Page 87 - the-merry-adventures-of-robin-hood

Then for the third time they came together, and at first
Eric strove to be wary, as he had been before; but, growing
mad at finding himself so foiled, he lost his wits and began
to rain blows so fiercely and so fast that they rattled like
hail on penthouse roof; but, in spite of all, he did not reach
within Little John’s guard. Then at last Little John saw his
chance and seized it right cleverly. Once more, with a quick
blow, he rapped Eric beside the head, and ere he could re-
gain himself, Little John slipped his right hand down to his
left and, with a swinging blow, smote the other so sorely
upon the crown that down he fell as though he would never
move again.
Then the people shouted so loud that folk came running
from all about to see what was the ado; while Little John
leaped down from the stand and gave the staff back to him
that had lent it to him. And thus ended the famous bout be-
tween Little John and Eric o’ Lincoln of great renown.
But now the time had come when those who were to
shoot with the longbow were to take their places, so the
people began flocking to the butts where the shooting was
to be. Near the target, in a good place, sat the Sheriff upon
a raised dais, with many gentlefolk around him. When the
archers had taken their places, the herald came forward
and proclaimed the rules of the game, and how each should
shoot three shots, and to him that should shoot the best the
prize of two fat steers was to belong. A score of brave shots
were gathered there, and among them some of the keenest
hands at the longbow in Lincoln and Nottinghamshire; and
among them Little John stood taller than all the rest. ‘Who

The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood