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8 my bow and arrows, and take a stout staff to prove thy manhood.' The stranger accepted the challenge, and the sport was quickly begun. At first Robin gave the man such a stroke that it made his sides ring; the other said, 'I must pay you for this, friend, and give you as good as you send, for as long as I am able to handle a staff, I scorn to die in your debt.' He then gave Robin so hearty a knock on the crown, that the blood ran trickling down to his ears. Robin now engaged more fiercely, and laid on his blows so thick and fast, that he made his adversary's coat smoke as if it had been on fire; but the stranger waxing most furious and strong, at length gave Robin such a terrible side-blow, that it quite beat him down, and tumbled him into the brook. Then in laughter he called out to his fallen foe, 'Prithee, where art thou now, my good fellow?' 'Why, faith,' said Robin, 'I swim with the tide, as every man should do.' He now swam along to the bank, and pulled himself out by a thorn, and then said to the conqueror, 'Thou art a brave soul, I will contend no longer with thee.'

He then took up his horn and blew such a blast with it as made the hills echo all around. Presently they saw coming hastily down the hill side, a band of brave archers,