So make room for him on the green, lads." "An thou makest me tumble," quoth Robin, "I will freely give thee back thy fifty pounds; but I tell thee, brother, if thou makest me not feel grass all along my back, I will take every farthing thou hast for thy boastful speech." "So be it," said the King, "I am willing to venture it." Thereupon he rolled up his sleeve and showed an arm that made the yeomen stare.
But Robin, with his feet wide apart, stood firmly planted, waiting the other, smiling.

Then the King swung back his arm, and, balancing himself a moment, he delivered a buffet at Robin that fell like a thunderbolt.
Down went Robin headlong upon the grass, for the stroke would have felled a stone wall.

Then how the yeomen shouted with laughter till their sides ached, for never had they seen such a buffet given in all their lives.

As for Robin, he presently sat up and looked all around him, as though he had dropped from a cloud and had lit in a place he had never seen before.

After a while, still gazing about him at his laughing yeomen, he put his fingertips softly to his ear and felt all around it tenderly.