lives. But for myself and the rest, who were not so rash, the pirates saved us, and carried us into a distant island, where they sold us. I fell into the hands of a rich merchant, who, as soon as 5 he bought me, took me to his house, treated me well, and clad me handsomely as a slave. Some days after, he asked me if I understood any trade. I answered that I was no mechanic, but a merchant, and that the pirates who sold me had robbed me of all I had. 10 "Tell me,” replied he, "can you shoot with a bow?" I answered that the bow was one of my exercises in my youth. Then my master told me to climb into a tree and shoot at the elephants as they passed and let him know as soon as I killed one, in order that he might get the tusks. I did as he 15 told me and as I was successful the first day, he sent me day after day, for two months. One morning the elephants surrounded my tree and the largest pulled up the tree with his trunk and threw it on the ground. Then, picking me up, he laid me on his back and carried me to 20 a hill almost covered with the bones and tusks of elephants. I knew this must be the burial place of the elephants and they had brought me here to show me that I could get vast quantities of ivory without killing any more elephants. I went back to the city and told my master all that had 25 happened. He was overjoyed at my escape from death and the riches which I had obtained for him. As a reward for my services, he set me free and promised to send me home as soon as the trade winds brought the ships for ivory. A ship arrived at last and my master loaded one half of it 30 with ivory for me. When we reached a port on the mainland, I landed my ivory and set out for home with a caravan of merchants. I was a long time on the journey but was happy in thinking that I had nothing to fear from the sea or from pirates. At last I arrived at Bagdad and the Caliph loaded me with honors 35 and rich presents. 5 Sindbad here finished the story of his seventh and last voyage. Then addressing himself to Hindbad, he said, "Well, friend, did you ever hear of any person who suffered as much as I have done ?” Hindbad kissed his hand and said, "Sir, my afflictions are not to be compared with yours. You not only deserve a quiet life, but are worthy of all the riches you possess. May you live happily for a long time.” Sindbad ordered him to be paid another hundred sequins 10 and told him to give up carrying burdens and to eat henceforth at his table, for he wished him to remember that he would always have a friend in Sindbad the Sailor. HELPS TO STUDY What attracted the porter's attention to Sindbad's home? Why did Sindbad tell his guests the story of his life? What was his reason for starting on his first voyage? How did he obtain the wealth which he brought back from this voyage? What made Sindbad start on his second voyage? How did he gain riches on this voyage? How many voyages did Sindbad make to satisfy his love of ad- Which voyage was undertaken to Mention some things which Sindbad sold at great profit? Where are these articles most used or valued? Why was it so difficult to travel by water at the time Sindbad lived? What do we learn about Sind bad's character from the story of his voyages? What do we learn about Sind bad's character from his treatment of Hindbad? What parts of the story show that people in Sindbad's time knew very little about geography? Which of Sindbad's seven voy ages is the most interesting to you? What have you learned of Eastern customs from this story? Words and Phrases for Study. PRONUNCIATION: mons'-trous mé-chǎn'-ic Ca'-liph răr'-i-ties căv'-ern-a deep, hollow place in the earth; a cave. WORDS AND PHRASES: "wood of aloes' "favorable gale" "out of humor'' "bountiful traveler' "richly decked" "like a clap of thunder'' BOOK TWO THE STORY OF ROBIN HOOD 5 10 THE HOME OF ROBIN IN SHERWOOD FOREST Many hundreds of years ago, when the Plantagenets were Kings, England was so covered with woods, that a squirrel was said to be able to hop from tree to tree from the Severn to the Humber. It must have been very different to look at from the country we travel through now; but still there were roads that ran from north to south and from east to west, for the use of those who wished to leave their homes, and at certain times of the year these roads were thronged with people. Pilgrims going to some holy shrine passed along, merchants taking their wares to Court, Abbots and Bishops ambling by on palfreys to bear their part in the King's Council, and, more frequently still, a solitary Knight, seeking adventures. Besides the broad roads there were small tracks and little 15 green paths, and these led to clumps of low huts, where dwelt the peasants, charcoal-burners, and ploughmen, and here and there some larger clearing than usual told that the house of a yeoman was near. Now and then as you passed through the forest you might ride by a splendid abbey, and catch a glimpse of monks in long 5 black or white gowns, fishing in the streams and rivers that abound in this part of England, or casting nets in the fish ponds which were in the midst of the abbey gardens. Or you might chance to see a, castle with round turrets and high battlements, circled by strong walls, and protected by a moat full of water. 10 15 20 This was the sort of England into which the famous Robin Hood was born. We do not know anything about him, who he was, or where he lived, or what evil deed he had done to put him beyond the King's grace. For he was an outlaw, and any man might kill him and never pay penalty for it. But, outlaw or not, the poor people loved him and looked on him as their friend, and many a stout fellow came to join him, and led a merry life in the greenwood, with moss and fern for bed, and for meat the King's deer, which it was death to slay. Peasants of all sorts, tillers of the land, yeomen and, as some say, Knights, went on their ways freely, for of them Robin took no toll; but rich men with moneybags well filled trembled as they drew near to Sherwood Forest-who was to know whether behind every tree there did not lurk Robin Hood 25 or some of his men? THE COMING OF LITTLE JOHN One day Robin was walking alone in the wood, and reached a river which was spanned by a very narrow bridge, over which one man only could pass. In the midst stood a stranger, and Robin bade him go back and let him go over. "I am no man of 30 yours," was all the answer Robin got, and in anger he drew his bow and fitted an arrow to it. "Would you shoot a man who has no arms but a staff?" asked the stranger in scorn; and with shame Robin laid down his bow, and unbuckled an oaken stick at his side. "We will fight till one of us falls into the water," he said; and fight they did, till the stranger planted a blow so well that Robin rolled over into the river. "You are a brave soul," said he, when he had waded to land, and he blew a blast with his horn which brought fifty good fellows, clad in green, to the little bridge. "Have you fallen into the river that your clothes are wet?" asked one; and Robin made answer, "No, but this stranger, 10 fighting on the bridge, got the better of me, and tumbled me into the stream." At this the foresters seized the stranger, and would have ducked him had not their leader bade them stop, and begged the stranger to stay with them and make one of themselves. 15 "Here is my hand," replied the stranger, "and my heart with it. My name, if you would know it, is John Little." 20 "That must be altered," cried Will Scarlett; " we will call a feast, and henceforth, because he is full seven feet tall and round the waist at least an ell, he shall be called Little John." And thus it was done; but at the feast Little John, who always liked to know exactly what work he had to do, put some questions to Robin Hood. "Before I join hands with you, tell me first what sort of life is this you lead? How am I to know whose goods I shall take, and whose I shall leave? Whom I shall 25 best, and whom I shall refrain from beating?" And Robin answered: "Look that you harm not any tiller of the ground, nor any yeoman of the greenwood-no, nor no Knight nor squire, unless you have heard him ill spoken of. But if rich men with moneybags come your way, see that you 30 spoil them, and mark that you always hold in your mind the High Sheriff of Nottingham." This being settled, Robin Hood declared Little John to be second in command to himself among the brotherhood of the forest, and the new outlaw never forgot to "hold in his mind" |