iccon's staff was over the hedge； and Riccon himself lay upon the green grass with no more motion than you could find in an empty pudding bag。
〃How now！〃 quoth merry Robin； laughing。 〃Wilt thou have my hide or my money； sweet chuck？〃 But to this the other answered never a word。 Then Robin； seeing his plight； and that he was stunned with the blow； ran； still laughing； and brought the skin of ale and poured some of it on the Beggar's head and some down his throat； so that presently he opened his eyes and looked around as though wondering why he lay upon his back。
Then Robin； seeing that he had somewhat gathered the wits that had just been rapped out of his head； said； 〃Now； good fellow； wilt thou change clothes with me； or shall I have to tap thee again？ Here are two golden angels if thou wilt give me freely all thy rags and bags and thy cap and things。 If thou givest them not freely； I much fear me I shall have to〃 and he looked up and down his staff。
Then Riccon sat up and rubbed the bump on his crown。 〃Now； out upon it！〃 quoth he。 〃I did think to drub thee sweetly； fellow。 I know not how it is； but I seem； as it were； to have bought more beer than I can drink。 If I must give up my clothes； I must； but first promise me； by thy word as a true yeoman； that thou wilt take nought from me but my clothes。〃
〃I promise on the word of a true yeoman；〃 quoth Robin； thinking that the fellow had a few pennies that he would save。
Thereupon the Beggar drew a little knife that hung at his side and； ripping up the lining of his coat； drew thence ten bright golden pounds； which he laid upon the ground beside him with a cunning wink at Robin。 〃Now thou mayst have my clothes and welcome；〃 said he； 〃and thou mightest have had them in exchange for thine without the cost of a single farthing； far less two golden angels。〃
〃Marry；〃 quoth Robin； laughing； 〃thou art a sly fellow； and I tell thee truly； had I known thou hadst so much money by thee maybe thou mightst not have carried it away； for I warrant thou didst not come honestly by it。〃
Then each stripped off his clothes and put on those of the other； and as lusty a beggar was Robin Hood as e'er you could find of a summer's day。 But stout Riccon of Holywell skipped and leaped and danced for joy of the fair suit of Lincoln green that he had so gotten。 Quoth he； 〃I am a gay…feathered bird now。 Truly； my dear Moll Peascod would never know me in this dress。 Thou mayst keep the cold pieces of the feast； friend； for I mean to live well and lustily while my money lasts and my clothes are gay。〃
So he turned and left Robin and； crossing the stile； was gone； but Robin heard him singing from beyond the hedge as he strode away：
〃_For Polly is smiling and Molly is glad When the beggar comes in at the door； And Jack and Dick call him a fine lusty lad； And the hostess runs up a great score。
Then hey； Willy Waddykin； Stay； Billy Waddykin； And let the brown ale flow free； flow free； The beggar's the man for me_。〃
Robin listened till the song ended in the distance； then he also crossed the stile into the road； but turned his toes away from where the Beggar had gone。 The road led up a gentle hill and up the hill Robin walked； a half score or more of bags dangling about his legs。 Onward he strolled for a long time； but other adventure he found not。 The road was bare of all else but himself； as he went kicking up little clouds of dust at each footstep； for it was noontide； the most peaceful time of all the day； next to twilight。 All the earth was silent in the restfulness of eating time； the plowhorses stood in the furrow munching； with great bags over their noses holding sweet food； the plowman sat under the hedge and the plowboy also； and they； too； were munching； each one holding a great piece of bread in one fist and a great piece of cheese in the other。
So Robin； with all the empty road to himself； strode along whistling merrily； his bags and pouches bobbing and dangling at his thighs。 At last he came to where a little grass…grown path left the road and； passing through a stile and down a hill； led into a little dell and on across a rill in the valley and up the hill on the other side； till it reached a windmill that stood on the cap of the rise where the wind bent the trees in swaying motion。 Robin looked at the spot and liked it； and； for no reason but that his fancy led him； he took the little path and walked down the grassy sunny slope of the open meadow； and so came to the little dingle and； ere he knew it； upon four lusty fellows that sat with legs outstretched around a goodly feast spread upon the ground。
Four merry beggars were they； and each had slung about his neck a little board that rested upon his breast。 One board had written upon it； 〃I am blind；〃 another； 〃I am deaf；〃 another； 〃I am dumb；〃 and the fourth； 〃Pity the lame one。〃 But although all these troubles written upon the boards seemed so grievous； the four stout fellows sat around feasting as merrily as though Cain's wife had never opened the pottle that held misfortunes and let them forth like a cloud of flies to pester us。
The deaf man was the first to hear Robin； for he said； 〃Hark； brothers； I hear someone coming。〃 And the blind man was the first to see him； for he said； 〃He is an honest man； brothers； and one of like craft to ourselves。〃 Then the dumb man called to him in a great voice and said； 〃Welcome； brother； come and sit while there is still some of the feast left and a little Malmsey in the pottle。〃 At this； the lame man； who had taken off his wooden leg and unstrapped his own leg； and was sitting with it stretched out upon the grass so as to rest it； made room for Robin among them。 〃We are glad to see thee； brother；〃 said he； holding out the flask of Malmsey。
〃Marry；〃 quoth Robin； laughing； and weighing the flask in his hands ere he drank； 〃methinks it is no more than seemly of you all to be glad to see me； seeing that I bring sight to the blind； speech to the dumb； hearing to the deaf； and such a lusty leg to a lame man。 I drink to your happiness； brothers； as I may not drink to your health； seeing ye are already hale； wind and limb。〃
At this all grinned； and the Blind beggar； who was the chief man among them； and was the broadest shouldered and most lusty rascal of all； smote Robin upon the shoulder； swearing he was a right merry wag。
〃Whence comest thou； lad？〃 asked the Dumb man。
〃Why；〃 quoth Robin； 〃I came this morning from sleeping overnight in Sherwood。〃
〃Is it even so？〃 said the Deaf man。 〃I would not for all the money we four are carrying to Lincoln Town sleep one night in Sherwood。 If Robin Hood caught one of our trade in his woodlands he would； methinks； clip his ears。〃
〃Methinks he would； too；〃 quoth Robin； laughing。 〃But what money is this that ye speak of？〃
Then up spake the Lame man。 〃Our king； Peter of York；〃 said he； 〃hath sent us to Lincoln with those moneys that〃
〃Stay； brother Hodge；〃 quoth the Blind man； breaking into the talk； 〃I would not doubt our brother here； but bear in mind we know him not。 What art thou； brother？ Upright…man； Jurkman； Clapper…dudgeon； Dommerer； or Abraham…man？〃
At these words Robin looked from one man to the other with mouth agape。 〃Truly；〃 quoth he； 〃I trust I am an upright man； at least； I strive to be； but I know not what thou meanest by such jargon； brother。 It were much more seemly； methinks； if yon Dumb man； who hath a sweet voice； would give us a song。〃
At these words a silence fell on all； and after a while the Blind man spoke again。 Quoth he； 〃Thou dost surely jest when thou sayest that thou dost not understand such words。 Answer me this： Hast thou ever fibbed a chouse quarrons in the Rome pad for the loure in his bung？〃＇4＇
＇4＇ I。E。； in old beggar's cant； 〃beaten a man or gallant upon the highway for the money in his purse。〃 Dakkar's ENGLISH VILLAINIES。
〃Now out upon it；〃 quoth Robin Hood testily； 〃an ye make sport of me by pattering such gibberish； it will be ill for you all； I tell you。 I have the best part of a mind to crack the heads of all four of you； and would do so； too； but for the sweet Malmsey ye have given me。 Brother； pass the pottle lest it grow cold。〃
But all the four beggars leaped to their feet when Robin had done speaking； and the Blind man snatched up a heavy knotted cudgel that lay beside him on the grass； as did the others likewise。 Then Robin； seeing that things were like to go ill with him； albeit he knew not what all the coil was about； leaped to his feet also and； catching up his trusty staff； clapped his back against the tree and stood upon his guard against them。 〃How； now！〃 cried he； twirling his staff betwixt his fingers； 〃would you four stout fellows set upon one man？ Stand back； ye rascals； or I will score your pates till they have as many marks upon them as a pothouse door！ Are ye mad？ I have done you no harm。〃
〃Thou liest！〃 quoth the one who pretended to be blind and who； being the lustiest villain； was the leader of the others； 〃thou liest！ For thou hast come among us as a vile spy。 But thine ears have heard too much for thy body's good； and thou goest not forth from this place unless thou goest feet foremost； for this day thou shalt die！ Come； brothers； all together！ Down with him！〃 Then； whirling up his cudgel； he rushed upon Robin as an angry bull rushes upon a red rag。 But Robin was ready for any happening。 〃Crick！ Crack！〃 he struck two blows as quick as a wink； and down went the Blind man； rolling over and over upon the grass。
At this the others bore back and stood at a little distance scowling upon Robin。 〃Come on； ye scum！〃 cried he merrily。 〃Here be cakes and ale for all。 Now； who will be next served？〃
To this speech the beggars answered never a word； but they looked at Robin as great Blunderbore looked upon stout Jack the slayer of giants； as though they would fain eat him； body and bones； nevertheless； they did not care to come nigher to him and his terrible staff。 Then； seeing them so hesitate； Robin of a sudden leaped upon them； striking even as he leaped。 Down went the Dumb man； and away flew his cudgel from his hand as he fell。 At this the others ducked to avoid another blow； then； taking to their