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

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will　get　us　both　well　laughed　at　yet。〃

〃My　foolish　tongue；　forsooth；〃　growled　Little　John　to　Arthur
a　Bland。　　〃I　would　it　could　keep　our　master　from　getting　us
into　another　coil　this　day。〃

But　now　the　Miller；　plodding　along　the　road；　had　come　opposite
to　where　the　yeomen　lay　hidden；　whereupon　all　four　of　them　ran
at　him　and　surrounded　him。

〃Hold；　friend！〃　cried　Robin　to　the　Miller；　whereupon　he　turned　slowly；
with　the　weight　of　the　bag　upon　his　shoulder；　and　looked　at　each　in　turn
all　bewildered；　for　though　a　good　stout　man　his　wits　did　not　skip
like　roasting　chestnuts。

〃Who　bids　me　stay？〃　said　the　Miller　in　a　voice　deep　and　gruff；
like　the　growl　of　a　great　dog。

〃Marry；　that　do　I；〃　quoth　Robin；　〃and　let　me　tell　thee；　friend；　thou　hadst
best　mind　my　bidding。〃

〃And　who　art　thou；　good　friend？〃　said　the　Miller；　throwing　the　great　sack
of　meal　from　his　shoulder　to　the　ground；　〃and　who　are　those　with　thee？〃

〃We　be　four　good　Christian　men；〃　quoth　Robin；　〃and　would　fain
help　thee　by　carrying　part　of　thy　heavy　load。〃

〃I　give　you　all　thanks；〃　said　the　Miller；　〃but　my　bag　is　none
that　heavy　that　I　cannot　carry　it　e'en　by　myself。〃

〃Nay；　thou　dost　mistake；〃　quoth　Robin；　〃I　meant　that　thou
mightest　perhaps　have　some　heavy　farthings　or　pence　about　thee；
not　to　speak　of　silver　and　gold。　　Our　good　Gaffer　Swanthold　sayeth
that　gold　is　an　overheavy　burden　for　a　two…legged　ass　to　carry；
so　we　would　e'en　lift　some　of　this　load　from　thee。〃

〃Alas！〃　cried　the　Miller；　〃what　would　ye　do　to　me？
I　have　not　about　me　so　much　as　a　clipped　groat。
Do　me　no　harm；　I　pray　you；　but　let　me　depart　in　peace。
Moreover；　let　me　tell　you　that　ye　are　upon　Robin　Hood's　ground；
and　should　he　find　you　seeking　to　rob　an　honest　craftsman；
he　will　clip　your　ears　to　your　heads　and　scourge　you　even
to　the　walls　of　Nottingham。

〃In　truth　I　fear　Robin　Hood　no　more　than　I　do　myself；〃
quoth　jolly　Robin。　　〃Thou　must　this　day　give　up　to　me　every
penny　thou　hast　about　thee。　　Nay；　if　thou　dost　budge　an　inch
I　will　rattle　this　staff　about　thine　ears。〃

〃Nay；　smite　me　not！〃　cried　the　Miller；　throwing　up　his　elbow
as　though　he　feared　the　blow。　　〃Thou　mayst　search　me　if　thou　wilt；
but　thou　wilt　find　nothing　upon　me；　pouch；　pocket；　or　skin。〃

〃Is　it　so？〃　quoth　Robin　Hood；　looking　keenly　upon　him。
〃Now　I　believe　that　what　thou　tellest　is　no　true　tale。
If　I　am　not　much　mistook　thou　hast　somewhat　in　the　bottom　of　that
fat　sack　of　meal。　　Good　Arthur；　empty　the　bag　upon　the　ground；
I　warrant　thou　wilt　find　a　shilling　or　two　in　the　flour。〃

〃Alas！〃　cried　the　Miller；　falling　upon　his　knees；　〃spoil　not
all　my　good　meal！　　It　can　better　you　not；　and　will　ruin　me。
Spare　it；　and　I　will　give　up　the　money　in　the　bag。〃

〃Ha！〃　quoth　Robin；　nudging　Will　Scarlet。　　〃Is　it　so？
And　have　I　found　where　thy　money　lies？　　Marry；　I　have　a　wondrous
nose　for　the　blessed　image　of　good　King　Harry。　　I　thought
that　I　smelled　gold　and　silver　beneath　the　barley　meal。
Bring　it　straight　forth；　Miller。〃

Then　slowly　the　Miller　arose　to　his　feet；　and　slowly　and　unwillingly　he　untied
the　mouth　of　the　bag；　and　slowly　thrust　his　hands　into　the　meal　and　began
fumbling　about　with　his　arms　buried　to　the　elbows　in　the　barley　flour。
The　others　gathered　round　him；　their　heads　together；　looking　and　wondering
what　he　would　bring　forth。

So　they　stood；　all　with　their　heads　close　together　gazing
down　into　the　sack。　　But　while　he　pretended　to　be　searching
for　the　money；　the　Miller　gathered　two　great　handfuls　of　meal。
〃Ha；〃　quoth　he；　〃here　they　are；　the　beauties。〃　　Then；　as　the　others
leaned　still　more　forward　to　see　what　he　had；　he　suddenly
cast　the　meal　into　their　faces；　filling　their　eyes　and　noses
and　mouths　with　the　flour；　blinding　and　half　choking　them。
Arthur　a　Bland　was　worse　off　than　any；　for　his　mouth　was　open；
agape　with　wonder　of　what　was　to　come；　so　that　a　great　cloud
of　flour　flew　down　his　throat；　setting　him　a…coughing　till
he　could　scarcely　stand。

Then；　while　all　four　stumbled　about；　roaring　with　the　smart
of　the　meal　in　their　eyeballs；　and　while　they　rubbed　their　eyes
till　the　tears　made　great　channels　on　their　faces　through　the　meal；
the　Miller　seized　another　handful　of　flour　and　another　and　another；
throwing　it　in　their　faces；　so　that　even　had　they　had　a　glimmering　of
light　before　they　were　now　as　blind　as　ever　a　beggar　in　Nottinghamshire；
while　their　hair　and　beards　and　clothes　were　as　white　as　snow。

Then　catching　up　his　great　crabstaff；　the　Miller　began
laying　about　him　as　though　he　were　clean　gone　mad。
This　way　and　that　skipped　the　four；　like　peas　on　a　drumhead；
but　they　could　see　neither　to　defend　themselves　nor　to　run　away。
Thwack！　thwack！　went　the　Miller's　cudgel　across　their　backs；
and　at　every　blow　great　white　clouds　of　flour　rose　in　the　air
from　their　jackets　and　went　drifting　down　the　breeze。

〃Stop！〃　roared　Robin　at　last。　　〃Give　over；　good　friend；
I　am　Robin　Hood！〃

〃Thou　liest；　thou　knave；〃　cried　the　Miller；　giving　him　a　rap　on
the　ribs　that　sent　up　a　great　cloud　of　flour　like　a　puff　of　smoke。
〃Stout　Robin　never　robbed　an　honest　tradesman。　　Ha！　thou　wouldst
have　my　money；　wouldst　thou？〃　　And　he　gave　him　another　blow。
〃Nay；　thou　art　not　getting　thy　share；　thou　long…legged　knave。
Share　and　share　alike。〃　　And　he　smote　Little　John　across
the　shoulders　so　that　he　sent　him　skipping　half　across　the　road。
〃Nay；　fear　not；　it　is　thy　turn　now；　black　beard。〃　　And　he　gave
the　Tanner　a　crack　that　made　him　roar　for　all　his　coughing。
〃How　now；　red　coat；　let　me　brush　the　dust　from　thee！〃
cried　he；　smiting　Will　Scarlet。　　And　so　he　gave　them　merry　words
and　blows　until　they　could　scarcely　stand；　and　whenever　he　saw
one　like　to　clear　his　eyes　he　threw　more　flour　in　his　face。
At　last　Robin　Hood　found　his　horn　and　clapping　it　to　his　lips；
blew　three　loud　blasts　upon　it。

Now　it　chanced　that　Will　Stutely　and　a　party　of　Robin's　men　were　in　the　glade
not　far　from　where　this　merry　sport　was　going　forward。　　Hearing　the　hubbub
of　voices；　and　blows　that　sounded　like　the　noise　of　a　flail　in　the　barn
in　wintertime；　they　stopped；　listening　and　wondering　what　was　toward。
Quoth　Will　Stutely；　〃Now　if　I　mistake　not　there　is　some　stout　battle　with
cudgels　going　forward　not　far　hence。　　I　would　fain　see　this　pretty　sight。〃
So　saying；　he　and　the　whole　party　turned　their　steps　whence　the　noise　came。
When　they　had　come　near　where　all　the　tumult　sounded　they　heard　the　three
blasts　of　Robin's　bugle　horn。

〃Quick！〃　cried　young　David　of　Doncaster。　　〃Our　master　is　in　sore　need！〃
So；　without　stopping　a　moment；　they　dashed　forward　with　might　and　main
and　burst　forth　from　the　covert　into　the　highroad。

But　what　a　sight　was　that　which　they　saw！　　The　road　was　all　white　with　meal；
and　five　men　stood　there　also　white　with　meal　from　top　to　toe；　for　much
of　the　barley　flour　had　fallen　back　upon　the　Miller。

〃What　is　thy　need；　master？〃　cried　Will　Stutely。　　〃And　what　doth
all　this　mean？〃

〃Why；〃　quoth　Robin　in　a　mighty　passion；　〃yon　traitor　felt　low
hath　come　as　nigh　slaying　me　as　e'er　a　man　in　all　the　world。
Hadst　thou　not　come　quickly；　good　Stutely；　thy　master　had　been　dead。〃

Hereupon；　while　he　and　the　three　others　rubbed　the　meal　from　their　eyes；
and　Will　Stutely　and　his　men　brushed　their　clothes　clean；　he　told　them　all；
how　that　he　had　meant　to　pass　a　jest　upon　the　Miller；　which　same　had　turned
so　grievously　upon　them。

〃Quick；　men；　seize　the　vile　Miller！〃　cried　Stutely；　who　was　nigh　choking
with　laughter　as　were　the　rest；　whereupon　several　ran　upon　the　stout　fellow
and　seizing　him；　bound　his　arms　behind　his　back　with　bowstrings。

〃Ha！〃　cried　Robin；　when　they　brought　the　trembling　Miller　to　him。
〃Thou　wouldst　murder　me；　wouldst　thou？　　By　my　faith〃
Here　he　stopped　and　stood　glaring　upon　the；　Miller　grimly。
But　Robin's　anger　could　not　hold；　so　first　his　eyes　twinkled；
and　then　in　spite　of　all　he　broke　into　a　laugh。

Now　when　they　saw　their　master　laugh；　the　yeomen　who　stood　around
could　contain　themselves　no　longer；　and　a　mighty　shout　of　laughter
went　up　from　all。　　Many　could　not　stand；　but　rolled　upon　the　ground
from　pure　merriment。

〃What　is　thy　name；　good　fellow？〃　said　Robin　at　last　to　the　Miller；
who　stood　gaping　and　as　though　he　were　in　amaze。

〃Alas；　sir；　I　am　Midge；　the　Miller's　son；〃　said　he　in　a　frightened　voice。

〃I　make　my　vow；〃　quoth　merry　Robin；　smiting　him　upon　the　shoulder；
〃thou　art　the　mightiest　Midge　that　e'er　mine　eyes　beheld。
Now　wilt　thou　leave　thy　dusty　mill　and　come　and　join　my　band？
By　my　faith；　thou　art　too　stout　a　man　to　spend　thy　days　betwixt
the　hopper　and　the　till。〃

〃Then　truly；　if　thou　dost　forgive　me　for　the　blows　I　struck；
not　knowing　who　thou　wast；　I　will　join　with　thee　right　merrily；〃
said　the　Miller。

〃Then　have　I　gained　this　day；〃　quoth　Robin；　〃the　three　stoutest　yeomen
in　all　Nottinghamshire。　　We　will　get　us　away　to　the　greenwood　tree；　and　there
hold　a　merry　feast　in　honor　of　our　new　friends；　and　mayhap　a　cup　or　two
of　good　sack　and　canary　may　mellow　the　soreness　of　my　poor　joints　and　bones；
though　I　warrant　it　will　be　many　a　day　before　I　am　again　the　man　I　was。〃
So　saying；　he　turned　and　led　the　way；　the　rest　following；　and　so　they
entered　the　fo