In many ways life in the forest was dull in the winter, and often the
days passed slowly; but in summer, when the leaves grew green, and
flowers and ferns covered all the woodland, Robin Hood and his men
would come out of their warm resting places, like the rabbits and the
squirrels, and would play too. Races they ran, to stretch their legs,
or leaping matches were arranged, or they would shoot at a mark.
Anything was pleasant, when the grass was soft once more under their
feet.
* * * * *
'Who can kill a hart of grace five hundred paces off?'
So said Robin to his men in the bright May time; and they went into
the wood and tried their skill, and in the end it was Little John who
brought down the 'hart of grace,' to the great joy of Robin Hood. 'I
would ride my horse a hundred miles to find one who could match with
thee,' he said to Little John, and Will Scarlett, who was perhaps
rather jealous of this mighty deed, answered with a laugh, 'There
lives a friar in Fountains Abbey who would beat both him and you.'
Now Robin Hood did not like to be told that any man could shoot better
than himself or his foresters, so he swore lustily that he would
neither eat nor drink till he had seen that friar. Leaving his men
where they were, he put on a coat of mail and a steel cap, took his
shield and sword, slung his bow over his shoulder, and filled his
quiver with arrows. Thus armed, he set forth to Fountains Dale.
By the side of the river a friar was walking, armed like Robin, but
without a bow. At this sight Robin jumped from his horse, which he
tied to a thorn, and called to the friar to carry him over the water
or it would cost him his life.
The friar said nothing, but hoisted Robin on his broad back and
marched into the river. Not a word was spoken till they reached the
other side, when Robin leaped lightly down, and was going on his way
when the friar stopped him. 'Not so fast, my fine fellow,' said he.
'It is my turn now, and you shall take me across the river, or woe
will betide you.' So Robin carried him, and when they had reached the
side from which they had started he set down the friar and jumped for
the second time on his back, and bade him take him whence he had come.
The friar strode into the stream with his burden, but as soon as they
got to the middle he bent his head and Robin fell into the water. 'Now
you can sink or swim as you like,' said the friar, as he stood and
laughed.
Robin Hood swam to a bush of golden broom, and pulled himself out of
the water, and while the friar was scrambling out Robin fitted an
arrow to his bow and let fly at him. But the friar quickly held up his
shield, and the arrow fell harmless.
'Shoot on, my fine fellow, shoot on all day if you like,' shouted the
friar, and Robin shot till his arrows were gone, but always missed his
mark. Then they took their swords, and at four of the afternoon they
were still fighting.
By this time Robin's strength was wearing, and he felt he could not
fight much more. 'A boon, a boon!' cried he. 'Let me but blow three
blasts on my horn, and I will thank you on my bended knees for it.'
The friar told him to blow as many blasts as he liked, and in an
instant the forest echoed with his horn; it was but a few minutes
before 'half a hundred yeomen were racing over the lea.' The friar
stared when he saw them; then, turning to Robin, he begged of him a
boon also, and leave being granted he gave three whistles, which were
followed by the noise of a great crashing through the trees, as fifty
great dogs bounded towards him.
'Here's a dog for each of your men,' said the friar, 'and I myself for
you'; but the dogs did not listen to his words, for two of them rushed
at Robin, and tore his mantle of Lincoln green from off his back. His
men were too busy defending themselves to take heed of their master's
plight, for every arrow shot at a dog was caught and held in the
creature's mouth.
Robin's men were not used to fight with dogs, and felt they were
getting beaten. At last Little John bade the friar call off his dogs,
and as he did not do so at once he let fly some arrows, which this
time left half a dozen dead on the ground.
'Hold, hold, my good fellow,' said the friar, 'till your master and I
can come to a bargain,' and when the bargain was made this was how it
ran. That the friar was to forswear Fountains Abbey and join Robin
Hood, and that he should be paid a golden noble every Sunday
throughout the year, besides a change of clothes on each holy day.
This Friar had kept Fountains Dale
Seven long years or more,
There was neither Knight, nor Lord, nor Earl
Could make him yield before.
But now he became one of the most famous members of Robin Hood's men
under the name of Friar Tuck.