The Chronicles of Robin Hood by Rosemary Sutcliff

Author:Rosemary Sutcliff [Sutcliff, Rosemary]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781448172986
Publisher: RHCP
Published: 1950-11-14T14:00:00+00:00

9

The Rescue of Sir Richard

ON THE MORNING after the shooting for the Silver Arrow, Little John was flushed and restless, and when Robin examined his wound it was red and angry.

They were in the great hall of the castle, where, after the custom of those days, everybody but the Lord and Lady of the house had spent the night wrapped in coarse rugs and coverlids upon the deeply rush-strewn floor, with the dogs curled up among them.

Preparations for the morning meal were going on, but save for the hurrying servants, who were setting out horn beakers and platters of crusty bread upon the long tables, there were few people about; for the men-at-arms had scattered to their various tasks and duties, and most of the outlaws had gone with them, preferring to be out-of-doors on such a beautiful morning.

‘An ugly wound, lad,’ said Robin, frowning. ‘And it must be sorely painful.’

‘Aye, it’s a bit sharp,’ agreed Little John, catching his breath as Robin dipped a wad of linen into the bowl of water beside him, and began to clean the wound.

Sir Richard had come quietly into the hall, and halted beside the wounded man. ‘Here’s an end to your fine plan of leaving my roof this day—or for several days to come,’ he said quietly.

Robin looked up, blinking as the sunlight, slanting down through a nearby lancet window, shone into his eyes and dazzled him. ‘No, my friend, the lad will do well enough in our own stronghold.’

‘And how will you get him there?’

‘Why,’ said Robin, smiling, ‘Little John is a trifle large and heavy, to be sure, but he is not so heavy that four of us cannot carry him on a litter.’

And in a litter of freshly cut green branches, with Scarlet and Brand, Gilbert and Robin Hood for his litter-bearers, Little John was presently carried forth from the castle of Linden Lea. Sir Richard and his lady had done their best to prevail upon Robin to stay with them at least until Little John’s fever was passed; but the outlaw leader was resolved to rid the castle of his dangerous presence as soon as might be, and he remained firm in his resolve.

The sun was rising high above the ramparts when the outlaw band, with Little John lying very flat and long on his litter, went down through the rose-garden of the castle to the narrow track which led towards the nearest arm of the forest.

As they crossed the open country between castle and woodshore, they kept a keen look-out for any sign of the sheriff’s men, but not a human creature did they see, save a whistling villein driving a heavy plough behind a team of eight oxen, who turned to gape and grin at them as they passed; and soon the shelter of the forest was gained, and the tree-boles rose all around them. Deeper and deeper they struck into the heart of Clumber Forest, travelling at a steady wolf-lope, and stopping every now and

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