Page 119 - the-merry-adventures-of-robin-hood

Master Little John, and let me brush the dust from off thy
coat.’
‘Nay,’ quoth Little John testily, at the same time rising
carefully, as though his bones had been made of glass, ‘I
can help myself, good fellow, without thy aid; and let me
tell thee, had it not been for that vile cowskin cap of thine, it
would have been ill for thee this day.’
At this Robin laughed again, and, turning to the Tanner,
he said, ‘Wilt thou join my band, good Arthur? For I make
my vow thou art one of the stoutest men that ever mine eyes
beheld.’
‘Will I join thy band?’ cried the Tanner joyfully. ‘Ay, mar-
ry, will I! Hey for a merry life!’ cried he, leaping aloft and
snapping his fingers, ‘and hey for the life I love! Away with
tanbark and filthy vats and foul cowhides! I will follow thee
to the ends of the earth, good master, and not a herd of dun
deer in all the forest but shall know the sound of the twang
of my bowstring.’
‘As for thee, Little John,’ said Robin, turning to him and
laughing, ‘thou wilt start once more for Ancaster, and we
will go part way with thee, for I will not have thee turn
again to either the right hand or the left till thou hast fairly
gotten away from Sherwood. There are other inns that thou
knowest yet, hereabouts.’ Thereupon, leaving the thickets,
they took once more to the highway and departed upon
their business.

11 The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood