Приключения Робин Гуда
The Chase of Robin Hood
Oneithersideoftheroad,foralongdistance,stoodtangledthicketsofbushesandyoungtrees,anditpleasedRobin’shearttohearthelittlebirdssingingtherein,foritmadehimthinkofSherwood,anditseemedasthoughithadbeenalifetimesincehehadbreathedtheairofthewoodlands.Butofasudden,ashethusstooped,drinking,somethinghissedpasthisear,andstruckwithasplashintothegravelandwaterbesidehim.QuickasawinkRobinsprangtohisfeet,and,atonebound,crossedthestreamandtheroadside,andplungedheadlongintothethicket,withoutlookingaround,forheknewrightwellthatthatwhichhadhissedsovenomouslybesidehisearwasagraygooseshaft,andthattotarrysomuchasamomentmeantdeath.Evenasheleapedintothethicketsixmorearrowsrattledamongthebranchesafterhim,oneofwhichpiercedhisdoublet,andwouldhavestruckdeeplyintohissidebutforthetoughcoatofsteelthathewore.ThenuptheroadcameridingsomeoftheKing’smenatheadlongspeed.TheyleapedfromtheirhorsesandplungedstraightwayintothethicketafterRobin.ButRobinknewthegroundbetterthantheydid,socrawlinghere,stoopingthere,and,anon,runningacrosssomelittleopen,hesoonleftthemfarbehind,comingout,atlast,uponanotherroadabouteighthundredpacesdistantfromtheonehehadleft.Herehestoodforamoment,listeningtothedistantshoutsofthesevenmenastheybeatupanddowninthethicketslikehoundsthathadlostthescentofthequarry.
