“Who art thou that dares to hold such language?”
“I, indeed! I am Robin Hood, as thy caitiff carcase soon shall know.”
“Then art thou indeed that famous outlaw? Right gladly will I dispute with thee the passes of the merry wood. Have at thee!”
They took their lath swords, dumped their other traps on the ground, struck a fencing attitude, foot to foot, and began a grave, careful combat, “two up and two down.” Presently Tom said:
“Now, if you’ve got the hang, go it lively!”
So they “went it lively,” panting and perspiring with the work. By and by Tom shouted:
“Fall! fall! Why don’t you fall?”
“I shan’t! Why don’t you fall yourself? You’re getting the worst of it.”
“Why, that ain’t anything. I can’t fall; that ain’t the way it is in the book. The book says, ‘Then with one backhanded stroke he slew poor Guy of Guisborne.’ You’re to turn around and let me hit you in the back.”
There was no getting around the authorities, so Joe turned, received the whack and fell.
“Now,” said Joe, getting up, “you got to let me kill you . That’s fair.”
“Why, I can’t do that, it ain’t in the book.”
“Well, it’s blamed mean—that’s all.”
“Well, say, Joe, you can be Friar Tuck or Much the miller’s son, and lam me with a quarterstaff; or I’ll be the Sheriff of Nottingham and you be Robin Hood a little while and kill me.”