Page 352 - the-merry-adventures-of-robin-hood

strong for him to draw. As the Sheriff looked around ere
he ordered his men to string the three youths up to the oak
tree, his eyes fell upon this strange old man. Then his wor-
ship beckoned to him, saying, ‘Come hither, father, I have
a few words to say to thee.’ So Little John, for it was none
other than he, came forward, and the Sheriff looked upon
him, thinking that there was something strangely familiar
in the face before him. ‘How, now,’ said he, ‘methinks I have
seen thee before. What may thy name be, father?’
‘Please Your Worship,’ said Little John, in a cracked voice
like that of an old man, ‘my name is Giles Hobble, at Your
Worship’s service.’
‘Giles Hobble, Giles Hobble,’ muttered the Sheriff to
himself, turning over the names that he had in his mind to
try to find one to fit to this. ‘I remember not thy name,’ said
he at last, ‘but it matters not. Hast thou a mind to earn six-
pence this bright morn?’
‘Ay, marry,’ quoth Little John, ‘for money is not so plenty
with me that I should cast sixpence away an I could earn it
by an honest turn. What is it Your Worship would have me
do?’
‘Why, this,’ said the Sheriff. ‘Here are three men that
need hanging as badly as any e’er I saw. If thou wilt string
them up I will pay thee twopence apiece for them. I like not
that my men-at-arms should turn hangmen. Wilt thou try
thy hand?’
‘In sooth,’ said Little John, still in the old man’s voice, ‘I
ha’ never done such a thing before; but an a sixpence is to be
earned so easily I might as well ha’ it as anybody. But, Your

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