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How Little John Lived at the Sheriff’s
ButIlikenotsowellthatthouhaststolentheSheriff’splatelikesomepaltrythief.TheSheriffhathbeenpunishedbyus,andhathlostthreehundredpounds,evenashesoughttodespoilanother;buthehathdonenoughtthatweshouldstealhishouseholdplatefromhim."
ThoughLittleJohnwasvexedwiththis,hestrovetopassitoffwithajest."Nay,goodmaster,"quothhe,"ifthouthinkesttheSheriffgaveusnottheplate,Iwillfetchhim,thathemaytelluswithhisownlipshegivethitalltous."Sosayingheleapedtohisfeet,andwasgonebeforeRobincouldcallhimback.
LittleJohnranforfullfivemilestillhecametowheretheSheriffofNottinghamandagaycompanywerehuntingneartheforest.WhenLittleJohncametotheSheriffhedoffedhiscapandbenthisknee."Godsavethee,goodmaster,"quothhe.
"Why,ReynoldGreenleaf!"criedtheSheriff,"whencecomestthouandwherehastthoubeen?"
"Ihavebeenintheforest,"answeredLittleJohn,speakingamazedly,"andthereIsawasightsuchasne’erbeforeman’seyesbeheld!YonderIsawayounghartallingreenfromtoptotoe,andabouthimwasaherdofthreescoredeer,andthey,too,wereallofgreenfromheadtofoot.YetIdarednotshoot,goodmaster,forfearlesttheyshouldslayme."
