Page 272 - the-merry-adventures-of-robin-hood

lump of goose grease to rub thy cracked crown withal. So
defend thyself, I say.’
Then up leaped merry Robin and snatched up his staff
also. ‘Take my money, if thou canst,’ quoth he. ‘I promise
freely to give thee every farthing if thou dost touch me.’
And he twirled his staff in his fingers till it whistled again.
Then the Beggar swung his staff also, and struck a mighty
blow at Robin, which the yeoman turned. Three blows the
Beggar struck, yet never one touched so much as a hair of
Robin’s head. Then stout Robin saw his chance, and, ere you
could count three, Riccon’s staff was over the hedge, and
Riccon himself lay upon the green grass with no more mo-
tion than you could find in an empty pudding bag.
‘How now!’ quoth merry Robin, laughing. ‘Wilt thou
have my hide or my money, sweet chuck?’ But to this the
other answered never a word. Then Robin, seeing his plight,
and that he was stunned with the blow, ran, still laughing,
and brought the skin of ale and poured some of it on the
Beggar’s head and some down his throat, so that presently
he opened his eyes and looked around as though wondering
why he lay upon his back.
Then Robin, seeing that he had somewhat gathered the
wits that had just been rapped out of his head, said, ‘Now,
good fellow, wilt thou change clothes with me, or shall I
have to tap thee again? Here are two golden angels if thou
wilt give me freely all thy rags and bags and thy cap and
things. If thou givest them not freely, I much fear me I shall
have to—‘ and he looked up and down his staff.
Then Riccon sat up and rubbed the bump on his crown.

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