Page 127 - the-merry-adventures-of-robin-hood

and forth, Robin’s skill against the stranger’s strength. The
dust of the highway rose up around them like a cloud, so
that at times Little John and the Tanner could see nothing,
but only hear the rattle of the staves against one another.
Thrice Robin Hood struck the stranger; once upon the arm
and twice upon the ribs, and yet had he warded all the oth-
er’s blows, only one of which, had it met its mark, would
have laid stout Robin lower in the dust than he had ever
gone before. At last the stranger struck Robin’s cudgel so
fairly in the middle that he could hardly hold his staff in his
hand; again he struck, and Robin bent beneath the blow;
a third time he struck, and now not only fairly beat down
Robin’s guard, but gave him such a rap, also, that down he
tumbled into the dusty road.
‘Hold!’ cried Robin Hood, when he saw the stranger rais-
ing his staff once more. ‘I yield me!’
‘Hold!’ cried Little John, bursting from his cover, with
the Tanner at his heels. ‘Hold! give over, I say!’
‘Nay,’ answered the stranger quietly, ‘if there be two more
of you, and each as stout as this good fellow, I am like to
have my hands full. Nevertheless, come on, and I will strive
my best to serve you all.’
‘Stop!’ cried Robin Hood, ‘we will fight no more. I take
my vow, this is an ill day for thee and me, Little John. I do
verily believe that my wrist, and eke my arm, are palsied by
the jar of the blow that this stranger struck me.’
Then Little John turned to Robin Hood. ‘Why, how now,
good master,’ said he. ‘Alas! Thou art in an ill plight. Marry,
thy jerkin is all befouled with the dust of the road. Let me

1 The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood