and on the other to Gainsborough。 Here the yeomen stopped。
Quoth jolly Robin； 〃Take thou the road to Gainsborough； and I will take
that to Blyth。 So； fare thee well； holy father； and mayst thou not ha'
cause to count thy beads in earnest ere we meet again。〃
〃Good den； good beggar that is to be；〃 quoth Little John； 〃and mayst thou
have no cause to beg for mercy ere I see thee next。〃
So each stepped sturdily upon his way until a green hill rose between them；
and the one was hid from the sight of the other。
Little John walked along； whistling； for no one was nigh upon all the road。
In the budding hedges the little birds twittered merrily； and on either
hand the green hills swept up to the sky； the great white clouds
of springtime sailing slowly over their crowns in lazy flight。
Up hill and down dale walked Little John； the fresh wind blowing in his face
and his robes fluttering behind him； and so at last he came to a crossroad
that led to Tuxford。 Here he met three pretty lasses； each bearing
a basket of eggs to market。 Quoth he； 〃Whither away； fair maids？〃
And he stood in their path； holding his staff in front of them；
to stop them。
Then they huddled together and nudged one another； and one presently
spake up and said； 〃We are going to the Tuxford market； holy friar；
to sell our eggs。〃
〃Now out upon it！〃 quoth Little John； looking upon them
with his head on one side。 〃Surely； it is a pity that such
fair lasses should be forced to carry eggs to market。
Let me tell you； an I had the shaping of things in this world；
ye should all three have been clothed in the finest silks；
and ride upon milk…white horses； with pages at your side；
and feed upon nothing but whipped cream and strawberries；
for such a life would surely befit your looks。〃
At this speech all three of the pretty maids looked down；
blushing and simpering。 One said； 〃La！〃 another； 〃Marry； a'
maketh sport of us！〃 and the third； 〃Listen； now； to the holy man！〃
But at the same time they looked at Little John from out the corners
of their eyes。
〃Now； look you；〃 said Little John； 〃I cannot see such dainty
damsels as ye are carrying baskets along a highroad。
Let me take them mine own self； and one of you； if ye will；
may carry my staff for me。〃
〃Nay；〃 said one of the lasses； 〃but thou canst not carry three baskets
all at one time。〃
〃Yea； but I can；〃 said Little John； 〃and that I will show you presently。
I thank the good Saint Wilfred that he hath given me a pretty wit。
Look ye； now。 Here I take this great basket； so； here I tie
my rosary around the handle； thus； and here I slip the rosary
over my head and sling the basket upon my back； in this wise。〃
And Little John did according to his words； the basket hanging
down behind him like a peddler's pack； then； giving his staff
to one of the maids； and taking a basket upon either arm； he turned
his face toward Tuxford Town and stepped forth merrily； a laughing
maid on either side； and one walking ahead； carrying the staff。
In this wise they journeyed along； and everyone they met stopped and looked
after them； laughing； for never had anybody seen such a merry sight
as this tall； strapping Gray Friar； with robes all too short for him；
laden with eggs； and tramping the road with three pretty lasses。
For this Little John cared not a whit； but when such folks gave
jesting words to him he answered back as merrily； speech for speech。
So they stepped along toward Tuxford； chatting and laughing；
until they came nigh to the town。 Here Little John stopped
and set down the baskets； for he did not care to go into the town
lest he should； perchance； meet some of the Sheriff's men。
〃Alas！ sweet chucks；〃 quoth he； 〃here I must leave you。
I had not thought to come this way； but I am glad that I did so。
Now； ere we part； we must drink sweet friendship。〃 So saying；
he unslung the leathern pottle from the end of his staff； and；
drawing the stopper therefrom； he handed it to the lass who had carried
his staff； first wiping the mouth of the pottle upon his sleeve。
Then each lass took a fair drink of what was within； and when it
had passed all around； Little John finished what was left； so that
not another drop could be squeezed from it。 Then； kissing each
lass sweetly； he wished them all good den； and left them。
But the maids stood looking after him as he walked away whistling。
〃What a pity；〃 quoth one； 〃that such a stout； lusty lad should
be in holy orders。〃
〃Marry；〃 quoth Little John to himself； as he strode along；
〃yon was no such ill happening； Saint Dunstan send me more
of the like。〃
After he had trudged along for a time he began to wax thirsty
again in the warmth of the day。 He shook his leathern pottle
beside his ear； but not a sound came therefrom。 Then he placed it
to his lips and tilted it high aloft； but not a drop was there。
〃Little John！ Little John！〃 said he sadly to himself；
shaking his head the while； 〃woman will be thy ruin yet；
if thou dost not take better care of thyself。〃
But at last he reached the crest of a certain hill； and saw below
a sweet little thatched inn lying snugly in the dale beneath him；
toward which the road dipped sharply。 At the sight of this； a voice
within him cried aloud； 〃I give thee joy； good friend； for yonder is
thy heart's delight； to wit； a sweet rest and a cup of brown beer。〃
So he quickened his pace down the hill and so came to the little inn；
from which hung a sign with a stag's head painted upon it。
In front of the door a clucking hen was scratching in the dust
with a brood of chickens about her heels； the sparrows were
chattering of household affairs under the eaves； and all was so
sweet and peaceful that Little John's heart laughed within him。
Beside the door stood two stout cobs with broad soft…padded saddles；
well fitted for easy traveling； and speaking of rich guests in the parlor。
In front of the door three merry fellows； a tinker； a peddler；
and a beggar； were seated on a bench in the sun quaffing stout ale。
〃I give you good den； sweet friends；〃 quoth Little John；
striding up to where they sat。
〃Give thee good den； holy father；〃 quoth the merry Beggar with a grin。
〃But look thee； thy gown is too short。 Thou hadst best cut a piece
off the top and tack it to the bottom； so that it may be long enough。
But come； sit beside us here and take a taste of ale； if thy vows
forbid thee not。〃
〃Nay；〃 quoth Little John； also grinning； 〃the blessed Saint Dunstan
hath given me a free dispensation for all indulgence in that line。〃
And he thrust his hand into his pouch for money to pay his score。
〃Truly；〃 quoth the Tinker； 〃without thy looks belie thee； holy friar；
the good Saint Dunstan was wise； for without such dispensation
his votary is like to ha' many a penance to make。 Nay； take thy
hand from out thy pouch； brother； for thou shalt not pay this shot。
Ho； landlord； a pot of ale！〃
So the ale was brought and given to Little John。 Then； blowing the
froth a little way to make room for his lips； he tilted the bottom
of the pot higher and higher； till it pointed to the sky； and he had
to shut his eyes to keep the dazzle of the sunshine out of them。
Then he took the pot away； for there was nothing in it； and heaved
a full deep sigh； looking at the others with moist eyes and shaking
his head solemnly。
〃Ho； landlord！〃 cried the Peddler； 〃bring this good fellow another pot of ale；
for truly it is a credit to us all to have one among us who can empty
a canakin so lustily。〃
So they talked among themselves merrily； until after a while quoth
Little John； 〃Who rideth those two nags yonder？〃
〃Two holy men like thee； brother；〃 quoth the Beggar。 〃They are now having
a goodly feast within； for I smelled the steam of a boiled pullet just now。
The landlady sayeth they come from Fountain Abbey； in Yorkshire； and go
to Lincoln on matters of business。〃
〃They are a merry couple；〃 said the Tinker； 〃for one is as lean as an old
wife's spindle； and the other as fat as a suet pudding。〃
〃Talking of fatness；〃 said the Peddler； 〃thou thyself lookest
none too ill…fed； holy friar。〃
〃Nay； truly；〃 said Little John； 〃thou seest in me what the holy Saint Dunstan
can do for them that serve him upon a handful of parched peas and a trickle
of cold water。〃
At this a great shout of laughter went up。 〃Truly； it is a
wondrous thing；〃 quoth the Beggar； 〃I would have made my vow； to see
the masterly manner in which thou didst tuck away yon pot of ale；
that thou hadst not tasted clear water for a brace of months。
Has not this same holy Saint Dunstan taught thee a goodly
song or two？〃
〃Why； as for that；〃 quoth Little John； grinning； 〃mayhap he hath lent
me aid to learn a ditty or so。〃
〃Then； prythee； let us hear how he hath taught thee；〃
quoth the Tinker。
At this Little John cleared his throat and； after a word or two
about a certain hoarseness that troubled him； sang thus：
〃_Ah； pretty； pretty maid； whither dost thou go？
I prythee； prythee； wait for thy lover also；
And we'll gather the rose
As it sweetly blows；
For the merry； merry winds are blo…o…o…wing_。〃
Now it seemed as though Little John's songs were never to get sung；
for he had got no farther than this when the door of the inn opened
and out came the two brothers of Fountain Abbey； the landlord
following them； and； as the saying is； washing his hands with humble soap。
But when the brothers of Fountain Abbey saw who it was that sang；
and how he was clad in the robes of a Gray Friar； they stopped suddenly；
the fat little Brother drawing his heavy eyebrows together in a mighty frown；
and the thin Brother twisting up his face as though he had sour beer
in his mouth。 Then； as Little John gathered his breath for a new verse；
〃How； now；〃 roared forth the fat Brother； his voice coming from him
like loud thunder from a little cloud； 〃thou naughty fellow； is this
a fit place for one in thy garb to tipple and sing profane songs？〃
〃Nay；〃 quoth Little John； 〃sin' I cannot tipple and sing；
like Your Worship's reverence； in such a goodly place as
Fountain Abbey； I must e'en tipple and sing where I can。〃
〃Now； out upon thee；〃 cried the tall lean Brother in a harsh voice