Page 316 - the-merry-adventures-of-robin-hood

The afternoon was already well-nigh gone when Rob-
in Hood, Little John, Will, and Allan set forth upon their
homeward way, trudging along merrily through the yel-
low slanting light, which speedily changed to rosy red as
the sun sank low in the heavens. The shadows grew long,
and finally merged into the grayness of the mellow twilight.
The dusty highway lay all white betwixt the dark hedge-
rows, and along it walked four fellows like four shadows,
the pat of their feet sounding loud, and their voices, as they
talked, ringing clear upon the silence of the air. The great
round moon was floating breathlessly up in the eastern sky
when they saw before them the twinkling lights of Barnet
Town, some ten or twelve miles from London. Down they
walked through the stony streets and past the cosy hous-
es with overhanging gables, before the doors of which sat
the burghers and craftsmen in the mellow moonlight, with
their families about them, and so came at last, on the other
side of the hamlet, to a little inn, all shaded with roses and
woodbines. Before this inn Robin Hood stopped, for the
spot pleased him well. Quoth he, ‘Here will we take up our
inn and rest for the night, for we are well away from London
Town and our King’s wrath. Moreover, if I mistake not, we
will find sweet faring within. What say ye, lads?’
‘In sooth, good master,’ quoth Little John, ‘thy bidding
and my doing ever fit together like cakes and ale. Let us in,
I say also.’
Then up spake Will Scarlet: ‘I am ever ready to do what
thou sayest, uncle, yet I could wish that we were farther
upon our way ere we rest for the night. Nevertheless, if thou

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