Page 61 - the-merry-adventures-of-robin-hood

have no sword but shall die a mean death, as beseemeth a
vile thief like thee.’
‘Then do but untie my hands and I will fight thee and thy
men with no weapon but only my naked fists. I crave no
weapon, but let me not be meanly hanged this day.’
Then the Sheriff laughed aloud. ‘Why, how now,’ quoth
he, ‘is thy proud stomach quailing? Shrive thyself, thou vile
knave, for I mean that thou shalt hang this day, and that
where three roads meet, so that all men shall see thee hang,
for carrion crows and daws to peck at.’
‘O thou dastard heart!’ cried Will Stutely, gnashing his
teeth at the Sheriff. ‘Thou coward hind! If ever my good
master meet thee thou shalt pay dearly for this day’s work!
He doth scorn thee, and so do all brave hearts. Knowest
thou not that thou and thy name are jests upon the lips of
every brave yeoman? Such a one as thou art, thou wretched
craven, will never be able to subdue bold Robin Hood.’
‘Ha!’ cried the Sheriff in a rage, ‘is it even so? Am I a jest
with thy master, as thou callest him? Now I will make a jest
of thee and a sorry jest withal, for I will quarter thee limb
from limb, after thou art hanged.’ Then he spurred his horse
forward and said no more to Stutely.
At last they came to the great town gate, through which
Stutely saw the fair country beyond, with hills and dales
all clothed in verdure, and far away the dusky line of Sher-
wood’s skirts. Then when he saw the slanting sunlight lying
on field and fallow, shining redly here and there on cot
and farmhouse, and when he heard the sweet birds sing-
ing their vespers, and the sheep bleating upon the hillside,

0 The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood