Page 149 - the-merry-adventures-of-robin-hood

When they had come near where all the tumult sounded
they heard the three blasts of Robin’s bugle horn.
‘Quick!’ cried young David of Doncaster. ‘Our master is
in sore need!’ So, without stopping a moment, they dashed
forward with might and main and burst forth from the co-
vert into the highroad.
But what a sight was that which they saw! The road was
all white with meal, and five men stood there also white
with meal from top to toe, for much of the barley flour had
fallen back upon the Miller.
‘What is thy need, master?’ cried Will Stutely. ‘And what
doth all this mean?’
‘Why,’ quoth Robin in a mighty passion, ‘yon traitor felt
low hath come as nigh slaying me as e’er a man in all the
world. Hadst thou not come quickly, good Stutely, thy mas-
ter had been dead.’
Hereupon, while he and the three others rubbed the
meal from their eyes, and Will Stutely and his men brushed
their clothes clean, he told them all; how that he had meant
to pass a jest upon the Miller, which same had turned so
grievously upon them.
‘Quick, men, seize the vile Miller!’ cried Stutely, who was
nigh choking with laughter as were the rest; whereupon
several ran upon the stout fellow and seizing him, bound
his arms behind his back with bowstrings.
‘Ha!’ cried Robin, when they brought the trembling Mill-
er to him. ‘Thou wouldst murder me, wouldst thou? By my
faith’— Here he stopped and stood glaring upon the, Miller
grimly. But Robin’s anger could not hold, so first his eyes

1 The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood