Page 249 - the-merry-adventures-of-robin-hood

which hung a chubby little leathern pottle, such as palmers
carry at the tips of their staves; but in it was something, I
wot, more like good Malmsey than cold spring water, such
as godly pilgrims carry. Then up rose Robin and took his
stout staff in his hand, likewise, and slipped ten golden an-
gels into his pouch; for no beggar’s garb was among the
stores of the band, so he was fain to run his chance of meet-
ing a beggar and buying his clothes of him.
So, all being made ready, the two yeomen set forth on
their way, striding lustily along all in the misty morning.
Thus they walked down the forest path until they came to
the highway, and then along the highway till it split in twain,
leading on one hand to Blyth and on the other to Gainsbor-
ough. Here the yeomen stopped.
Quoth jolly Robin, ‘Take thou the road to Gainsborough,
and I will take that to Blyth. So, fare thee well, holy father,
and mayst thou not ha’ cause to count thy beads in earnest
ere we meet again.’
‘Good den, good beggar that is to be,’ quoth Little John,
‘and mayst thou have no cause to beg for mercy ere I see
thee next.’
So each stepped sturdily upon his way until a green hill
rose between them, and the one was hid from the sight of
the other.
Little John walked along, whistling, for no one was nigh
upon all the road. In the budding hedges the little birds
twittered merrily, and on either hand the green hills swept
up to the sky, the great white clouds of springtime sailing
slowly over their crowns in lazy flight. Up hill and down

The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood