But they kept their swords sheathed,
and the baron wielded a ponderous spear, which he pointed towards
the door ready to run through the first that should enter,
and Robin and Marian each held a bow with the arrow drawn to its
head and pointed in the same direction. The cottager flourished
a strong cudgel (a weapon in the use of which he prided himself
on being particularly expert), and the wife seized the spit from
the fireplace, and held it as she saw the baron hold his spear.
The storm of wind and rain continued to beat on the roof and
the casement, and the storm of blows to resound upon the door,
which at length gave way with a violent crash, and a cluster
of armed men appeared without, seemingly not less than twelve.
Behind them rolled the stream now changed from a gentle and shallow
river to a mighty and impetuous torrent, roaring in waves of
yellow foam, partially reddened by the light that streamed through
the open door, and turning up its convulsed surface in flashes
of shifting radiance from restless masses of half-visible shadow.
The stepping-stones, by which the intruders must have crossed,
were buried under the waters. On the opposite bank the light
fell on the stems and boughs of the rock-rooted oak and ash
tossing and swaying in the blast, and sweeping the flashing
spray with their leaves.
The instant the door broke, Robin and Marian loosed their arrows.
Pages:
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128