；　give　me　somewhat　to　buy　a　crust　of　bread；　e'en　though　it　be　only　a　penny。〃

〃I　tell　thee；　fellow；　we　have　no　money；〃　thundered　the　fat　little　Friar　with　the　great　voice。

〃Ha'　ye；　in　holy　truth；　no　money？〃　asked　Little　John。

〃Not　a　farthing；〃　said　the　lean　Friar　sourly。

〃Not　a　groat；〃　said　the　fat　Friar　loudly。

〃Nay；〃　quoth　Little　John；　〃this　must　not　be。　　Far　be　it　from　me　to　see　such　holy　men　as　ye　are　depart　from　me　with　no　money。　Get　both　of　you　down　straightway　from　off　your　horses；　and　we　will　kneel　here　in　the　middle　of　the　crossroads　and　pray　the　blessed　Saint　Dunstan　to　send　us　some　money　to　carry　us　on　our　journey。〃

〃What　sayest　thou；　thou　limb　of　evil！〃　cried　the　lean　Friar；　fairly　gnashing　his　teeth　with　rage。　　〃Doss　thou　bid　me；　the　high　cellarer　of　Fountain　Abbey；　to　get　down　from　my　horse　and　kneel　in　the　dirty　road　to　pray　to　some　beggarly　Saxon　saint？〃

〃Now；〃　quoth　Little　John；　〃I　ha'　a　great　part　of　a　mind　to　crack　thy　head　for　thee　for　speaking　thus　of　the　good　Saint　Dunstan！　　But　get　down　straightway；　for　my　patience　will　not　last　much　longer；　and　I　may　forget　that　ye　are　both　in　holy　orders。〃　　So　saying；　he　twirled　his　stout　staff　till　it　whistled　again。

At　this　speech　both　friars　grew　as　pale　as　dough。　Down　slipped　the　fat　Brother　from　off　his　horse　on　one　side；　and　down　slipped　the　lean　Brother　on　the　other。

〃Now；　brothers；　down　on　your　knees　and　pray；〃　said　Little　John；　thereupon；　putting　his　heavy　hands　upon　the　shoulder　of　each；　he　forced　them　to　their　knees；　he　kneeling　also。　　Then　Little　John　began　to　beseech　Saint　Dunstan　for　money；　which　he　did　in　a　great　loud　voice。　After　he　had　so　besought　the　Saint　for　a　time；　he　bade　the　friars　feel　in　their　pouches　and　see　if　the　Saint　had　sent　them　anything；　so　each　put　his　hand　slowly　in　the　pouch　that　hung　beside　him；　but　brought　nothing　thence。

〃Ha！〃　quoth　Little　John；　〃have　your　prayers　so　little　virtue？　Then　let　us　at　it　again。〃　　Then　straightway　he　began　calling　on　Saint　Dunstan　again；　somewhat　in　this　wise：　　〃O　gracious　Saint　Dunstan！　　Send　some　money　straightway　to　these　poor　folk；　lest　the　fat　one　waste　away　and　grow　as　lean　as　the　lean　one；　and　the　lean　one　waste　away　to　nothing　at　all；　ere　they　get　to　Lincoln　Town；　but　send　them　only　ten　shillings　apiece；　lest　they　grow　puffed　up　with　pride；　Any　more　than　that　that　thou　sendest；　send　to　me。

〃Now；〃　quoth　he；　rising；　〃let　us　see　what　each　man　hath。〃　Then　he　thrust　his　hand　into　his　pouch　and　drew　thence　four　golden　angels。　〃What　have　ye；　brothers？〃　said　he。

Then　once　again　each　friar　slowly　thrust　his　hand　into　his　pouch；　and　once　again　brought　it　out　with　nothing　in　it。

〃Have　ye　nothing？〃　quoth　Little　John。　　〃Nay；　I　warrant　there　is　somewhat　that　hath　crept　into　the　seams　of　your　pouches；　and　so　ye　ha'　missed　it。　Let　me　look。〃

So　he　went　first　to　the　lean　Friar；　and；　thrusting　his　hand　into　the　pouch；　he　drew　forth　a　leathern　bag　and　counted　therefrom　one　hundred　and　ten　pounds　of　golden　money。　　〃I　thought；〃　quoth　Little　John；　〃that　thou　hadst　missed；　in　some　odd　corne