THE CHILDREN
Hood he came to where the robbers were sitting around a fire. They had come into the Dark Forest and they were near the edge of it. John Ball, seeing that they were men (although rough and strange-looking men) went to them that he might ask if they had seen Valentine or Golden Hood.
When he came amongst them the robbers made him sit down in their circle. And they offered him meat from amongst the meats they were eating. John Ball, being hungry, sat down and ate with them. And he, and not any of the robbers, ate the wolf meat.
When they had eaten the robbers slept. John Ball slept too. He wakened, and sat up and tried to speak. But only rough sounds came from his mouth. His tongue seemed to have become thick and heavy in his head. He looked and he saw that his legs and his arms were covered as with the skin of a beast. He tore off his clothes, and when he looked upon his body he saw that his body was all rough and hairy. He
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