Page 340 - the-merry-adventures-of-robin-hood

golden where it grew thin to the sunlight; beneath his feet
the ground was soft and moist from the sheltering shade.
Here in this pleasant spot the sharpest adventure that ever
befell Robin Hood came upon him; for, as he walked down
the woodland path thinking of nought but the songs of the
birds, he came of a sudden to where a man was seated upon
the mossy roots beneath the shade of a broad-spreading oak
tree. Robin Hood saw that the stranger had not caught sight
of him, so he stopped and stood quite still, looking at the
other a long time before he came forward. And the stranger,
I wot, was well worth looking at, for never had Robin seen a
figure like that sitting beneath the tree. From his head to his
feet he was clad in a horse’s hide, dressed with the hair upon
it. Upon his head was a cowl that hid his face from sight,
and which was made of the horse’s skin, the ears whereof
stuck up like those of a rabbit. His body was clad in a jacket
made of the hide, and his legs were covered with the hairy
skin likewise. By his side was a heavy broadsword and a
sharp, double-edged dagger. A quiver of smooth round ar-
rows hung across his shoulders, and his stout bow of yew
leaned against the tree beside him.
‘Halloa, friend,’ cried Robin, coming forward at last, ‘who
art thou that sittest there? And what is that that thou hast
upon thy body? I make my vow I ha’ never seen such a sight
in all my life before. Had I done an evil thing, or did my
conscience trouble me, I would be afraid of thee, thinking
that thou wast someone from down below bringing a mes-
sage bidding me come straightway to King Nicholas.’
To this speech the other answered not a word, but he