Page 110 - the-merry-adventures-of-robin-hood

and then, tilting his cap over one eye, he slowly scratched
the back part of his head. For thus it was: at the sight of
these two roads, two voices began to alarum within him,
the one crying, ‘There lies the road to the Blue Boar Inn, a
can of brown October, and a merry night with sweet com-
panions such as thou mayst find there”; the other, ‘There lies
the way to Ancaster and the duty thou art sent upon.’ Now
the first of these two voices was far the louder, for Little
John had grown passing fond of good living through abid-
ing at the Sheriff’s house; so, presently, looking up into the
blue sky, across which bright clouds were sailing like sil-
ver boats, and swallows skimming in circling flight, quoth
he, ‘I fear me it will rain this evening, so I’ll e’en stop at the
Blue Boar till it passes by, for I know my good master would
not have me wet to the skin.’ So, without more ado, off he
strode down the path that lay the way of his likings. Now
there was no sign of any foul weather, but when one wishes
to do a thing, as Little John did, one finds no lack of reasons
for the doing.
Four merry wags were at the Blue Boar Inn; a butcher,
a beggar, and two barefoot friars. Little John heard them
singing from afar, as he walked through the hush of the mel-
low twilight that was now falling over hill and dale. Right
glad were they to welcome such a merry blade as Little John.
Fresh cans of ale were brought, and with jest and song and
merry tales the hours slipped away on fleeting wings. None
thought of time or tide till the night was so far gone that
Little John put by the thought of setting forth upon his jour-
ney again that night, and so bided at the Blue Boar Inn until

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