At this the others bore back and stood at a little distance scowling upon Robin.  “Come on, ye scum!” cried he merrily.  “Here be cakes and ale for all.  Now, who will be next served?”

To this speech the beggars answered never a word, but they looked at Robin as great Blunderbore looked upon stout Jack the slayer of giants, as though they would fain eat him, body and bones; nevertheless, they did not care to come nigher to him and his terrible staff.  Then, seeing them so hesitate, Robin of a sudden leaped upon them, striking even as he leaped.  Down went the Dumb man, and away flew his cudgel from his hand as he fell.  At this the others ducked to avoid another blow, then, taking to their heels, scampered, the one one way and the other the other, as though they had the west wind’s boots upon their feet.  Robin looked after them, laughing, and thought that never had he seen so fleet a runner as the Lame man; but neither of the beggars stopped nor turned around, for each felt in his mind the wind of Robin’s cudgel about his ears.

Then Robin turned to the two stout knaves lying upon the ground.  Quoth he, “These fellows spake somewhat about certain moneys they were taking to Lincoln; methinks I may find it upon this stout blind fellow, who hath as keen sight as e’er a trained woodsman in Nottingham or Yorkshire.  It were a pity to let sound money stay in the pockets of such thieving knaves.”  So saying, he stooped over the burly rascal and searched among his rags and tatters, till presently his fingers felt a leathern pouch slung around his body beneath his patched and tattered coat.  This he stripped away and, weighing it in his hands, bethought himself that it was mighty heavy.  “It were a sweet thing,” said he to himself, “if this were filled with gold instead of copper pence.”  Then, sitting down upon the grass, he opened the pocket and looked into it.  There he found four round rolls wrapped up in dressed sheepskin; one of these rolls he opened; then his mouth gaped and his eyes stared, I wot, as though they would never close again, for what did he see but fifty pounds of bright golden money?  He opened the other pockets and found in each one the same, fifty bright new-stamped golden pounds.  Quoth Robin, “I have oft heard that the Beggars’ Guild was over-rich, but never did I think that they sent such sums as this to their treasury.  I shall take it with me, for it will be better used for charity and the good of my merry band than in the enriching of such knaves as these.”  So saying, he rolled up the money in the sheepskin again, and putting it back in the purse, he thrust the pouch into his own bosom.  Then taking up the flask of Malmsey, he held it toward the two fellows lying on the grass, and quoth he, “Sweet friends, I drink your health and thank you dearly for what ye have so kindly given me this day, and so I wish you good den.”  Then, taking up his staff, he left the spot and went merrily on his way.