Far be it from me to check thee in so holy a quest.

Friend, the river is free to all." "Yea, good father," said Robin, "but thou seest that my clothes are of the finest and I fain would not get them wet.

Methinks thy shoulders are stout and broad; couldst thou not find it in thy heart to carry me across ?" "Now, by the white hand of the holy Lady of the Fountain!" burst forth the Friar in a mighty rage, "dost thou, thou poor puny stripling, thou kiss-my-lady-la poppenjay; thou--thou What shall I call thee?
Dost thou ask me, the holy Tuck, to carry thee?
Now I swear--" Here he paused suddenly, then slowly the anger passed from his face, and his little eyes twinkled once more.

"But why should I not ?" quoth he piously.
"Did not the holy Saint Christopher ever carry the stranger across the river?
And should I, poor sinner that I am, be ashamed to do likewise?
Come with me, stranger, and I will do thy bidding in an humble frame of mind." So saying, he clambered up the bank, closely followed by Robin, and led the way to the shallow pebbly ford, chuckling to himself the while as though he were enjoying some goodly jest within himself.
Having come to the ford, he girded up his robes about his loins, tucked his good broadsword beneath his arm, and stooped his back to take Robin upon it.

Suddenly he straightened up.