Robin Hood and Will Scarlet

           THUSTHEYtraveledalongthesunnyroad,threestoutfellowssuchasyoucouldhardlymatchanywhereelseinallmerryEngland.Manystoppedtogazeafterthemastheystrodealong,sobroadweretheirshouldersandsosturdytheirgait.

           QuothRobinHoodtoLittleJohn,"WhydidstthounotgostraighttoAncaster,yesterday,asItoldthee?ThouhadstnotgottenthyselfintosuchacoilhadstthoudoneasIordered."

           "Ifearedtherainthatthreatened,"saidLittleJohninasullentone,forhewasvexedatbeingsochaffedbyRobinwithwhathadhappenedtohim.

           "Therain!"criedRobin,stoppingofasuddeninthemiddleoftheroad,andlookingatLittleJohninwonder."Why,thougreatoaf!notadropofrainhasfallenthesethreedays,neitherhasanythreatened,norhaththerebeenasignoffoulweatherinearthorskyorwater."

           "Nevertheless,"growledLittleJohn,"theholySaintSwithinholdeththewatersoftheheavensinhispewterpot,andhecouldhavepouredthemout,hadhechosen,evenfromaclearsky;andwouldstthouhavehadmewettotheskin?"

           AtthisRobinHoodburstintoaroaroflaughter."OLittleJohn!"saidhe,"whatbutterwitshastthouinthatheadofthine!Whocouldholdangeragainstsuchaoneasthouart?"

           Sosaying,theyallsteppedoutoncemore,withtherightfootforemost,asthesayingis.