the merry adventures of robin hood(罗宾汉奇遇记)-第59节

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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；　Guy　of　Gisbourne；　and　it　is　thine！〃

〃Then　this　I　ask　of　thee；〃　said　Robin。　　〃As　I　have　slain　the　master　I　would
now　kill　the　man。　　Give　this　fellow's　life　into　my　hands；　Sir　Sheriff。〃

〃Now　thou　art　a　fool！〃　cried　the　Sheriff。　　〃Thou　mightst　have　had
money　enough　for　a　knight's　ransom　if　thou　hadst　asked　for　it。
I　like　ill　to　let　this　fellow　pass　from　my　hands；　but　as　I　have　promised；
thou　shalt　have　him。〃

〃I　thank　thee　right　heartily　for　thy　gift；〃　cried　Robin。　　〃Take　the　rogue
down　from　the　horse；　men；　and　lean　him　against　yonder　tree；　while　I　show
you　how　we　stick　a　porker　whence　I　come！〃

At　these　words　some　of　the　Sheriff's　men　shook　their　heads；
for；　though　they　cared　not　a　whit　whether　Little　John　were
hanged　or　not；　they　hated　to　see　him　butchered　in　cold　blood。
But　the　Sheriff　called　to　them　in　a　loud　voice；　ordering　them
to　take　the　yeoman　down　from　the　horse　and　lean　him　against
the　tree；　as　the　other　bade。

While　they　were　doing　this　Robin　Hood　strung　both　his　bow
and　that　of　Guy　of　Gisbourne；　albeit　none　of　them　took　notice
of　his　doing　so。　　Then；　when　Little　John　stood　against　the　tree；
he　drew　Guy　of　Gisbourne's　sharp；　double…edged　dagger。
〃Fall　back！　fall　back！〃　cried　he。　　〃Would　ye　crowd　so　on
my　pleasure；　ye　unmannerly　knaves？　　Back；　I　say！　　Farther　yet！〃
So　they　crowded　back；　as　he　ordered；　many　of　them　turning　their
faces　away；　that　they　might　not　see　what　was　about　to　happen。

〃Come！〃　cried　Little　John。　　〃Here　is　my　breast。　　It　is　meet　that
the　same　hand　that　slew　my　dear　master　should　butcher　me　also！
I　know　thee；　Guy　of　Gisbourne！〃

〃Peace；　Little　John！〃　said　Robin　in　a　low　voice。　　〃Twice　thou
hast　said　thou　knowest　me；　and　yet　thou　knowest　me　not　at　all。
Couldst　thou　not　tell　me　beneath　this　wild　beast's　hide？　　Yonder；　just　in
front　of　thee；　lie　my　bow　and　arrows；　likewise　my　broadsword。
Take　them