Part 1.
Robin Hood Matches Wits with the Sheriff of Nottingham Chapter 1.
Robin Hood Meets His Right-Hand Man One morning, Robin Hood awoke restless.
He ran down to the brook where his men were washing.
"'We have had no adventures for two whole weeks,' he said.
"'I'm going into the forest to see what fun I can find.'
If I need you, I will blow my bugle three times.
When you hear that sound, run to it as fast as you can.
As Robin set out on his adventure, the birds sang in the trees.
He passed storekeepers on their way to Nottingham Town.
Meeting a pair of pretty girls, he stopped to chat with them.
He continued on his way and saw a knight in shining armor. the path ended at the edge of a river.
A narrow footbridge, just wide enough for a single man, crossed the stream.
As Robin stepped onto the bridge, he saw a tall stranger on the other side.
"'Step aside and let me pass,' called Robin Hood.
"'No,' boomed the stranger.
"'Step aside and let me pass, for I am the better man.'
We shall see about that, Robin shouted.
Keep standing where you are and you'll soon find an arrow sticking through your ribs.
The stranger shouted back, I will tan your hide if you so much as touch the string of that bow.
You bray like a donkey laughed Robin, but I can shoot an arrow clean through you faster than you can raise your staff.
You bray like a coward, the stranger retorted.
You stand there with a good bow while I have nothing but a wooden staff.
I have never been called a coward before, Robin said.
I'll cut myself a staff and we'll see who the better man is.
Oh-ho, the stranger replied.
I will happily wait for you.
He leaned on his staff, whistling as Robin walked into the forest.
Robin cut a strong oak staff, straight and flawless.
As he stripped away the stems and leaves, Robin studied his opponent, who stood a full head taller, at least seven feet.
Robin's shoulders were broad, but the stranger's were at least two palm-breadths broader.
Still, Robin was sure he would win.
I have my staff, strong and tough, he shouted.
If you dare, meet me in the middle of the bridge.
The first one to fall in the brook loses.
The stranger twirled his staff above his head so quickly that it whistled in the air.
I can't wait.
Robin stepped quickly onto the bridge and charged at his opponent.
He faked a strike at the stranger's body, then aimed a blow at his head.
It surely would have tumbled the tall stranger into the water, but he blocked it.
The stranger struck back, and Robin blocked that blow.
At the end of an hour, each man was bruised and sore.
Finally, Robin struck the stranger hard in the ribs.
The stranger teetered for a second.
Then he caught his balance and swung his staff hard at Robin's head.
The blow made Robin's ears ring.
He grew angry and attacked the stranger, but the stranger blocked and hit Robin again.
Robin splashed into the water.
As Robin spluttered, the stranger laughed.
Robin began laughing, too.
There's not a man in all of England who can fight like that.
The stranger said, There's not a man in all of England who can take a beating like you did.
Robin shook the water from his horn and blew three times.
In a few moments, he and the stranger heard the sound of men crashing through the woods.
Will Stootley arrived first.
Good master, you're wet from head to toe.
That big fellow there, Robin said, he gave me a beating and dunked me in the water.
Then he'll get beaten and ducked himself, said Will.
Get him, boys.
Twenty men leaped at the tall stranger.
Oh, no, stop.
He's a good, honest man, Robin shouted.
Good fellow, will you join my band of men?
Each year you will earn forty pounds, plus three suits of Lincoln green.
The stranger scratched his head.
I will join you only if you can shoot an arrow better than you can fight with a staff.
Robin told Will to cut a strip of white bark four inches wide and set it on a distant oak tree.
Hit that mark if you call yourself an archer.
The stranger took up a bow.
If I miss, you can beat me black and blue with a bowstring.
The stranger shot.
His arrow flew so straight that it struck the target in the center.
There, said the stranger.
See if you can do better than that.
Robin raised his bow.
We shall see if I do better, he said.
He let the arrow fly.
It zipped straight through the air and split the stranger's arrow to splinters.
I've never seen a shot like that in my whole life, the stranger exclaimed in wonder.
Then my band has a new member today, said Robin.
What is your name?
The stranger said.
Men call me John Little.
Will looked up at the giant man.
John Little, he laughed.
I think we shall call you Little John.
Robin kept Little John at his right hand because he had never met a stronger, braver man.
