Приключения Робин Гуда
Little John and the Tanner of Blyth
NowasLittleJohnsteppedblithelyalong,thinkingofnothingbutofsuchthingsasthesweetnessofthehawthornbudsthatbedeckedthehedgerows,orgazingupwardatthelark,that,springingfromthedewygrass,hungaloftonquiveringwingsintheyellowsunlight,pouringforthitssongthatfelllikeafallingstarfromthesky,hisluckledhimawayfromthehighway,notfarfromthespotwhereArthuraBlandwaspeepingthiswayandthatthroughtheleavesofthethickets.Hearingarustlingofthebranches,LittleJohnstoppedandpresentlycaughtsightofthebrowncowhidecapoftheTannermovingamongthebushes.
"Idomuchwonder,"quothLittleJohntohimself,"whatyonknaveisafter,thatheshouldgothuspeepingandpeeringaboutIverilybelievethatyonscurvyvarletisnobetterthanathief,andcomethhereafterourownandthegoodKing’sdundeer."Forbymuchrovingintheforest,LittleJohnhadcometolookuponallthedeerinSherwoodasbelongingtoRobinHoodandhisbandasmuchastogoodKingHarry."Nay,"quothheagain,afteratime,"thismattermuste’enbelookedinto."So,quittingthehighroad,healsoenteredthethickets,andbeganspyingaroundafterstoutArthuraBland.
Soforalongtimetheybothofthemwenthuntingabout,LittleJohnaftertheTanner,andtheTannerafterthedeer.AtlastLittleJohntroduponastick,whichsnappedunderhisfoot,whereupon,hearingthenoise,theTannerturnedquicklyandcaughtsightoftheyeoman.
