Page 145 - the-merry-adventures-of-robin-hood

tongue will get us both well laughed at yet.’
‘My foolish tongue, forsooth,’ growled Little John to Ar-
thur a Bland. ‘I would it could keep our master from getting
us into another coil this day.’
But now the Miller, plodding along the road, had come
opposite to where the yeomen lay hidden, whereupon all
four of them ran at him and surrounded him.
‘Hold, friend!’ cried Robin to the Miller; whereupon he
turned slowly, with the weight of the bag upon his shoulder,
and looked at each in turn all bewildered, for though a good
stout man his wits did not skip like roasting chestnuts.
‘Who bids me stay?’ said the Miller in a voice deep and
gruff, like the growl of a great dog.
‘Marry, that do I,’ quoth Robin; ‘and let me tell thee,
friend, thou hadst best mind my bidding.’
‘And who art thou, good friend?’ said the Miller, throw-
ing the great sack of meal from his shoulder to the ground,
‘and who are those with thee?’
‘We be four good Christian men,’ quoth Robin, ‘and
would fain help thee by carrying part of thy heavy load.’
‘I give you all thanks,’ said the Miller, ‘but my bag is none
that heavy that I cannot carry it e’en by myself.’
‘Nay, thou dost mistake,’ quoth Robin, ‘I meant that
thou mightest perhaps have some heavy farthings or pence
about thee, not to speak of silver and gold. Our good Gaf-
fer Swanthold sayeth that gold is an overheavy burden for a
two-legged ass to carry; so we would e’en lift some of this
load from thee.’
‘Alas!’ cried the Miller, ‘what would ye do to me? I have

1 The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood