the merry adventures of robin hood-第30部分

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By　this　time　the　young　miller　had　come　so　near　that　they　could　see　him　clearly。　　His　clothes　were　dusted　with　flour；　and　over　his　back　he　carried　a　great　sack　of　meal；　bending　so　as　to　bring　the　whole　weight　upon　his　shoulders；　and　across　the　sack　was　a　thick　quarterstaff。　His　limbs　were　stout　and　strong；　and　he　strode　along　the　dusty　road　right　sturdily　with　the　heavy　sack　across　his　shoulders。　His　cheeks　were　ruddy　as　a　winter　hip；　his　hair　was　flaxen　in　color；　and　on　his　chin　was　a　downy　growth　of　flaxen　beard。

〃A　good　honest　fellow；〃　quoth　Robin　Hood；　〃and　such　an　one　as　is　a　credit　to　English　yeomanrie。　　Now　let　us　have　a　merry　jest　with　him。　We　will　forth　as　though　we　were　common　thieves　and　pretend　to　rob　him　of　his　honest　gains。　　Then　will　we　take　him　into　the　forest　and　give　him　a　feast　such　as　his　stomach　never　held　in　all　his　life　before。　We　will　flood　his　throat　with　good　canary　and　send　him　home　with　crowns　in　his　purse　for　every　penny　he　hath。　　What　say　ye；　lads？〃

〃Truly；　it　is　a　merry　thought；〃　said　Will　Scarlet。

〃It　is　well　planned；〃　quoth　Little　John；　〃but　all　the　saints　preserve　us　from　any　more　drubbings　this　day！　　Marry；　my　poor　bones　ache　so　that　I〃

〃Prythee　peace；　Little　John；〃　quoth　Robin。　　〃Thy　foolish　tongue　will　get　us　both　well　laughed　at　yet。〃

〃My　foolish　tongue；　forsooth；〃　growled　Little　John　to　Arthur　a　Bland。　　〃I　would　it　could　keep　our　master　from　getting　us　into　another　coil　this　day。〃

But　now　the　Miller；　plodding　along　the　road；　had　come　opposite　to　where　the　yeomen　lay　hidden；　whereupon　all　four　of　them　ran　at　him　and　surrounded　him。

〃Hold；　friend！〃　cried　Robin　to　the　Miller；　whereupon　he　turned　slowly；　with　the　weight　of　the　bag　upon　his　shoulder；　and　looked　at　each　in　turn　all　bewildered；　for　though　a　good　stout　man　his　wits　did　not　skip　like　roasting　chestnuts。

〃Who　bids　me　stay？〃　said　the　Miller　in　a　voice　deep　and　gruff；　like　the　growl　of　a　great　dog。

〃Marry；　that　do　I；〃　quoth　Robin；　〃and　let　me　tell　thee；　friend；　thou　hadst　best　mind　my　bidding。〃

〃And　who　art　thou；　good　friend？〃　said　the　Miller；　throwing　the　great　sack　of　meal　from　his　shoulder　to　the　ground；　〃and　who　are　those　with　thee？〃

〃We　be　four　good　Christian　men；〃　quoth　Robin；　〃and　would　fain　help　thee　by　carrying　part　of　thy　heavy　load。〃

〃I　give　you　all　thanks；〃　said　the　Miller；　〃but　my　bag　is　none　that　heavy　that　I　cannot　carry　it　e'en　by　myself。〃

〃Nay；　thou　dost　mistake；〃　quoth　Robin；　〃I　meant　that　thou　mightest　perhaps　have　some　heavy　farthings　or　pence　about　thee；　not　to　speak　of　silver　and　gold。　　Our　good　Gaffer　Swanthold　sayeth　that　gold　is　an　overheavy　burden　for　a　two…legged　ass　to　carry；　so　we　would　e'en　lift　some　of　this　load　from　thee。〃

〃Alas！〃　cried　the　Miller；　〃what　would　ye　do　to　me？　I　have　not　about　me　so　much　as　a　clipped　groat。　Do　me　no　harm；　I　pray　you；　but　let　me　depart　in　peace。　Moreover；　let　me　tell　you　that　ye　are　upon　Robin　Hood's　ground；　and　should　he　find　you　seeking　to　rob　an　honest　craftsman；　he　will　clip　your　ears　to　your　heads　and　scourge　you　even　to　the　walls　of　Nottingham。

〃In　truth　I　fear　Robin　Hood　no　more　than　I　do　myself；〃　quoth　jolly　Robin。　　〃Thou　must　this　day　give　up　to　me　every　penny　thou　hast　about　thee。　　Nay；　if　thou　dost　budge　an　inch　I　will　rattle　this　staff　about　thine　ears。〃

〃Nay；　smite　me　not！〃　cried　the　Miller；　throwing　up　his　elbow　as　though　he　feared　the　blow。　　〃Thou　mayst　search　me　if　thou　wilt；　but　thou　wilt　find　nothing　upon　me；　pouch；　pocket；　or　skin。〃

〃Is　it　so？〃　quoth　Robin　Hood；　looking　keenly　upon　him。　〃Now　I　believe　that　what　thou　tellest　is　no　true　tale。　If　I　am　not　much　mistook　thou　hast　somewhat　in　the　bottom　of　that　fat　sack　of　meal。　　Good　Arthur；　empty　the　bag　upon　the　ground；　I　warrant　thou　wilt　find　a　shilling　or　two　in　the　flour。〃

〃Alas！〃　cried　the　Miller；　falling　upon　his　knees；　〃spoil　not　all　my　good　meal！　　It　can　better　you　not；　and　will　ruin　me。　Spare　it；　and　I　will　give　up　the　money　in　the　bag。〃

〃Ha！〃　quoth　Robin；　nudging　Will　Scarlet。　　〃Is　it　so？　And　have　I　found　where　thy　money　lies？　　Marry；　I　have　a　wondrous　nose　for　the　blessed　image　of　good　King　Harry。　　I　thought　that　I　smelled　gold　and　silver　beneath　the　barley　meal。　Bring　it　straight　forth；　Miller。〃

Then　slowly　the　Miller　arose　to　his　feet；　and　slowly　and　unwillingly　he　untied　the　mouth　of　the　bag；　and　slowly　thrust　his　hands　into　the　meal　and　began　fumbling　about　with　his　arms　buried　to　the　elbows　in　the　barley　flour。　The　others　gathered　round　him；　their　heads　together；　looking　and　wondering　what　he　would　bring　forth。

So　they　stood；　all　with　their　heads　close　together　gazing　down　into　the　sack。　　But　while　he　pretended　to　be　searching　for　the　money；　the　Miller　gathered　two　great　handfuls　of　meal。　〃Ha；〃　quoth　he；　〃here　they　are；　the　beauties。〃　　Then；　as　the　others　leaned　still　more　forward　to　see　what　he　had；　he　suddenly　cast　the　meal　into　their　faces；　filling　their　eyes　and　noses　and　mouths　with　the　flour；　blinding　and　half　choking　them。　Arthur　a　Bland　was　worse　off　than　any；　for　his　mouth　was　open；　agape　with　wonder　of　what　was　to　come；　so　that　a　great　cloud　of　flour　flew　down　his　throat；　setting　him　a…coughing　till　he　could　scarcely　stand。

Then；　while　all　four　stumbled　about；　roaring　with　the　smart　of　the　meal　in　their　eyeballs；　and　while　they　rubbed　their　eyes　till　the　tears　made　great　channels　on　their　faces　through　the　meal；　the　Miller　seized　another　handful　of　flour　and　another　and　another；　throwing　it　in　their　faces；　so　that　even　had　they　had　a　glimmering　of　light　before　they　were　now　as　blind　as　ever　a　beggar　in　Nottinghamshire；　while　their　hair　and　beards　and　clothes　were　as　white　as　snow。

Then　catching　up　his　great　crabstaff；　the　Miller　began　laying　about　him　as　though　he　were　clean　gone　mad。　This　way　and　that　skipped　the　four；　like　peas　on　a　drumhead；　but　they　could　see　neither　to　defend　themselves　nor　to　run　away。　Thwack！　thwack！　went　the　Miller's　cudgel　across　their　backs；　and　at　every　blow　great　white　clouds　of　flour　rose　in　the　air　from　their　jackets　and　went　drifting　down　the　breeze。

〃Stop！〃　roared　Robin　at　last。　　〃Give　over；　good　friend；　I　am　Robin　Hood！〃

〃Thou　liest；　thou　knave；〃　cried　the　Miller；　giving　him　a　rap　on　the　ribs　that　sent　up　a　great　cloud　of　flour　like　a　puff　of　smoke。　〃Stout　Robin　never　robbed　an　honest　tradesman。　　Ha！　thou　wouldst　have　my　money；　wouldst　thou？〃　　And　he　gave　him　another　blow。　〃Nay；　thou　art　not　getting　thy　share；　thou　long…legged　knave。　Share　and　share　alike。〃　　And　he　smote　Little　John　across　the　shoulders　so　that　he　sent　him　skipping　half　across　the　road。　〃Nay；　fear　not；　it　is　thy　turn　now；　black　beard。〃　　And　he　gave　the　Tanner　a　crack　that　made　him　roar　for　all　his　coughing。　〃How　now；　red　coat；　let　me　brush　the　dust　from　thee！〃　cried　he；　smiting　Will　Scarlet。　　And　so　he　gave　them　merry　words　and　blows　until　they　could　scarcely　stand；　and　whenever　he　saw　one　like　to　clear　his　eyes　he　threw　more　flour　in　his　face。　At　last　Robin　Hood　found　his　horn　and　clapping　it　to　his　lips；　blew　three　loud　blasts　upon　it。

Now　it　chanced　that　Will　Stutely　and　a　party　of　Robin's　men　were　in　the　glade　not　far　from　where　this　merry　sport　was　going　forward。　　Hearing　the　hubbub　of　voices；　and　blows