Robin Hood

Chapter 5 Robin Hood Meets Little John
Our drink is strong, our food is good Come 
in and drink with, Robin Hood. When 
Robin Hood is not at home Come in and 
drink with Little John. (An old drinking 
song)
In the first weeks and months after the fight in the abbey, Robin and his 
men worked very hard. They cut down young trees and built homes in 
the centre of the forest. They made arrows from wood and caught forest 
deer for their food. They bought bread and milk from the villagers. 
Sometimes Robin liked to leave his men, and look for adventure. One 
fine autumn morning, he and his friend Will Scarlet woke early. 
‘It is a beautiful day,’ said Robin. ‘I think I will go for a walk to the 
river. Will you come with me?’ 
‘I. want to make some new arrows for my bow,’ answered Will. ‘But 
I will meet you at lunch time near the bridge.’ 
So Robin left Will and walked quickly through the forest to the river 
and the little bridge. Robin stood in the middle of the bridge, and looked 
up at the trees. 
‘The autumn colours are beautiful,’ he thought. Then he looked down 
at the water. ‘I will catch a fish for our lunch,’ he thought. ‘Will and I 
can make a fire. I have some bread, and 
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there is fruit on the trees. We will eat very well. Ah, this is a wonderful 
life!’
Suddenly somebody behind him said, ‘Well, little man! Are you 
going to stand there all day? Get out of my way!’
Robin turned. The speaker was a big man, nearly two metres tall. 
‘Now this will be an interesting adventure,’ he thought. ‘That man is 
very strong. Can I fight him - and win ?’ He did not move from the 
bridge.
‘I arrived here first,’ he called to the big man, ‘so you will have to 
wait. I think I am going to do some fishing. Then, perhaps, I will get out 
of your way’
The big man moved onto the bridge.
‘I will not wait!’ he said. ‘And you are not going to fish, you are 
going to fight!’
They fought there, in the middle of the bridge. Robin couldn't win. 
He knew that after a minute or two. The man wasn't very fast but he was 
very
 
strong. So Robin quickly thought of a plan.
He looked over the top of the big man's head, and shouted, ‘Look, 
the sheriff's men!’
The big man turned and looked. Robin quickly kicked the man's legs 
as hard as he could. The big man was very angry — but he didn't fall. He 
kicked Robin, and Robin fell off the bridge into the water.
The big man laughed.
‘I won the fight,’ he said. ‘Come, I will help you.’
He looked over the bridge into the water. But Robin was not there.
‘Where are you?’ called the man. ‘Are you all right?’
Robin suddenly came up from the water. He was a long way from the 
bridge.
‘Perhaps you won the fight,’ laughed Robin, ‘but you did not catch 
me!’
He began to climb onto dry ground. Then Will Scarlet arrived. 
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They fought there, in the middle of the bridge.

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‘What happened, Robin?’ he called. ‘Did this man throw you in 
the water? He will have to fight me now!’
‘No! No!' laughed Robin. ‘Let's be friends. So what is your 
name, friend? And what are you doing in my forest?’
‘Your
 
forest?’ answered the big man. ‘It is not your forest! I 
came here to find brave Robin Hood. But first, I think, I will throw 
you in the river again!’
‘Friend,' said Robin, ‘you found Robin Hood, and
 
threw him in 
the water. Please, don't do it again!’
‘What! Are you really Robin Hood?’ asked the man. ‘I am very 
happy about that. My name is John Little and I want to be one of 
your men.’
Robin laughed. ‘ “Little” is a good name for you, because you 
are very small - only the size of a small tree! We will always call 
you our “little” John. Come to our forest home, Little John!’