Page 76 - the-merry-adventures-of-robin-hood

the deeper they went, the more quiet grew the Sheriff. At
last they came to where the road took a sudden bend, and
before them a herd of dun deer went tripping across the
path. Then Robin Hood came close to the Sheriff and point-
ing his finger, he said, ‘These are my horned beasts, good
Master Sheriff. How dost thou like them? Are they not fat
and fair to see?’
At this the Sheriff drew rein quickly. ‘Now fellow,’ quoth
he, ‘I would I were well out of this forest, for I like not thy
company. Go thou thine own path, good friend, and let me
but go mine.’
But Robin only laughed and caught the Sheriff’s bridle
rein. ‘Nay,’ cried he, ‘stay awhile, for I would thou shouldst
see my brothers, who own these fair horned beasts with me.’
So saying, he clapped his bugle to his mouth and winded
three merry notes, and presently up the path came leaping
fivescore good stout yeomen with Little John at their head.
‘What wouldst thou have, good master?’ quoth Little
John.
‘Why,’ answered Robin, ‘dost thou not see that I have
brought goodly company to feast with us today? Fye, for
shame! Do you not see our good and worshipful master, the
Sheriff of Nottingham? Take thou his bridle, Little John, for
he has honored us today by coming to feast with us.’
Then all doffed their hats humbly, without smiling or
seeming to be in jest, while Little John took the bridle rein
and led the palfrey still deeper into the forest, all marching
in order, with Robin Hood walking beside the Sheriff, hat
in hand.