Приключения Робин Гуда
How Little John Lived at the Sheriff’s
"Why,hownow,ReynoldGreenleaf,"criedtheSheriff,"artthoudreamingorartthoumad,thatthoudostbringmesuch,atale?"
"Nay,IamnotdreamingnoramImad,"saidLittleJohn,"andifthouwiltcomewithme,Iwillshowtheethisfairsight,forIhaveseenitwithmineowneyes.Butthoumustcomealone,goodmaster,lesttheothersfrightenthemandtheygetaway."
Sothepartyallrodeforward,andLittleJohnledthemdownwardintotheforest.
"Now,goodmaster,"quothheatlast,"wearenighwhereIsawthisherd."
ThentheSheriffdescendedfromhishorseandbadethemwaitforhimuntilheshouldreturn;andLittleJohnledhimforwardthroughaclosecopseuntilsuddenlytheycametoagreatopenglade,attheendofwhichRobinHoodsatbeneaththeshadeofthegreatoaktree,withhismerrymenallabouthim."See,goodMasterSheriff,"quothLittleJohn,"yonderisthehartofwhichIspaketothee."
AtthistheSheriffturnedtoLittleJohnandsaidbitterly,"LongagoIthoughtIrememberedthyface,butnowIknowthee.Woebetidethee,LittleJohn,forthouhastbetrayedmethisday."
InthemeantimeRobinHoodhadcometothem."Nowwelcome,MasterSheriff,"saidhe."Hastthoucometodaytotakeanotherfeastwithme?"
"Nay,Heavenforbid!"saidtheSheriffintonesofdeepearnest."Icarefornofeastandhavenohungertoday."
