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Robin Hood and Will Scarlet
Well,oneday—andanilldayitwasforthatsaucyfellow—hesoughttoberatemyfather,Istandingby.Icouldstanditnolonger,gooduncle,so,steppingforth,Igavehimaboxo’theear,and—wouldstthoubelieveit?—thefellowstraightwaydiedo’t.IthinktheysaidIbrokehisneck,orsomethingo’thelike.Soofftheypackedmetoseektheeandescapethelaw.Iwasonmywaywhenthousawestme,andhereIam."
"Well,bythefaithofmyheart,"quothRobinHood,"foranyoneescapingthelaw,thouwasttakingitthemosteasilythateverIbeheldinallmylife.Wheneverdidanyoneinalltheworldseeonewhohadslainaman,andwasescapingbecauseofit,trippingalongthehighwaylikeadaintycourtdamsel,sniffingatarosethewhile?"
"Nay,uncle,"answeredWillGamwell,"overhasteneverchurnedgoodbutter,astheoldsayinghathit.Moreover,Idoverilybelievethatthisoverstrengthofmybodyhathtakenthenimblenessoutofmyheels.Why,thoudidstbutjustnowrapmethrice,andItheeneveraonce,savebyoverbearingtheebymystrength."
"Nay,"quothRobin,"letussaynomoreonthatscore.Iamrightgladtoseethee,Will,andthouwiltaddgreathonorandcredittomybandofmerryfellows.Butthoumustchangethyname,forwarrantswillbeoutpresentlyagainstthee;so,becauseofthygayclothes,thoushalthenceforthandforayebecalledWillScarlet.
