Читать книгу Robin Hood / Рассказы о Робин Гуде - Группа авторов - Страница 3

“Congratulations, Sir Robin,” said the Prince, trying to hide his anger. Sir Guy was his friend and had been hurt. He did not like this at all.

The Prince’s attention was drawn to a messenger who had come into the royal box.

“Sire,” said the man, “King Richard has been taken captive by King Leopold of Austria. I have been instructed to tell you that he will be released on the payment of a ransom of 30,000 gold marcs.”

“King Richard is a prisoner!” Prince John exclaimed.

He hastily called a meeting of the Norman knights and left the royal box with Lady Marian and his Norman friends.

Robin and Will Scarlet received the news with heavy hearts. They were sure that the Prince would not pay the ransom. If the Prince took charge of the affairs of the kingdom, the life of the Saxons would become very difficult indeed.

Robin was right. The Prince and the Normans went out of control. The Saxons were robbed and beaten up and their homes set on fire. Many were thrown into prison without trial. Robin, a Saxon himself, could not tolerate this. He was determined to help them.

One day, Sir Guy was riding through Sherwood Forest, when he saw a deer shot by an arrow. Sir Guy’s men caught the poacher, treated him roughly and dragged him before the knight.

“What is your name, you Saxon dog?” Sir Guy asked angrily. “Don’t you know that it’s death to kill the king’s deer?”

The man stammered, “My name is Much-the-miller’s son. I’d rather die than go hungry. All Saxons go hungry because of Prince John and his men.”

Sir Guy’s face became red with anger. He raised his sword to strike down the man. Suddenly a black arrow whizzed through the trees at great speed and flung the raised sword to the ground.

Sir Guy was stunned. Two men on horseback, one dressed in green and the other in red, rode towards him. Sir Guy recognised Sir Robin.

“What is the meaning of this?” he demanded.

“This man was only speaking the truth. Is that a crime these days? Are you going to kill him for that?”

“You know as well as anyone that it’s death to kill the king’s deer.”

Robin fixed an arrow to his bow and aimed it at Sir Guy’s heart.

“Is it death even if I present it at Prince John’s banquet table tonight?”

Sir Guy was too angry to reply and rode off with his men.

“Oh, thank you, Master,” said the poacher.

“My man, be more careful the next time.”

“Master, please let me stay with you. I know you are Sir Robin of Locksley.”

“But I don’t need you.”

The man refused to go. Robin finally agreed and along with Will, they rode off towards Nottingham Castle.