Then he came back, trimming away the roots and tender stems with his sword as quietly as if he had done nought to speak of.
Little John and the Tanner had been watching all that passed, but when they saw the stranger drag the sapling up from the earth, and heard the rending and snapping of its roots, the Tanner pursed his lips together, drawing his breath between them in a long inward whistle.
"By the breath of my body!" said Little John, as soon as he could gather his wits from their wonder, "sawest thou that, Arthur?
Marry, I think our poor master will stand but an ill chance with yon fellow.

By Our Lady, he plucked up yon green tree as it were a barley straw." Whatever Robin Hood thought, he stood his ground, and now he and the stranger in scarlet stood face to face.
Well did Robin Hood hold his own that day as a mid-country yeoman.

This way and that they fought, and back and forth, Robin's skill against the stranger's strength.

The dust of the highway rose up around them like a cloud, so that at times Little John and the Tanner could see nothing, but only hear the rattle of the staves against one another.

Thrice Robin Hood struck the stranger; once upon the arm and twice upon the ribs, and yet had he warded all the other's blows, only one of which, had it met its mark, would have laid stout Robin lower in the dust than he had ever gone before.