Page:Famous exploits of Robin Hood, Little John, and his merry men all.pdf/5

Rh the young victor with joy. 'The prize is mine,' said Robin Hood, 'I claim it—the wager too is mine, give it me.' 'The prize is none of thine,' said the fifteen foresters, 'and the wager shall be none of thine. Take up thy bow, insolent boy, and begone, or we will break thy bones.' Robin Hood, full of rage, cried out, 'You said I was no archer, but you have found me one, and you now deny me my reward.'

He then took up his bow and departed, but having learnt which way the foresters must take at their return home, he repaired to the place where he had left his merry men, and, consulting together, they resolved to lie in ambush in the road. After awhile they saw the foresters approaching, shouting and singing, because they had brought off the king's prize; but when Robin Hood and his men presented themselves in battle array, their mirth was quickly changed into terror and amazement. At first they made a show of resistance, but finding the number of their adversaries to be more than treble their own, they threw down their arms and begged for mercy. 'You said I was no archer,' cried Robin Hood: 'now say so again, and let him that chooses it fly for his life, and see if my arrows can overtake him,' 'We beg for mercy,' cried the foresters, 'lo! here is the prize that you won, and the wager of twenty