own?--Twelfth Night.

Several knocks, as from the knuckles of an iron glove, were given to the
door of the cottage, and a voice was heard entreating shelter from the
storm for a traveller who had lost his way. Robin arose and went to the
door.

"What are you?" said Robin.

"A soldier," replied the voice: "an unfortunate adherent of Longchamp,
flying the vengeance of Prince John."

"Are you alone?" said Robin.

"Yes," said the voice: "it is a dreadful night. Hospitable cottagers,
pray give me admittance. I would not have asked it but for the storm. I
would have kept my watch in the woods."

"That I believe," said Robin. "You did not reckon on the storm when you
turned into this pass. Do you know there are rogues this way?"

"I do," said the voice.

"So do I," said Robin.

A pause ensued, during which Robin listening attentively caught a faint
sound of whispering.

"You are not alone," said Robin. "Who are your companions?"

"None but the wind and the water," said the voice, "and I would I had
them not."

"The wind and the water have many voices," said Robin, "but I never
before heard them say, What shall we do?"

Another pause ensued: after which,

"Look ye, master cottager," said the voice, in an altered tone, "if you
do not let us in willingly, we will break down the door."

"Ho! ho!" roared the baron, "you are become plural are you, rascals? How
many are there of you, thieves? What, I warrant, you thought to rob and
murder a poor harmless cottager and his wife, and did not dream of a
garrison? You looked for no weapon of opposition but spit, poker, and
basting ladle, wielded by unskilful hands: but, rascals, here is short
sword and long cudgel in hands well tried in war, wherewith you shall be
drilled into cullenders and beaten into mummy."

No reply was made, but furious strokes from without resounded upon the
door. Robin, Marian, and the baron threw by their pilgrim's attire, and
stood in arms on the defensive. They were provided with swords, and the
cottager gave them bucklers and helmets, for all Robin's haunts were
furnished with secret armouries. But they kept their swords sheathed,
and the baron wielded a ponderous spear, which he pointed towards the
door ready to run through the first that should enter, and Robin and
Marian each held a bow with the arrow drawn to its head and pointed in
the same direction. The cottager flourished a strong cudgel (a weapon
in the use of which he prided hi