Page 254 - the-merry-adventures-of-robin-hood

another pot of ale, for truly it is a credit to us all to have one
among us who can empty a canakin so lustily.’
So they talked among themselves merrily, until after a
while quoth Little John, ‘Who rideth those two nags yon-
der?’
‘Two holy men like thee, brother,’ quoth the Beggar.
‘They are now having a goodly feast within, for I smelled the
steam of a boiled pullet just now. The landlady sayeth they
come from Fountain Abbey, in Yorkshire, and go to Lincoln
on matters of business.’
‘They are a merry couple,’ said the Tinker, ‘for one is as
lean as an old wife’s spindle, and the other as fat as a suet
pudding.’
‘Talking of fatness,’ said the Peddler, ‘thou thyself lookest
none too ill-fed, holy friar.’
‘Nay, truly,’ said Little John, ‘thou seest in me what the
holy Saint Dunstan can do for them that serve him upon a
handful of parched peas and a trickle of cold water.’
At this a great shout of laughter went up. ‘Truly, it is a
wondrous thing,’ quoth the Beggar, ‘I would have made my
vow, to see the masterly manner in which thou didst tuck
away yon pot of ale, that thou hadst not tasted clear water
for a brace of months. Has not this same holy Saint Dunstan
taught thee a goodly song or two?’
‘Why, as for that,’ quoth Little John, grinning, ‘mayhap
he hath lent me aid to learn a ditty or so.’
‘Then, prythee, let us hear how he hath taught thee,’
quoth the Tinker.
At this Little John cleared his throat and, after a word