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！
to show those vile outlaws therein what they may expect of me
if I ever have the good luck to lay hands upon them。〃 So saying；
he mounted his horse； as did his men…at…arms likewise； and all
together they set forth for the belt of woodlands he had spoken of；
the poor youths walking in their midst guarded by the rangers。
So they came at last to the spot； and here nooses were fastened
around the necks of the three； and the ends of the cords
flung over the branch of a great oak tree that stood there。
Then the three youths fell upon their knees and loudly besought mercy
of the Sheriff； but the Sheriff of Nottingham laughed scornfully。
〃Now；〃 quoth he； 〃I would that I had a priest here to shrive you；
but； as none is nigh； you must e'en travel your road with all
your sins packed upon your backs； and trust to Saint Peter
to let you in through the gates of Paradise like three peddlers
into the town。〃
In the meantime； while all this had been going forward； an old
man had drawn near and stood leaning on his staff； looking on。
His hair and beard were all curly and white； and across his back
was a bow of yew that looked much too strong for him to draw。
As the Sheriff looked around ere he ordered his men to string
the three youths up to the oak tree； his eyes fell upon this
strange old man。 Then his worship beckoned to him； saying；
〃Come hither； father； I have a few words to say to thee。〃
So Little John； for it was none other than he； came forward；
and the Sheriff looked upon him； thinking that there
was something strangely familiar in the face before him。
〃How； now；〃 said he； 〃methinks I have seen thee before。
What may thy name be； father？〃
〃Please Your Worship；〃 said Little John； in a cracked voice like that
of an old man； 〃my name is Giles Hobble； at Your Worship's service。〃
〃Giles Hobble； Giles Hobble；〃 muttered the Sheriff to himself； turning over
the names that he had in his mind to try to find one to fit to this。
〃I remember not thy name；〃 said he at last； 〃but it matters not。
Hast thou a mind to earn sixpence this bright morn？〃
〃Ay； marry；〃 quoth Little John； 〃for money is not so plenty with me
that I should cast sixpence away an I could earn it by an honest turn。
What is it Your Worship would have me do？〃
〃Why； this；〃 said the Sheriff。 〃Here are three men that need hanging as badly
as any e'er I saw。 If thou wilt string them up I will pay thee twopence
apiece for them。 I like not that my men…at…arms should turn hangmen。
Wilt thou try thy hand？〃
〃In sooth；〃 said Little John； still in the old man's voice； 〃I ha'
never done such a thing before； but an a sixpence is to be earned
so easily I might as well ha' it as anybody。 But； Your Worship；
are these naughty fellows shrived？〃
〃Nay；〃 said the Sheriff； laughing； 〃never a whit； but thou
mayst turn thy hand to that also if thou art so minded。
But hasten； I prythee； for I would get back to mine inn betimes。〃
So Little John came to where the three youths stood trembling；
and； putting his face to the first fellow's cheek as though
he were listening to him； he whispered softly into his ear；
〃Stand still； brother； when thou feelest thy bonds cut； but when thou
seest me throw my woolen wig and beard from my head and face；
cast the noose from thy neck and run for the woodlands。〃
Then he slyly cut the cord that bound the youth's hands；
who； upon his part； stood still as though he were yet bound。
Then he went to the second fellow； and spoke to him in the same way；
and also cut his bonds。 This he did to the third likewise；
but all so slyly that the Sheriff； who sat upon his horse laughing；
wotted not what was being done； nor his men either。
Then Little John turned to the Sheriff。 〃Please Your Worship；〃
said he； 〃will you give me leave to string my bow？
For I would fain help these fellows along the way； when they
are swinging； with an arrow beneath the ribs。〃
〃With all my heart；〃 said the Sheriff； 〃only； as I said before；
make thou haste in thy doings。〃
Little John put the tip of his bow to his instep； and strung
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 s