Page 343 - the-merry-adventures-of-robin-hood

hundred pounds.’
To all this Robin listened, and as he listened his gorge
rose. Well he knew of this Guy of Gisbourne, and of all the
bloody and murderous deeds that he had done in Hereford-
shire, for his doings were famous throughout all the land.
Yet, although he loathed the very presence of the man, he
held his peace, for he had an end to serve. ‘Truly,’ quoth he,
‘I have heard of thy gentle doings. Methinks there is no one
in all the world that Robin Hood would rather meet than
thee.’
At this Guy of Gisbourne gave another harsh laugh.
‘Why,’ quoth he, ‘it is a merry thing to think of one stout
outlaw like Robin Hood meeting another stout outlaw like
Guy of Gisbourne. Only in this case it will be an ill happen-
ing for Robin Hood, for the day he meets Guy of Gisbourne
he shall die.’
‘But thou gentle, merry spirit,’ quoth Robin, ‘dost thou
not think that mayhap this same Robin Hood may be the
better man of the two? I know him right well, and many
think that he is one of the stoutest men hereabouts.’
‘He may be the stoutest of men hereabouts,’ quoth Guy
of Gisbourne, ‘yet, I tell thee, fellow, this sty of yours is not
the wide world. I lay my life upon it I am the better man of
the two. He an outlaw, forsooth! Why, I hear that he hath
never let blood in all his life, saving when he first came to
the forest. Some call him a great archer; marry, I would not
be afraid to stand against him all the days of the year with
a bow in my hand.’
‘Why, truly, some folk do call him a great archer,’ said

The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood