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The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood-Part19_Howard Pyle(1853-1911)_English Literature(文学名著)-第2页

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Had I gone forth on an innocenterrand, I had met a dozen stout



priests or a score of pursy money-lenders. But it is ever thus:

the dun deer are never so scarce as when one has a gray goose



feather nipped betwixt the fingers. Come, lads, let us pack up

and home again, say I."



Accordingly, the others arose, and, coming forth from out the thicket,

they all turned their toes back again to Sherwood. After they had gone



some distance, Will Stutely, who headed the party, suddenly stopped.

"Hist!" quoth he, for his ears were as sharp as those of a five-year-old fox.



"Hark, lads! Methinks I hear a sound." At this all stopped and listened

with bated breath, albeit for a time they could hear nothing, their ears being



duller than Stutely's. At length they heard a faint and melancholy sound,

like someone in lamentation.



"Ha!" quoth Will Scarlet, "this must be looked into.

There is someone in distress nigh to us here."



"I know not," quoth Will Stutely, shaking his head doubtfully,

"our master is ever rash about thrusting his finger into a boiling pot;



but, for my part, I see no use in getting ourselves into mischievous coils.

Yon is a man's voice, if I mistake not, and a man should be always ready



to get himself out from his own pothers."

Then out spake Will Scarlet boldly. "Now out upon thee,



to talk in that manner, Stutely! Stay, if thou dost list.

I go to see what may be the trouble of this poor creature."



"Nay," quoth Stutely, "thou dost leap so quickly, thou'lt tumble into

the ditch. Who said I would not go? Come along, say I." Thus saying,



he led the way, the others following, till, after they had gone

a short distance, they came to a little opening in the woodland,



whence a brook, after gurgling out from under the tangle of

overhanging bushes, spread out into a broad and glassy-pebbled pool.



By the side of this pool, and beneath the branches of a willow, lay a

youth upon his face, weeping aloud, the sound of which had first caught



the quick ears of Stutely. His golden locks were tangled, his clothes

were all awry, and everything about him betokened sorrow and woe.



Over his head, from the branches of the osier, hung a beautiful harp

of polished wood inlaid with gold and silver in fantastic devices.



Beside him lay a stout ashen bow and half a score of fair, smooth arrows.

"Halloa!" shouted Will Stutely, when they had come out from the forest



into the little open spot. "Who art thou, fellow, that liest there

killing all the green grass with salt water?"



Hearing the voice, the stranger sprang to his feet and;

snatching up his bow and fitting a shaft, held himself in readiness



for whatever ill might befall him.

"Truly," said one of the yeomen, when they had seen the young



stranger's face, "I do know that lad right well. He is a certain

minstrel that I have seen hereabouts more than once. It was only



a week ago I saw him skipping across the hill like a yearling doe.

A fine sight he was then, with a flower at his ear and a cock's



plume stuck in his cap; but now, methinks, our cockerel is shorn

of his gay feathers."



"Pah!" cried Will Stutely, coming up to the stranger,

"wipe thine eyes, man! I do hate to see a tall, stout fellow



so sniveling like a girl of fourteen over a dead tomtit.

Put down thy bow, man! We mean thee no harm."



But Will Scarlet, seeing how the stranger, who had a young

and boyish look, was stung by the words that Stutely had spoken,



came to him and put his hand upon the youth's shoulder.

"Nay, thou art in trouble, poor boy!" said he kindly.



"Mind not what these fellows have said. They are rough, but they

mean thee well. Mayhap they do not understand a lad like thee.



Thou shalt come with us, and perchance we may find a certain one

that can aid thee in thy perplexities, whatsoever they may be."



"Yea, truly, come along," said Will Stutely gruffly.

"I meant thee no harm, and may mean thee some good.



Take down thy singing tool from off this fair tree,

and away with us."



The youth did as he was bidden and, with bowed head and sorrowful step,

accompanied the others, walking beside Will Scarlet. So they



wended their way through the forest. The bright light faded

from the sky and a glimmering gray fell over all things.



From the deeper recesses of the forest the strange whispering

sounds of night-time came to the ear; all else was silent,



saving only for the rattling of their footsteps amid the crisp,

dry leaves of the last winter. At last a ruddy glow shone



before them here and there through the trees; a little farther

and they came to the open glade, now bathed in the pale moonlight.






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