Page 63 - the-merry-adventures-of-robin-hood

quoth he, ‘or maybe I will die with thee if thou must die, for
I could never have better company.’ Then with one stroke
he cut the bonds that bound the other’s arms and legs, and
Stutely leaped straightway from the cart.
‘Now as I live,’ cried the Sheriff, ‘yon varlet I know right
well is a sturdy rebel! Take him, I bid you all, and let him
not go!’
So saying, he spurred his horse upon Little John, and ris-
ing in his stirrups smote with might and main, but Little
John ducked quickly underneath the horse’s belly and the
blow whistled harmlessly over his head.
‘Nay, good Sir Sheriff,’ cried he, leaping up again when
the blow had passed, ‘I must e’en borrow thy most worship-
ful sword.’ Thereupon he twitched the weapon deftly from
out the Sheriff’s hand, ‘Here, Stutely,’ he cried, ‘the Sheriff
hath lent thee his sword! Back to back with me, man, and
defend thyself, for help is nigh!’
‘Down with them!’ bellowed the Sheriff in a voice like an
angry bull; and he spurred his horse upon the two who now
stood back to back, forgetting in his rage that he had no
weapon with which to defend himself.
‘Stand back, Sheriff!’ cried Little John; and even as he
spoke, a bugle horn sounded shrilly and a clothyard shaft
whistled within an inch of the Sheriff’s head. Then came
a swaying hither and thither, and oaths, cries, and groans,
and clashing of steel, and swords flashed in the setting sun,
and a score of arrows whistled through the air. And some
cried, ‘Help, help!’ and some, ‘A rescue, a rescue!’
‘Treason!’ cried the Sheriff in a loud voice. ‘Bear back!

The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood