按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
the second bout。
Then for the third time they came together； and at first Eric strove
to be wary； as he had been before； but； growing mad at finding
himself so foiled； he lost his wits and began to rain blows so
fiercely and so fast that they rattled like hail on penthouse roof；
but； in spite of all； he did not reach within Little John's guard。
Then at last Little John saw his chance and seized it right cleverly。
Once more； with a quick blow； he rapped Eric beside the head；
and ere he could regain himself； Little John slipped his right hand
down to his left and； with a swinging blow； smote the other so sorely
upon the crown that down he fell as though he would never move again。
Then the people shouted so loud that folk came running from all
about to see what was the ado； while Little John leaped down from
the stand and gave the staff back to him that had lent it to him。
And thus ended the famous bout between Little John and Eric o'
Lincoln of great renown。
But now the time had come when those who were to shoot with the
longbow were to take their places； so the people began flocking
to the butts where the shooting was to be。 Near the target；
in a good place； sat the Sheriff upon a raised dais； with many
gentlefolk around him。 When the archers had taken their places；
the herald came forward and proclaimed the rules of the game；
and how each should shoot three shots； and to him that should
shoot the best the prize of two fat steers was to belong。
A score of brave shots were gathered there； and among them some
of the keenest hands at the longbow in Lincoln and Nottinghamshire；
and among them Little John stood taller than all the rest。
〃Who is yon stranger clad all in scarlet？〃 said some； and others
answered； 〃It is he that hath but now so soundly cracked the crown
of Eric o' Lincoln。〃 Thus the people talked among themselves；
until at last it reached even the Sheriff's ears。
And now each man stepped forward and shot in turn； but though each shot well；
Little John was the best of all； for three times he struck the clout； and once
only the length of a barleycorn from the center。 〃Hey for the tall archer！〃
shouted the crowd； and some among them shouted； 〃Hey for Reynold Greenleaf！〃
for this was the name that Little John had called himself that day。
Then the Sheriff stepped down from the raised seat and came to where
the archers stood； while all doffed their caps that saw him coming。
He looked keenly at Little John but did not know him； though he said；
after a while； 〃How now； good fellow； methinks there is that about thy
face that I have seen erewhile。〃
〃Mayhap it may be so；〃 quoth Little John； 〃for often have I seen
Your Worship。〃 And； as he spoke； he looked steadily into the Sheriff's
eyes so that the latter did not suspect who he was。
〃A brave blade art thou； good friend；〃 said the Sheriff； 〃and I hear
that thou hast well upheld the skill of Nottinghamshire against
that of Lincoln this day。 What may be thy name； good fellow？〃
〃Men do call me Reynold Greenleaf； Your Worship；〃 said Little John；
and the old ballad that tells of this； adds； 〃So； in truth； was he a
green leaf； but of what manner of tree the Sheriff wotted not。〃
〃Now； Reynold Greenleaf；〃 quoth the Sheriff； 〃thou art the fairest hand at
the longbow that mine eyes ever beheld； next to that false knave； Robin Hood；
from whose wiles Heaven forfend me！ Wilt thou join my service； good fellow？
Thou shalt be paid right well； for three suits of clothes shalt thou have
a year； with good food and as much ale as thou canst drink； and； besides this；
I will pay thee forty marks each Michaelmastide。〃
〃Then here stand I a free man； and right gladly will I enter thy household；〃
said Little John； for he thought he might find some merry jest；
should he enter the Sheriff's service。
〃Fairly hast thou won the fat steers；〃 said the Sheriff；
〃and 〃hereunto I will add a butt of good March beer； for joy
of having gotten such a man； for； I wot； thou shootest as fair
a shaft as Robin Hood himself。〃
〃Then；〃 said Little John； 〃for joy of having gotten myself into thy service；
I will give fat steers and brown ale to all these good folk； to make them
merry withal。〃 At this arose a great shout； many casting their caps aloft；
for joy of the gift。
Then some built great fires and roasted the steers； and others
broached the butt of ale； with which all made themselves merry。
Then； when they had eaten and drunk as much as they could；
and when the day faded and the great moon arose； all red and round；
over the spires and towers of Nottingham Town； they joined hands
and danced around the fires； to the music of bagpipes and harps。
But long before this merrymaking had begun； the Sheriff and his
new servant Reynold Greenleaf were in the Castle of Nottingham。
How Little John Lived at the Sheriff's
THUS LITTLE JOHN entered into the Sheriff's service and
found the life he led there easy enough； for the Sheriff
made him his right…hand man and held him in great favor。
He sat nigh the Sheriff at meat； and he ran beside his horse when
he went a…hunting； so that； what with hunting and hawking a little；
and eating rich dishes and drinking good sack； and sleeping until
late hours in the morning； he grew as fat as a stall…fed ox。
Thus things floated easily along with the tide； until one day
when the Sheriff went a…hunting； there happened that which broke
the smooth surface of things。
This morning the Sheriff and many of his men set forth to meet
certain lords； to go a…hunting。 He looked all about him for his good man；
Reynold Greenleaf； but； not finding him； was vexed； for he wished
to show Little John's skill to his noble friends。 As for Little John；
he lay abed； snoring lustily； till the sun was high in the heavens。
At last he opened his eyes and looked about him but did not move to arise。
Brightly shone the sun in at the window； and all the air was sweet
with the scent of woodbine that hung in sprays about the wall without；
for the cold winter was past and spring was come again； and Little John
lay still； thinking how sweet was everything on this fair morn。
Just then he heard； faint and far away； a distant bugle note sounding
thin and clear。 The sound was small； but； like a little pebble dropped
into a glassy fountain； it broke all the smooth surface of his thoughts；
until his whole soul was filled with disturbance。 His spirit seemed
to awaken from its sluggishness； and his memory brought back to him
all the merry greenwood lifehow the birds were singing blithely there
this bright morning； and how his loved companions and friends were
feasting and making merry； or perhaps talking of him with sober speech；
for when he first entered the Sheriff's service he did so in jest；
but the hearthstone was warm during the winter； and the fare was full；
and so he had abided； putting off from day to day his going back
to Sherwood； until six long months had passed。 But now he thought
of his good master and of Will Stutely； whom he loved better than anyone
in all the world； and of young David of Doncaster； whom he had trained
so well in all manly sports； till there came over his heart a