thyself。〃
  But　at　last　he　reached　the　crest　of　a　certain　hill；　and　saw　below　a　sweet　little　thatched　inn　lying　snugly　in　the　dale　beneath　him；　toward　which　the　road　dipped　sharply。　　At　the　sight　of　this；　a　voice　within　him　cried　aloud；　〃I　give　thee　joy；　good　friend；　for　yonder　is　thy　heart's　delight；　to　wit；　a　sweet　rest　and　a　cup　of　brown　beer。〃　So　he　quickened　his　pace　down　the　hill　and　so　came　to　the　little　inn；　from　which　hung　a　sign　with　a　stag's　head　painted　upon　it。　In　front　of　the　door　a　clucking　hen　was　scratching　in　the　dust　with　a　brood　of　chickens　about　her　heels；　the　sparrows　were　chattering　of　household　affairs　under　the　eaves；　and　all　was　so　sweet　and　peaceful　that　Little　John's　heart　laughed　within　him。　Beside　the　door　stood　two　stout　cobs　with　broad　soft…padded　saddles；　well　fitted　for　easy　traveling；　and　speaking　of　rich　guests　in　the　parlor。　In　front　of　the　door　three　merry　fellows；　a　tinker；　a　peddler；　and　a　beggar；　were　seated　on　a　bench　in　the　sun　quaffing　stout　ale。
  〃I　give　you　good　den；　sweet　friends；〃　quoth　Little　John；　striding　up　to　where　they　sat。
  〃Give　thee　good　den；　holy　father；〃　quoth　the　merry　Beggar　with　a　grin。　〃But　look　thee；　thy　gown　is　too　short。　　Thou　hadst　best　cut　a　piece　off　the　top　and　tack　it　to　the　bottom；　so　that　it　may　be　long　enough。　But　come；　sit　beside　us　here　and　take　a　taste　of　ale；　if　thy　vows　forbid　thee　not。〃
  〃Nay；〃　quoth　Little　John；　also　grinning；　〃the　blessed　Saint　Dunstan　hath　given　me　a　free　dispensation　for　all　indulgence　in　that　line。〃　And　he　thrust　his　hand　into　his　pouch　for　money　to　pay　his　score。
  〃Truly；〃　quoth　the　Tinker；　〃without　thy　looks　belie　thee；　holy　friar；　the　good　Saint　Dunstan　was　wise；　for　without　such　dispensation　his　votary　is　like　to　ha'　many　a　penance　to　make。　　Nay；　take　thy　hand　from　out　thy　pouch；　brother；　for　thou　shalt　not　pay　this　shot。　Ho；　landlord；　a　pot　of　ale！〃
  So　the　ale　was　brought　and　given　to　Little　John。　　Then；　blowing　the　froth　a　little　way　to　make　room　for　his　lips；　he　tilted　the　bottom　of　the　pot　higher　and　higher；　till　it　pointed　to　the　sky；　and　he　had　to　shut　his　eyes　to　keep　the　dazzle　of　the　sunshine　out　of　them。　Then　he　took　the　pot　away；　for　there　was　nothing　in　it；　and　heaved　a　full　deep　sigh；　looking　at　the　others　with　moist　eyes　and　shaking　his　head　solemnly。
  〃Ho；　landlord！〃　cried　the　Peddler；　〃bring　this　good　fellow　another　pot　of　ale；　for　truly　it　is　a　credit　to　us　all　to　have　one　among　us　who　can　empty　a　canakin　so　lustily。〃
  So　they　talked　among　themselves　merrily；　until　after　a　while　quoth　Little　John；　〃Who　rideth　those　two　nags　yonder？〃
  〃Two　holy　men　like　thee；　brother；〃　quoth　the　Beggar。　　〃They　are　now　having　a　goodly　feast　within；　for　I　smelled　the　steam　of　a　boiled　pullet　just　now。　The　landlady　sayeth　they　come　from　Fountain　Abbey；　in　Yorkshire；　and　go　to　Lincoln　on　matters　of　business。〃
  〃They　are　a　merry　couple；〃　said　the　Tinker；　〃for　one　is　as　lean　as　an　old　wife's　spindle；　and　the　other　as　fat　as　a　suet　pudding。〃
  〃Talking　of　fatness；〃　said　the　Peddler；　〃thou　thyself　lookest　none　too　ill…fed；　holy　friar。〃
  〃Nay；　truly；〃　said　Little　John；　〃thou　seest　in　me　what　the　holy　Saint　Dunstan　can　do　for　them　that　serve　him　upon　a　handful　of　parched　peas　and　a　trickle　of　cold　water。〃
  At　this　a　great　shout　of　laughter　went　up。　　〃Truly；　it　is　a　wondrous　thing；〃　quoth　the　Beggar；　〃I　would　have　made　my　vow；　to　see　the　masterly　manner　in　which　thou　didst　tuck　away　yon　pot　of　ale；　that　thou　hadst　not　tasted　clear　water　for　a　brace　of　months。　Has　not　this　same　holy　Saint　Dunstan　taught　thee　a　goodly　song　or　two？〃
  〃Why；　as　for　that；〃　quoth　Little　John；　grinning；　〃mayhap　he　hath　lent　me　aid　to　learn　a　ditty　or　so。〃
  〃Then；　prythee；　let　us　hear　how　he　hath　taught　thee；〃　quoth　the　Tinker。
  At　this　Little　John　cleared　his　throat　and；　after　a　word　or　two　about　a　certain　hoarseness　that　troubled　him；　sang　thus：
  〃_Ah；　pretty；　pretty　maid；　whither　dost　thou　go？　　I　prythee；　prythee；　wait　for　thy　lover　also；　　　　　　And　we'll　gather　the　rose　　　　　　As　it　sweetly　blows；　　For　the　merry；　merry　winds　are　blo…o…o…wing_。〃
  Now　it　seemed　as　though　Little　John's　songs　were　never　to　get　sung；　for　he　had　got　no　farther　than　this　when　the　door　of　the　inn　opened　and　out　came　the　two　brothers　of　Fountain　Abbey；　the　landlord　following　them；　and；　as　the　saying　is；　washing　his　hands　with　humble　soap。　But　when　the　brothers　of　Fountain　Abbey　saw　who　it　was　that　sang；　and　how　he　was　clad　in　the　robes　of　a　Gray　Friar；　they　stopped　suddenly；　the　fat　little　Brother　drawing　his　heavy　eyebrows　together　in　a　mighty　frown；　and　the　thin　Brother　twisting　up　his　face　as　though　he　had　sour　beer　in　his　mouth。　　Then；　as　Little　John　gathered　his　breath　for　a　new　verse；　〃How；　now；〃　roared　forth　the　fat　Brother；　his　voice　coming　from　him　like　loud　thunder　from　a　little　cloud；　〃thou　naughty　fellow；　is　this　a　fit　place　for　one　in　thy　garb　to　tipple　and　sing　profane　songs？〃
  〃Nay；〃　quoth　Little　John；　〃sin'　I　cannot　tipple　and　sing；　like　Your　Worship's　reverence；　in　such　a　goodly　place　as　Fountain　Abbey；　I　must　e'en　tipple　and　sing　where　I　can。〃
  〃Now；　out　upon　thee；〃　cried　the　tall　lean　Brother　in　a　harsh　voice；　〃now；　out　upon　thee；　that　thou　shouldst　so　disgrace　thy　cloth　by　this　talk　and　bearing。〃
  〃Marry；　come　up！〃　quoth　Little　John。　　〃Disgrace；　sayest　thou？　Methinks　it　is　more　disgrace　for　one　of　our　garb　to　wring　hard…earned　farthings　out　of　the　gripe　of　poor　lean　peasants。　It　is　not　so；　brother？〃
  At　this　the　Tinker　and　the　Peddler　and　the　Beggar　nudged　one　another；　and　all　grinned；　and　the　friars　scowled　blackly　at　Little　John；　but　they　could　think　of　nothing　further　to　say；　so　they　turned　to　their　horses。　Then　Little　John　arose　of　a　sudden　from　the　bench　where　he　sat；　and　ran　to　where　the　brothers　of　Fountain　Abbey　were　mounting。　Quoth　he；　〃Let　me　hold　your　horses'　bridles　for　you。　　Truly；　your　words　have　smitten　my　sinful　heart；　so　that　I　will　abide　no　longer　in　this　den　of　evil；　but　will　go　forward　with　you。　　No　vile　temptation；　I　wot；　will　fall　upon　me　in　such　holy　company。〃
  〃Nay；　fellow；〃　said　the　lean　Brother　harshly；　for　he　saw　that　Little　John　made　sport　of　them；　〃we　want　none　of　thy　company；　so　get　thee　gone。〃
  〃Alas；〃　quoth　Little　John；　〃I　am　truly　sorry　that　ye　like　me　not　nor　my　company；　but　as　for　leaving　you；　it　may　not　be；　for　my　heart　is　so　moved；　that；　willy…nilly；　I　must　go　with　you　for　the　sake　of　your　holy　company。〃
  Now；　at　this　talk　all　the　good　fellows　on　the　bench　grinned　till　their　teeth　glistened；　and　even　the　landlord　could　not　forbear　to　smile。　As　for　the　friars；　they　looked　at　one　another　with　a　puzzled　look；　and　knew　not　what　to　do　in　the　matter。　　They　were　so　proud　that　it　made　them　feel　sick　with　shame　to　think　of　riding　along　the　highroad　with　a　strolling　friar；　in　robes　all　too　short　for　him；　running　beside　them；　but　yet　they　could　not　make　Little　John　stay　against　his　will；　for　they　knew　he　could　crack　the　bones　of　both　of　them　in　a　twinkling　were　he　so　minded。　Then　up　spake　the　fat　Brother　more　mildly　than　he　had　done　before。　〃Nay；　good　brother；〃　said　he；　〃we　will　ride　fast；　and　thou　wilt　tire　to　death　at　the　pace。〃
  〃Truly；　I　am　grateful　to　thee　for　the　thought　of　me；〃　quoth　Little　John；　〃but　have　no　fear；　brother；　my　limbs　are　stout；　and　I　could　run　like　a　hare　from　here　to　Gainsborough。〃
  At　these　words　a　sound　of　laughing　came　from　the　bench；　whereat　the　lean　Brother's　wrath　boiled　over；　like　water　into　the　fire；　with　great　fuss　and　noise。　　〃Now；　out　upon　thee；　thou　naughty　fellow！〃　he　cried。　〃Art　thou　not　ashamed　to　bring　disgrace　so　upon　our　cloth？　Bide　thee　here；　thou　sot；　with　these　porkers。　　Thou　art　no　fit　company　for　us。〃
  〃La；　ye　there　now！〃　quoth　Little　John。　　〃Thou　hearest；　landlord；　thou　art　not　fit　company　for　these　holy　men；　go　back　to　thine　alehouse。　Nay；　if　these　most　holy　brothers　of　mine　do　but　give　me　the　word；　I'll　beat　thy　head　with　this　stout　staff　till　it　is　as　soft　as　whipped　eggs。〃
  At　these　words　a　great　shout　of　laughter　went　up　from　those　on　the　bench；　and　the　landlord's　face　grew　red　as　a　cherry　from　smothering　his　laugh　in　his　stomach；　but　he　kept　his　merriment　down；　for　he　wished　not　to　bring　the　ill…will　of　the　brothers　of　Fountain　Abbey　upon　him　by　unseemly　mirth。　So　the　two　brethren；　as　they　could　do　nought　else；　having　mounted　their　nags；　turned　their　noses　toward　Lincoln　and　rode　away。
  〃I　cannot　stay　longer；　sweet　friends；〃　quoth　Little　John；　as　he　pushed　in　betwixt　the　two　cobs；　〃therefore　I　wish　you　good　den。　　Off　we　go；　we　three。〃　So　saying；　he　swung　his　stout　staff　over　his　shoulder　and　trudged　off；　measuring　his　pace　with　that　of　the　two　nags。
  The　two　brothers　glowered　at　Little　John　when　he　so　pushed　himself　betwixt　them；　then　they　drew　as　far　away　from　him　as　they　could；　so　that　the　yeoman　walked　in　the　middle　of　the　road；　while　they　rode　on　the　footpath　on　either　side　of　the　way。　As　they　so　went　away；　the　Tinker；　the　Peddler；　and　the　Beggar　ran　skipping　out　into　the　middle　of　the　highway；　each　with　a　pot　in　his　hand；　and　looked　after　them　laughing。
  While　they　were　in　sight　of　those　at　the　inn；　the　brothers　walked　their　horses　soberly；　not　caring　to　make　ill　matters　worse　by　seeming　to　run　away　from　Little　John；　for　they　cou