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of Wat o' the Crabstaff。〃
〃Drink； man； drink；〃 cried Robin； only wetting his own lips meanwhile。
〃Ho； landlord！ Bring my friend another pot of the same。
And now for a song； my jolly blade。〃
〃Ay； that will I give thee a song； my lovely fellow；〃
quoth the Tinker； 〃for I never tasted such ale in all my days before。
By Our Lady； it doth make my head hum even now！ Hey； Dame Hostess；
come listen； an thou wouldst hear a song； and thou too；
thou bonny lass； for never sing I so well as when bright eyes
do look upon me the while。〃
Then he sang an ancient ballad of the time of good King Arthur；
called 〃The Marriage of Sir Gawaine；〃 which you may some time read yourself；
in stout English of early times； and as he sang； all listened
to that noble tale of noble knight and his sacrifice to his king。
But long before the Tinker came to the last verse his tongue began to trip
and his head to spin； because of the strong waters mixed with the ale。
First his tongue tripped； then it grew thick of sound； then his head
wagged from side to side； until at last he fell asleep as though
he never would waken again。
Then Robin Hood laughed aloud and quickly took the warrant
from out the Tinker's pouch with his deft fingers。
〃Sly art thou； Tinker；〃 quoth he； 〃but not yet； I bow；
art thou as sly as that same sly thief Robin Hood。〃
Then he called the host to him and said； 〃Here； good man； are ten
broad shillings for the entertainment thou hast given us this day。
See that thou takest good care of thy fair guest there； and when he wakes
thou mayst again charge him ten shillings also； and if he hath it not；
thou mayst take his bag and hammer； and even his coat； in payment。
Thus do I punish those that come into the greenwood to deal dole to me。
As for thine own self； never knew I landlord yet that would not charge
twice an he could。〃
At this the host smiled slyly； as though saying to himself the rustic saw；
〃Teach a magpie to suck eggs。〃
The Tinker slept until the afternoon drew to a close and
the shadows grew long beside the woodland edge； then he awoke。
First he looked up； then he looked down； then he
looked east； then he looked west； for he was gathering his
wits together； like barley straws blown apart by the wind。
First he thought of his merry companion； but he was gone。
Then he thought of his stout crabstaff； and that he had within
his hand。 Then of his warrant； and of the fourscore angels
he was to gain for serving it upon Robin Hood。 He thrust his
hand into his pouch； but not a scrap nor a farthing was there。
Then he sprang to his feet in a rage。
〃Ho； landlord！〃 cried he； 〃whither hath that knave gone that was
with me but now？〃
〃What knave meaneth Your Worship？〃 quoth the landlord； calling the
Tinker Worship to soothe him； as a man would pour oil upon angry water。
〃I saw no knave with Your Worship； for I swear no man would dare call
that man knave so nigh to Sherwood Forest。 A right stout yeoman I
saw with Your Worship； but I thought that Your Worship knew him；
for few there be about here that pass him by and know him not。〃
〃Now； how should I； that ne'er have squealed in your sty；
know all the swine therein？ Who was he； then； an thou knowest
him so well？〃
〃Why； yon same is a right stout fellow whom men hereabouts do call
Robin Hood； which same〃
〃Now； by'r Lady！〃 cried the Tinker hastily； and in a deep voice
like an angry bull； 〃thou didst see me come into thine inn； I；
a staunch； honest craftsman； and never told me who my company was；
well knowing thine own self who he was。 Now； I have a right
round piece of a mind to crack thy knave's pate for thee！〃
Then he took up his cudgel and looked at the landlord as though
he would smite him where he stood。
〃Nay；〃 cried the host； throwing up his elbow； for he feared the blow；
〃how knew I that thou knewest him not？〃
〃Well and truly thankful mayst thou be；〃 quoth the Tinker； 〃that I
be a patient man and so do spare thy bald crown； else wouldst
thou ne'er cheat customer again。 But as for this same knave
Robin Hood； I go straightway to seek him； and if I do not score
his knave's pate； cut my staff into fagots and call me woman。〃
So saying； he gathered himself together to depart。
〃Nay；〃 quoth the landlord； standing in front of him and holding out
his arms like a gooseherd driving his flock； for money made him bold；
〃thou goest not till thou hast paid me my score。〃
〃But did not he pay thee？〃
〃Not so much as one farthing； and ten good shillings' worth of ale have
ye drunk this day。 Nay； I say； thou goest not away without paying me；
else shall our good Sheriff know of it。〃
〃But nought have I to pay thee with； good fellow；〃 quoth the Tinker。
〃 ‘Good fellow' not me；〃 said the landlord。
〃Good fellow am I not when it cometh to lose ten shillings！
Pay me that thou owest me in broad money； or else leave
thy coat and bag and hammer； yet； I wot they are not worth
ten shillings； and I shall lose thereby。 Nay； an thou stirrest；
I have a great dog within and I will loose him upon thee。
Maken； open thou the door and let forth Brian if this fellow
stirs one step。〃
〃Nay；〃 quoth the Tinkerfor； by roaming the country；
he had learned what dogs were〃take thou what thou wilt have；
and let me depart in peace； and may a murrain go with thee。
But oh； landlord！ An I catch yon scurvy varlet； I swear he shall
pay full with usury for that he hath had！〃
So saying； he strode away toward the forest； talking to himself；
while the landlord and his worthy dame and Maken stood looking after him；
and laughed when he had fairly gone。
〃Robin and I stripped yon ass of his pack main neatly；〃
quoth the landlord。
Now it happened about this time that Robin Hood was going
through the forest to Fosse Way； to see what was to be
seen there； for the moon was full and the night gave promise
of being bright。 In his hand he carried his stout oaken staff；
and at his side hung his bugle horn。 As thus he walked up
a forest path； whistling； down another path came the Tinker；
muttering to himself and shaking his head like an angry bull；
and so； at a sudden bend； they met sharply face to face。
Each stood still for a time； and then Robin spoke：
〃Halloa； my sweet bird；〃 said he； laughing merrily； 〃how likest
thou thine ale？ Wilt not sing to me another song？〃
The Tinker said nothing at first but stood looking at Robin with a grim face。
〃Now；〃 quoth he at last； 〃I am right glad I have met thee； and if I do not
rattle thy bones within thy hide this day； I give thee leave to put thy foot
upon my neck。〃
〃With all my heart；〃 cried merry Robin。 〃Rattle my bones； an thou canst。〃
So saying； he gripped his staff and threw himself upon his guard。
Then the Tinker spat upon his hands and； grasping his staff；
came straight at the other。 He struck two or three blows； but soon
found that he had met his match； for Robin warded and parried all
of them； and； before the Tinker thought； he gave him a rap upon
the ribs in return。 At this Robin laughed aloud； and the Tinker grew
more angry than ever； and smote again with all his might and main。
Again Robin warded two of the strokes； but at the third； his staff
br