Приключения Робин Гуда
Robin Hood Seeks the Curtal Friar
Thus,mileaftermile,theystrodealong,nowacrossabrawlingstream,nowalongasunlitroad,nowadownsomesweetforestpath,overwhichthetreesmetingreenandrustlingcanopy,andattheendofwhichaherdofstartleddeerdashedaway,withrattleofleavesandcrackleofbranches.Onwardtheywalkedwithsongandjestandlaughtertillnoontidewaspassed,whenatlasttheycametothebanksofawide,glassy,andlily-paddedstream.Hereabroad,beatenpathstretchedalongbesidethebanks,onwhichpathlaboredthehorsesthattuggedattheslow-movingbarges,ladenwithbarleymealorwhatnot,fromthecountrysidetothemany-toweredtown.Butnow,inthehotsilenceofthemidday,nohorsewasseennoranymanbesidesthemselves.Behindthemandbeforethemstretchedtheriver,itsplacidbosomruffledhereandtherebythepurpleduskofasmallbreeze.
"Now,gooduncle,"quothWillScarletatlast,whentheyhadwalkedforalongtimebesidethissweet,brightriver,"justbeyondyonbendaheadofusisashallowfordwhichinnoplaceisdeeperthanthymid-thigh,andupontheothersideofthestreamisacertainlittlehermitagehiddenamidsttheboskytangleofthethicketswhereindwelleththeFriarofFountainDale.ThitherwillIleadthee,forIknowtheway;albeititisnotoverhardtofind."
"Nay,"quothjollyRobin,stoppingsuddenly,"hadIthoughtthatIshouldhavehadtowadewater,evenwereitsocrystalastreamasthis,IhaddonnedotherclothesthanIhaveuponme.
