Page 354 - the-merry-adventures-of-robin-hood

the wool from his head and face, shouting in a mighty voice,
‘Run!’ Quick as a flash the three youths flung the nooses
from their necks and sped across the open to the woodlands
as the arrow speeds from the bow. Little John also flew to-
ward the covert like a greyhound, while the Sheriff and his
men gazed after him all bewildered with the sudden doing.
But ere the yeoman had gone far the Sheriff roused himself.
‘After him!’ he roared in a mighty voice; for he knew now
who it was with whom he had been talking, and wondered
that he had not known him before.
Little John heard the Sheriff’s words, and seeing that he
could not hope to reach the woodlands before they would
be upon him, he stopped and turned suddenly, holding his
bow as though he were about to shoot. ‘Stand back!’ cried
he fiercely. ‘The first man that cometh a foot forward, or
toucheth finger to bowstring, dieth!’
At these words the Sheriff’s men stood as still as stocks,
for they knew right well that Little John would be as good
as his word, and that to disobey him meant death. In vain
the Sheriff roared at them, calling them cowards, and urg-
ing them forward in a body; they would not budge an inch,
but stood and watched Little John as he moved slowly away
toward the forest, keeping his gaze fixed upon them. But
when the Sheriff saw his enemy thus slipping betwixt his
fingers he grew mad with his rage, so that his head swam
and he knew not what he did. Then of a sudden he turned
his horse’s head, and plunging his spurs into its sides he
gave a great shout, and, rising in his stirrups, came down
upon Little John like the wind. Then Little John raised his