"Go back and wait until I have come over," he called out as soon as he noticed the stranger.
The stranger laughed, and called out in reply, "I have as good a right to the bridge as you. You can go back till I get across."
This made Robin very angry. He was so accustomed to being obeyed that he was very much astonished too. Between anger and astonishment he hardly knew what he did.
He drew an arrow from his quiver, and fitting it to his bow, called out again, "If you don't go back I'll shoot."
"If you do, I'll beat you till you are black and blue," replied the stranger.
"Quoth bold Robin Hood, 'Thou dost prate like an ass,
For, were I to bend my bow,
I could send a dart quite through thy proud heart,
Before thou couldst strike a blow.'"
"If I talk like an ass you talk like a coward," replied the stranger. "Do you call it fair to stand with your bow and arrow ready to shoot at me when I have only a stick to defend myself with? I tell you, you are a coward. You are afraid of the beating I would give you."