the merry adventures of robin hood(罗宾汉奇遇记)-第24章

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plucked　the　young　tree　up　by　the　roots　from　out　the　very　earth。
Then　he　came　back；　trimming　away　the　roots　and　tender　stems
with　his　sword　as　quietly　as　if　he　had　done　nought　to　speak　of。

Little　John　and　the　Tanner　had　been　watching　all　that　passed；
but　when　they　saw　the　stranger　drag　the　sapling　up　from　the　earth；
and　heard　the　rending　and　snapping　of　its　roots；　the　Tanner
pursed　his　lips　together；　drawing　his　breath　between　them
in　a　long　inward　whistle。

〃By　the　breath　of　my　body！〃　said　Little　John；　as　soon　as　he




could　gather　his　wits　from　their　wonder；　〃sawest　thou　that；　Arthur？　　Marry；　I
think　our　poor　master　will　stand　but　an　ill　chance　with　yon　fellow。
By　Our　Lady；　he　plucked　up　yon　green　tree　as　it　were　a　barley　straw。〃

Whatever　Robin　Hood　thought；　he　stood　his　ground；　and　now　he　and　the　stranger
in　scarlet　stood　face　to　face。

Well　did　Robin　Hood　hold　his　own　that　day　as　a　mid…country　yeoman。
This　way　and　that　they　fought；　and　back　and　forth；
Robin's　skill　against　the　stranger's　strength。
The　dust　of　the　highway　rose　up　around　them　like　a　cloud；
so　that　at　times　Little　John　and　the　Tanner　could　see　nothing；
but　only　hear　the　rattle　of　the　staves　against　one　another。
Thrice　Robin　Hood　struck　the　stranger；　once　upon　the　arm　and　twice
upon　the　ribs；　and　yet　had　he　warded　all　the　other's　blows；
only　one　of　which；　had　it　met　its　mark；　would　have　laid
stout　Robin　lower　in　the　dust　than　he　had　ever　gone　before。
At　last　the　stranger　struck　Robin's　cudgel　so　fairly　in　the　middle
that　he　could　hardly　hold　his　staff　in　his　hand；　again　he　struck；
and　Robin　bent　beneath　the　blow；　a　third　time　he　struck；
and　now　not　only　fairly　beat　down　Robin's　guard；　but　gave　him
such　a　rap；　also；　that　down　he　tumbled　into　the　dusty　road。

〃Hold！〃　cried　Robin　Hood；　when　he　saw　the　stranger　raising　his　staff
once　more。　　〃I　yield　me！〃

〃Hold！〃　cried　Little　John；　bursting　from　his　cover；　with　the　Tanner
at　his　heels。　　〃Hold！　give　over；　I　say！〃

〃Nay；〃　answered　the　stranger　quietly；　〃if　there　be　two　more　of　you；
and　each　as　stout　as　this　good　fellow；　I　am　like　to　have　my　hands　full。
Nevertheless；　come　on；　and　I　will　strive　my　best　to　serve　you　all。〃

〃Stop！〃　cried　Robin　Hood；　〃we　will　fight　no　more。　　I　take　my　vow；
this　is　an　ill　day　for　thee　and　me；　Little　John。　　I　do　verily
believe　that　my　wrist；　and　eke　my　arm；　are　palsied　by　the　jar
of　the　blow　that　this　stranger　struck　me。〃

Then　Little　John　turned　to　Robin　Hood。　　〃Why；　how　now；
good　master；〃　said　he。　　〃Alas！　　Thou　art　in　an　ill　plight。
Marry；　thy　jerkin　is　all　befouled　with　the　dust　of　the　road。
Let　me　help　thee　to　arise。〃

〃A　plague　on　thy　aid！〃　cried　Robin　angrily。　　〃I　can　get　to　my　feet
without　thy　help；　good　fellow。〃

〃Nay；　but　let　me　at　least　dust　thy　coat　for　thee。　　I　fear　thy
poor　bones　are　mightily　sore；〃　quoth　Little　John　soberly；
but　with　a　sly　twinkle　in　his　eyes。

〃Give　over；　I　say！〃　quoth　Robin　in　a　fume。　　〃My　coat　hath　been　dusted
enough　already；　without　aid　of　thine。〃　　Then；　turning　to　the　stranger；
he　said；　〃What　may　be　thy　name；　good　fellow？〃

〃My　name　is　Gamwell；〃　answered　the　other。

〃Ha！〃　cried　Robin；　〃is　it　even　so？　　I　have　near　kin　of　that　name。
Whence　camest　thou；　fair　friend？〃

〃From　Maxfield　Town　I　come；〃　answered　the　stranger。
〃There　was　I　born　and　bred；　and　thence　I　come　to　seek　my　mother's
young　brother；　whom　men　call　Robin　Hood。　　So；　if　perchance　thou
mayst　direct　me〃

〃Ha！　　Will　Gamwell！〃　cried　Robin；　placing　both　hands　upon
the　other's　shoulders　and　holding　him　off　at　arm's　length。
〃Surely；　it　can　be　none　other！　　I　might　have　known　thee　by　that
pretty　maiden　air　of　thinethat　dainty；　finicking　manner　of　gait。
Dost　thou　not　know　me；　lad？　　Look　upon　me　well。〃

〃Now；　by　the　breath　of　my　body！〃　cried　the　other；　〃I　do　believe　from
my　heart　that　thou　art　mine　own　Uncle　Robin。　　Nay；　certain　it　is　so！〃
And　each　flung　his　arms　around　the　other；　kissing　him　upon　the　cheek。

Then　once　more　Robin　held　his　kinsman　off　at　arm's　length　and
scanned　him　keenly　from　top　to　toe。　　〃Why；　how　now；〃　quoth　he；
〃what　change　is　here？　　Verily；　some　eight　or　ten　years　ago　I　left
thee　a　stripling　lad；　with　great　joints　and　ill…hung　limbs；　and　lo！
here　thou　art；　as　tight　a　fellow　as　e'er　I　set　mine　eyes　upon。
Dost　thou　not　remember；　lad；　how　I　showed　thee　the　proper　way
to　nip　the　goose　feather　betwixt　thy　fingers　and　throw　out　thy　bow
arm　steadily？　　Thou　gayest　great　promise　of　being　a　keen　archer。
And　dost　thou　not　mind　how　I　taught　thee　to　fend　and　parry
with　the　cudgel？〃

〃Yea；〃　said　young　Gamwell；　〃and　I　did　so　look　up　to　thee；　and　thought　thee
so　above　all　other　men　that；　I　make　my　vow；　had　I　known　who　thou　wert；
I　would　never　have　dared　to　lift　hand　against　thee　this　day。
I　trust　I　did　thee　no　great　harm。〃

〃No；　no；〃　quoth　Robin　hastily；　and　looking　sideways　at　Little　John；
〃thou　didst　not　harm　me。　　But　say　no　more　of　that；　I　prythee。
Yet　I　will　say；　lad；　that　I　hope　I　may　never　feel　again　such　a　blow
as　thou　didst　give　me。　　By'r　Lady；　my　arm　doth　tingle　yet　from
fingernail　to　elbow。　　Truly；　I　thought　that　I　was　palsied　for　life。
I　tell　thee；　coz；　that　thou　art　the　strongest　man　that　ever　I
laid　mine　eyes　upon。　　I　take　my　vow；　I　felt　my　stomach　quake
when　I　beheld　thee　pluck　up　yon　green　tree　as　thou　didst。
But　tell　me；　how　camest　thou　to　leave　Sir　Edward　and　thy　mother？〃

〃Alas！〃　answered　young　Gamwell；　〃it　is　an　ill　story；　uncle；　that　I
have　to　tell　thee。　　My　father's　steward；　who　came　to　us　after　old
Giles　Crookleg　died；　was　ever　a　saucy　varlet；　and　I　know　not　why
my　father　kept　him；　saving　that　he　did　oversee　with　great　judgment。
It　used　to　gall　me　to　hear　him　speak　up　so　boldly　to　my　father；　who；
thou　knowest；　was　ever　a　patient　man　to　those　about　him；　and　slow
to　anger　and　harsh　words。　　Well；　one　dayand　an　ill　day　it　was　for
that　saucy　fellowhe　sought　to　berate　my　father；　I　standing　by。
I　could　stand　it　no　longer；　good　uncle；　so；　stepping　forth；　I　gave
him　a　box　o'　the　ear；　andwouldst　thou　believe　it？the　fellow
straightway　died　o't。　I　think　they　said　I　broke　his　neck；　or　something　o'
the　like。　　So　off　they　packed　me　to　seek　thee　and　escape　the　law。
I　was　on　my　way　when　thou　sawest　me；　and　here　I　am。〃

〃Well；　by　the　faith　of　my　heart；〃　quoth　Robin　Hood；　〃for　anyone
escaping　the　law；　thou　wast　taking　it　the　most　easily　that　ever
I　beheld　in　all　my　life。　　Whenever　did　anyone　in　all　the　world
see　one　who　had　slain　a　man；　and　was　escaping　because　of　it；
tripping　along　the　highway　like　a　dainty　court　damsel；
sniffing　at　a　rose　the　while？〃

〃Nay；　uncle；〃　answered　Will　Gamwell；　〃overhaste　never　churned　good　butter；
as　the　old　saying　hath　it。　　Moreover；　I　do　verily　believe　that　this
overstrength　of　my　body　hath　taken　the　nimbleness　out　of　my　heels。
Why；　thou　didst　but　just　now　rap　me　thrice；　and　I　thee　never　a　once；
save　by　overbearing　thee　by　my　strength。〃

〃Nay；〃　quoth　Robin；　〃let　us　say　no　more　on　that　score。
I　am　right　glad　to　see　thee；　Will；　and　thou　wilt　add　great　honor
and　credit　to　my　band　of　merry　fellows。　　But　thou　must　change
thy　name；　for　warrants　will　be　out　presently　against　thee；
so；　because　of　thy　gay　clothes；　thou　shalt　henceforth　and　for　aye
be　called　Will　Scarlet。〃

〃Will　Scarlet；〃　quoth　Little　John；　stepping　forward　and　reaching　out　his
great　palm；　which　the　other　took；　〃Will　Scarlet；　the　name　fitteth　thee　well。
Right　glad　am　I　to　welcome　thee　among　us。　　I　am　called　Little　John；
and　this　is　a　new　member　who　has　just　joined　us；　a　stout　tanner　named
Arthur　a　Bland。　　Thou　art　like　to　achieve　fame；　Will；　let　me　tell　thee；
for　there　will　be　many　a　merry　ballad　sung　about　the　country；　and　many　a　merry
story　told　in　Sherwood　of　how　Robin　Hood　taught　Little　John　and　Arthur
a　Bland　the　proper　way　to　use　the　quarterstaff；　likewise；　as　it　were；
how　our　good　master　bit　off　so　large　a　piece　of　cake　that　he　choked　on　it。〃

〃Nay；　good　Little　John；〃　quoth　Robin　gently；　for　he　liked　ill　to　have
such　a　jest　told　of　him。　　〃Why　should　we　speak　of　this　little　matter？
Prythee；　let　us　keep　this　day's　doings　among　ourselves。〃

〃With　all　my　heart；〃　quoth　Little　John。　　〃But；　good　master；
I　thought　that　thou　didst　love　a　merry　story；　beca