When Robin's blows came so fast and furious, the stranger felt he could not stand it much longer. Gathering all his strength, with one mighty blow he sent Robin backwards, right into the river. Head over heels he went, and disappeared under the water.
The stranger very nearly fell in after him. He was so astonished at Robin's sudden disappearance that he could not think for a minute or two where he had vanished to. He knelt down on the bridge, and stared into the water. "Hallo, my good man," he called. "Hallo, where are you?"
He thought he had drowned Robin, and he had not meant to do that. All the same he could not help laughing. Robin had looked so funny as he tumbled into the water.
"I'm here," called Robin, from far down the river. "I'm all right. I'm just swimming with the tide."
The current was very strong and had carried him down the river a good way. He was, however, gradually making for the bank. Soon he caught hold of the overhanging branches of a tree and pulled himself out. The stranger came running to help him too.
"You are not an easy man to beat or to drown either," he said with a laugh, as he helped Robin on to dry land again.
"Well," said Robin, laughing too, "I must own that you are a brave man and a good fighter. It was a fair fight, and you have won the battle. I don't want to quarrel with you any more. Will you shake hands and be friends with me?"
"With all my heart," said the stranger. "It is a long time since I have met any one who could use a stick as you can."
So they shook hands like the best of friends, and quite forgot that a few minutes before they had been banging and battering each other as hard as they could.
Then Robin put his bugle-horn to his mouth, and blew a loud, loud blast.