the merry adventures of robin hood-第29节

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iss…my…lady…la　poppenjay；　thouthou　What　shall　I　call　thee？　Dost　thou　ask　me；　the　holy　Tuck；　to　carry　thee？　　Now　I　swear〃　Here　he　paused　suddenly；　then　slowly　the　anger　passed　from　his　face；　and　his　little　eyes　twinkled　once　more。　　〃But　why　should　I　not？〃　quoth　he　piously。

〃Did　not　the　holy　Saint　Christopher　ever　carry　the　stranger　across　the　river？　And　should　I；　poor　sinner　that　I　am；　be　ashamed　to　do　likewise？　Come　with　me；　stranger；　and　I　will　do　thy　bidding　in　an　humble　frame　of　mind。〃　　So　saying；　he　clambered　up　the　bank；　closely　followed　by　Robin；　and　led　the　way　to　the　shallow　pebbly　ford；　chuckling　to　himself　the　while　as　though　he　were　enjoying　some　goodly　jest　within　himself。

Having　come　to　the　ford；　he　girded　up　his　robes　about　his　loins；　tucked　his　good　broadsword　beneath　his　arm；　and　stooped　his　back　to　take　Robin　upon　it。　　Suddenly　he　straightened　up。　〃Methinks；〃　quoth　he；　〃thou'lt　get　thy　weapon　wet。　Let　me　tuck　it　beneath　mine　arm　along　with　mine　own。〃

〃Nay；　good　father；〃　said　Robin；　〃I　would　not　burden　thee　with　aught　of　mine　but　myself。〃

〃Dost　thou　think；〃　said　the　Friar　mildly；　〃that　the　good　Saint　Christopher　would　ha'　sought　his　own　ease　so？　　Nay；　give　me　thy　tool　as　I　bid　thee；　for　I　would　carry　it　as　a　penance　to　my　pride。〃

Upon　this；　without　more　ado；　Robin　Hood　unbuckled　his　sword　from　his　side　and　handed　it　to　the　other；　who　thrust　it　with　his　own　beneath　his　arm。　Then　once　more　the　Friar　bent　his　back；　and；　Robin　having　mounted　upon　it；　he　stepped　sturdily　into　the　water　and　so　strode　onward；　splashing　in　the　shoal；　and　breaking　all　the　smooth　surface　into　ever…widening　rings。　At　last　he　reached　the　other　side　and　Robin　leaped　lightly　from　his　back。

〃Many　thanks；　good　father；〃　quoth　he。　　〃Thou　art　indeed　a　good　and　holy　man。　Prythee　give　me　my　sword　and　let　me　away；　for　I　am　in　haste。〃

At　this　the　stout　Friar　looked　upon　Robin　for　a　long　time；　his　head　on　one　side；　and　with　a　most　waggish　twist　to　his　face；　then　he　slowly　winked　his　right　eye。　　〃Nay；　good　youth；〃　said　he　gently；　〃I　doubt　not　that　thou　art　in　haste　with　thine　affairs；　yet　thou　dost　think　nothing　of　mine。　　Thine　are　of　a　carnal　nature；　mine　are　of　a　spiritual　nature；　a　holy　work；　so　to　speak；　moreover；　mine　affairs　do　lie　upon　the　other　side　of　this　stream。　I　see　by　thy　quest　of　this　same　holy　recluse　that　thou　art　a　good　young　man　and　most　reverent　to　the　cloth。　I　did　get　wet　coming　hither；　and　am　sadly　afraid　that　should　I　wade　the　water　again　I　might　get　certain　cricks　and　pains　i'　the　joints　that　would　mar　my　devotions　for　many　a　day　to　come。　I　know　that　since　I　have　so　humbly　done　thy　bidding　thou　wilt　carry　me　back　again。　　Thou　seest　how　Saint　Godrick；　that　holy　hermit　whose　natal　day　this　is；　hath　placed　in　my　hands　two　swords　and　in　thine　never　a　one。　　Therefore　be　persuaded；　good　youth；　and　carry　me　back　again。〃

Robin　Hood　looked　up　and　he　looked　down；　biting　his　nether　lip。　Quoth　he；　〃Thou　cunning　Friar；　thou　hast　me　fair　and　fast　enow。　Let　me　tell　thee　that　not　one　of　thy　cloth　hath　so　hoodwinked　me　in　all　my　life　before。　　I　might　have　known　from　thy　looks　that　thou　wert　no　such　holy　man　as　thou　didst　pretend　to　be。〃

〃Nay；〃　interrupted　the　Friar；　〃I　bid　thee　speak　not　so　scurrilously　neither；　lest　thou　mayst　perchance　feel　the　prick　of　an　inch　or　so　of　blue　steel。〃

〃Tut；　tut；〃　said　Robin；　〃speak　not　so；　Friar；　the　loser　hath　ever　the　right　to　use　his　tongue　as　he　doth　list。　Give　me　my　sword；　I　do　promise　to　carry　thee　back　straightway。　Nay；　I　will　not　lift　the　weapon　against　thee。〃

〃Marry；　come　up；〃　quoth　the　Friar；　〃I　fear　thee　not；　fellow。　Here　is　thy　skewer；　and　get　thyself　presently　ready；　for　I　would　hasten　back。〃

So　Robin　took　his　sword　again　and　buckled　it　at　his　side；　then　he　bent　his　stout　back　and　took　the　Friar　upon　it。

Now　I　wot　Robin　Hood　had　a　heavier　load　to　carry　in　the　Friar　than　the　Friar　had　in　him。　　Moreover　he　did　not　know　the　ford；　so　he　went　stumbling　among　the　stones；　now　stepping　into　a　deep　hole；　and　now　nearly　tripping　over　a　boulder；　while　the　sweat　ran　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　whistl