thyself。〃
But at last he reached the crest of a certain hill； and saw below a sweet little thatched inn lying snugly in the dale beneath him； toward which the road dipped sharply。 At the sight of this； a voice within him cried aloud； 〃I give thee joy； good friend； for yonder is thy heart's delight； to wit； a sweet rest and a cup of brown beer。〃 So he quickened his pace down the hill and so came to the little inn； from which hung a sign with a stag's head painted upon it。 In front of the door a clucking hen was scratching in the dust with a brood of chickens about her heels； the sparrows were chattering of household affairs under the eaves； and all was so sweet and peaceful that Little John's heart laughed within him。 Beside the door stood two stout cobs with broad soft…padded saddles； well fitted for easy traveling； and speaking of rich guests in the parlor。 In front of the door three merry fellows； a tinker； a peddler； and a beggar； were seated on a bench in the sun quaffing stout ale。
〃I give you good den； sweet friends；〃 quoth Little John； striding up to where they sat。
〃Give thee good den； holy father；〃 quoth the merry Beggar with a grin。 〃But look thee； thy gown is too short。 Thou hadst best cut a piece off the top and tack it to the bottom； so that it may be long enough。 But come； sit beside us here and take a taste of ale； if thy vows forbid thee not。〃
〃Nay；〃 quoth Little John； also grinning； 〃the blessed Saint Dunstan hath given me a free dispensation for all indulgence in that line。〃 And he thrust his hand into his pouch for money to pay his score。
〃Truly；〃 quoth the Tinker； 〃without thy looks belie thee； holy friar； the good Saint Dunstan was wise； for without such dispensation his votary is like to ha' many a penance to make。 Nay； take thy hand from out thy pouch； brother； for thou shalt not pay this shot。 Ho； landlord； a pot of ale！〃
So the ale was brought and given to Little John。 Then； blowing the froth a little way to make room for his lips； he tilted the bottom of the pot higher and higher； till it pointed to the sky； and he had to shut his eyes to keep the dazzle of the sunshine out of them。 Then he took the pot away； for there was nothing in it； and heaved a full deep sigh； looking at the others with moist eyes and shaking his head solemnly。
〃Ho； landlord！〃 cried the Peddler； 〃bring this good fellow another pot of ale； for truly it is a credit to us all to have one among us who can empty a canakin so lustily。〃
So they talked among themselves merrily； until after a while quoth Little John； 〃Who rideth those two nags yonder？〃
〃Two holy men like thee； brother；〃 quoth the Beggar。 〃They are now having a goodly feast within； for I smelled the steam of a boiled pullet just now。 The landlady sayeth they come from Fountain Abbey； in Yorkshire； and go to Lincoln on matters of business。〃
〃They are a merry couple；〃 said the Tinker； 〃for one is as lean as an old wife's spindle； and the other as fat as a suet pudding。〃
〃Talking of fatness；〃 said the Peddler； 〃thou thyself lookest none too ill…fed； holy friar。〃
〃Nay； truly；〃 said Little John； 〃thou seest in me what the holy Saint Dunstan can do for them that serve him upon a handful of parched peas and a trickle of cold water。〃
At this a great shout of laughter went up。 〃Truly； it is a wondrous thing；〃 quoth the Beggar； 〃I would have made my vow； to see the masterly manner in which thou didst tuck away yon pot of ale； that thou hadst not tasted clear water for a brace of months。 Has not this same holy Saint Dunstan taught thee a goodly song or two？〃
〃Why； as for that；〃 quoth Little John； grinning； 〃mayhap he hath lent me aid to learn a ditty or so。〃
〃Then； prythee； let us hear how he hath taught thee；〃 quoth the Tinker。
At this Little John cleared his throat and； after a word or two about a certain hoarseness that troubled him； sang thus：
〃_Ah； pretty； pretty maid； whither dost thou go？ I prythee； prythee； wait for thy lover also； And we'll gather the rose As it sweetly blows； For the merry； merry winds are blo…o…o…wing_。〃
Now it seemed as though Little John's songs were never to get sung； for he had got no farther than this when the door of the inn opened and out came the two brothers of Fountain Abbey； the landlord following them； and； as the saying is； washing his hands with humble soap。 But when the brothers of Fountain Abbey saw who it was that sang； and how he was clad in the robes of a Gray Friar； they stopped suddenly； the fat little Brother drawing his heavy eyebrows together in a mighty frown； and the thin Brother twisting up his face as though he had sour beer in his mouth。 Then； as Little John gathered his breath for a new verse； 〃How； now；〃 roared forth the fat Brother； his voice coming from him like loud thunder from a little cloud； 〃thou naughty fellow； is this a fit place for one in thy garb to tipple and sing profane songs？〃
〃Nay；〃 quoth Little John； 〃sin' I cannot tipple and sing； like Your Worship's reverence； in such a goodly place as Fountain Abbey； I must e'en tipple and sing where I can。〃
〃Now； out upon thee；〃 cried the tall lean Brother in a harsh voice； 〃now； out upon thee； that thou shouldst so disgrace thy cloth by this talk and bearing。〃
〃Marry； come up！〃 quoth Little John。 〃Disgrace； sayest thou？ Methinks it is more disgrace for one of our garb to wring hard…earned farthings out of the gripe of poor lean peasants。 It is not so； brother？〃
At this the Tinker and the Peddler and the Beggar nudged one another； and all grinned； and the friars scowled blackly at Little John； but they could think of nothing further to say； so they turned to their horses。 Then Little John arose of a sudden from the bench where he sat； and ran to where the brothers of Fountain Abbey were mounting。 Quoth he； 〃Let me hold your horses' bridles for you。 Truly； your words have smitten my sinful heart； so that I will abide no longer in this den of evil； but will go forward with you。 No vile temptation； I wot； will fall upon me in such holy company。〃
〃Nay； fellow；〃 said the lean Brother harshly； for he saw that Little John made sport of them； 〃we want none of thy company； so get thee gone。〃
〃Alas；〃 quoth Little John； 〃I am truly sorry that ye like me not nor my company； but as for leaving you； it may not be； for my heart is so moved； that； willy…nilly； I must go with you for the sake of your holy company。〃
Now； at this talk all the good fellows on the bench grinned till their teeth glistened； and even the landlord could not forbear to smile。 As for the friars； they looked at one another with a puzzled look； and knew not what to do in the matter。 They were so proud that it made them feel sick with shame to think of riding along the highroad with a strolling friar； in robes all too short for him； running beside them； but yet they could not make Little John stay against his will； for they knew he could crack the bones of both of them in a twinkling were he so minded。 Then up spake the fat Brother more mildly than he had done before。 〃Nay； good brother；〃 said he； 〃we will ride fast； and thou wilt tire to death at the pace。〃
〃Truly； I am grateful to thee for the thought of me；〃 quoth Little John； 〃but have no fear； brother； my limbs are stout； and I could run like a hare from here to Gainsborough。〃
At these words a sound of laughing came from the bench； whereat the lean Brother's wrath boiled over； like water into the fire； with great fuss and noise。 〃Now； out upon thee； thou naughty fellow！〃 he cried。 〃Art thou not ashamed to bring disgrace so upon our cloth？ Bide thee here； thou sot； with these porkers。 Thou art no fit company for us。〃
〃La； ye there now！〃 quoth Little John。 〃Thou hearest； landlord； thou art not fit company for these holy men； go back to thine alehouse。 Nay； if these most holy brothers of mine do but give me the word； I'll beat thy head with this stout staff till it is as soft as whipped eggs。〃
At these words a great shout of laughter went up from those on the bench； and the landlord's face grew red as a cherry from smothering his laugh in his stomach； but he kept his merriment down； for he wished not to bring the ill…will of the brothers of Fountain Abbey upon him by unseemly mirth。 So the two brethren； as they could do nought else； having mounted their nags； turned their noses toward Lincoln and rode away。
〃I cannot stay longer； sweet friends；〃 quoth Little John； as he pushed in betwixt the two cobs； 〃therefore I wish you good den。 Off we go； we three。〃 So saying； he swung his stout staff over his shoulder and trudged off； measuring his pace with that of the two nags。
The two brothers glowered at Little John when he so pushed himself betwixt them； then they drew as far away from him as they could； so that the yeoman walked in the middle of the road； while they rode on the footpath on either side of the way。 As they so went away； the Tinker； the Peddler； and the Beggar ran skipping out into the middle of the highway； each with a pot in his hand； and looked after them laughing。
While they were in sight of those at the inn； the brothers walked their horses soberly； not caring to make ill matters worse by seeming to run away from Little John； for they could not but think how it would sound in folks' ears when they heard how the brethren of Fountain Abbey scampered away from a strolling friar； like the Ugly One； when the blessed Saint Dunstan loosed his nose from the red…hot tongs where he had held it fast； but when they had crossed the crest of the hill and the inn was lost to sight； quoth the fat Brother to the thin Brother； 〃Brother Ambrose； had we not better mend our pace？〃
〃Why truly； gossip；〃 spoke up Little John； 〃methinks it would be well to boil our pot a little faster； for the day is passing on。 So it will not jolt thy fat too much； onward； say I。〃
At this the two friars said nothing； but they glared again on Little John with baleful looks； then； without another word； they clucked to their horses； and both broke into a canter。 So they galloped for a mile and more； and Little John ran betwixt them as lightly as a stag and never turned a hair with the running。 At last the fat Brother drew his horse's rein with a groan； for he could stand the sha