Page 187 - the-merry-adventures-of-robin-hood

happened, for thus it says, that each dog so shot at leaped
lightly aside, and as the arrow passed him whistling, caught
it in his mouth and bit it in twain. Now it would have been
an ill day for these four good fellows had not Will Scarlet
stepped before the others and met the hounds as they came
rushing. ‘Why, how now, Fangs!’ cried he sternly. ‘Down,
Beauty! Down, sirrah! What means this?’
At the sound of his voice each dog shrank back quickly
and then straightway came to him and licked his hands and
fawned upon him, as is the wont of dogs that meet one they
know. Then the four yeomen came forward, the hounds
leaping around Will Scarlet joyously. ‘Why, how now!’ cried
the stout Friar, ‘what means this? Art thou wizard to turn
those wolves into lambs? Ha!’ cried he, when they had come
still nearer, ‘can I trust mine eyes? What means it that I see
young Master William Gamwell in such company?’
‘Nay, Tuck,’ said the young man, as the four came for-
ward to where Robin was now clambering down from the
tree in which he had been roosting, he having seen that all
danger was over for the time; ‘nay, Tuck, my name is no
longer Will Gamwell, but Will Scarlet; and this is my good
uncle, Robin Hood, with whom I am abiding just now.’
‘Truly, good master,’ said the Friar, looking somewhat
abashed and reaching out his great palm to Robin, ‘I ha’
oft heard thy name both sung and spoken of, but I never
thought to meet thee in battle. I crave thy forgiveness, and
do wonder not that I found so stout a man against me.’
‘Truly, most holy father,’ said Little John, ‘I am more
thankful than e’er I was in all my life before that our good

1 The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood