Page 330 - the-merry-adventures-of-robin-hood

sat him down and rested, but he knew within himself that
he could go no farther that day, for his feet felt like lumps
of lead, so heavy were they with weariness. Once more he
arose and went forward, but after traveling a couple of miles
he was fain to give the matter up, so, coming to an inn just
then, he entered and calling the landlord, bade him show
him to a room, although the sun was only then just sinking
in the western sky. There were but three bedrooms in the
place, and to the meanest of these the landlord showed Rob-
in Hood, but little Robin cared for the looks of the place, for
he could have slept that night upon a bed of broken stones.
So, stripping off his clothes without more ado, he rolled into
the bed and was asleep almost ere his head touched the pil-
low.
Not long after Robin had so gone to his rest a great cloud
peeped blackly over the hills to the westward. Higher and
higher it arose until it piled up into the night like a moun-
tain of darkness. All around beneath it came ever and anon
a dull red flash, and presently a short grim mutter of the
coming thunder was heard. Then up rode four stout bur-
ghers of Nottingham Town, for this was the only inn within
five miles’ distance, and they did not care to be caught in
such a thunderstorm as this that was coming upon them.
Leaving their nags to the stableman, they entered the best
room of the inn, where fresh green rushes lay all spread
upon the floor, and there called for the goodliest fare that
the place afforded. After having eaten heartily they bade the
landlord show them to their rooms, for they were aweary,
having ridden all the way from Dronfield that day. So off