Приключения Робин Гуда
Will Stutely Rescued by His Companions
Presentlythecastlegatesopenedwideandagreatarrayofmen-at-armscameforthwithnoiseandclatter,theSheriff,allcladinshiningmailoflinkedchain,ridingattheirhead.Inthemidstofalltheguard,inacart,withahalterabouthisneck,rodeWillStutely.Hisfacewaspalewithhiswoundandwithlossofblood,likethemooninbroaddaylight,andhisfairhairwasclottedinpointsuponhisforehead,wherethebloodhadhardened.Whenhecameforthfromthecastlehelookedupandhelookeddown,butthoughhesawsomefacesthatshowedpityandsomethatshowedfriendliness,hesawnonethatheknew.Thenhisheartsankwithinhimlikeaplummetoflead,butneverthelesshespokeupboldly.
"Giveaswordintomyhand,SirSheriff,"saidhe,"andwoundedmanthoughIbe,Iwillfighttheeandallthymentilllifeandstrengthbegone."
"Nay,thounaughtyvarlet,"quoththeSheriff,turninghisheadandlookingrightgrimlyuponWillStutely,"thoushalthavenoswordbutshalldieameandeath,asbeseemethavilethieflikethee."
"ThendobutuntiemyhandsandIwillfighttheeandthymenwithnoweaponbutonlymynakedfists.Icravenoweapon,butletmenotbemeanlyhangedthisday."
ThentheSherifflaughedaloud."Why,hownow,"quothhe,"isthyproudstomachquailing?Shrivethyself,thouvileknave,forImeanthatthoushalthangthisday,andthatwherethreeroadsmeet,sothatallmenshallseetheehang,forcarrioncrowsanddawstopeckat."
