Пригоди Робін Гуда
The Shooting Match at Nottingham Town
ThentheSheriffturnedawaywithasoreandtroubledheart,andsadlyheruedhisfineshowofretainers,forhesawthattheKingwasangrybecausehehadsomanymenabouthimandyetcouldnotenforcethelaws.So,astheyallrodeslowlybacktoNottingham,theSheriffwasthoughtfulandfullofcare.Notaworddidhespeaktoanyone,andnooneofhismenspoketohim,butallthetimehewasbusydevisingsomeplantotakeRobinHood.
"Aha!"criedhesuddenly,smitinghishanduponhisthigh"Ihaveitnow!Rideon,mymerrymenall,andletusgetbacktoNottinghamTownasspeedilyaswemay.Andmarkwellmywords:beforeafortnightispassed,thatevilknaveRobinHoodwillbesafelyclappedintoNottinghamgaol."
ButwhatwastheSheriff’splan?
Asausurertakeseachoneofabagofsilverangels,feelingeachcointofindwhetheritbeclippedornot,sotheSheriff,asallrodeslowlyandsadlybacktowardNottingham,tookupthoughtafterthoughtinturn,feelingaroundtheedgesofeachbutfindingineveryonesomeflaw.AtlasthethoughtofthedaringsoulofjollyRobinandhow,ashetheSheriffknew,heoftencameevenwithinthewallsofNottingham.
"Now,"thoughttheSheriff,"couldIbutpersuadeRobinnightoNottinghamTownsothatIcouldfindhim,IwarrantIwouldlayhandsuponhimsostoutlythathewouldnevergetawayagain."Thenofasuddenitcametohimlikeaflashthatwerehetoproclaimagreatshootingmatchandoffersomegrandprize,RobinHoodmightbeoverpersuadedbyhisspirittocometothebutts;anditwasthisthoughtwhichcausedhimtocry"Aha!"andsmitehispalmuponhisthigh.
