Приключения Робин Гуда
Robin Hood Turns Butcher
IfthouwiltlookdownthecloththouwiltseeWillStutely,inwhoseeyesthouhastnogreatfavor;thentwootherstoutfellowsarethereherethatthouknowestnot,thatwerewoundedinabrawlnighNottinghamTown,sometimeago—thouwottestwhen;oneofthemwassorehurtinonearm,yethehathgottheuseofitagain.GoodSheriff,beadvisedbyme;paythyscorewithoutmoreado,ormaybeitmayfareillwiththee."
AshespoketheSheriff’sruddycheeksgrewpale,andhesaidnothingmorebutlookeduponthegroundandgnawedhisnetherlip.Thenslowlyhedrewforthhisfatpurseandthrewitupontheclothinfrontofhim.
"Nowtakethepurse,LittleJohn,"quothRobinHood,"andseethatthereckoningberight.WewouldnotdoubtourSheriff,buthemightnotlikeitifheshouldfindhehadnotpaidhisfullscore."
ThenLittleJohncountedthemoneyandfoundthatthebagheldthreehundredpoundsinsilverandgold.ButtotheSheriffitseemedasifeveryclinkofthebrightmoneywasadropofbloodfromhisveins.Andwhenhesawitallcountedoutinaheapofsilverandgold,fillingawoodenplatter,heturnedawayandsilentlymountedhishorse.
"Neverhavewehadsoworshipfulaguestbefore!"quothRobin,"and,asthedaywaxethlate,Iwillsendoneofmyyoungmentoguidetheeoutoftheforestdepths."
"Nay,Heavenforbid!"criedtheSheriffhastily."Icanfindmineownway,goodman,withoutaid."
