the merry adventures of robin hood-第58节

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t　morn？〃

〃Ay；　marry；〃　quoth　Little　John；　〃for　money　is　not　so　plenty　with　me　that　I　should　cast　sixpence　away　an　I　could　earn　it　by　an　honest　turn。　What　is　it　Your　Worship　would　have　me　do？〃

〃Why；　this；〃　said　the　Sheriff。　　〃Here　are　three　men　that　need　hanging　as　badly　as　any　e'er　I　saw。　　If　thou　wilt　string　them　up　I　will　pay　thee　twopence　apiece　for　them。　　I　like　not　that　my　men…at…arms　should　turn　hangmen。　Wilt　thou　try　thy　hand？〃

〃In　sooth；〃　said　Little　John；　still　in　the　old　man's　voice；　〃I　ha'　never　done　such　a　thing　before；　but　an　a　sixpence　is　to　be　earned　so　easily　I　might　as　well　ha'　it　as　anybody。　　But；　Your　Worship；　are　these　naughty　fellows　shrived？〃

〃Nay；〃　said　the　Sheriff；　laughing；　〃never　a　whit；　but　thou　mayst　turn　thy　hand　to　that　also　if　thou　art　so　minded。　But　hasten；　I　prythee；　for　I　would　get　back　to　mine　inn　betimes。〃

So　Little　John　came　to　where　the　three　youths　stood　trembling；　and；　putting　his　face　to　the　first　fellow's　cheek　as　though　he　were　listening　to　him；　he　whispered　softly　into　his　ear；　〃Stand　still；　brother；　when　thou　feelest　thy　bonds　cut；　but　when　thou　seest　me　throw　my　woolen　wig　and　beard　from　my　head　and　face；　cast　the　noose　from　thy　neck　and　run　for　the　woodlands。〃　Then　he　slyly　cut　the　cord　that　bound　the　youth's　hands；　who；　upon　his　part；　stood　still　as　though　he　were　yet　bound。　Then　he　went　to　the　second　fellow；　and　spoke　to　him　in　the　same　way；　and　also　cut　his　bonds。　　This　he　did　to　the　third　likewise；　but　all　so　slyly　that　the　Sheriff；　who　sat　upon　his　horse　laughing；　wotted　not　what　was　being　done；　nor　his　men　either。

Then　Little　John　turned　to　the　Sheriff。　　〃Please　Your　Worship；〃　said　he；　〃will　you　give　me　leave　to　string　my　bow？　For　I　would　fain　help　these　fellows　along　the　way；　when　they　are　swinging；　with　an　arrow　beneath　the　ribs。〃

〃With　all　my　heart；〃　said　the　Sheriff；　〃only；　as　I　said　before；　make　thou　haste　in　thy　doings。〃

Little　John　put　the　tip　of　his　bow　to　his　instep；　and　strung　the　weapon　so　deftly　that　all　wondered　to　see　an　old　man　so　strong。　Next　he　drew　a　good　smooth　arrow　from　his　quiver　and　fitted　it　to　the　string；　then；　looking　all　around　to　see　that　the　way　was　clear　behind　him；　he　suddenly　cast　away　the　wool　from　his　head　and　face；　shouting　in　a　mighty　voice；　〃Run！〃　　Quick　as　a　flash　the　three　youths　flung　the　nooses　from　their　necks　and　sped　across　the　open　to　the　woodlands　as　the　arrow　speeds　from　the　bow。　　Little　John　also　flew　toward　the　covert　like　a　greyhound；　while　the　Sheriff　and　his　men　gazed　after　him　all　bewildered　with　the　sudden　doing。　But　ere　the　yeoman　had　gone　far　the　Sheriff　roused　himself。　〃After　him！〃　he　roared　in　a　mighty　voice；　for　he　knew　now　who　it　was　with　whom　he　had　been　talking；　and　wondered　that　he　had　not　known　him　before。

Little　John　heard　the　Sheriff's　words；　and　seeing　that　he　could　not　hope　to　reach　the　woodlands　before　they　would　be　upon　him；　he　stopped　and　turned　suddenly；　holding　his　bow　as　though　he　were　about　to　shoot。　　〃Stand　back！〃　cried　he　fiercely。　〃The　first　man　that　cometh　a　foot　forward；　or　toucheth　finger　to　bowstring；　dieth！〃

At　these　words　the　Sheriff's　men　stood　as　still　as　stocks；　for　they　knew　right　well　that　Little　John　would　be　as　good　as　his　word；　and　that　to　disobey　him　meant　death。　　In　vain　the　Sheriff　roared　at　them；　calling　them　cowards；　and　urging　them　forward　in　a　body；　they　would　not　budge　an　inch；　but　stood　and　watched　Little　John　as　he　moved　slowly　away　toward　the　forest；　keeping　his　gaze　fixed　upon　them。　But　when　the　Sheriff　saw　his　enemy　thus　slipping　betwixt　his　fingers　he　grew　mad　with　his　rage；　so　that　his　head　swam　and　he　knew　not　what　he　did。　Then　of　a　sudden　he　turned　his　horse's　head；　and　plunging　his　spurs　into　its　sides　he　gave　a　great　shout；　and；　rising　in　his　stirrups；　came　down　upon　Little　John　like　the　wind。　　Then　Little　John　raised　his　deadly　bow　and　drew　the　gray　goose　feather　to　his　cheek。　But　alas　for　him！　　For；　ere　he　could　loose　the　shaft；　the　good　bow　that　had　served　him　so　long；　split　in　his　hands；　and　the　arrow　fell　harmless　at　his　feet。　　Seeing　what　had　happened；　the　Sheriff's　men　raised　a　shout；　and；　following　their　master；　came　rushing　down　upon　Little　John。　　But　the　Sheriff　was　ahead　of　the　others；　and　so　caught　up　with　the　yeoman　before　he　reached　the　shelter　of　the　woodlands；　then　leaning　forward　he　struck　a　mighty　blow。　Little　John　ducked　and　the　Sheriff's　sword　turned　in　his　hand；　but　the　flat　of　the　blade　struck　the　other　upon　the　head　and　smote　him　down；　stunned　and　senseless。

〃Now；　I　am　right　glad；〃　said　the　Sheriff；　when　the　men　came　up　and　found　that　Little　John　was　not　dead；　〃that　I　have　not　slain　this　man　in　my　haste！　I　would　rather　lose　five　hundred　pounds　than　have　him　die　thus　instead　of　hanging；　as　such　a　vile　thief　should　do。　　Go；　get　some　water　from　yonder　fountain；　William；　and　pour　it　over　his　head。〃

The　man　did　as　he　was　bidden；　and　presently　Little　John　opened　his　eyes　and　looked　around　him；　all　dazed　and　bewildered　with　the　stun　of　the　blow。　Then　they　tied　his　hands　behind　him；　and　lifting　him　up　set　him　upon　the　back　of　one　of　the　horses；　with　his　face　to　its　tail　and　his　feet　strapped　beneath　its　belly。　　So　they　took　him　back　to　the　King's　Head　Inn；　laughing　and　rejoicing　as　they　went　along。　But　in　the　meantime　the　widow's　three　sons　had　gotten　safely　away；　and　were　hidden　in　the　woodlands。

Once　more　the　Sheriff　of　Nottingham　sat　within　the　King's　Head　Inn。　His　heart　rejoiced　within　him；　for　he　had　at　last　done　that　which　he　had　sought　to　do　for　years；　taken　Little　John　prisoner。　Quoth　he　to　himself；　〃This　time　tomorrow　the　rogue　shall　hang　upon　the　gallows　tree　in　front　of　the　great　gate　of　Nottingham　Town；　and　thus　shall　I　make　my　long　score　with　him　even。〃　　So　saying；　he　took　a　deep　draught　of　Canary。　　But　it　seemed　as　if　the　Sheriff　had　swallowed　a　thought　with　his　wine；　for　he　shook　his　head　and　put　the　cup　down　hastily。　　〃Now；〃　he　muttered　to　himself；　〃I　would　not　for　a　thousand　pounds　have　this　fellow　slip　through　my　fingers；　yet；　should　his　master　escape　that　foul　Guy　of　Gisbourne；　there　is　no　knowing　what　he　may　do；　for　he　is　the　cunningest　knave　in　all　the　worldthis　same　Robin　Hood。　　Belike　I　had　better　not　wait　until　tomorrow　to　hang　the　fellow。〃　　So　saying；　he　pushed　his　chair　back　hastily；　and　going　forth　from　the　inn　called　his　men　together。　Quoth　he；　〃I　will　wait　no　longer　for　the　hanging　of　this　rogue；　but　it　shall　be　done　forthwith；　and　that　from　the　very　tree　whence　he　saved　those　three　young　villains　by　stepping　betwixt　them　and　the　law。　So　get　ye　ready　straightway。〃

Then　once　more　they　sat　Little　John　upon　the　horse；　with　his　face　to　the　tail；　and　so；　one　leading　the　horse　whereon　he　sat　and　the　others　riding　around　him；　they　went　forward　to　that　tree　from　the　branches　of　which　they　had　thought　to　hang　the　poachers。　On　they　went；　rattling　and　jingling　along　the　road　till　they　came　to　the　tree。　　Here　one　of　the　men　spake　to　the　Sheriff　of　a　sudden。　〃Your　Worship；〃　cried　he；　〃is　not　yon　fellow　coming　along　toward　us　that　same　Guy　of　Gisbourne　whom　thou　didst　send　into　the　forest　to　seek　Robin　Hood？〃　　At　these　words　the　Sheriff　shaded　his　eyes　and　looked　eagerly。　　〃Why；　certes；〃　quoth　he；　〃yon　fellow　is　the　same。　　Now；　Heaven　send　that　he　hath　slain　the　master　thief；　as　we　will　presently　slay　the　man！〃

When　Little　John　heard　this　speech　he　looked　up；　and　straightway　his　heart　crumbled　away　within　him；　for　not　only　were　the　man's　garments　all　covered　with　blood；　but　he　wore　Robin　Hood's　bugle　horn　and　carried　his　bow　and　broadsword。

〃How　now！〃　cried　the　Sheriff；　when　Robin　Hood；　in　Guy　of　Gisbourne's　clothes；　had　come　nigh　to　them。　　〃What　luck　hath　befallen　thee　in　the　forest？　Why；　man；　thy　clothes　are　all　over　blood！〃

〃An　thou　likest　not　my　clothes；〃　said　Robin　in　a　harsh　voice　like　that　of　Guy　of　Gisbourne；　〃thou　mayst　shut　thine　eyes。　Marry；　the　blood　upon　me　is　that　of　the　vilest　outlaw　that　ever　trod　the　woodlands；　and　one　whom　I　have　slain　this　day；　albeit　not　without　wound　to　myself。〃

Then　out　spake　Little　John；　for　the　first　time　since　he　had　fallen　into　the　Sheriff's　hands。　　〃O　thou　vile；　bloody　wretch！　I　know　thee；　Guy　of　Gisbourne；　for　who　is　there　that　hath　not　heard　of　thee　and　cursed　thee　for　thy　vile　deeds　of　blood　and　rapine？　Is　it　by　such　a　hand　as　thine　that　the　gentlest　heart　that　ever　beat　is　stilled　in　death？　　Truly；　thou　art　a　fit　tool　for　this　coward　Sheriff　of　Nottingham。　　Now　I　die　joyfully；　nor　do　I　care　how　I　die；　for　life　is　nought　to　me！〃　　So　spake　Little　John；　the　salt　tears　rolling　down　his　brown　cheeks。

But　the　Sheriff　of　Nottingham　clapped　his　hands　for　joy。　〃Now；　Guy　of　Gisbourne；〃　cried　he；　〃if　what　thou　tellest　me　is　true；　it　will　be　the　best　day's　doings　for　thee　that　ever　thou　hast　done　in　all　thy　life。〃

〃What　I　have　told　thee　is　sooth；　and　I　lie　not；〃　said　Robin；　still　in　Guy　of　Gisbourne's　voice。　　〃Look；　is　not　this　Robin　Hood's　sword；　and　is　not　this　his　good　bow　of　yew；　and　is　not　this　his　bugle　horn？　Thinkest　thou　he　would　have　given　them　to　Guy　of　Gisbourne　of　his　own　free　will？〃

Then　the　Sheriff　laughed　aloud　for　joy。　　〃This　is　a　good　day！〃　cried　he。　〃The　great　outlaw　dead　and　his　right…hand　man　in　my　hands！　Ask　what　thou　wilt　of　me；　G