Приключения Робин Гуда
King Richard Comes to Sherwood Forest
Inthemeantimethemarkatwhichtheyweretoshootwassetupatsixscorepacesdistance.Itwasagarlandofleavesandflowerstwospansinwidth,whichsamewashunguponastakeinfrontofabroadtreetrunk."There,"quothRobin,"yonisafairmark,lads.Eachofyoushootthreearrowsthereat;andifanyfellowmissethbysomuchasonearrow,heshallhaveabuffetofWillScarlet’sfist."
"Hearkentohim!"quothFriarTuck."Why,master,thoudostbestowbuffetsfromthystrappingnephewasthoughtheywerelovetapsfromsomebouncinglass.Iwarrantthouartsafetohitthegarlandthyself,orthouwouldstnotbesofreeofhiscuffing."
FirstDavidofDoncastershot,andlodgedallthreeofhisarrowswithinthegarland."Welldone,David!"criedRobin,"thouhastsavedthineearsfromawarmingthisday."NextMidge,theMiller,shot,andhe,also,lodgedhisarrowsinthegarland.ThenfollowedWat,theTinker,butalasforhim!Foroneofhisshaftsmissedthemarkbythebreadthoftwofingers.
"Comehither,fellow,"saidWillScarlet,inhissoft,gentlevoice,"IowetheesomewhatthatIwouldpayforthwith."ThenWat,theTinker,cameforwardandstoodinfrontofWillScarlet,screwinguphisfaceandshuttinghiseyestightly,asthoughhealreadyfelthisearsringingwiththebuffet.WillScarletrolleduphissleeve,and,standingontiptoetogivethegreaterswingtohisarm,hestruckwithmightandmain.
