the merry adventures of robin hood-第75部分

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the　back　of　one　of　the　horses；　with　his　face　to　its　tail　and　his　feet　strapped　beneath　its　belly。　　So　they　took　him　back　to　the　King's　Head　Inn；　laughing　and　rejoicing　as　they　went　along。　But　in　the　meantime　the　widow's　three　sons　had　gotten　safely　away；　and　were　hidden　in　the　woodlands。

Once　more　the　Sheriff　of　Nottingham　sat　within　the　King's　Head　Inn。　His　heart　rejoiced　within　him；　for　he　had　at　last　done　that　which　he　had　sought　to　do　for　years；　taken　Little　John　prisoner。　Quoth　he　to　himself；　〃This　time　tomorrow　the　rogue　shall　hang　upon　the　gallows　tree　in　front　of　the　great　gate　of　Nottingham　Town；　and　thus　shall　I　make　my　long　score　with　him　even。〃　　So　saying；　he　took　a　deep　draught　of　Canary。　　But　it　seemed　as　if　the　Sheriff　had　swallowed　a　thought　with　his　wine；　for　he　shook　his　head　and　put　the　cup　down　hastily。　　〃Now；〃　he　muttered　to　himself；　〃I　would　not　for　a　thousand　pounds　have　this　fellow　slip　through　my　fingers；　yet；　should　his　master　escape　that　foul　Guy　of　Gisbourne；　there　is　no　knowing　what　he　may　do；　for　he　is　the　cunningest　knave　in　all　the　worldthis　same　Robin　Hood。　　Belike　I　had　better　not　wait　until　tomorrow　to　hang　the　fellow。〃　　So　saying；　he　pushed　his　chair　back　hastily；　and　going　forth　from　the　inn　called　his　men　together。　Quoth　he；　〃I　will　wait　no　longer　for　the　hanging　of　this　rogue；　but　it　shall　be　done　forthwith；　and　that　from　the　very　tree　whence　he　saved　those　three　young　villains　by　stepping　betwixt　them　and　the　law。　So　get　ye　ready　straightway。〃

Then　once　more　they　sat　Little　John　upon　the　horse；　with　his　face　to　the　tail；　and　so；　one　leading　the　horse　whereon　he　sat　and　the　others　riding　around　him；　they　went　forward　to　that　tree　from　the　branches　of　which　they　had　thought　to　hang　the　poachers。　On　they　went；　rattling　and　jingling　along　the　road　till　they　came　to　the　tree。　　Here　one　of　the　men　spake　to　the　Sheriff　of　a　sudden。　〃Your　Worship；〃　cried　he；　〃is　not　yon　fellow　coming　along　toward　us　that　same　Guy　of　Gisbourne　whom　thou　didst　send　into　the　forest　to　seek　Robin　Hood？〃　　At　these　words　the　Sheriff　shaded　his　eyes　and　looked　eagerly。　　〃Why；　certes；〃　quoth　he；　〃yon　fellow　is　the　same。　　Now；　Heaven　send　that　he　hath　slain　the　master　thief；　as　we　will　presently　slay　the　man！〃

When　Little　John　heard　this　speech　he　looked　up；　and　straightway　his　heart　crumbled　away　within　him；　for　not　only　were　the　man's　garments　all　covered　with　blood；　but　he　wore　Robin　Hood's　bugle　horn　and　carried　his　bow　and　broadsword。

〃How　now！〃　cried　the　Sheriff；　when　Robin　Hood；　in　Guy　of　Gisbourne's　clothes；　had　come　nigh　to　them。　　〃What　luck　hath　befallen　thee　in　the　forest？　Why；　man；　thy　clothes　are　all　over　blood！〃

〃An　thou　likest　not　my　clothes；〃　said　Robin　in　a　harsh　voice　like　that　of　Guy　of　Gisbourne；　〃thou　mayst　shut　thine　eyes。　Marry；　the　blood　upon　me　is　that　of　the　vilest　outlaw　that　ever　trod　the　woodlands；　and　one　whom　I　have　slain　this　day；　albeit　not　without　wound　to　myself。〃

Then　out　spake　Little　John；　for　the　first　time　since　he　had　fallen　into　the　Sheriff's　hands。　　〃O　thou　vile；　bloody　wretch！　I　know　thee；　Guy　of　Gisbourne；　for　who　is　there　that　hath　not　heard　of　thee　and　cursed　thee　for　thy　vile　deeds　of　blood　and　rapine？　Is　it　by　such　a　hand　as　thine　that　the　gentlest　heart　that　ever　beat　is　stilled　in　death？　　Truly；　thou　art　a　fit　tool　for　this　coward　Sheriff　of　Nottingham。　　Now　I　die　joyfully；　nor　do　I　care　how　I　die；　for　life　is　nought　to　me！〃　　So　spake　Little　John；　the　salt　tears　rolling　down　his　brown　cheeks。

But　the　Sheriff　of　Nottingham　clapped　his　hands　for　joy。　〃Now；　Guy　of　Gisbourne；〃　cried　he；　〃if　what　thou　tellest　me　is　true；　it　will　be　the　best　day's　doings　for　thee　that　ever　thou　hast　done　in　all　thy　life。〃

〃What　I　have　told　thee　is　sooth；　and　I　lie　not；〃　said　Robin；　still　in　Guy　of　Gisbourne's　voice。　　〃Look；　is　not　this　Robin　Hood's　sword；　and　is　not　this　his　good　bow　of　yew；　and　is　not　this　his　bugle　horn？　Thinkest　thou　he　would　have　given　them　to　Guy　of　Gisbourne　of　his　own　free　will？〃

Then　the　Sheriff　laughed　aloud　for　joy。　　〃This　is　a　good　day！〃　cried　he。　〃The　great　outlaw　dead　and　his　right…hand　man　in　my　hands！　Ask　what　thou　wilt　of　me；　Guy　of　Gisbourne；　and　it　is　thine！〃

〃Then　this　I　ask　of　thee；〃　said　Robin。　　〃As　I　have　slain　the　master　I　would　now　kill　the　man。　　Give　this　fellow's　life　into　my　hands；　Sir　Sheriff。〃

〃Now　thou　art　a　fool！〃　cried　the　Sheriff。　　〃Thou　mightst　have　had　money　enough　for　a　knight's　ransom　if　thou　hadst　asked　for　it。　I　like　ill　to　let　this　fellow　pass　from　my　hands；　but　as　I　have　promised；　thou　shalt　have　him。〃

〃I　thank　thee　right　heartily　for　thy　gift；〃　cried　Robin。　　〃Take　the　rogue　down　from　the　horse；　men；　and　lean　him　against　yonder　tree；　while　I　show　you　how　we　stick　a　porker　whence　I　come！〃

At　these　words　some　of　the　Sheriff's　men　shook　their　heads；　for；　though　they　cared　not　a　whit　whether　Little　John　were　hanged　or　not；　they　hated　to　see　him　butchered　in　cold　blood。　But　the　Sheriff　called　to　them　in　a　loud　voice；　ordering　them　to　take　the　yeoman　down　from　the　horse　and　lean　him　against　the　tree；　as　the　other　bade。

While　they　were　doing　this　Robin　Hood　strung　both　his　bow　and　that　of　Guy　of　Gisbourne；　albeit　none　of　them　took　notice　of　his　doing　so。　　Then；　when　Little　John　stood　against　the　tree；　he　drew　Guy　of　Gisbourne's　sharp；　double…edged　dagger。　〃Fall　back！　fall　back！〃　cried　he。　　〃Would　ye　crowd　so　on　my　pleasure；　ye　unmannerly　knaves？　　Back；　I　say！　　Farther　yet！〃　So　they　crowded　back；　as　he　ordered；　many　of　them　turning　their　faces　away；　that　they　might　not　see　what　was　about　to　happen。

〃Come！〃　cried　Little　John。　　〃Here　is　my　breast。　　It　is　meet　that　the　same　hand　that　slew　my　dear　master　should　butcher　me　also！　I　know　thee；　Guy　of　Gisbourne！〃

〃Peace；　Little　John！〃　said　Robin　in　a　low　voice。　　〃Twice　thou　hast　said　thou　knowest　me；　and　yet　thou　knowest　me　not　at　all。　Couldst　thou　not　tell　me　beneath　this　wild　beast's　hide？　　Yonder；　just　in　front　of　thee；　lie　my　bow　and　arrows；　likewise　my　broadsword。　Take　them　when　I　cut　thy　bonds。　　Now！　　Get　them　quickly！〃　So　saying；　he　cut　the　bonds；　and　Little　John；　quick　as　a　wink；　leaped　forward　and　caught　up　the　bow　and　arrows　and　the　broadsword。　At　the　same　time　Robin　Hood　threw　back　the　cowl　of　horse's　hide　from　his　face　and　bent　Guy　of　Gisbourne's　bow；　with　a　keen；　barbed　arrow　fitted　to　the　string。　　〃Stand　back！〃　cried　he　sternly。　〃The　first　man　that　toucheth　finger　to　bowstring　dieth！　I　have　slain　thy　man；　Sheriff；　take　heed　that　it　is　not　thy　turn　next。〃　　Then；　seeing　that　Little　John　had　armed　himself；　he　clapped　his　bugle　horn　to　his　lips　and　blew　three　blasts　both　loud　and　shrill。

Now　when　the　Sheriff　of　Nottingham　saw　whose　face　it　was　beneath　Guy　of　Gisbourne's　hood；　and　when　he　heard　those　bugle　notes　ring　in　his　ear；　he　felt　as　if　his　hour　had　come。　〃Robin　Hood！〃　roared　he；　and　without　another　word　he　wheeled　his　horse　in　the　road　and　went　off　in　a　cloud　of　dust。　The　Sheriff's　men；　seeing　their　master　thus　fleeing　for　his　life；　thought　that　it　was　not　their　business　to　tarry　longer；　so；　clapping　spurs　to　their　horses；　they　also　dashed　away　after　him。　But　though　the　Sheriff　of　Nottingham　went　fast；　he　could　not　outstrip　a　clothyard　arrow