The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1897-01-30

A Stout svvineherd More Than Held
His Own With Robin Hood.
Caroline Brown contributes a story
about George O'Grecn and Robin
Hood to- the October st. Nicholas.
Here is an account Of the meeting be-
tween these two characters:
''How art thou called, Master Pig
minderT'
George O'Green.'
why that?"
''IIo, no, HOP roared the churl $50
wise and don't know that withal! Why,
live Oh the green aud mind the pigs!v'
And he wiped the tears of laughter
from his eyes on the sleeve of his fuS-
tan jerkin.
Il doubt me- said Robin, eff thou
canst play with the quarter-staff.''
LAY, but can!'' said George quickly.
''Show thy prowess then!' said Rob-
in, with quick thrust at him with his
white oak staff.
''Bide here and mind the pigs till
go to yon thicket and get me a staff"
Robin consented, and gazed after the
brawny man as he walked with long,
slow strides to the oak thicket on the
hither side of the brook. There he
carefully selected a tough green sap
ling almost two inches thick and then
wrenched it off near the ground with
a twist Of his powerful hands.
'"Hhis bodies me no good in the COM
ing tilt,' thought Robin. But though
he never withdrew for any cause, rare
lv had ho suffered 1ofoat
George turned him about, and, COM
ing up to Robin, said:
''Canst lend me that knife of thine :?
'Tis DER too frayed for a good staff -
he said. looking at the fringe of splin-
ters where he had snapped off the
stem.
He trimmed the staff carefully, then
handed back to Robin his knife. But
CHANGING to look around, he saw the
pigs scampering off to a distant corner
Of the common.
''Thou'st not minded the pigs! Now
Goody Hoskins will rate me well!"
cried George, with heat, yet timidly
withal.
But Sandy didn't give me warningY'
pleaded Robin. .sss,-,7. z:@.5s
80 GGsood old Sandy! Faithful shote!
He knows thee not He'll talk only to
me!' and Georges Immature left him
at this proof of the faithfulness of his
favorite.
He set off at full speed after the
pigs, Robin at his heels. When they
had got the swine back to their own
feeding ground they lay themselves
down on the short thymy turf to rest.
The chase had been a right merry one,
and both were short of wind; for the
pigs had scampered and lodged about
sprightfully in a way that made the
men more weary than tive-mile sprint
would have done.
George dozed off in the instant. and
Robin painted loud. In ten minutes
Robin prodded George with his staff
and said:
"Sluggard! Art ready?"
George yawned prodigiously, show
ing strong teeth, white as young
dogs. trimming his jaws. Then he rose
and ran his fingers through his shock
of red hair, stretched nightly and
said briefly:
Il be. Lay on"
We'll, then" cried Robin. "stand
forth now and defend thyself! I'll war
rant thou wilt be no longer sleepy
Mhen | shall have done with thee!'
At once the sound of the clashing of
s,taves filled the air. AS both were so
ucft in handling the staff, all blows
we're skilfully parried. At the end of
in hour Robins arm began to weary,
hut Georges brawny arm was unfail-
ing. III warding off a powerful blow
Robins arm swerved, and Georges
staff came down Oh his crown with a
sharp rap, the first hit made by either.
For near two hours longer the clashing
Of staves kept up, when Robins foot
slipped on the thyme, and down he
rolled into the brook.