Page 31 - the-merry-adventures-of-robin-hood

his tongue tripped, then it grew thick of sound; then his
head wagged from side to side, until at last he fell asleep as
though he never would waken again.
Then Robin Hood laughed aloud and quickly took the
warrant from out the Tinker’s pouch with his deft fingers.
‘Sly art thou, Tinker,’ quoth he, ‘but not yet, I bow, art thou
as sly as that same sly thief Robin Hood.’
Then he called the host to him and said, ‘Here, good man,
are ten broad shillings for the entertainment thou hast given
us this day. See that thou takest good care of thy fair guest
there, and when he wakes thou mayst again charge him ten
shillings also, and if he hath it not, thou mayst take his bag
and hammer, and even his coat, in payment. Thus do I pun-
ish those that come into the greenwood to deal dole to me.
As for thine own self, never knew I landlord yet that would
not charge twice an he could.’
At this the host smiled slyly, as though saying to himself
the rustic saw, ‘Teach a magpie to suck eggs.’
The Tinker slept until the afternoon drew to a close and
the shadows grew long beside the woodland edge, then he
awoke. First he looked up, then he looked down, then he
looked east, then he looked west, for he was gathering
his wits together, like barley straws blown apart by the wind.
First he thought of his merry companion, but he was gone.
Then he thought of his stout crabstaff, and that he had with-
in his hand. Then of his warrant, and of the fourscore angels
he was to gain for serving it upon Robin Hood. He thrust
his hand into his pouch, but not a scrap nor a farthing was
there. Then he sprang to his feet in a rage.

0 The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood