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fingernail to elbow。 Truly； I thought that I was palsied for life。
I tell thee； coz； that thou art the strongest man that ever I
laid mine eyes upon。 I take my vow； I felt my stomach quake
when I beheld thee pluck up yon green tree as thou didst。
But tell me； how camest thou to leave Sir Edward and thy mother？〃
〃Alas！〃 answered young Gamwell； 〃it is an ill story； uncle； that I
have to tell thee。 My father's steward； who came to us after old
Giles Crookleg died； was ever a saucy varlet； and I know not why
my father kept him； saving that he did oversee with great judgment。
It used to gall me to hear him speak up so boldly to my father； who；
thou knowest； was ever a patient man to those about him； and slow
to anger and harsh words。 Well； one dayand an ill day it was for
that saucy fellowhe sought to berate my father； I standing by。
I could stand it no longer； good uncle； so； stepping forth； I gave
him a box o' the ear； andwouldst thou believe it？the fellow
straightway died o't。 I think they said I broke his neck； or something o'
the like。 So off they packed me to seek thee and escape the law。
I was on my way when thou sawest me； and here I am。〃
〃Well； by the faith of my heart；〃 quoth Robin Hood； 〃for anyone
escaping the law； thou wast taking it the most easily that ever
I beheld in all my life。 Whenever did anyone in all the world
see one who had slain a man； and was escaping because of it；
tripping along the highway like a dainty court damsel；
sniffing at a rose the while？〃
〃Nay； uncle；〃 answered Will Gamwell； 〃overhaste never churned good butter；
as the old saying hath it。 Moreover； I do verily believe that this
overstrength of my body hath taken the nimbleness out of my heels。
Why； thou didst but just now rap me thrice； and I thee never a once；
save by overbearing thee by my strength。〃
〃Nay；〃 quoth Robin； 〃let us say no more on that score。
I am right glad to see thee； Will； and thou wilt add great honor
and credit to my band of merry fellows。 But thou must change
thy name； for warrants will be out presently against thee；
so； because of thy gay clothes； thou shalt henceforth and for aye
be called Will Scarlet。〃
〃Will Scarlet；〃 quoth Little John； stepping forward and reaching out his
great palm； which the other took； 〃Will Scarlet； the name fitteth thee well。
Right glad am I to welcome thee among us。 I am called Little John；
and this is a new member who has just joined us； a stout tanner named
Arthur a Bland。 Thou art like to achieve fame； Will； let me tell thee；
for there will be many a merry ballad sung about the country； and many a merry
story told in Sherwood of how Robin Hood taught Little John and Arthur
a Bland the proper way to use the quarterstaff； likewise； as it were；
how our good master bit off so large a piece of cake that he choked on it。〃
〃Nay； good Little John；〃 quoth Robin gently； for he liked ill to have
such a jest told of him。 〃Why should we speak of this little matter？
Prythee； let us keep this day's doings among ourselves。〃
〃With all my heart；〃 quoth Little John。 〃But； good master；
I thought that thou didst love a merry story； because thou hast
so often made a jest about a certain increase of fatness on my joints；
of flesh gathered by my abiding with the Sheriff of〃
〃Nay； good Little John；〃 said Robin hastily； 〃I do bethink me
I have said full enough on that score。〃
〃It is well；〃 quoth Little John； 〃for in truth I myself have tired
of it somewhat。 But now I bethink me； thou didst also seem minded
to make a jest of the rain that threatened last night； so〃
〃Nay； then；〃 said Robin Hood testily； 〃I was mistaken。
I remember me now it did seem to threaten rain。〃
〃Truly； I did think so myself；〃 quoth Little John； 〃therefore； no doubt；
thou dost think it was wise of me to abide all night at the Blue Boar Inn；
instead of venturing forth in such stormy weather； dost thou not？〃
〃A plague of thee and thy doings！〃 cried Robin Hood。 〃If thou wilt
have it so； thou wert right to abide wherever thou didst choose。〃
〃Once more； it is well；〃 quoth Little John。 〃As for myself；
I have been blind this day。 I did not see thee drubbed；
I did not see thee tumbled heels over head in the dust；
and if any man says that thou wert； I can with a clear conscience
rattle his lying tongue betwixt his teeth。〃
〃Come；〃 cried Robin； biting his nether lip； while the others
could not forbear laughing。 〃We will go no farther today；
but will return to Sherwood； and thou shalt go to Ancaster
another time； Little John。〃
So said Robin； for now that his bones were sore； he felt as though
a long journey would be an ill thing for him。 So； turning their backs；
they retraced their steps whence they came。
The Adventure with Midge the Miller's Son
WHEN THE four yeomen had traveled for a long time toward
Sherwood again； high noontide being past； they began to wax hungry。
Quoth Robin Hood； 〃I would that I had somewhat to eat。
Methinks a good loaf of white bread； with a piece of
snow…white cheese； washed down with a draught of humming ale；
were a feast for a king。〃
〃Since thou speakest of it；〃 said Will Scarlet； 〃methinks it
would not be amiss myself。 There is that within me crieth out；
‘Victuals； good friend； victuals！' 〃
〃I know a house near by；〃 said Arthur a Bland； 〃and； had I but the money；
I would bring ye that ye speak of； to wit； a sweet loaf of bread；
a fair cheese； and a skin of brown ale。〃
〃For the matter of that； thou knowest I have money by me； good master；〃
quoth Little John。
〃Why； so thou hast； Little John；〃 said Robin。 〃How much money will it take；
good Arthur； to buy us meat and drink？〃
〃I think that six broad pennies will buy food enow for a dozen men；〃
said the Tanner。
〃Then give him six pennies； Little John；〃 quoth Robin；
〃for methinks food for three men will about fit my need。
Now get thee gone； Arthur； with the money； and bring the food here；
for there is a sweet shade in that thicket yonder； beside the road；
and there will we eat our meal。〃
So Little John gave Arthur the money； and the others stepped to the thicket；
there to await the return of the Tanner。
After a time he came back； bearing with him a great brown loaf of bread；
and a fair； round cheese； and a goatskin full of stout March beer；
slung over his shoulders。 Then Will Scarlet took his sword and
divided the loaf and the cheese into four fair portions； and each
man helped himself。 Then Robin Hood took a deep pull at the beer。
〃Aha！〃 said he； drawing in his breath； 〃never have I tasted sweeter
drink than this。〃
After this no man spake more； but each munched away at his bread
and cheese lustily； with ever and anon a pull at the beer。
At last Will Scarlet looked at a small piece of bread he still held
in his hand； and quoth he； 〃Methinks I will give this to the sparrows。〃
So； throwing it from him； he brushed the crumbs from his jerkin。
〃I； too；〃 quoth Robin； 〃have had enough； I think。〃
As for Little John and the Tanner； they had by this time eaten
every crumb of their bread and cheese。
〃Now；〃 quoth Robin； 〃I do feel myself another man； and would fain
enjoy something pleasant before going fa