Page 357 - the-merry-adventures-of-robin-hood

and looked eagerly. ‘Why, certes,’ quoth he, ‘yon fellow is
the same. Now, Heaven send that he hath slain the master
thief, as we will presently slay the man!’
When Little John heard this speech he looked up, and
straightway his heart crumbled away within him, for not
only were the man’s garments all covered with blood, but
he wore Robin Hood’s bugle horn and carried his bow and
broadsword.
‘How now!’ cried the Sheriff, when Robin Hood, in Guy
of Gisbourne’s clothes, had come nigh to them. ‘What luck
hath befallen thee in the forest? Why, man, thy clothes are
all over blood!’
‘An thou likest not my clothes,’ said Robin in a harsh
voice like that of Guy of Gisbourne, ‘thou mayst shut thine
eyes. Marry, the blood upon me is that of the vilest outlaw
that ever trod the woodlands, and one whom I have slain
this day, albeit not without wound to myself.’
Then out spake Little John, for the first time since he had
fallen into the Sheriff’s hands. ‘O thou vile, bloody wretch! I
know thee, Guy of Gisbourne, for who is there that hath not
heard of thee and cursed thee for thy vile deeds of blood and
rapine? Is it by such a hand as thine that the gentlest heart
that ever beat is stilled in death? Truly, thou art a fit tool for
this coward Sheriff of Nottingham. Now I die joyfully, nor
do I care how I die, for life is nought to me!’ So spake Little
John, the salt tears rolling down his brown cheeks.
But the Sheriff of Nottingham clapped his hands for joy.
‘Now, Guy of Gisbourne,’ cried he, ‘if what thou tellest me is
true, it will be the best day’s doings for thee that ever thou

The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood