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padded saddles, well fitted for easy traveling, and speaking
of rich guests in the parlor. In front of the door three merry
fellows, a tinker, a peddler, and a beggar, were seated on a
bench in the sun quaffing stout ale.
‘I give you good den, sweet friends,’ quoth Little John,
striding up to where they sat.
‘Give thee good den, holy father,’ quoth the merry Beg-
gar with a grin. ‘But look thee, thy gown is too short. Thou
hadst best cut a piece off the top and tack it to the bottom,
so that it may be long enough. But come, sit beside us here
and take a taste of ale, if thy vows forbid thee not.’
‘Nay,’ quoth Little John, also grinning, ‘the blessed Saint
Dunstan hath given me a free dispensation for all indul-
gence in that line.’ And he thrust his hand into his pouch for
money to pay his score.
‘Truly,’ quoth the Tinker, ‘without thy looks belie thee,
holy friar, the good Saint Dunstan was wise, for without
such dispensation his votary is like to ha’ many a penance
to make. Nay, take thy hand from out thy pouch, brother,
for thou shalt not pay this shot. Ho, landlord, a pot of ale!’
So the ale was brought and given to Little John. Then,
blowing the froth a little way to make room for his lips, he
tilted the bottom of the pot higher and higher, till it pointed
to the sky, and he had to shut his eyes to keep the dazzle of
the sunshine out of them. Then he took the pot away, for
there was nothing in it, and heaved a full deep sigh, looking
at the others with moist eyes and shaking his head solemn-
ly.
‘Ho, landlord!’ cried the Peddler, ‘bring this good fellow

The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood