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How Little John Lived at the Sheriff’s
AtmosttimesIamasayearlinglamb,butwhenonecomethbetweenmeandmymeat,Iamaraginglion,asitwere."
"Lionornolion,"quoththevalorousCook,"comethoustraightforth,elsethouartacowardheartaswellasaknavishthief."
"Ha!"criedLittleJohn,"coward’snamehaveIneverhad;so,looktothyself,goodCook,forIcomeforthstraight,theroaringlionIdidspeakofbutnow."
Thenhe,too,drewhisswordandcameoutofthepantry;then,puttingthemselvesintoposition,theycameslowlytogether,withgrimandangrylooks;butsuddenlyLittleJohnloweredhispoint."Hold,goodCook!"saidhe."Now,Ibethinkmeitwereillofustofightwithgoodvictualsstandingsonigh,andsuchafeastaswouldbefittwostoutfellowssuchasweare.Marry,goodfriend,Ithinkweshouldenjoythisfairfeasterewefight.Whatsayestthou,jollyCook?"
AtthisspeechtheCooklookedupanddown,scratchinghisheadindoubt,forhelovedgoodfeasting.AtlasthedrewalongbreathandsaidtoLittleJohn,"Well,goodfriend,Ilikethyplanrightwell;so,prettyboy,sayI,letusfeast,withallmyheart,foroneofusmaysupinParadisebeforenightfall."
Soeachthrusthisswordbackintothescabbardandenteredthepantry.Then,aftertheyhadseatedthemselves,LittleJohndrewhisdaggerandthrustitintothepie."Ahungrymanmustbefed,"quothhe,"so,sweetchuck,Ihelpmyselfwithoutleave."
