Page 355 - the-merry-adventures-of-robin-hood

deadly bow and drew the gray goose feather to his cheek.
But alas for him! For, ere he could loose the shaft, the good
bow that had served him so long, split in his hands, and the
arrow fell harmless at his feet. Seeing what had happened,
the Sheriff’s men raised a shout, and, following their master,
came rushing down upon Little John. But the Sheriff was
ahead of the others, and so caught up with the yeoman be-
fore he reached the shelter of the woodlands, then leaning
forward he struck a mighty blow. Little John ducked and
the Sheriff’s sword turned in his hand, but the flat of the
blade struck the other upon the head and smote him down,
stunned and senseless.
‘Now, I am right glad,’ said the Sheriff, when the men
came up and found that Little John was not dead, ‘that I
have not slain this man in my haste! I would rather lose five
hundred pounds than have him die thus instead of hanging,
as such a vile thief should do. Go, get some water from yon-
der fountain, William, and pour it over his head.’
The man did as he was bidden, and presently Little John
opened his eyes and looked around him, all dazed and be-
wildered with the stun of the blow. Then they tied his hands
behind him, and lifting him up set him upon the back of one
of the horses, with his face to its tail and his feet strapped
beneath its belly. So they took him back to the King’s Head
Inn, laughing and rejoicing as they went along. But in the
meantime the widow’s three sons had gotten safely away,
and were hidden in the woodlands.
Once more the Sheriff of Nottingham sat within the
King’s Head Inn. His heart rejoiced within him, for he had

The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood