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At this； the youth； who had donned his clothes and taken up his staff again；
bowed without a word； then； taking the gloves and the ring； and thrusting
the one into his girdle and slipping the other upon his thumb； he turned and；
leaping lightly over the ropes again； made his way through the crowd；
and was gone。
〃Now； I wonder who yon youth may be；〃 said the judge； turning to Sir Richard；
〃he seemeth like a stout Saxon from his red cheeks and fair hair。
This William of ours is a stout man； too； and never have I seen
him cast in the ring before； albeit he hath not yet striven
with such great wrestlers as Thomas of Cornwall； Diccon of York；
and young David of Doncaster。 Hath he not a firm foot in the ring；
thinkest thou； Sir Richard？〃
〃Ay； truly； and yet this youth threw him fairly； and with wondrous ease。
I much wonder who he can be。〃 Thus said Sir Richard in a thoughtful voice。
For a time the Knight stood talking to those about him；
but at last he arose and made ready to depart； so he called
his men about him and； tightening the girths of his saddle；
he mounted his horse once more。
Meanwhile the young stranger had made his way through the crowd；
but； as he passed； he heard all around him such words muttered
as 〃Look at the cockerel！〃 〃Behold how he plumeth himself！〃
〃I dare swear he cast good William unfairly！〃 〃Yea； truly；
saw ye not birdlime upon his hands？〃 〃It would be well to cut
his cock's comb！〃 To all this the stranger paid no heed；
but strode proudly about as though he heard it not。
So he walked slowly across the green to where the booth stood wherein
was dancing； and standing at the door he looked in on the sport。
As he stood thus； a stone struck his arm of a sudden with a sharp
jar； and； turning； he saw that an angry crowd of men had followed
him from the wrestling ring。 Then； when they saw him turn so；
a great hooting and yelling arose from all； so that the folk
came running out from the dancing booth to see what was to do。
At last a tall； broad…shouldered； burly blacksmith strode forward
from the crowd swinging a mighty blackthorn club in his hand。
〃Wouldst thou come here to our fair town of Denby； thou Jack in
the Box； to overcome a good honest lad with vile； juggling tricks？〃
growled he in a deep voice like the bellow of an angry bull。
〃Take that； then！〃 And of a sudden he struck a blow at the youth
that might have felled an ox。 But the other turned the blow
deftly aside； and gave back another so terrible that the Denby man
went down with a groan； as though he had been smitten by lightning。
When they saw their leader fall； the crowd gave another angry shout；
but the stranger placed his back against the tent near which he stood；
swinging his terrible staff； and so fell had been the blow that he struck
the stout smith that none dared to come within the measure of his cudgel；
so the press crowded back； like a pack of dogs from a bear at bay。
But now some coward hand from behind threw a sharp jagged stone that
smote the stranger on the crown； so that he staggered back； and the red
blood gushed from the cut and ran down his face and over his jerkin。
Then； seeing him dazed with this vile blow； the crowd rushed upon him；
so that they overbore him and he fell beneath their feet。
Now it might have gone ill with the youth； even to the losing
of his young life； had not Sir Richard come to this fair；
for of a sudden； shouts were heard； and steel flashed in the air；
and blows were given with the flat of swords； while through the midst
of the crowd Sir Richard of the Lea came spurring on his white horse。
Then the crowd； seeing the steel…clad knight and the armed men；
melted away like snow on the warm hearth； leaving the young man
all bloody and dusty upon the ground。
Finding himself free； the youth arose and； wiping the blood
from his face； looked up。 Quoth he； 〃Sir Richard of the Lea；
mayhap thou hast saved my life this day。〃
〃Who art thou that knowest Sir Richard of the Lea so well？〃
quoth the Knight。 〃Methinks I have seen thy face before； young man。〃
〃Yea； thou hast；〃 said the youth； 〃for men call me David of Doncaster。〃
〃Ha！〃 said Sir Richard； 〃I wonder that I knew thee not； David；
but thy beard hath grown longer； and thou thyself art more
set in manhood since this day twelvemonth。 Come hither
into the tent； David； and wash the blood from thy face。
And thou； Ralph； bring him straightway a clean jerkin。
Now I am
sorry for thee； yet I am right glad that I have had a chance to pay
a part of my debt of kindness to thy good master Robin Hood；
for it might have gone ill with thee had I not come； young man。〃
So saying； the Knight led David into the tent； and there the youth washed
the blood from his face and put on the clean jerkin。
In the meantime a whisper had gone around from those that stood
nearest that this was none other than the great David of Doncaster；
the best wrestler in all the mid…country； who only last spring
had cast stout Adam o' Lincoln in the ring at Selby； in Yorkshire；
and now held the mid…country champion belt； Thus it happened that
when young David came forth from the tent along with Sir Richard；
the blood all washed from his face； and his soiled jerkin changed
for a clean one； no sounds of anger were heard； but all pressed
forward to see the young man； feeling proud that one of the great
wrestlers of England should have entered the ring at Denby fair。
For thus fickle is a mass of men。
Then Sir Richard called aloud； 〃Friends； this is David of Doncaster；
so think it no shame that your Denby man was cast by such a wrestler。
He beareth you no ill will for what hath passed； but let it be a warning
to you how ye treat strangers henceforth。 Had ye slain him it would
have been an ill day for you； for Robin Hood would have harried your
town as the kestrel harries the dovecote。 I have bought the pipe
of wine from him； and now I give it freely to you to drink as ye list。
But never hereafterward fall upon a man for being a stout yeoman。〃
At this all shouted amain； but in truth they thought more of the wine
than of the Knight's words。 Then Sir Richard； with David beside him
and his men…at…arms around； turned about and left the fair。
But in after days； when the men that saw that wrestling bout were bent
with age； they would shake their heads when they heard of any stalwart game；
and say； 〃Ay； ay； but thou shouldst have seen the great David of Doncaster
cast stout William of the Scar at Denby fair。〃
Robin Hood stood in the merry greenwood with Little John and most
of his stout yeomen around him； awaiting Sir Richard's coming。
At last a glint of steel was seen through the brown forest leaves； and forth
from the covert into the open rode Sir Richard at the head of his men。
He came straight forward to Robin Hood and leaping from off his horse；
clasped the yeoman in his arms。
〃Why； how now；〃 said Robin； after a time； holding Sir Richard off
and looking at him from top to toe； 〃methinks thou art a gayer bird
than when I saw thee last。〃
〃Yes； thanks to thee； Robin；〃 said the Knight； laying his hand upon
the yeoman's shoulder。 〃But for thee I would have been wa