Читать книгу Famous Legends Adapted for Children - Emeline G. Crommelin - Страница 13

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Robin Hood stayed at the castle until King Richard died. Then he and the faithful followers who had remained with him went back to the forest. They were glad to return to the freedom and the sports of the outdoor life, for which they had longed ever since they went with the king to his castle.

During the years that followed, Robin lost many of his men, which grieved him greatly. But a greater sorrow than all came when Marian was taken away. Just before she died, she reminded Robin, who stood beside her, of the happy days they had spent together in the forest.

Robin was never quite the same after Marian and some of his comrades had left him.

But when the new king offered a reward for his capture, he played some of his old tricks, and ruled in his forest home as long as he lived.

One day, poor Robin was wounded sorely in a fight. As he fled with all the strength he had left, he said to Little John, his faithful companion:

“I can shoot no more, for the arrows will not fly. I am wounded. I will go to my cousin, the abbess, who lives near, and she may make me well again.”

Robin reached Kirkley Hall, where his cousin dwelt. When he knew he could not live long with his failing strength, he blew three blasts on his horn. Little John, who sat under a tree near by in the greenwood, heard the feeble sound, and said:

“Robin must be dying, for his blast is very weak.”

When Little John reached him, Robin asked for his bow and arrows. Then, fitting an arrow into the bow carefully but slowly, he shot it from the window of Kirkley Hall, and said piteously:

“Bury me where the arrow falls, and place my bow at my side.”

Little John did as his master wished, and Robin Hood was buried under the yew-tree, just where the arrow had fallen.