Page 56 - the-merry-adventures-of-robin-hood

foot, I will run thee through the body with my sword!’
Then he flashed forth his bright sword and leaped upon
Will Stutely, thinking he would take him unaware; but
Stutely had his own sword tightly held in his hand, beneath
his robe, so he drew it forth before the constable came upon
him. Then the stout constable struck a mighty blow; but he
struck no more in all that fight, for Stutely, parrying the
blow right deftly, smote the constable back again with all
his might. Then he would have escaped, but could not, for
the other, all dizzy with the wound and with the flowing
blood, seized him by the knees with his arms even as he
reeled and fell. Then the others rushed upon him, and Stute-
ly struck again at another of the Sheriff’s men, but the steel
cap glanced the blow, and though the blade bit deep, it did
not kill. Meanwhile, the constable, fainting as he was, drew
Stutely downward, and the others, seeing the yeoman ham-
pered so, rushed upon him again, and one smote him a blow
upon the crown so that the blood ran down his face and
blinded him. Then, staggering, he fell, and all sprang upon
him, though he struggled so manfully that they could hard-
ly hold him fast. Then they bound him with stout hempen
cords so that he could not move either hand or foot, and
thus they overcame him.
Robin Hood stood under the greenwood tree, thinking
of Will Stutely and how he might be faring, when suddenly
he saw two of his stout yeomen come running down the for-
est path, and betwixt them ran buxom Maken of the Blue
Boar. Then Robin’s heart fell, for he knew they were the
bearers of ill tidings.