Page 194 - the-merry-adventures-of-robin-hood

still, and saving, also, for the mellow snoring of Friar Tuck,
who enjoyed his sleep with a noise as of one sawing soft
wood very slowly. Robin lay upon his back and gazed aloft
into the leaves of the trees, his thought leagues away, and so
a long time passed.
Then up spoke Robin, ‘Now tell us, young David of Don-
caster, what dost thou see?’
Then David answered, ‘I see the white clouds floating
and I feel the wind a-blowing and three black crows are fly-
ing over the wold; but nought else do I see, good master.’
So silence fell again and another time passed, broken
only as I have said, till Robin, growing impatient, spake
again. ‘Now tell me, young David, what dost thou see by
this?’
And David answered, ‘I see the windmills swinging and
three tall poplar trees swaying against the sky, and a flock
of fieldfares are flying over the hill; but nought else do I see,
good master.’
So another time passed, till at last Robin asked young
David once more what he saw; and David said, ‘I hear the
cuckoo singing, and I see how the wind makes waves in the
barley field; and now over the hill to the church cometh an
old friar, and in his hands he carries a great bunch of keys;
and lo! Now he cometh to the church door.’
Then up rose Robin Hood and shook Friar Tuck by the
shoulder. ‘Come, rouse thee, holy man!’ cried he; where-
upon, with much grunting, the stout Tuck got to his feet.
‘Marry, bestir thyself,’ quoth Robin, ‘for yonder, in the
church door, is one of thy cloth. Go thou and talk to him,

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