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Little John and the Tanner of Blyth
SeeingthattheTannerhadspiedhimout,LittleJohnputaboldfaceuponthematter.
"Hilloa,"quothhe,"whatartthoudoinghere,thounaughtyfellow?WhoartthouthatcomestrangingSherwood’spaths?Inverysooththouhastanevilcastofcountenance,andIdothink,truly,thatthouartnobetterthanathief,andcomestafterourgoodKing’sdeer."
"Nay,"quoththeTannerboldly—for,thoughtakenbysurprise,hewasnotamantobefrightenedbybigwords—"thouliestinthyteeth.Iamnothief,butanhonestcraftsman.Asformycountenance,itiswhatitis;and,forthematterofthat,thineownisnonetoopretty,thousaucyfellow."
"Ha!"quothLittleJohninagreatloudvoice,"wouldstthougivemebacktalk?NowIhaveagreatpartofamindtocrackthypateforthee.Iwouldhavetheeknow,fellow,thatIam,asitwere,oneoftheKing’sforesters.Leastwise,"mutteredhetohimself,"Iandmyfriendsdotakegoodcareofourgoodsovereign’sdeer."
"Icarenotwhothouart,"answeredtheboldTanner,"andunlessthouhastmanymoreofthykindbythee,thoucanstnevermakeArthuraBlandcry‘Amercy.’"
"Isitso?"criedLittleJohninarage."Now,bymyfaith,thousaucyrogue,thytonguehathledtheeintoapitthouwilthaveasorrytimegettingoutof;forIwillgivetheesuchadrubbingasne’erhastthouhadinallthylifebefore.Takethystaffinthyhand,fellow,forIwillnotsmiteanunarmedman.
