Page 62 - the-merry-adventures-of-robin-hood

and beheld the swallows flying in the bright air, there came
a great fullness to his heart so that all things blurred to
his sight through salt tears, and he bowed his head lest the
folk should think him unmanly when they saw the tears in
his eyes. Thus he kept his head bowed till they had passed
through the gate and were outside the walls of the town. But
when he looked up again he felt his heart leap within him
and then stand still for pure joy, for he saw the face of one of
his own dear companions of merry Sherwood; then glanc-
ing quickly around he saw well-known faces upon all sides
of him, crowding closely upon the men-at-arms who were
guarding him. Then of a sudden the blood sprang to his
cheeks, for he saw for a moment his own good master in
the press and, seeing him, knew that Robin Hood and all
his band were there. Yet betwixt him and them was a line
of men-at-arms.
‘Now, stand back!’ cried the Sheriff in a mighty voice, for
the crowd pressed around on all sides. ‘What mean ye, var-
lets, that ye push upon us so? Stand back, I say!’
Then came a bustle and a noise, and one strove to push
between the men-at-arms so as to reach the cart, and Stute-
ly saw that it was Little John that made all that stir.
‘Now stand thou back!’ cried one of the men-at-arms
whom Little John pushed with his elbows.
‘Now stand thou back thine own self,’ quoth Little John,
and straightway smote the man a buffet beside his head that
felled him as a butcher fells an ox, and then he leaped to the
cart where Stutely sat.
‘I pray thee take leave of thy friends ere thou diest, Will,’

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