Robin Hood

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1.The Outlaws in the Forest

 

  Long ago in England,lived a famous outlaw named Robin Hood.Robin Hood lived in Sherwood Forest with one hundred fifty of his loyal friends.He and his men were known throughout England for their kindness.Even though he was on outlaw,he never harmed the people of the country.

 

 Robin Hood had more skill with a bow and arrow than the king’s finest archers.Once,before he became an outlaw,he decided to enter a contest to prove his skill.The contest was held by the Sheriff of Nottingham.The man who was the best with his bow and arrow would win a prize.The prize was a large barrel of ale.

 

Young Robin Hood was eager to join the contest for he knew that he was the best archer in all the land.But that was not the only reason he wanted to enter.He knew  that the beautiful Maid Marion would be there.Robin Hood hoped to impress Marion with his skill.

 

Robin took his finest bow,his best arrows,and set off through the forest.He thought happily of Maid Marion as he walked.

 

Soon,he saw a group of the king’s men dressed all in green.The men were sitting under a large tree.They were eating lunch.One of the men waved at Robin and asked him where he was going.

 

“I’m on my way to Nottingham”Robin replied.”Nottingham?’’asked the man”What business do you have there?”

“I’m going to enter the Sheriff’s archery contest”said Robin.

The king’s man though this was funny.”How old are you?” asked one of the men.

“Barely eighteen”said Robin.”But I’m excellent with a bow”

“You’re still a baby”replied the man.”Do you really think you can possibly win?”

Robin’s feelings were hurt by the men’s teasing.As the men continued to laugh at him.Robin became angry.

 

“I’ll bet I can shoot the best one of them”sadi Robin,pointing to a herd of deer.

“That deer?”said the man.”He’s sixty yards away”

“I can easily shoot him from here”said Robin

“You are on then”.answered the man.”Let’s see what you can do”

 

Carefully,Robin strung his bow,Next,he picked the straightest arrow he could find.When he was ready,Robin aimed carefully and fired his arrow.The deer fell down,instantly dead.

 

But the king’s men were not impressed.They were bitter at having lost a bet to such a young man.

 

Robin realized that the men were not going to keep the bet.Without saying a word,he turned and walked away.

 

Before he had gotten far,one of the men called out to him.

“You’ve killed one of the king’s deer,boy.”

 

Before he realized what was happening,an arrow shot past his head barely missing him.Without thinking,Robin turned and fired an arrow in return.The man whom he had made the bet with fell dead.

 

Robin turned and ran quickly into to the forest.He was angry and upset because he had killed a man.Robin had never wanted to hurt anyone.Even though he was protecting himself,he felt terrible about the murder.

 

Robin never returned to his home.He decided to live in the forest with the other outlaws.The Sheriff of the Nottingham became Robin Hood’s worst enemy.He swore that he would capture Robin Hood and execute him.

 

A year passed and Robin Hood was not found.He had hidded himself well in his new home.During his year in the forest,Robin met many other outlaws.Many were outlaws because they had stolen food for their srarving families.Some had been farmers whose lands were taken.

 

Robin’s kindness was noticed by everyone he met.Because he was so kind and fair,these men chose him to be their leader.

 

Robin and his men never harmed the poor people that lived around them.But they always took from the rich who had treated them unfairly.These friendly outlaws used what they took to help the poor people of the country.Anyone who needed their help could count on Robin and his men.Soon,the stories of Robin Hood and his men spread all over England.It seemed that everyone knew a story about Robin and his men.

2.Little John Fights Robin Hood

One morning Robin Hood and his men woke to find that it was a beautiful day.They walked down to the brook to wash themseves.

"What a wonderful day for adventure"Robin said to his friends as they washed.

"It is a lovely day,indeed"replied his friend Will Stutely.

"That settles it"said Robin,"I'm off to find some fun"

"Shall we go along?"asked will.

"There is no need,but listen for me to call.If i blow upon the horn three times,you should come to help"

"We will be listening"Will promised.

Robin walked through Sherwood Forest but he didn't see anything interesting.Nor did he encounter anything adventure.He continued to walk.Finally,Robin came to a narrow bridge.There was only enough room for one man at a time to cross on it.As Robin stepped onto the bridge,he noticed someone coming from the other side.

The tall man had come to the bridge at the same time as Robin.Both men thought they had the right to cross first.

"I was here first,so i will be the first to cross"said Robin.

"I was here before you.So let me pass"answered the man.

The man was much taller than Robin.And he had better build,too.Still Robin did not plan to let the man cross the bridge before him.

"I'll challenge you to a contest"said Robin cheerfully.

"What kind of contest?"asked the tall stranger.

"Let us meet in the center and fighe with staffs.The man who falls into the water first is the loser."

"That's a fine idea,"said the stranger,"but you don't have a staff."

"Wait and i will cut one."said Robin and the stranger agreed.

Robin found a thick limb that had fallen to the ground.He cut a staff from it and met the man in the center of the bridge.Both men handled theri weapons with skill.They fought until they were exhausted and both men had been injured.Still,they continued to fight.

The stranger smacked Robin on top of the head.This made Robin angry and he swung his stick.As he did,the stranger knocked Robin into the water.He laughed cheerfully as Robin fell.

Robin,too,thought his fall was funny.He sat in the water,laughing at himself.Slowly,ha made his way to the bank of the river.There he took out his horn and blew on ti three times.

Soon,Robin's loyaal friends appeared.They were led by Will.

"This man knocked me in the river"Robbin told Will.laughing as he said it.

The men were angry to hear that their leader had been knocked off the bridge.They decided to make the stranger pay for the way treated Robin.But the stranger fought them bravely.

"Stop"shouted Robin."Leave him alone"

"But he should be punished"said one of the men

"No" said Robin,"it was a fair fight".Then he turned to the stranger and asked,"Will you join me and my men?"

"I may"answered the stranger,"If one of your men can beat me in a contest"

"Another contest,"said Robin,smiling."What is your bet?"

"If someone here is a better archer than i ,i will join."said the man.

"The we shall see"said Robin."Fire away"

The stranger borrowed a bow from one of Robin's men.He aimed at the mark eight yards away.He fired the arrow and it hit the mark directly in the center.Even Robin Hood's own men were impressed by the stranger's skill.

"That was a very good shot"admitted Robin."Now it is my turn,though."

Robin aimed at the same mark the stranger had used.He fired and his arrow split the stranger's arrow in two.

"Wow!"said the stranger when he saw Robin's shot."That was incredible.You have won the bet.I am gladly at your service."

"What is your name?"asked will Stutely

"My name,sir,is John Little"the stranger replied.

Will thought is was funny that such a big man be named Little

"I'm going to call you little John"said Will.

Little JOhn did not like his name being made fun of.Still,it was hard to be angry at such happy men.Soon,he found himself laughing along with them.So,from that day forward John Little was known as Little JOhn.