Rotten Luck! Read Online Free PDF Page A

only one thing to do.”
    Eek! My heart skipped a beat.
    â€œM-m-m-m-my dear madam!” jabbered Sir Percy. “N-n-n-now I do hope you’re not planning anything rash !”
    â€œWe’re going to take you back to the road,” said Maud. “But only if you promise never to return. And we’ll have to blindfold you. We don’t want anyone sneaking back with the sheriff and his cronies.”
    â€œOh, we promise, madam!” said Sir Percy with a little giggle of relief. “Knight’s honour! Eh, chaps?”
    Patchcoat and I nodded eagerly.
    â€œPhew!” said Sir Percy. “You had me worried there for a moment. I thought you were going to, you know – beat us up. Or worse.”
    The outlaws looked shocked.
    â€œWhat a horrible idea!” exclaimed Billy. “We’d never do such a thing!”
    â€œLast night a peasant was robbed in the forest,” I said. “He was treated a bit roughly. The sheriff blamed the Ghost.”
    â€œThat’s not our style at all,” said Maud. “We may be outlaws but we’re notbaddies. We would never harm anyone!”
    â€œâ€™Cept p’raps the sheriff!” chuckled Jack. “He’s the villain, not us!”
    â€œThat’s right,” said Billy. “We never robs anyone as can’t afford it!”
    â€œAnd we’re always really polite,” said Maud. “The Ghost insists on it. Speaking of being polite, allow us to introduce ourselves.” She lowered her hood. “I’m Matron Maud, the Ghost’s second-in-command.”
    As she stepped forward I saw that she was wearing a sword under her cloak and something told me she wasn’t afraid to use it.
    â€œI’m Lanky Jack,” grinned Jack,pushing back his hood. His bright beady eyes glinted in the firelight as he waved his staff under my nose. “Watch out for the Walloper!”
    â€œI’m Billy Brown, the Boy with the Bow,” said the skinny youth. As he lowered his hood, I was surprised to discover that he wasn’t much older than me. I noticed rather enviously that he was carrying his own bow and arrows.

    â€œAnd what about the Ghost?” said Sir Percy. “Where is he?”
    â€œOh, he’s busy tonight,” said Maud. “Let’s just say he has an appointment with one of the sheriff’s pals. A certain abbot with a large collection of gold rings. He’ll be back in the morning.”
    â€œTalking of morning, it’s nearly dawn,” said Jack. “Time to blindfold these gentlemen and take them out of the forest. You first, Sir Knight.”
    Sir Percy stood up and allowed Jack to blindfold him. “No peeking!” smiled Jack. He then turned to me. “You next, sonny.”
    I suddenly remembered something. “By the way,” I said. “I spotted your torcheswhen you were sneaking up on us earlier.”
    â€œTorches?” said Maud. “What torches? We didn’t have any torches.”
    â€œWell, if they weren’t your torches, whose were they?” I asked.
    Out of the darkness came the answer.
    â€œThey were ours !” barked a voice. “Stay wight where you are. I have you completely suwwounded!”
    The outlaws gasped in horror as into the firelight strode the sheriff with Lurk, and half a dozen soldiers armed with pikes and crossbows.
    â€œExcellent!” declared the sheriff. “Now I can keep that fat weward! I have captured the Ghost myself!”

    â€œThe Ghost isn’t here,” said Billy. “And you’ll never catch him either, so there!”
    â€œShall I clobber ’im, sir?” said Lurk.
    â€œYou’ll have to clobber me first!” said Maud, stepping forward.
    â€œDon’t bother,” sneered the sheriff. “The boy’s attempt to defend his leader is quite pathetic. Not here indeed. Ha! Just wait till the king learns that the Ghost is the vewy same knight who