Page 241 - the-merry-adventures-of-robin-hood

an ill day for you, for Robin Hood would have harried your
town as the kestrel harries the dovecote. I have bought the
pipe of wine from him, and now I give it freely to you to
drink as ye list. But never hereafterward fall upon a man for
being a stout yeoman.’
At this all shouted amain; but in truth they thought more
of the wine than of the Knight’s words. Then Sir Richard,
with David beside him and his men-at-arms around, turned
about and left the fair.
But in after days, when the men that saw that wrestling
bout were bent with age, they would shake their heads when
they heard of any stalwart game, and say, ‘Ay, ay; but thou
shouldst have seen the great David of Doncaster cast stout
William of the Scar at Denby fair.’
Robin Hood stood in the merry greenwood with Little
John and most of his stout yeomen around him, awaiting Sir
Richard’s coming. At last a glint of steel was seen through
the brown forest leaves, and forth from the covert into the
open rode Sir Richard at the head of his men. He came
straight forward to Robin Hood and leaping from off his
horse, clasped the yeoman in his arms.
‘Why, how now,’ said Robin, after a time, holding Sir
Richard off and looking at him from top to toe, ‘methinks
thou art a gayer bird than when I saw thee last.’
‘Yes, thanks to thee, Robin,’ said the Knight, laying his
hand upon the yeoman’s shoulder. ‘But for thee I would
have been wandering in misery in a far country by this time.
But I have kept my word, Robin, and have brought back the
money that thou didst lend me, and which I have doubled

0 The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood