said anything since we first heard the new-come singing, save that as
we went out of the door the ballad-singer clapped me on the shoulder
and said: "Was it not sooth that I said, brother, that Robin Hood
should bring us John Ball?"



CHAPTER III

THEY MEET AT THE CROSS

The street was pretty full of men by then we were out in it, and all
faces turned toward the cross. The song still grew nearer and louder,
and even as we looked we saw it turning the corner through the hedges
of the orchards and closes, a good clump of men, more armed, as it
would seem, than our villagers, as the low sun flashed back from many
points of bright iron and steel. The words of the song could now be
heard, and amidst them I could pick out Will Green's late challenge to
me and my answer; but as I was bending all my mind to disentangle more
words from the music, suddenly from the new white tower behind us
clashed out the church bells, harsh and hurried at first, but
presently falling into measured chime; and at the first sound of them
a great shout went up from us and was echoed by the new-comers, "John
Ball hath rung our bell!" Then we pressed on, and presently we were
all mingled together at the cross.

Will Green had good-naturedly thrust and pulled me forward, so that I
found myself standing on the lowest step of the cross, his seventy-two
inches of man on one side of me. He chuckled while I panted, and
said: