Page 345 - the-merry-adventures-of-robin-hood

a good palm’s-breadth. Robin laughed and laughed. ‘I see
now,’ quoth he, ‘that the Devil himself could not hit that
mark. Good fellow, if thou art no better with the broad-
sword than thou art with the bow and arrow, thou wilt
never overcome Robin Hood.’
At these words Guy of Gisbourne glared savagely upon
Robin. Quoth he, ‘Thou hast a merry tongue, thou villain;
but take care that thou makest not too free with it, or I may
cut it out from thy throat for thee.’
Robin Hood strung his bow and took his place with nev-
er a word, albeit his heartstrings quivered with anger and
loathing. Twice he shot, the first time hitting within an inch
of the wand, the second time splitting it fairly in the mid-
dle. Then, without giving the other a chance for speech, he
flung his bow upon the ground. ‘There, thou bloody villain!’
cried he fiercely, ‘let that show thee how little thou knowest
of manly sports. And now look thy last upon the daylight,
for the good earth hath been befouled long enough by thee,
thou vile beast! This day, Our Lady willing, thou diest—I
am Robin Hood.’ So saying, he flashed forth his bright
sword in the sunlight.
For a time Guy of Gisbourne stared upon Robin as
though bereft of wits; but his wonder quickly passed to a
wild rage. ‘Art thou indeed Robin Hood?’ cried he. ‘Now I
am glad to meet thee, thou poor wretch! Shrive thyself, for
thou wilt have no time for shriving when I am done with
thee.’ So saying, he also drew his sword.
And now came the fiercest fight that ever Sherwood saw;
for each man knew that either he or the other must die, and

The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood