Page 358 - the-merry-adventures-of-robin-hood

hast done in all thy life.’
‘What I have told thee is sooth, and I lie not,’ said Robin,
still in Guy of Gisbourne’s voice. ‘Look, is not this Robin
Hood’s sword, and is not this his good bow of yew, and is
not this his bugle horn? Thinkest thou he would have given
them to Guy of Gisbourne of his own free will?’
Then the Sheriff laughed aloud for joy. ‘This is a good
day!’ cried he. ‘The great outlaw dead and his right-hand
man in my hands! Ask what thou wilt of me, Guy of Gis-
bourne, and it is thine!’
‘Then this I ask of thee,’ said Robin. ‘As I have slain the
master I would now kill the man. Give this fellow’s life into
my hands, Sir Sheriff.’
‘Now thou art a fool!’ cried the Sheriff. ‘Thou mightst
have had money enough for a knight’s ransom if thou hadst
asked for it. I like ill to let this fellow pass from my hands,
but as I have promised, thou shalt have him.’
‘I thank thee right heartily for thy gift,’ cried Robin. ‘Take
the rogue down from the horse, men, and lean him against
yonder tree, while I show you how we stick a porker whence
I come!’
At these words some of the Sheriff’s men shook their
heads; for, though they cared not a whit whether Little John
were hanged or not, they hated to see him butchered in cold
blood. But the Sheriff called to them in a loud voice, order-
ing them to take the yeoman down from the horse and lean
him against the tree, as the other bade.
While they were doing this Robin Hood strung both his
bow and that of Guy of Gisbourne, albeit none of them took