the merry adventures of robin hood-第64章

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　green　sod。

Then　Robin　Hood　wiped　his　sword　and　thrust　it　back　into



the　scabbard；　and；　coming　to　where　Guy　of　Gisbourne　lay；　he　stood　over　him　with　folded　arms；　talking　to　himself　the　while。　〃This　is　the　first　man　I　have　slain　since　I　shot　the　Kings　forester　in　the　hot　days　of　my　youth。　　I　ofttimes　think　bitterly；　even　yet；　of　that　first　life　I　took；　but　of　this　I　am　as　glad　as　though　I　had　slain　a　wild　boar　that　laid　waste　a　fair　country。　Since　the　Sheriff　of　Nottingham　hath　sent　such　a　one　as　this　against　me；　I　will　put　on　the　fellow's　garb　and　go　forth　to　see　whether　I　may　not　find　his　worship；　and　perchance　pay　him　back　some　of　the　debt　I　owe　him　upon　this　score。〃

So　saying；　Robin　Hood　stripped　the　hairy　garments　from　off　the　dead　man；　and　put　them　on　himself；　all　bloody　as　they　were。　Then；　strapping　the　other's　sword　and　dagger　around　his



body　and　carrying　his　own　in　his　hand；　together　with　the　two　bows　of　yew；　he　drew　the　cowl　of　horse's　hide　over　his　face；　so　that　none　could　tell　who　he　was；　and　set　forth　from　the　forest；　turning　his　steps　toward　the　eastward　and　Nottingham　Town。　　As　he　strode　along　the　country　roads；　men；　women；　and　children　hid　away　from　him；　for　the　terror　of　Guy　of　Gisbourne's　name　and　of　his　doings　had　spread　far　and　near。

And　now　let　us　see　what　befell　Little　John　while　these　things　were　happening。

Little　John　walked　on　his　way　through　the　forest　paths　until　he　had　come　to　the　outskirts　of　the　woodlands；　where；　here　and　there；　fields　of　barley；　corn；　or　green　meadow　lands　lay　smiling　in　the　sun。　So　he　came　to　the　highroad　and　to　where　a　little　thatched　cottage　stood　back　of　a　cluster　of　twisted　crab　trees；　with　flowers　in　front　of　it。　　Here　he　stopped　of　a　sudden；　for　he　thought　that　he　heard　the　sound　of　someone　in　sorrow。　He　listened；　and　found　that　it　came　from　the　cottage；　so；　turning　his　footsteps　thither；　he　pushed　open　the　wicket　and　entered　the　place。　There　he　saw　a　gray…haired　dame　sitting　beside　a　cold　hearthstone；　rocking　herself　to　and　fro　and　weeping　bitterly。

Now　Little　John　had　a　tender　heart　for　the　sorrows　of　other　folk；　so；　coming　to　the　old　woman　and　patting　her　kindly　upon　the　shoulder；　he　spoke　comforting　words　to　her；　bidding　her　cheer　up　and　tell　him　her　troubles；　for　that　mayhap　he　might　do　something　to　ease　them。　At　all　this　the　good　dame　shook　her　head；　but　all　the　same　his　kind　words　did　soothe　her　somewhat；　so　after　a　while　she　told　him　all　that　bore　upon　her　mind。　　That　that　morning　she　had　three　as　fair；　tall　sons　beside　her　as　one　could　find　in　all　Nottinghamshire；　but　that　they　were　now　taken　from　her；　and　were　like　to　be　hanged　straightway；　that；　want　having　come　upon　them；　her　eldest　boy　had　gone　out；　the　night　before；　into　the　forest；　and　had　slain　a　hind　in　the　moonlight；　that　the　King's　rangers　had　followed　the　blood　upon　the　grass　until　they　had　come　to　her　cottage；　and　had　there　found　the　deer's　meat　in　the　cupboard；　that；　as　neither　of　the　younger　sons　would　betray　their　brother；　the　foresters　had　taken　all　three　away；　in　spite　of　the　oldest　saying　that　he　alone　had　slain　the　deer；　that；　as　they　went；　she　had　heard　the　rangers　talking　among　themselves；　saying　that　the　Sheriff　had　sworn　that　he　would　put　a　check　upon　the　great　slaughter　of　deer　that　had　been　going　on　of　late　by　hanging　the　very　first　rogue　caught　thereat　upon　the　nearest　tree；　and　that　they　would　take　the　three　youths　to　the　King's　Head　Inn；　near　Nottingham　Town；　where　the　Sheriff　was　abiding　that　day；　there　to　await　the　return　of　a　certain　fellow　he　had　sent　into　Sherwood　to　seek　for　Robin　Hood。

To　all　this　Little　John　listened；　shaking　his　head　sadly　now　and　then。　〃Alas；〃　quoth　he；　when　the　good　dame　had　finished　her　speech；　〃this　is　indeed　an　ill　case。　　But　who　is　this　that　goeth　into　Sherwood　after　Robin　Hood；　and　why　doth　he　go　to　seek　him？　But　no　matter　for　that　now；　only　that　I　would　that　Robin　Hood　were　here　to　advise　us。　　Nevertheless；　no　time　may　be　lost　in　sending　for　him　at　this　hour；　if　we　would　save　the　lives　of　thy　three　sons。　Tell　me；　hast　thou　any　clothes　hereabouts　that　I　may　put　on　in　place　of　these　of　Lincoln　green？　　Marry；　if　our　stout　Sheriff　catcheth　me　without　disguise；　I　am　like　to　be　run　up　more　quickly　than　thy　sons；　let　me　tell　thee；　dame。〃

Then　the　old　woman　told　him　that　she　had　in　the　house　some　of　the　clothes　of　her　good　husband；　who　had　died　only　two　years　before。　These　she　brought　to　Little　John；　who；　doffing　his　garb　of　Lincoln　green；　put　them　on　in　its　stead。　　Then；　making　a　wig　and　false　beard　of　uncarded　wool；　he　covered　his　own　brown　hair　and　beard；　and；　putting　on　a　great；　tall　hat　that　had　belonged　to　the　old　peasant；　he　took　his　staff　in　one　hand　and　his　bow　in　the　other；　and　set　forth　with　all　speed　to　where　the　Sheriff　had　taken　up　his　inn。

A　mile　or　more　from　Nottingham　Town；　and　not　far　from　the　southern　borders　of　Sherwood　Forest；　stood　the　cosy　inn　bearing　the　sign　of　the　King's　Head。　　Here　was　a　great　bustle　and　stir　on　this　bright　morning；　for　the　Sheriff　and　a　score　of　his　men　had　come　to　stop　there　and　await　Guy　of　Gisbourne's　return　from　the　forest。　Great　hiss　and　fuss　of　cooking　was　going　on　in　the　kitchen；　and　great　rapping　and　tapping　of　wine　kegs　and　beer　barrels　was　going　on　in　the　cellar。　　The　Sheriff　sat　within；　feasting　merrily　of　the　best　the　place　afforded；　and　the　Sheriff's　men　sat　upon　the　bench　before　the　door；　quaffing　ale；　or　lay　beneath　the　shade　of　the　broad…spreading　oak　trees；　talking　and　jesting　and　laughing。　All　around　stood　the　horses　of　the　band；　with　a　great　noise　of　stamping　feet　and　a　great　switching　of　tails。　　To　this　inn　came　the　King's　rangers；　driving　the　widow's　three　sons　before　them。　The　hands　of　the　three　youths　were　tied　tightly　behind　their　backs；　and　a　cord　from　neck　to　neck　fastened　them　all　together。　So　they　were　marched　to　the　room　where　the　Sheriff　sat　at　meat；　and　stood　trembling　before　him　as　he　scowled　sternly　upon　them。

〃So；〃　quoth　he；　in　a　great；　loud；　angry　voice；　〃ye　have　been　poaching　upon　the　King's　deer；　have　you？　　Now　I　will　make　short　work　of　you　this　day；　for　I　will　hang　up　all　three　of　you　as　a　farmer　would　hang　up　three　crows　to　scare　others　of　the　kind　from　the　field。　　Our　fair　county　of　Nottingham　hath　been　too　long　a　breeding　place　for　such　naughty　knaves　as　ye　are。　I　have　put　up　with　these　things　for　many　years；　but　now　I　will　stamp　them　out　once　for　all；　and　with　you　I　will　begin。〃

Then　one　of　the　poor　fellows　opened　his　mouth　to　speak；　but　the　Sheriff　roared　at　him　in　a　loud　voice　to　be　silent；　and　bade　the　rangers　to　take　them　away　till　he　had　done　his　eating　and　could　attend　to　the　matters　concerning　them。　So　the　three　poor　youths　were　marched　outside；　where　they　stood　with　bowed　heads　and　despairing　hearts；　till　after　a　while　the　Sheriff　came　forth。　　Then　he　called　his　men　about　him；　and　quoth　he；　〃These　three　villains　shall　be　hanged　straightway；　but　not　here；　lest　they　breed　ill　luck　to　this　goodly　inn。　We　will　take　them　over　yonder　to　that　belt　of　woodlands；　for　I　would　fain　hang　them　upon　the　very　trees　of　Sherwood　itself；　to　show　those　vile　outlaws　therein　what　they　may　expect　of　me　if　I　ever　have　the　good　luck　to　lay　hands　upon　them。〃　　So　saying；　he　mounted　his　horse；　as　did　his　men…at…arms　likewise；　and　all　together　they　set　forth　for　the　belt　of　woodlands　he　had　spoken　of；　the　poor　youths　walking　in　their　midst　guarded　by　the　rangers。　So　they　came　at　last　to　the　spot；　and　here　nooses　were　fastened　around　the　necks　of　the　three；　and　the　ends　of　the　cords　flung　over　the　branch　of　a　great　oak　tree　that　stood　there。　Then　the　three　youths　fell　upon　their　knees　and　loudly　besought　mercy　of　the　Sheriff；　but　the　Sheriff　of　Nottingham　laughed　scornfully。　〃Now；〃　quoth　he；　〃I　would　that　I　had　a　priest　here　to　shrive　you；　but；　as　none　is　nigh；　you　must　e'en　travel　your　road　with　all　your　sins　packed　upon　your　backs；　and　trust　to　Saint　Peter　to　let　you　in　through　the　gates　of　Paradise　like　three　peddlers　into　the　town。〃

In　the　meantime；　while　all　this　had　been　going　forward；　an　old　man　had　drawn　near　and　stood　leaning　on　his　staff；　looking　on。　His　hair　and　beard　were　all　curly　and　white；　and　across　his　back　was　a　bow　of　yew　that　looked　much　to