Page 88 - the-merry-adventures-of-robin-hood

is yon stranger clad all in scarlet?’ said some, and others
answered, ‘It is he that hath but now so soundly cracked
the crown of Eric o’ Lincoln.’ Thus the people talked among
themselves, until at last it reached even the Sheriff’s ears.
And now each man stepped forward and shot in turn;
but though each shot well, Little John was the best of all, for
three times he struck the clout, and once only the length
of a barleycorn from the center. ‘Hey for the tall archer!’
shouted the crowd, and some among them shouted, ‘Hey
for Reynold Greenleaf!’ for this was the name that Little
John had called himself that day.
Then the Sheriff stepped down from the raised seat and
came to where the archers stood, while all doffed their caps
that saw him coming. He looked keenly at Little John but
did not know him, though he said, after a while, ‘How now,
good fellow, methinks there is that about thy face that I
have seen erewhile.’
‘Mayhap it may be so,’ quoth Little John, ‘for often have
I seen Your Worship.’ And, as he spoke, he looked steadily
into the Sheriff’s eyes so that the latter did not suspect who
he was.
‘A brave blade art thou, good friend,’ said the Sheriff,
‘and I hear that thou hast well upheld the skill of Notting-
hamshire against that of Lincoln this day. What may be thy
name, good fellow?’
‘Men do call me Reynold Greenleaf, Your Worship,’ said
Little John; and the old ballad that tells of this, adds, ‘So, in
truth, was he a green leaf, but of what manner of tree the
Sheriff wotted not.’