Приключения Робин Гуда
How Little John Lived at the Sheriff’s
WhentheStewardsawwhatwasdone,hewaxedmadwithrage;and,asLittleJohnstoopedtolookwithinthepantry,heseizedhimfrombehindbythenapeoftheneck,pinchinghimsorelyandsmitinghimovertheheadwithhiskeystilltheyeoman’searsrangagain.AtthisLittleJohnturnedupontheStewardandsmotehimsuchabuffetthatthefatmanfelltothefloorandlaythereasthoughhewouldnevermoveagain."There,"quothLittleJohn,"thinkwellofthatstrokeandneverkeepagoodbreakfastfromahungrymanagain."
Sosaying,hecreptintothepantryandlookedabouthimtoseeifhecouldfindsomethingtoappeasehishunger.Hesawagreatvenisonpastyandtworoastedcapons,besidewhichwasaplatterofplover’seggs;moreover,therewasaflaskofsackandoneofcanary—asweetsighttoahungryman.Thesehetookdownfromtheshelvesandplaceduponasideboard,andpreparedtomakehimselfmerry.
NowtheCook,inthekitchenacrossthecourtyard,heardtheloudtalkingbetweenLittleJohnandtheSteward,andalsotheblowthatLittleJohnstrucktheother,sohecamerunningacrossthecourtandupthestairwaytowheretheSteward’spantrywas,bearinginhishandsthespitwiththeroaststilluponit.MeanwhiletheStewardhadgatheredhiswitsabouthimandrisentohisfeet,sothatwhentheCookcametotheSteward’spantryhesawhimgloweringthroughthebrokendooratLittleJohn,whowasmakingreadyforagoodrepast,asonedogglowersatanotherthathasabone.
