Robin Hood

accost him

hat he m

eggar ha

t some pa

ne and peaceful. No one was in sight save a solitary beggar who came sturdily along his way in Robin's direction. The beggar caught sight of Robin, at the same moment, as he emerged from the trees, but gave no

im. The fellow was bare-legged and bare-armed, and wore a long shift of a shirt, fastened with a

ee hats up

r stick

ther for the

where'e

the wallet on his shoulder seemed so well

them have money, this is the chap, and, marr

stick and planted himse

hither away so fast? Tarry, fo

e heard him not, and kept s

d Robin again; "for there's

man in all England, not even the King himself. So let me pass on my way, for 'tis

your fat countenance, that you lack not for good food, while I go hungry. Therefore you

man as I, and as well able to earn a supper. So go your way, and I'll go mine. If

d and deliver, I say, or I'll dust your shirt for you; and if that will not tea

n with your staff, fellow! I care no more for it than for

that his fingers smarted with pain. Robin danced and tried to bring his own staff into action; but the begg

ng, or beat a hasty retreat. Robin chose the latter-as you or I would proba

s your haste? We had but just begun. Stay and take your money, e

hill and down dale till he met three of his me

wrong?" t

there on the highroad with the hardest stick I've met in a good ma

ir mirth at the thought of Robin Hood running from a beggar. Nath

el better if you will fetch me that same be

and followed after the beggar, who was going smoothly along

h, "is to surprise him. Let us cut through yon ne

s, and the three were so

r's back and wrested his pike-staff from his hand. At the same mom

friend of ours awaits you in the woo

d the beggar valiantly, "and

about and began to march him toward the forest. Seeing th

y, if ye insist, but if ye will set me free I'll make it worth your while. I've a hund

s took council t

. "Our master will be more glad to see t

little party came to a halt

There was a brisk wind blowing, and the beggar turn

you lend me your cloak and we will spread it

g closely, lest he should hide some of the money on his person. Presently he got the bag unfastened and plunged his hands into it. Forth from it he drew-not shining gold-but handfuls of fine meal which he dashed

k by its corners and shaking it vigorously in the faces of his suffering victims. Then he seized a stick which lay conveniently near, an

ounds I promised. How do you like them? I'

sufferers, but they had too much meal in their throats for that. Their one thought was to flee, and they st

other way; "and when next I come along the Barnesdale ro

stling on his way, while the three outlaws rubbed the mea

ood leaning against a tree trunk and surveying them smilingly. He h

in sooth, have gone the wrong way and been

ced and answered never a word

that bold beggar I

l of meal that I shall sweat meal for a week. I was born in a mill, and had the smell of meal in my nostrils fr

neezed v

t?" asked Ro

order, when he offered to pay for his rele

ed," quoth Robin

and shook it thereon. Instantly a great cloud of meal filled the air, whereby we cou

lack and blue spots, to be rememb

one," said one of the widow's

at him down upon the gnarled root

with ye. But 'twould never do to have this tale get abroad-even in the greenwood-how that we could not hold our ow

ly, despite their itching desire to get hold of the begg

branches of a neighboring oak must have sung of it. For it got abroad, as such tales will, and