the merry adventures of robin hood(罗宾汉奇遇记)-第58节

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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　too　strong　for　him　to　draw。
As　the　Sheriff　looked　around　ere　he　ordered　his　men　to　string
the　three　youths　up　to　the　oak　tree；　his　eyes　fell　upon　this
strange　old　man。　　Then　his　worship　beckoned　to　him；　saying；
〃Come　hither；　father；　I　have　a　few　words　to　say　to　thee。〃
So　Little　John；　for　it　was　none　other　than　he；　came　forward；
and　the　Sheriff　looked　upon　him；　thinking　that　there
was　something　strangely　familiar　in　the　face　before　him。
〃How；　now；〃　said　he；　〃methinks　I　have　seen　thee　before。
What　may　thy　name　be；　father？〃

〃Please　Your　Worship；〃　said　Little　John；　in　a　cracked　voice　like　that
of　an　old　man；　〃my　name　is　Giles　Hobble；　at　Your　Worship's　service。〃

〃Giles　Hobble；　Giles　Hobble；〃　muttered　the　Sheriff　to　himself；　turning　over
the　names　that　he　had　in　his　mind　to　try　to　find　one　to　fit　to　this。
〃I　remember　not　thy　name；〃　said　he　at　last；　〃but　it　matters　not。
Hast　thou　a　mind　to　earn　sixpence　this　bright　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　q