"Big words ne'er killed so much as a mouse.
Who art thou that talkest so freely of cracking the head of Arthur a Bland?
If I do not tan thy hide this day as ne'er I tanned a calf's hide in all my life before, split my staff into skewers for lamb's flesh and call me no more brave man! Now look to thyself, fellow!" "Stay!" said Little John.

"Let us first measure our cudgels.

I do reckon my staff longer than thine, and I would not take vantage of thee by even so much as an inch." "Nay, I pass not for length," answered the Tanner.

"My staff is long enough to knock down a calf; so look to thyself, fellow, I say again." So, without more ado, each gripped his staff in the middle, and, with fell and angry looks, they came slowly together.
Now news had been brought to Robin Hood how that Little John, instead of doing his bidding, had passed by duty for pleasure, and so had stopped overnight with merry company at the Blue Boar Inn, instead of going straight to Ancaster.

So, being vexed to his heart by this, he set forth at dawn of day to seek Little John at the Blue Boar, or at least to meet the yeoman on the way, and ease his heart of what he thought of the matter.