Robin Hood's Barn 



altrmsm, my missionary spirit of enlightemnent 

 and of assuagement. With the sacred fury of 

 a medieval knight, I rush forth to the battle, and 

 the challenge that I cry is "a I'outrance." There 

 shall be no quarter. As I bear down, however, 

 on the first invader, she nods a careless recog- 

 nition and refuses to give ground. Even when 

 hard-pressed with shaft and bludgeon, she sets 

 her legs and raises questioning eyes. And stol- 

 idly aU the while her mouth travels down a dis- 

 appearing corn-stalk. It is only after a last tug 

 has ripped it from the earth and secured it with 

 roots dangling, that she turns tail. Then hastily 

 I engage in a new contest and brandishing aloft 

 my weapons, I hurl myself upon each foe. What 

 though I be outnumbered ten to one? My blood 

 is up. No force can stand against my holy rage. 

 I beat them back. I drive them fleeing in dis- 

 order. The orchard rings with war-cries and the 

 tumult of the rout. But when at last they are 

 repulsed and there is a lull in combat, I send 

 for reenforcements and recover strength while I 

 mount guard. 



They are a long time in arriving. Darkness 

 [228] 



