Robin Hood ..........................................................................................................................................................1

J. Walker McSpadden..............................................................................................................................1

CHAPTER XII. How Maid Marion Came Back to Sherwood Forest; Also, How Robin Hood Came Before

In the days of good King Harry the Second of Englandhe of the warring sonsthere were certain forests

in the north country set aside for the King's hunting, and no man might shoot deer therein under penalty of

death. These forests were guarded by the King's Foresters, the chief of whom, in each wood, was no mean

man but equal in authority to the Sheriff in his walled town, or even to my lord Bishop in his abbey.

One of the greatest of royal preserves was Sherwood and Barnesdale forests near the two towns of

Nottingham and Barnesdale. Here for some years dwelt one Hugh Fitzooth as Head Forester, with his good

wife and son Robert. The boy had been born in Lockesley townin the year 1160, stern records sayand

was often called Lockesley, or Rob of Lockesley. He was a comely, wellknit stripling, and as soon as he

was strong enough to walk his chief delight was to go with his father into the forest. As soon as his right arm

received thew and sinew he learned to draw the long bow and speed a true arrow. While on winter evenings

his greatest joy was to hear his father tell of bold Will o' the Green, the outlaw, who for many summers

defied the King's Foresters and feasted with his men upon King's deer. And on other stormy days the boy

learned to whittle out a straight shaft for the long bow, and tip it with gray goose feathers.

The fond mother sighed when she saw the boy's face light up at these woodland tales. She was of gentle birth,

and had hoped to see her son famous at court or abbey. She taught him to read and to write, to doff his cap

without awkwardness and to answer directly and truthfully both lord and peasant. But the boy, although he

took kindly to these lessons of breeding, was yet happiest when he had his beloved bow in hand and strolled

Two playmates had Rob in these gladsome early days. One was Will Gamewell, his father's brother's son,

who lived at Gamewell Lodge, hard by Nottingham town. The other was Marian Fitzwalter, only child of the

Earl of Huntingdon. The castle of Huntingdon could be seen from the top of one of the tall trees in Sherwood;

and on more than one bright day Rob's white signal from this tree told Marian that he awaited her there: for

you must know that Rob did not visit her at the castle. His father and her father were enemies. Some people

whispered that Hugh Fitzooth was the rightful Earl of Huntingdon, but that he had been defrauded out of his

lands by Fitzwalter, who had won the King's favor by a crusade to the Holy Land. But little cared Rob or

Marian for this enmity, however it had arisen. They knew that the great greenwood was open to them, and

that the wide, wide world was full of the scent of flowers and the song of birds.

Days of youth speed all too swiftly, and troubled skies come all too soon. Rob's father had two other enemies

besides Fitzwalter, in the persons of the lean Sheriff of Nottingham and the fat Bishop of Hereford. These

three enemies one day got possession of the King's ear and whispered therein to such goodor

evilpurpose that Hugh Fitzooth was removed from his post of King's Forester. He and his wife and Rob,

then a youth of nineteen, were descended upon, during a cold winter's evening, and dispossessed without

warning. The Sheriff arrested the Forester for treasonof which, poor man, he was as guiltless as you or

Iand carried him to Nottingham jail. Rob and his mother were sheltered over night in the jail, also, but next

morning were roughly bade to go about their business. Thereupon they turned for succor to their only

But the shock, and the winter night's journey, proved too much for Dame Fitzooth. She had not been strong

for some time before leaving the forest. In less than two months she was no more. Rob felt as though his heart

was broken at this loss. But scarcely had the first spring flowers begun to blossom upon her grave, when he

met another crushing blow in the loss of his father. That stern man had died in prison before his accusers

Two years passed by. Rob's cousin Will was away at school; and Marian's father, who had learned of her

friendship with Rob, had sent his daughter to the court of Queen Eleanor. So these years were lonely ones to

the orphaned lad. The bluff old Squire was kind to him, but secretly could make nothing of one who went

about brooding and as though seeking for something he had lost. The truth is that Rob missed his old life in

the forest no less than his mother's gentleness, and his father's companionship. Every time he twanged the

string of the long bow against his shoulder and heard the gray goose shaft sing, it told him of happy days that

One morning as Rob came in to breakfast, his uncle greeted him with, "I have news for you, Rob, my lad!"

and the hearty old Squire finished his draught of ale and set his pewter tankard down with a crash.

"Here is a chance to exercise your good long bow and win a pretty prize. The Fair is on at Nottingham, and

the Sheriff proclaims an archer's tournament. The best fellows are to have places with the King's Foresters,

and the one who shoots straightest of all will win for prize a olden arrowa useless bauble enough, but just

the thing for your lady love, eh, Rob my boy?" Here the Squire laughed and whacked the table again with his

Rob's eyes sparkled. "'Twere indeed worth shooting for, uncle mine," he said. "I should dearly love to let

arrow fly alongside another man. And a place among the Foresters is what I have long desired. Will you let

"To be sure," rejoined his uncle. "Well I know that your good mother would have had me make a clerk of

you; but well I see that the greenwood is where you will pass your days. So, here's luck to you in the bout!"

The young man thanked his uncle for his good wishes, and set about making preparations for the journey. He

traveled lightly; but his yew bow must needs have a new string, and his clothyard arrows must be of the

One fine morning, a few days after, Rob might have been seen passing by way of Lockesley through

Sherwood Forest to Nottingham town. Briskly walked he and gaily, for his hopes were high and never an

enemy had he in the wide world. But 'twas the very last morning in all his life when he was to lack an enemy!

For, as he went his way through Sherwood, whistling a blithe tune, he came suddenly upon a group of

Foresters, making merry beneath the spreading branches of an oaktree. They had a huge meat pie before

One glance at the leader and Rob knew at once that he had found an enemy. 'Twas the man who had usurped

his father's place as Head Forester, and who had roughly turned his mother out in the snow. But never a word

said he for good or bad, and would have passed on his way, had not this man, clearing his throat with a huge

gulp, bellowed out: "By my troth, here is a pretty little archer! Where go you, my lad, with that tupenny bow

A roar of laughter greeted this sally. Rob flushed, for he was mightily proud of his shooting.

"My bow is as good as yours," he retorted, "and my shafts will carry as straight and as far. So I'll not take

"Show us some of your skill, and if you can hit the mark here's twenty silver pennies for you. But if you hit it

"Pick your own target," quoth Rob in a fine rage. "I'll lay my head against that purse that I can hit it."

"It shall be as you say," retorted the Forester angrily, "your head for your sauciness that you hit not my

Now at a little rise in the wood a herd of deer came grazing by, distant full fivescore yards. They were King's

deer, but at that distance seemed safe from any harm. The Head Forester pointed to them.

"If your young arm could speed a shaft for half that distance, I'd shoot with you."

"Done!" cried Rob. "My head against twenty pennies I'll cause yon fine fellow in the lead of them to breathe

And without more ado he tried the string of his long bow, placed a shaft thereon, and drew it to his ear. A

moment, and the quivering string sang death as the shaft whistled across the glade. Another moment and the

leader of the herd leaped high in his tracks and fell prone, dyeing the sward with his heart's blood.

A murmur of amazement swept through the Foresters, and then a growl of rage. He that had wagered was

"Know you what you have done, rash youth?" he said. "You have killed a King's deer, and by the laws of

King Harry your head remains forfeit. Talk not to me of pennies but get ye gone straight, and let me not look

Rob's blood boiled within him, and he uttered a rash speech. "I have looked upon your face once too often

The Forester heard his parting thrust with an oath. Red with rage he seized his bow, strung an arrow, and

without warning launched it full af' Rob. Well was it for the latter that the Forester's foot turned on a twig at

the critical instant, for as it was the arrow whizzed by his ear so close as to take a stray strand of his hair with

"Ha!" said he. "You shoot not so straight as I, for all your bravado. Take this from the tupenny bow!"

Straight flew his answering shaft. The Head Forester gave one cry, then fell face downward and lay still. His

life had avenged Rob's father, but the son was outlawed. Forward he ran through the forest, before the band

could gather their scattered witsstill forward into the great greenwood. The swaying trees seemed to open

Toward the close of the same day, Rob paused hungry and weary at the cottage of a poor widow who dwelt

upon the outskirts of the forest. Now this widow had often greeted him kindly in his boyhood days, giving

him to eat and drink. So he boldly entered her door. The old dame was right glad to see him, and baked him

cakes in the ashes, and had him rest and tell her his story. Then she shook her head.

"'Tis an evil wind that blows through Sherwood," she said. "The poor are despoiled and the rich ride over

their bodies. My three sons have been outlawed for shooting King's deer to keep us from starving, and now

hide in the wood. And they tell me that twoscore of as good men as ever drew bow are in hiding with them."

"Nay, nay," replied the old woman at first. But when she saw that there was no other way, she said: "My sons

So Rob stayed willingly to see the widow's sons that night, for they were men after his own heart. And when

they found that his mood was with them, they made him swear an oath of fealty, and told him the haunt of the

"But the band lacks a leaderone who can use his head as well as his hand. So we have agreed that he who

has skill enough to go to Nottingham, an outlaw, and win the prize at archery, shall be our chief."

Rob sprang to his feet. "Said in good time!" cried he, "for I had started to that selfsame Fair, and all the

Foresters, and all the Sheriff's men in Christendom shall not stand between me and the center of their target!"

And though he was but barely grown he stood so straight and his eye flashed with such fire that the three

"A Lockesley! a Lockesley! if you win the golden arrow you shall be chief of outlaws in Sherwood Forest!"

So Rob fell to planning how he could disguise himself to go to Nottingham town; for he knew that the

It was even as Rob had surmised. The Sheriff of Nottingham posted a reward of two hundred pounds for the

capture, dead or alive, of one Robert Fitzooth, outlaw. And the crowds thronging the streets upon that busy

Fair day often paused to read the notice and talk together about the death of the Head Forester.

But what with wrestling bouts and bouts with quarterstaves, and wandering minstrels, there came up so

many other things to talk about, that the reward was forgotten for the nonce, and only the Foresters and

Sheriff's men watched the gates with diligence, the Sheriff indeed spurring them to effort by offers of largess.

The great event of the day came in the afternoon. It was the archer's contest for the golden arrow, and twenty

men stepped forth to shoot. Among them was a beggarman, a sorry looking fellow with leggings of different

colors, and brown scratched face and hands. Over a tawny shock of hair he had a hood drawn, much like that

of a monk. Slowly he limped to his place in the line, while the mob shouted in derision. But the contest was

Side by side with Robfor it was hestood a muscular fellow of swarthy visage and with one eye hid by a

green bandage. Him also the crowd jeered, but he passed them by with indifference while he tried his bow

A great crowd had assembled in the amphitheater enclosing the lists. All the gentry and populace of the

surrounding country were gathered there in eager expectancy. The central box contained the lean but

pompous Sheriff, his bejeweled wife, and their daughter, a supercilious young woman enough, who, it was

openly hinted, was hoping to receive the golden arrow from the victor and thus be crowned queen of the day.

Next to the Sheriff's box was one occupied by the fat Bishop of Hereford; while in the other side was a box

wherein sat a girl whose dark hair, dark eyes, and fair features caused Rob's heart to leap. 'Twas Maid

Marian! She had come up for a visit from the Queen's court at London town, and now sat demurely by her

father the Earl of Huntingdon. If Rob had been grimly resolved to win the arrow before, the sight of her sweet

face multiplied his determination an hundredfold. He felt his muscles tightening into bands of steel, tense and

true. Yet withal his heart would throb, making him quake in a most unaccountable way.

Then the trumpet sounded, and the crowd became silent while the herald announced the terms of the contest.

The lists were open to all comers. The first target was to be placed at thirty ells distance, and all those who hit

its center were allowed to shoot at the second target, placed ten ells farther off. The third target was to be

removed yet farther, until the winner was proved. The winner was to receive the golden arrow, and a place

The trumpet sounded again, and the archers prepared to shoot. Rob looked to his string, while the crowd

smiled and whispered at the odd figure he cut, with his varicolored legs and little cape. But as the first man

shot, they grew silent. The target was not so far but that twelve out of the twenty contestants reached its inner

circle. Rob shot sixth in the line and landed fairly, being rewarded by an approving grunt from the man with

the green blinder, who shot seventh, and with apparent carelessness, yet true to the bull'seye.

The mob cheered and yelled themselves hoarse at this even marksmanship. The trumpet sounded again, and a

The first three archers again struck true, amid the loud applause of the onlookers; for they were general

favorites and expected to win. Indeed 'twas whispered that each was backed by one of the three dignitaries of

the day. The fourth and fifth archers barely grazed the center. Rob fitted his arrow quietly and with some

"The beggar! the beggar!" yelled the crowd; "another bull for the beggar!" In truth his shaft was nearer the

center than any of the others. But it was not so near that "Blinder," as the mob had promptly christened his

neighbor, did not place his shaft just within the mark. Again the crowd cheered wildly. Such shooting as this

The other archers in this round were disconcerted by the preceding shots, or unable to keep the pace. They

missed one after another and dropped moodily back, while the trumpet sounded for the third round, and the

"By my halidom you draw a good bow, young master," said Rob's queer comrade to him in the interval

"Nay," said Rob, "but you are a good fellow by this token, and if I win not, I hope you may keep the prize

from yon strutters." And he nodded scornfully to the three other archers who were surrounded by their

admirers, and were being made much of by retainers of the Sheriff, the Bishop, and the Earl. From them his

eye wandered toward Maid Marian's booth. She had been watching him, it seemed, for their eyes met; then

"Blinder's" quick eye followed those of Rob. "A fair maid, that," he said smilingly, "and one more worthy the

Now the archers prepared to shoot again, each with some little care. The target seemed hardly larger than the

inner ring had looked, at the first trial. The first three sped their shafts, and while they were fair shots they did

Rob took his stand with some misgiving. Some flecking clouds overhead made the light uncertain, and a

handful of wind frolicked across the range in a way quite disturbing to a bowman's nerves. His eyes

wandered for a brief moment to the box wherein sat the darkeyed girl. His heart leaped! she met his glance

and smiled at him reassuringly. And in that moment he felt that she knew him despite his disguise and looked

to him to keep the honor of old Sherwood. He drew his bow firmly and, taking advantage of a momentary lull

in the breeze, launched the arrow straight and truesinging across the range to the center of the target.

"The beggar! the beggar! a bull! a bull!" yelled the fickle mob, who from jeering him were now his warm

The last archer smiled scornfully and made ready. He drew his bow with ease and grace and, without seeming

to study the course, released the winged arrow. Forward it leaped toward the target, and all eyes followed its

flight. A loud uproar broke forth when it alighted, just without the center and grazing the shaft sent by Rob.

The stranger made a gesture of surprise when his own eyes announced the result to him, but saw his error. He

had not allowed for the fickle gust of wind which seized the arrow and carried it to one side. But for all that

"I hope we may shoot again," quoth he. "In truth I care not for the golden bauble and wished to win it in

despite of the Sheriff for whom I have no love. Now crown the lady of your choice." And turning suddenly he

was lost in the crowd, before Rob could utter what it was upon his lips to say, that he would shoot again with

"You are a curious fellow enough," said the Sheriff, biting his lip coldly; "yet you shoot well. What name go

"Well, Rob the Stroller, with a little attention to your skin and clothes you would not be so bad a man," said

The Sheriff's brow darkened, yet for the sake of his daughter and the golden arrow, he dissembled.

"Rob the Stroller," said he, "here is the golden arrow which has been offered to the best of archers this day.

At this point the herald nudged Rob and half inclined his head toward the Sheriff's daughter, who sat with a

thin smile upon her lips. But Rob heeded him not. He took the arrow and strode to the next box where sat

"Lady," he said, "pray accept this little pledge from a poor stroller who would devote the best shafts in his

"My thanks to you, Rob in the Hood," replied she with a roguish twinkle in her eye; and she placed the

The Sheriff glowered furiously upon this ragged archer who had refused his service, taken his prize without a

word of thanks, and snubbed his daughter. He would have spoken, but his proud daughter restrained him. He

called to his guard and bade them watch the beggar. But Rob had already turned swiftly, lost himself in the

That same evening within a forest glade a group of mensome twoscore clad in Lincoln greensat round a

fire roasting venison and making merry. Suddenly a twig crackled and they sprang to their feet and seized

"Tis Rob!" they cried; "welcome to Sherwood Forest, Rob!" And all the men came and greeted him; for they

"Comrades all, ye know that our band has sadly lacked a leaderone of birth, breeding, and skill. Belike we

have found that leader in this young man. And I and my brothers have told him that the band would choose

that one who should bring the Sheriff to shame this day and capture his golden arrow. Is it not so?"

Rob laughed. "In truth I brought the Sheriff to shame for mine own pleasure, and won his golden arrow to

boot. But as to the prize ye must e'en take my word, for I bestowed it upon a maid."

And seeing the men stood in doubt at this, he continued: "But I'll gladly join your band, and you take me, as a

Then stepped one forward from the rest, a tall swarthy man. And Rob recognized him as the man with the

green blinder; only this was now removed, and his freed eye gleamed as stoutly as the other one.

"Rob in the Hoodfor such the lady called you," said he, "I can vouch for your tale. You shamed the Sheriff

e'en as I had hoped to do; and we can forego the golden arrow since it is in such fair hands. As to your

shooting and mine, we must let future days decide. But here I, Will Stutely, declare that I will serve none

Then good Will Stutely told the outlaws of Rob's deeds, and gave him his hand of fealty. And the widow's

sons did likewise, and the other members every one, right gladly; because Will Stutely had heretofore been

the truest bow in all the company. And they toasted him in nut brown ale, and hailed him as their leader, by

the name of Robin Hood. And he accepted that name because Maid Marian had said it.

By the light of the campfire the band exchanged signs and passwords. They gave Robin Hood a horn upon

which he was to blow to summon them. They swore, also, that while they might take money and goods from

the unjust rich, they would aid and befriend the poor and the helpless; and that they would harm no woman,

be she maid, wife, or widow. They swore all this with solemn oaths, while they feasted about the ruddy blaze,

All that summer Robin Hood and his merry men roamed in Sherwood Forest, and the fame of their deeds ran

abroad in the land. The Sheriff of Nottingham waxed wroth at the report, but all his traps and excursions

failed to catch the outlaws. The poor people began by fearing them, but when they found that the men in

Lincoln green who answered Robin Hood's horn meant them no harm, but despoiled the oppressor to relieve

the oppressed, they 'gan to have great liking for them. And the band increased by other stout hearts till by the

But the days of quiet which came on grew irksome to Robin's adventurous spirit. Up rose he, one gay morn,

"This fresh breeze stirs the blood, my lads," quoth he, "and I would be seeing what the gay world looks like

in the direction of Nottingham town. But tarry ye behind in the borders of the forest, within earshot of my

Thus saying he strode merrily forward to the edge of the wood, and paused there a moment, his agile form

erect, his brown locks flowing and his brown eyes watching the road; and a goodly sight he made, as the

The highway led clear in the direction of the town, and thither he boldly directed his steps. But at a bend in

the road he knew of a bypath leading across a brook which made the way nearer and less open, into which

he turned. As he approached the stream he saw that it had become swollen by recent rains into quite a pretty

torrent. The log footbridge was still there, but at this end of it a puddle intervened which could be crossed

But Robin cared little for such a handicap. Taking a running start, his nimble legs carried him easily over and

balanced neatly upon the end of the broad log. But he was no sooner started across than he saw a tall stranger

coming from the other side. Thereupon Robin quickened his pace, and the stranger did likewise, each

"Give way, fellow!" roared Robin, whose leadership of a band, I am afraid, had not tended to mend his

"Nay," he retorted, "fair and softly! I give way only to a better man than myself."

His opponent budged not an inch, but laughed loudly. "Now by my halidom!" he said goodnaturedly, "I

would not move after hearing that speech, even if minded to it before; for this better man I have sought my

"That will I right soon," quoth Robin. "Stay you here a little while, till I cut me a cudgel like unto that you

have been twiddling in your fingers." So saying he sought his own bank again with a leap, laid aside his long

bow and arrows, and cut him a stout staff of oak, straight, knotless, and a good six feet in length. But still it

"I mind not telling you, fellow," said he, "that a bout with archery would have been an easier way with me.

But there are other tunes in England besides that the arrow sings." Here he whirred the staff about his head by

way of practice. "So make you ready for the tune I am about to play upon your ribs. Have at you! One,

Well was it for Robin that he was quick and nimble of foot; for the blow that grazed a hair's breadth from his

shoulder would have felled an ox. Nevertheless while swerving to avoid this stroke, Robin was poising for

The fight waxed fast and furious. It was strength pitted against subtlety, and the match was a merry one. The

mighty blows of the stranger went whistling around Robin's ducking head, while his own swift undercuts

were fain to give the other an attack of indigestion. Yet each stood firmly in his place not moving backward

or forward a foot for a good half hour, nor thinking of crying "Enough!" though some chance blow seemed

likely to knock one or the other off the narrow footbridge. The giant's face was getting red, and his breath

came snorting forth like a bull's. He stepped forward with a furious onslaught to finish this audacious fellow.

Robin dodged his blows lightly, then sprang in swiftly and unexpectedly and dealt the stranger such a blow

upon the short ribs that you would have sworn the tanner was trimming down his hides for market.

The stranger reeled and came within an ace of falling, but regained his footing right quickly.

"By my life, you can hit hard!" he gasped forth, giving back a blow almost while he was yet staggering.

This blow was a lucky one. It caught Robin off his guard. His stick had rested a moment while he looked to

see the giant topple into the water, when down came the other upon his head, whack! Robin saw more stars in

that one moment than all the astronomers have since discovered, and forthwith he dropped neatly into the

The cool rushing current quickly brought him to his senses, howbeit he was still so dazed that he groped

blindly for the swaying reeds to pull himself up on the bank. His assailant could not forbear laughing heartily

at his plight, but was also quick to lend his aid. He thrust down his long staff to Robin crying, "Lay hold of

Robin laid hold and was hauled to dry land for all the world like a fish, except that the fish would never have

come forth so wet and dripping. He lay upon the warm bank for a space to regain his senses. Then he sat up

"By all the saints!" said he, "you hit full stoutly. My head hums like a hive of bees on a summer morning."

Then he seized his horn, which lay near, and blew thereon three shrill notes that echoed against the trees. A

moment of silence ensued, and then was heard the rustling of leaves and crackling of twigs like the coming of

many men; and forth from the glade burst a score or two of stalwart yeomen, all clad in Lincoln green, like

"Good master," cried Will Stutely, "how is this? In sooth there is not a dry thread on your body."

"Why, marry," replied Robin, "this fellow would not let me pass the footbridge, and when I tickled him in the

"Nay, let him go free," said Robin. "The fight was a fair one and I abide by it. I surmise you also are quits?"

"I am content," said the other, "for verily you now have the best end of the cudgel. Wherefore, I like you

"Why," said Robin, "my men and even the Sheriff of Nottingham know me as Robin Hood, the outlaw."

"Then am I right sorry that I beat you," exclaimed the man, "for I was on my way to seek you and to try to

join your merry company. But after my unmannerly use of the cudgel, I fear we are still strangers."

"Nay, never say it!" cried Robin, "I am glad I fell in with you; though, "sooth to say, I did all the falling!"

And amid a general laugh the two men clasped hands, and in that clasp the strong friendship of a lifetime was

"Enter our company then, John Little; enter and welcome. The rites are few, the fee is large. We ask your

Thereupon Will Stutely, who loved a good jest, spoke up and said: "The infant in our household must be

christened, and I'll stand godfather. This fair little stranger is so small of bone and sinew, that his old name is

not to the purpose." Here he paused long enough to fill a horn in the stream. "Hark ye, my son,"standing

on tiptoe to splash the water on the giant"take your new name on entering the forest. I christen you Little

"Give him a bow, and find a full sheath of arrows for Little John," said Robin joyfully. "Can you shoot as

Thus chatting pleasantly the band turned back into the woodland and sought their secluded dell, where the

trees were the thickest, the moss was the softest, and a secret path led to a cave, at once a retreat and a

stronghold. Here under a mighty oak they found the rest of the band, some of whom had come in with a brace

of fat does. And here they built a ruddy fire and sat down to the meat and ale, Robin Hood in the center with

Will Stutely on the one hand and Little John on the other. And Robin was right well pleased with the day's

adventure, even though he had got a drubbing; for sore ribs and heads will heal, and 'tis not every day that

The next morning the weather had turned ill, and Robin Hood's band stayed close to their dry and friendly

cave. The third day brought a diversion in the shape of a trap by a roving party of the Sheriff's men. A fine

stag had been struck down by one Of Will Stutely's fellows, and he and others had stepped forth from the

covert to seize it, when twenty bowmen from Nottingham appeared at the end of the glade. Down dropped

Will's men on all fours, barely in time to hear a shower of arrows whistle above their heads. Then from

behind the friendly trees they sent back such a welcome that the Sheriff's men deemed it prudent not to tarry

in their steps. Two of them, in sooth, bore back unpleasant wounds in their shoulders, from the encounter.

"What," he gasped, "do my men fear to fight this Robin Hood, face to face? Would that I could get him

What it was the Sheriff would see, he did not state. But he was to have his wish granted in short space, and

The fourth day and the one following this friendly bout, Little John was missing. One of his men said that he

saw him talking with a beggar, but did not know whither they had gone. Two more days passed. Robin grew

uneasy. He did not doubt the faith of Little John, but he was fearful lest a roving band of Foresters had

At last Robin could not remain quiet. Up sprang he, with bow and arrows, and a short sword at his side.

"I must away to Nottingham town, my men," he cried. "The goodly Sheriff has long desired to see me; and

mayhap he can tell me tidings of the best quarterstaff in the shire"meaning Little John.

"Nay," he said smilingly, "the Sheriff and I are too good friends to put doubt upon our meeting. But tarry ye

in the edge of the wood opposite the west gate of the town, and ye may be of service ere tomorrow night."

So saying he strode forward to the road leading to Nottingham, and stood as before looking up and down to

see if the way was clear. Back at a bend in the road he heard a rumbling and a lumbering, when up drove a

stout butcher, whistling gaily, and driving a mare that sped slowly enough because of the weight of meat with

"A good morrow to you, friend," hailed Robin. "Whence come you and where go you with your load of

"A good morrow to you," returned the butcher, civilly enough. "No matter where I dwell. I am but a simple

butcher, and to Nottingham am I going, my flesh to sell. 'Tis Fair week, and my beef and mutton should fetch

"The saints forefend that you should treat me ill!" said the butcher in terror. "Oft have I heard of you, and

how you lighten the purses of the fat priests and knights. But I am naught but a poor butcher, selling this load

"Rest you, my friend, rest you," quoth Robin, "not so much as a silver penny would I take from you, for I

love an honest Saxon face and a fair name with my neighbors. But I would strike a bargain with you."

Here he took from his girdle a wellfilled purse, and continued, "I would fain be a butcher, this day, and sell

meat at Nottingham town. Could you sell me your meat, your cart, your mare, and your goodwill, without

"Heaven bless ye, good Robin," cried the butcher right joyfully, "that can I!" And he leaped down forthwith

"One moment more," laughed Robin, "we must e'en change garments for the nonce. Take mine and scurry

home quickly lest the King's Foresters try to put a hole through this Lincoln green."

So saying he donned the butcher's blouse and apron, and, climbing into the cart, drove merrily down the road

When he came to Nottingham he greeted the scowling gatekeeper blithely and proceeded to the

marketplace. Boldly he led his shuffling horse to the place where the butchers had their stalls.

He had no notion of the price to ask for his meat, but put on a foolish and simple air as he called aloud his

"Hark ye, lasses and dames, hark ye, Good meat come buy, come buy, Three pen'orths go for one penny, And

Now when the folk found what a simple butcher he was, they crowded around his cart; for he really did sell

three times as much for one penny as was sold by the other butchers. And one or two servinglasses with

twinkling eyes liked his comely face so well that they willingly gave boot of a kiss.

But the other butchers were wroth when they found how he was taking their trade; and they accordingly put

One said, "He is a prodigal and has sold his father's land, and this is his first venture in trading."

Another said, "He is a thief who has murdered a butcher, and stolen his horse and meat."

Robin heard these sayings, but only laughed merrily and sang his song the louder. His goodhumor made the

people laugh also and crowd round his cart closely, shouting uproariously when some buxom lass submitted

Then the butchers saw that they must meet craft with craft; and they said to him, "Come, brother butcher, if

you would sell meat with us, you must e'en join our guild and stand by the rules of our trade."

"We dine at the Sheriff's mansion today," said another, "and you must take one of our party."

'Accurst of his heart," said jolly Robin, "That a butcher will deny. I'll go with you, my brethren true, And as

Whereupon, having sold all his meat, he left his horse and cart in charge of a friendly hostler and prepared to

It was the Sheriff's custom to dine various guilds of the trade, from time to time, on Fair days, for he got a

pretty profit out of the fees they paid him for the right to trade in the marketplace. The Sheriff was already

come with great pomp into the banqueting room, when Robin Hood and three or four butchers entered, and

he greeted them all with great condescension; and presently the whole of a large company was seated at a

Now the Sheriff bade Robin sit by his right hand, at the head of the board; for one or two butchers had

whispered to the official, "That fellow is a right mad blade, who yet made us much sport today. He sold

more meat for one penny than we could sell for three; and he gave extra weight to whatsoever lass would

buss him." And others said, "He is some prodigal who knows not the value of goods, and may be plucked by

The Sheriff was will to pluck a prodigal with the next man, and he was moreover glad to have a guest who

promised to enliven the feast. So, as I have told you, he placed Robin by his side, and he made much of him

and laughed boisterously at his jests; though sooth to say, the laugh were come by easily, for Robin had never

been in merrier mood, and his quips and jests soon put the whole table at a roar.

Then my lord Bishop of Hereford came in, last of all, to say a ponderous grace and take his seat on the other

side of the Sheriffthe prelate's fat body showing up in goodly contrast to the other's lean bones.

After grace was said, and while the servants clattered in with the meat platters, Robin stood up and said:

"An amen say I to my lord Bishop's thanks! How, now, my fine fellows, be merry and drink deep; for the

shot I'll pay ere I go my way, though it cost me five pounds and more. So my lords and gentlemen all, spare

"Now are you a right jolly soul," quoth the Sheriff, "but this feast is mine own. Howbeit you must have many

a head of horned beasts, and many an acre of broad land, to spend from your purse so freely."

"Aye, that have I," returned Robin, his eyes all a twinkle, "five hundred horned beasts have I and my

brothers, and none of them have we been able to sell. That is why I have turned butcher. But I know not the

At this, the Sheriff's greed 'gan to rise. Since this fool WOULD be plucked, thought he, why should not he do

"Five hundred and ten fat beasts by actual count, that I would sell for a just figure. Aye, to him who will pay

me in right money, would I sell them for twenty pieces of gold. Is that too much to ask, lording?"

Was there ever such an idiot butcher? thought the Sheriff; and he so far forgot his dignity as to nudge the

"Nay, good fellow," quoth he chuckling, "I am always ready to help any in my shire. An you cannot find a

At this generosity Robin was quite overcome, and fell to praising the Sheriff to the skies, and telling him that

"Tut, tut," said the Sheriff, "'tis naught but a trade. Drive in your herd tomorrow to the marketplace and you

"Nay, excellence," said Robin, "that can I not easily do, for they are grazing in scattered fashion. But they are

over near Gamewell, not more than a mile therefrom at most. Will you not come and choose your own beasts

"Aye, that I will," said the Sheriff, his cupidity casting his caution to the winds. "Tarry with me over night,

This was a poser for Robin, since he liked not the idea of staying over night at the Sheriff's house. He had

hoped to appoint a meetingplace for the other, but now saw that this might excite doubt. He looked around

at the company. By this time, you must know, the feast had progressed far, and the butchers were deep in

their cups. The Sheriff and Robin had talked in a low voice, and my lord Bishop was almost asleep.

"Agreed," said Robin presently, and the words were no sooner out of his mouth than the door opened and a

servingman entered bearing tray of mulled wine. At sight of the fellow's face, Robin gave an involuntary

start of surprise which was instantly checked. The other also saw him, stood still a moment, and as if

A dozen questions flashed across Robin's mind, and he could find answer for none of them. What was Little

John doing in the Sheriff's house? Why had he not told the band? Was he true to them? Would he betray him?

But these questions of distrust were dismissed from Robin's open mind as soon as they had entered. He knew

He recovered his spirits and began again upon a vein of foolish banter, for the amusement of the Sheriff and

"A song!" one of them shouted, and the cry was taken up round the table. Robin mounted his chair and trolled

"A lass and a butcher of Nottingham Agreed 'twixt them for to wed. Says he, 'I'll give ye the meat, fair dame,

While the song was at its height, Little John reappeared, with other servants, and refilled the cups. He came

up to Robin and, as if asking him if he would have more wine, said softly, "Meet me in the pantry tonight."

Robin nodded, and sang loudly. The day was already far spent, and presently the company broke up with

When the company was dispersed, the Sheriff bade a servant show Robin to his room, and promised to see

Robin kept his word and met Little John that night, and the sheriff next day; but Little John has been doing so

So let us turn to another story that was sung of, in the ballads of olden time, and find out how Little John

It had come around another Fair day at Nottingham town, and folk crowded there by all the gates. Goods of

many kinds were displayed in gaily colored booths, and at every crossstreet a free show was in progress.

Here and there, stages had been erected for the play at quarterstaff, a highly popular sport.

There was a fellow, one Eric of Lincoln, who was thought to be the finest man with the staff for miles

around. His feats were sung about in ballads through all the shire. A great boaster was he withal, and today

he strutted about on one of these corner stages, and vaunted of his prowess, and offered to crack any man's

crown for a shilling. Several had tried their skill with Eric, but he had soon sent them spinning in no gentle

A beggarman sat over against Eric's stage and grinned every time a pate was cracked. He was an uncouth

fellow, ragged and dirty and unshaven. Eric caught sight of his leering face at one of his boastsfor there

was a lull in the game, because no man else wanted to come within reach of Eric's blows. Eric, I say, noticed

"How now, you dirty villain!" quoth he, "mend your manners to your betters, or, by our Lady, I'll dust your

The beggarman still grinned. "I am always ready to mend my manners to my betters," said he, "but I am

"That will I," said the beggar, getting up slowly and with difficulty. "It will pleasure me hugely to take a

At this a score of idlers reached him their stavesbeing ready enough to see another man have his head

cracked, even if they wished to save their ownand he took the stoutest and heaviest of all. He made a sorry

enough figure as he climbed awkwardly upon the stage, but when he had gained it, he towered full half a

head above the other, for all his awkwardness. Nathless, he held his stick so clumsily that the crowd laughed

Now each man took his place and looked the other up and down, watching warily for an opening. Only a

moment stood they thus, for Eric, intent on teaching this rash beggar a lesson and sweeping him speedily off

the stage, launched forth boldly and gave the other a sounding crack on the shoulder. The beggar danced

about, and made as though he would drop his staff from very pain, while the crowd roared and Eric raised

himself for another crushing blow. But just then the awkward beggar came to life. Straightening himself like

a flash, he dealt Eric a backhanded blow, the like of which he had never before seen. Down went the boaster

to the floor with a sounding thump, and the fickle people yelled and laughed themselves purple; for it was a

But he was up again almost as soon as he had fallen, and right quickly retreated to his own ringside to gather

his wits and watch for an opening. He saw instantly that he had no easy antagonist, and he came in cautiously

And now those who stood around saw the merriest game of quarterstaff that was ever played inside the

walls of Nottingham town. Both men were on their guard and fenced with fine skill, being well matched in

prowess. Again and again did Eric seek to force an opening under the other's guard, and just as often were his

blows parried. The beggar stood sturdily in his tracks contenting himself with beating off the attack. For a

long time their blows met like the steady crackling of some huge forest fire, and Eric strove to be wary, for he

now knew that the other had no mean wits or mettle. But he grew right mad at last, and began to send down

blows so fierce and fast that you would have sworn a great hailstorm was pounding on the shingles over

Then at last the stranger saw his chance and changed his tune of fighting. With one upward stroke he sent

Eric's staff whirling through the air. With another he tapped Eric on the head; and, with a third broad swing,

ere the other could recover himself, he swept him clear off the stage, much as you would brush a fly off the

Now the people danced and shouted and made so much ado that the shopkeepers left their stalls and others

came running from every direction. The victory of the queer beggar made him immensely popular. Eric had

been a great bully, and many had suffered defeat and insult at his hands. So the ragged stranger found money

and food and drink everywhere at his disposal, and he feasted right comfortably till the afternoon.

Then a long bow contest came on, and to it the beggar went with some of his new friends. It was held in the

same arena that Robin had formerly entered; and again the Sheriff and lords and ladies graced the scene with

When the archers had stepped forward, the herald rose and proclaimed the rules of the game: how that each

man should shoot three shots, and to him who shot best the prize of a yoke of fat steers should belong. A

dozen keeneyed bowmen were there, and among them some of the best fellows in the Forester's and

Sheriff's companies. Down at the end of the line towered the tall beggarman, who must needs twang a

"'Tis he that hath but now so soundly cracked the crown of Eric of Lincoln," was the reply.

The shooting presently began, and the targets soon showed a fine reckoning. Last of all came the beggar's

"By your leave," he said loudly, "I'd like it well to shoot with any other man here present at a mark of my

own placing." And he strode down the lists with a slender peeled sapling which he stuck upright in the

Whereupon the beggar drew his bow with seeming carelessness and split the wand with his shaft.

The Sheriff swore a full great oath, and said: "This man is the best archer that ever yet I saw." And he

beckoned to him, and asked him: "How now, good fellow, what is your name, and in what country were you

"You are a sturdy fellow, Reynold Greenleaf, and deserve better apparel than that you wear at present. Will

you enter my service? I will give you twenty marks a year, above your living, and three good suits of

"Three good suits, say you? Then right gladly will I enter your service, for my back has been bare this many a

Then Reynold turned him about to the crowd and shouted: "Hark ye, good people, I have entered the Sheriff's

service, and need not the yoke of steers for prize. So take them for yourselves, to feast withal."

At this the crowd shouted more merrily than ever, and threw their caps high into the air. And none so popular

a man had come to Nottingham town in many a long day as this same Reynold Greenleaf.

Now you may have guessed, by this time, who Reynold Greenleaf really was; so I shall tell you that he was

none other than Little John. And forth went he to the Sheriff's house, and entered his service. But it was a

sorry day for the Sheriff when he got his new man. For Little John winked his shrewd eye and said softly to

himself: "By my faith, I shall be the worst servant to him that ever yet had he!"

Two days passed by. Little John, it must be confessed, did not make a good servant. He insisted upon eating

the Sheriff's best bread and drinking his best wine, so that the steward waxed wroth. Nathless the Sheriff held

him in high esteem, and made great talk of taking him along on the next hunting trip.

It was now the day of the banquet to the butchers, about which we have already heard. The banquet hall, you

must know, was not in the main house, but connected with it by a corridor. All the servants were bustling

about making preparations for the feast, save only Little John, who must needs lie abed the greater part of the

day. But he presented himself at last, when the dinner was half over; and being desirous of seeing the guests

for himself he went into the hall with the other servants to pass the wine. First, however, I am afraid that

some of the wine passed his own lips while he went down the corridor. When he entered the banqueting hall,

whom should he see but Robin Hood himself. We can imagine the start of surprise felt by each of these bold

fellows upon seeing the other in such strange company. But they kept their secrets, as we have seen, and

arranged to meet each other that same night. Meanwhile, the proud Sheriff little knew that he harbored the

After the feast was over and night was beginning to advance, Little John felt faint of stomach and

remembered him that he had eaten nothing all that day. Back went he to the pantry to see what eatables were

"Good Sir Steward," said Little John, "give me to dine, for it is long for Greenleaf to be fasting."

"Sirrah lieabed," quoth he, "'tis late in the day to be talking of eating. Since you have waited thus long to be

"Now by mine appetite, that will I not do," cried Little John. "Your own paunch of fat would be enough for

any bear to sleep on through the winter. But my stomach craves food, and food it shall have!"

Saying this he brushed past the steward and tried the door, but it was locked fast; whereat the fat steward

Then was Little John right mad, and he brought down his huge fist on the doorpanel with a sledgehammer

blow that shivered an opening you could thrust your hand into. Little John stooped and peered through the

hole to see what food lay within reach, when crack! went the steward's keys upon his crown, and the worthy

danced around him playing a tattoo that made Little John's ears ring. At this he turned upon the steward and

gave him such a rap that his back went nigh in two, and over went the fat fellow rolling on the floor.

"Lie there," quoth Little John, "till ye find strength to go to bed. Meanwhile, I must be about my dinner." And

he kicked open the buttery door without ceremony and brought to light a venison pasty and cold roast

pheasantgoodly sights to a hungry man. Placing these down on a convenient shelf he fell to with right

Now the Sheriff had in his kitchen a cook, a stout man and bold, who heard the rumpus and came in to see

how the land lay. There sat Little John eating away for dear life, while the fat steward was rolled under the

"I make my vow!" said the cook, "you are a shrewd hind to dwell thus in a household, and ask thus to dine."

"I make my vow!" said Little John, "you are a bold man and hardy to come thus between me and my meat. So

defend yourself and see that you prove the better man." And he drew his own sword and crossed weapons

Then back and forth they clashed with sullen sound. The old ballad which tells of their fight says that they

thought nothing for to flee, but stiffly for to stand. There they fought sore together, two miles away and more,

"I make my vow!" cried Little John, "you are the best swordsman that ever yet I saw. What say you to resting

a space and eating and drinking good health with me. Then we may fall to again with the swords."

"Agreed!" said the cook, who loved good fare as well as a good fight; and they both laid by their swords and

fell to the food with hearty will. The venison pasty soon disappeared, and the roast pheasant flew at as lively

a rate as ever the bird itself had sped. Then the warriors rested a space and patted their stomachs, and smiled

across at each other like bosom friends; for a man when he as dined looks out pleasantly upon the world.

"And now good Reynold Greenleaf," said the cook, "we may as well settle this brave fight we have in hand."

"A true saying," rejoined the other, "but first tell me, friendfor I protest you are my friend

"Naught save who can handle the sword best," said the cook. "By my troth I had thought to carve you like a

"And I had long since thought to shave your ears," replied Little John. "This bout we can settle in right good

time. But just now I and my master have need of you, and you can turn your stout blade to better service than

The cook gasped in amazement. This Robin Hood! and under the Sheriff's very roof!

"Now by my troth you are a brave fellow," he said. "I have heard great tales of your prowess, and the half has

"Then Little John, or Reynold Greenleaf, I like you well, on my honor as Much the miller's son; and you too,

"Spoken like a stout man!" said Robin, seizing him by the hand. "But I must back to my own bed, lest some

sleepy warden stumble upon me, and I be forced to run him through. Lucky for you twain that wine flowed so

freely in the house today; else the noise of your combat would have brought other onlookers besides Robin

Hood. Now if ye would flee the house tonight, I will join you in the good greenwood tomorrow."

"But, good master," said the cook, "you would not stay here over night! Verily, it is running your head into a

noose. Come with us. The Sheriff has set strict watch on all the gates, since 'tis Fair week, but I know the

warden at the west gate and could bring us through safely. Tomorrow you will be stayed." "Nay, that will I

not," laughed Robin, "for I shall go through with no less escort than the Sheriff himself. Now do you, Little

John, and do you, Much the miller's son, go right speedily. In the borders of the wood you will find my merry

men. Tell them to kill two fine harts against tomorrow eve, for we shall have great company and lordly

"Comrade," then said Little John, "we may as well bid the Sheriff's roof farewell. But ere we go, it would

seem a true pity to fail to take such of the Sheriff's silver plate as will cause us to remember him, and also

Thereupon they got a great sack and filled it with silver plate from the shelves where it would not at once be

missed, and they swung the sack between them, and away they went, out of the house, out of the town, and

The next morning the servants were late astir in the Sheriff's house. The steward awoke from a heavy sleep,

but his cracked head was still in such a whirl that he could not have sworn whether the Sheriff had ever

Robin Hood met the Sheriff at breakfast, when his host soon spoke of what was uppermost in his heartthe

purchase of the fine herd of cattle near Gamewell. 'Twas clear that a vision of them, purchased for twenty

paltry gold pieces, had been with him all through the night, in his dreams. And Robin again appeared such a

silly fellow that the Sheriff saw no need of dissembling, but said that he was ready to start at once to look at

Accordingly they set forth, Robin in his little butcher's cart, behind the lean mare, and the Sheriff mounted on

a horse. Out of Nottingham town, through gates open wide, they proceeded, and took the hill road leading

through Sherwood Forest. And as they went on and plunged deeper among the trees, Robin whistled blithely

"Why are you so gay, fellow?" said the Sheriff, for, sooth to say, the silence of the woods was making him

"What is there to fear, when you have the Sheriff of Nottingham beside you?" quoth the other pompously.

"Pooh!" said the Sheriff. "I would not give THAT for their lives, if I could once lay hands upon them." And

he snapped his fingers angrily. "But Robin Hood himself was on this very road the last time I came to town,"

The Sheriff started at the crackling of a twig under his horse's feet, and looked around.

"Aye, that did I! He wanted the use of this mare and cart to drive to Nottingham. He said he would fain turn

As he spoke he came to a turn in the road, and there before them stood a herd of the King's deer, feeding.

"There is my herd of cattle, good Master Sheriff! How do you like them? Are they not fat and fair to see?"

The Sheriff drew rein quickly. "Now fellow," quoth he, "I would I were well out of this forest, for I care not

to see such herds as these, or such faces as yours. Choose your own way, therefore, whoever you be, and let

"Nay," laughed Robin, seizing the Sheriff's bridle, "I have been at too much pains to cultivate your company

to forego it now so easily. Besides I wish you to meet some of my friends and dine with me, since you have

So saying he clapped a horn on his lips and winded three merry notes. The deer bounded away; and before

the last of them was seen, there came a running and a rustling, and out from behind covert and tree came full

twoscore of men, clad in Lincoln green, and bearing good yew bows in their hands and short swords at their

sides. Up they ran to Robin Hood and doffed their caps to him respectfully, while the Sheriff sat still from

"Welcome to the greenwood!" said one of the leaders, bending the knee with mock reverence before the

"I make my vow," said Little John, "that you are to blame, master. I was misserved of my dinner, when I was

"Well spoken, Little John," said Robin Hood. "Take you his bridle and let us do honor to the guest who has

After twisting and turning till the Sheriff's bewildered head sat dizzily upon his shoulders, the greenwood

men passed through a narrow alley amid the trees which led to a goodly open space flanked by

widespreading oaks. Under the largest of these a pleasant fire was crackling, and near it two fine harts lay

ready for cooking. Around the blaze were gathered another company of yeomen quite as large as that which

came with Robin Hood. Up sprang they as the latter advanced and saluted their leader with deference, but

That merry wag Will Stutely was in command; and when he saw the palefaced Sheriff being led in like any

culprit, he took his cloak and laid it humbly upon the ground and besought the Sheriff to alight upon it, as the

"Bestir yourselves, good fellows!" cried Robin Hood; "and while our new cook, whom I see with us, is

preparing a feast worthy of our high guest, let us have a few games to do him honor!"

Then while the whole glade was filled with the savory smell of roasting venison and fat capons, and brown

pasties warmed beside the blaze, and mulled wine sent forth a cordial fragrance, Robin Hood placed the

First stepped forward several pairs of men armed with the quarterstaff, the widow's sons among them, and

so skilfully did they thrust and parry and beat down guards, that the Sheriff, who loved a good game as well

as any man, clapped his hands, forgetting where he was, and shouted, "Well struck! well struck! Never have I

Then the best archers of the band set up a small wand at eightscore paces distant, and thereon they affixed a

wreath of green. And the archers began to shoot; and he who shot not through the garland without disturbing

its leaves and tendrils was fain to submit to a good sound buffet from Little John. But right cunning was the

shooting, for the men had spent a certain time in daily practice, and many were the shafts which sped daintily

through the circle. Nathless now and again some luckless fellow would shoot awry and would be sent

winding from a long arm blow from the tall lieutenant while the glade roared with laughter. And none more

hearty a guffaw was given than came from the Sheriff's own throat, for the spirit of the greenwood was upon

But presently his high mood was dashed. The company sat down to meat, and the guest was treated to two

more disturbing surprise. The cook came forward to serve the food, when the Sheriff beheld in him his own

former servant, and one whom he supposed was at the moment in the scullery at Nottingham.

Much the miller's son grinned by way of answer to the Sheriff's amazement, and served the plates, and placed

them before the party. Then did the Sheriff gasp and fairly choke with rage. The service was his own

"You rascals! you rogues!" he spluttered. "Was it not enough to defraud me out of three of my servants, that

you must also rob me of my best silver service? Nay, by my life, but I will not touch your food!"

"Gramercy!" quoth he, "servants come and go, in merry England, and so does service. The platters are but

used to do your worship honor. And as for your life, it is forfeit to your eagerness to buy my herd of cattle so

cheaply. Now sit you down again and make good cheer, Sheriff, for charity! And for the love of Little John

So the Sheriff sat him down again, with the best face he could assume, and soon the cook's viands were

disappearing down his gullet as rapidly as the next man's. And they feasted royally and clinked each other's

cups until the sun had ceased to print the pattern of the leaves upon the forest carpet.

Then the Sheriff arose and said: "I thank you, Robin Hood, onetime butcher, and you, Little John, onetime

beggar, and you, Much, onetime cook, and all you good men who have entertained me in Sherwood so well.

Promises I make not as to how I shall requite you when next you come to Nottingham, for I am in the King's

service. So for the present the score rests with you. But the shadows grow long and I must away, if you will

Then Robin Hood and all his men arose and drank the Sheriff's health, and Robin said: "If you must needs go

"You forget that you came with me today to buy a herd of horned beasts; likewise that he who dines at the

"What is that sum, gossip?" questioned Little John, "for my own wage should also come out of it!"

The Sheriff caught his breath. "By my troth, are all these silver dishes worth anything?"

"I'll tell you what it is, worship," said Robin, "we three rascally servants will compound our back wages for

those plates. And we will keep the herd of cattle free for our own useand the King's. But this little tavern

"I have only those twenty pieces of gold, and twenty others," said the Sheriff: and well it was that he told the

Little John turned the Sheriff's wallet inside out. "'Tis true enough," he said.

"Then you shall pay no more than twenty pieces for your entertainment, excellence," decreed Robin. "Speak I

"The Sheriff should swear by his patron saint that he will not molest us," said Will Stutely; and his addition

"So be it, then," cried Little John, approaching the sheriff. "Now swear by your life and your patron saint"

"I will swear it by St. George, who is patron of us all," said the Sheriff vigorously, "that I will never disturb

Then the twenty pieces of gold were paid over, and the Sheriff once more prepared to depart.

"Never had we so worshipful a guest before," said Robin; "and as the new moon is beginning to silver the

leaves, I shall bear you company myself for part of the way. 'Twas I who brought you into the wood."

"But I protest that I am loath to lose your company," replied Robin. "The next time I may not be so pleased."

And he took the Sheriff's horse by the bridle rein, and led him through the lane and by many a thicket till the

"Now fare you well, good Sheriff," he said, "and when next you think to despoil a poor prodigal, remember

the herd you would have bought over against Gamewell. And when next you employ a servant, make certain

So saying he smote the nag's haunch, and off went the Sheriff upon the road to Nottingham.

And that is howyou will find from many ballads that came to be sung at the Sheriff's expense, and which

are known even to the present daythat, I say, is how the Sheriff lost three good servants and found them

One fine morning, soon after the proud Sheriff had been brought to grief, Robin Hood and Little John went

strolling down a path through the wood. It was not far from the footbridge where they had fought their

memorable battle; and by common impulse they directed their steps to the brook to quench their thirst and

rest them in the cool bushes. The morning gave promise of a hot day. The road even by the brook was dusty.

On each side of them, beyond the dusty highway, stretched out broad fields of tender young corn. On the yon

side of the fields uprose the sturdy oaks and beeches and ashes of the forest; while at their feet modest violets

peeped out shyly and greeted the loiterers with an odor which made the heart glad. Over on the far side of the

brook in a tiny bay floated three lilypads; and from amid some clover blossoms on the bank an industrious

bee rose with the hum of busy contentment. It was a day so brimful of quiet joy that the two friends lay flat

on their backs gazing up at the scurrying clouds, and neither caring to break the silence.

Presently they heard some one coming up the road whistling gaily, as though he owned the whole world and

"By my troth, a gay bird!" quoth Robin, raising up on his elbow. "Let us lie still, and trust that his purse is not

So they lay still, and in a minute more up came a smart stranger dressed in scarlet and silk and wearing a

jaunty hat with a curling cock feather in it. His whole costume was of scarlet, from the feather to the silk

hosen on his legs. A goodly sword hung at his side, its scabbard all embossed with tilting knights and

weeping ladies. His hair was long and yellow and hung clustering about his shoulders, for all the world like a

schoolgirl's; and he bore himself with as mincing a gait as the pertest of them.

Little John clucked his teeth drolly at this sight. "By my troth, a gay bird!" he said echoing the other's

wordsthen added, "But not so bad a build for all his prettiness. Look you, those calves and thighs are well

rounded and straight. The arms, for all that goldwrought cloak, hang stoutly from full shoulders. I warrant

"Nay," retorted Robin, "he is naught but a ladies' man from court. My longbow 'gainst a plugged shilling

that he would run and bellow lustily at sight of a quarterstaff. Stay you behind this bush and I will soon get

some rare sport out of him. Belike his silk purse may contain more pennies than the law allows to one man in

So saying Robin Hood stepped forth briskly from the covert and planted himself in the way of the scarlet

stranger. The latter had walked so slowly that he was scarce come to their restingplace; and now on

beholding Robin he neither slackened nor quickened his pace but sauntered idly straight ahead, looking to the

right and to the left, with the finest air in the world, but never once at Robin.

"Hold!" quoth the outlaw. "What mean ye by running thus over a wayfarer, rough shod?"

"Wherefore should I hold, good fellow?" said the stranger in a smooth voice, and looking at Robin for the

"What my name is matters not," said Robin; "but know that I am a public taxgatherer and equalizer of

shillings. If your purse have more than a just number of shillings or pence, I must e'en lighten it somewhat;

for there are many worthy people round about these borders who have less than the just amount. Wherefore,

sweet gentleman, I pray you hand over your purse without more ado, that I may judge of its weight in proper

"You are a droll fellow," he said calmly. "Your speech amuses me mightily. Pray continue, if you have not

"I have said all with my tongue that is needful," retorted Robin, beginning to grow red under the collar.

"Nathless, I have other arguments which may not be so pleasing to your dainty skin. Prithee, stand and

"Alackaday!" said the stranger with a little shrug of his shoulders; "I am deeply sorrowful that I cannot

show my purse to every rough lout that asks to see it. But I really could not, as I have further need of it

"Nay that will I not! and 'twill go the harder with you if you do not yield at once."

"Good fellow," said the other gently, "have I not heard all your speech with patience? Now that is all I

promised to do. My conscience is salved and I must go on my way. Toroloroleloo!" he caroled,

"Hold, I say!" quoth Robin hotly; for he knew how Little John must be chuckling at this from behind the

bushes. "Hold I say, else I shall have to bloody those fair locks of yours!" And he swung his quarterstaff

"Alas!" moaned the stranger shaking his head. "The pity of it all! Now I shall have to run this fellow through

with my sword! And I hoped to be a peaceable man henceforth!" And sighing deeply he drew his shining

"Put by your weapon," said Robin. "It is too pretty a piece of steel to get cracked with common oak cudgel;

and that is what would happen on the first pass I made at you. Get you a stick like mine out of yon

The stranger thought a moment with his usual slowness, and eyed Robin from head to foot. Then he

unbuckled his scabbard, laid it and the sword aside, and walked deliberately over to the oak thicket. Choosing

from among the shoots and saplings he found a stout little tree to his liking, when he laid hold of it, without

stopping to cut it, and gave a tug. Up it came root and all, as though it were a stalk of corn, and the stranger

walked back trimming it as quietly as though pulling up trees were the easiest thing in the world.

Little John from his hidingplace saw the feat, and could hardly restrain a long whistle. "By our Lady!" he

Whatever Robin thought upon seeing the stranger's strength, he uttered not a word and budged not an inch.

There was a threefold surprise that day, by the brookside. The stranger and Robin and Little John in the

bushes all found a combat that upset all reckoning. The stranger for all his easy strength and cool nerve found

an antagonist who met his blows with the skill of a woodman. Robin found the stranger as hard to hit as

though fenced in by an oak hedge. While Little John rolled over and over in silent joy.

Back and forth swayed the fighters, their cudgels pounding this way and that, knocking off splinters and bark,

and threatening direst damage to bone and muscle and skin. Back and forth they pranced kicking up a cloud

of dust and gasping for fresh air. From a little way off you would have vowed that these two men were trying

to put out a fire, so thickly hung the cloud of battle over them. Thrice did Robin smite the scarlet manwith

such blows that a less stout fellow must have bowled over. Only twice did the scarlet man smite Robin, but

the second blow was like to finish him. The first had been delivered over the knuckles, and though 'twas a

glancing stroke it well nigh broke Robin's fingers, so that he could not easily raise his staff again. And while

he was dancing about in pain and muttering a dustcovered oath, the other's staff came swinging through the

cloud at one sidezip!and struck him under the arm. Down went Robin as though he were a

ninepinflat down into the dust of the road. But despite the pain he was bounding up again like an India

"Hold!" said he, bursting out of the bushes and seizing the stranger's weapon. "Hold, I say!"

"Nay," retorted the stranger quietly, "I was not offering to smite him while he was down. But if there be a

whole nest of you hatching here by the waterside, cluck out the other chicks and I'll make shift to fight them

"Not for all the deer in Sherwood!" cried Robin. "You are a good fellow and a gentleman. I'll fight no more

with you, for verily I feel sore in wrist and body. Nor shall any of mine molest you henceforth."

Sooth to say, Robin did not look in good fighting trim. His clothes were coated with dirt, one of his hosen had

slipped halfway down from his knee, the sleeve of his jerkin was split, and his face was streaked with sweat

"How now, good master," quoth he, "the sport you were to kick up has left you in sorry plight. Let me dust

"Marry, it has been dusted enough already," replied Robin; "and I now believe the Scripture saying that all

men are but dust, for it has sifted me through and through and lined my gullet an inch deep. By your

All this while the stranger had been eyeing Robin attentively and listening to his voice as though striving to

"If I mistake not," he said slowly at last, "you are that famous outlaw, Robin Hood of Barnesdale."

"You say right," replied Robin; "but my fame has been tumbling sadly about in the dust today."

"Now why did I not know you at once?" continued the stranger. "This battle need not have happened, for I

came abroad to find you today, and thought to have remembered your face and speech. Know you not me,

"Ha! Will Gamewell! my dear old chum, Will Gamewell!" shouted Robin, throwing his arms about the other

in sheer affection. "What an ass I was not to recognize you! But it has been years since we parted, and your

"We are quits on not knowing kinsmen," he said, "for you have changed and strengthened much from the

"But why seek you me?" asked Robin. "You know I am an outlaw and dangerous company. And how left you

"Your last question first," answered Will, laughing, "for I perceive that it lies nearest your heart. I saw Maid

Marian not many weeks after the great shooting at Nottingham, when you won her the golden arrow. She

prizes the bauble among her dearest possessions, though it has made her an enemy in the Sheriff's proud

daughter. Maid Marian bade me tell you, if I ever saw you, that she must return to Queen Eleanor's court, but

she could never forget the happy days in the greenwood. As for the old Squire, he is still hale and hearty,

though rheumatic withal. He speaks of you as a sad young dog, but for all that is secretly proud of your skill

at the bow and of the way you are pestering the Sheriff, whom he likes not. 'Twas for my father's sake that I

am now in the open, an outlaw like yourself. He has had a steward, a surly fellow enough, who, while I was

away at school, bootlicked his way to favor until he lorded it over the whole house. Then he grew right

saucy and impudent, but my father minded it not, deeming the fellow indispensable in managing the estate.

But when I came back it irked me sorely to see the fellow strut about as though he owned the place. He was

sly enough with me at first, and would browbeat the Squire only while I was out of earshot. It chanced one

day, however, that I heard loud voices through an open window and paused to hearken. That vile servant

called my father 'a meddling old fool,' 'Fool and meddler art thou thyself, varlet,' I shouted, springing through

the window, 'THAT for thy impudence!' and in my heat I smote him a blow mightier than I intended, for I

have some strength in mine arm. The fellow rolled over and never breathed afterwards, I think I broke his

neck or something the like. Then I knew that the Sheriff would use this as a pretext to hound my father, if I

tarried. So I bade the Squire farewell and told him I would seek you in Sherwood."

"Now by my halidom!" said Robin Hood; "for a man escaping the law, you took it about as coolly as one

could wish. To see you come tripping along decked out in all your gay plumage and trolling forth a

roundelay, one would think you had not a care in all the world. Indeed I remarked to Little John here that I

"Belike you meant HEAD," laughed Will; "and is this Little John the Great? Shake hands with me, an you

will, and promise me to cross a staff with me in friendly bout some day in the forest!"

"That will I!" quoth Little John heartily. "Here's my hand on it. What is your last name again, say you?"

"'Tis to be changed," interposed Robin; "then shall the men armed with warrants go hang for all of us. Let me

bethink myself. Ah!I have it! In scarlet he came to us, and that shall be his name henceforth. Welcome to

"Aye, welcome, Will Scarlet!" said Little John; and they all clasped hands again and swore to be true each to

In summer time when leaves grow green, and flowers are fresh and gay, Robin Hood and his merry men were

all disposed to play. Thus runs a quaint old ballad which begins the next adventure. Then some would leap

and some would run and some try archery and some ply the quarterstaff and some fall to with the good

broad sword. Some again would try a round at buffet and fisticuff; and thus by every variety of sport and

exercise they perfected themselves in skill and made the band and its prowess well known throughout all

It had been a custom of Robin Hood's to pick out the best men in all the countryside. Whenever he heard of

one more than usually skilled in any feat of arms he would seek the man and test him in personal

encounterwhich did not always end happily for Robin. And when he had found a man to his liking he

Thus it came about that one day after a practice at shooting, in which Little John struck down a hart at five

"God's blessing on your heart!" he cried, clapping the burly fellow on the shoulder; "I would travel an

"There lives a curtall friar in Fountain's AbbeyTuck, by namewho can beat both him and you," he said.

"By our Lady," he said, "I'll neither eat nor drink till I see this same friar."

And with his usual impetuosity he at once set about arming himself for the adventure. On his head he placed

a cap of steel. Underneath his Lincoln green he wore a coat of chain metal. Then with sword and buckler

girded at his side he made a goodly show. But he also took with him his stout yew bow and a sheaf of chosen

So he set forth upon his way with blithe heart; for it was a day when the whole face of the earth seemed glad

and rejoicing in pulsing life. Steadily he pressed forward by winding ways till he came to a green broad

pasture land at whose edge flowed a stream dipping in and out among the willows and rushes on the banks. A

pleasant stream it was, but it flowed calmly as though of some depth in the middle. Robin did not fancy

getting his feet wet, or his fine suit of mail rusted, so he paused on the hither bank to rest and take his

As he sat down quietly under the shade of a drooping willow he heard snatches of a jovial song floating to

him from the farther side; then came a sound of two men's voices arguing. One was upholding the merits of

hasty pudding and the other stood out stoutly for meat pie, "especiallyquoth this one"when flavored

"Gramercy!" muttered Robin to himself, "that is a tantalizing speech to a hungry man! But, odds bodikins!

In truth Robin could well marvel at the speech, for the voices were curiously alike.

Presently the willows parted on the other bank, and Robin could hardly forebear laughing out right. His

mystery was explained. It was not two men who had done all this singing and talking, but oneand that one

a stout curtall friar who wore a long cloak over his portly frame, tied with a cord in the middle. On his head

was a knight's helmet, and in his hand was a no more warlike weapon than a huge pasty pie, with which he

sat down by the water's edge. His twofold argument was finished. The meat pie had triumphed; and no

But first the friar took off his helmet to cool his head, and a droll picture he made. His head was as round as

an apple, and eke as smooth in spots. A fringe of close curling black hair grew round the base of his skull, but

his crown was bare and shiny as an egg. His cheeks also were smooth and red and shiny; and his little gray

eyes danced about with the funniest air imaginable. You would not have blamed Robin Hood for wanting to

laugh, had you heard this serious twofaced talk and then seen this jovial onefaced man. Good humor and

fat living stood out all over him; yet for all that he looked stout enough and able to take care of himself with

any man. His short neck was thick like that of a Berkshire bull; his shoulders were set far back, and his arms

sprouted therefrom like two oak limbs. As he sat him down, the cloak fell apart disclosing a sword and

Nathless, Robin was not dismayed at sight of the weapons. Instead, his heart fell within him when he saw the

meat pie which was now in fair way to be devoured before his very eyes; for the friar lost no time in thrusting

"Hey, friar!" he sang out, "carry me over the water, or else I cannot answer for your safety."

The other started at the unexpected greeting, and laid his hand upon his sword. Then he looked up and beheld

"Put down your bow, fellow," he shouted back, "and I will bring you over the brook. 'Tis our duty in life to

help each other, and your keen shaft shows me that you are a man worthy of some attention." So the friar

knight got him up gravely, though his eyes twinkled with a cunning light, and laid aside his beloved pie and

his cloak and his sword and his buckler, and waded across the stream with waddling dignity. Then he took

Robin Hood upon his back and spoke neither good word nor bad till he came to the other side.

Lightly leaped Robin off his back, and said, "I am much beholden to you, good father."

"Beholden, say you!" rejoined the other drawing his sword; "then by my faith you shall e'en repay your score.

Now mine own affairs, which are of a spiritual kind and much more important than yours which are carnal,

lie on the other side of this stream. I see that you are a likely man and one, moreover, who would not refuse

to serve the church. I must therefore pray of you that whatsoever I have done unto you, you will do also unto

Courteously enough was this said; but so suddenly had the friar drawn his sword that Robin had no time to

unsling his bow from his back, whither he had placed it to avoid getting it wet, or to unfasten his scabbard. So

"Are your feet any better than mine?" retorted the other. "I fear me now that I have already wetted myself so

"I am not so strong as you," continued Robin; "that helmet and sword and buckler would be my undoing on

"Then I will lighten up, somewhat," replied the other calmly. "Promise to carry me across and I will lay aside

"Agreed," said Robin; and the friar thereupon stripped himself; and Robin bent his stout back and took him

Now the stones at the bottom of the stream were round and slippery, and the current swept along strongly,

waistdeep, in the middle. Moreover Robin had a heavier load than the other had borne, nor did he know

the ford. So he went stumbling along now stepping into a deep hole, now stumbling over a boulder in a

manner that threatened to unseat his rider or plunge them both clear under current. But the fat friar hung on

and dug his heels into his steed's ribs in as gallant manner as if he were riding in a tournament; while as for

poor Robin the sweat ran down him in torrents and he gasped like the winded horse he was. But at last he

"Now, holy friar," quoth he, panting and wiping the sweat from his brow, "what say the Scriptures that you

quote so glibly?Be not weary of well doing. You must carry me back again or I swear that I will make a

The friar's gray eyes once more twinkled with a cunning gleam that boded no good to Robin; but his voice

"Your wits are keen, my son," he said; "and I see that the waters of the stream have not quenched your spirit.

Once more will I bend my back to the oppressor and carry the weight of the haughty."

So Robin mounted again in high glee, and carried his sword in his hand, and went prepared to tarry upon the

other side. But while he was bethinking himself what great words to use, when he should arrive thither, he

felt himself slipping from the friar's broad back. He clutched frantically to save himself but had too round a

surface to grasp, besides being hampered by his weapon. So down went he with a loud splash into the middle

"There!" quoth the holy man; "choose you, choose you, my fine fellow, whether you will sink or swim!" And

he gained his own bank without more ado, while Robin thrashed and spluttered about until he made shift to

Then Robin's rage waxed furious, despite his wetting, and he took his bow and his arrows and let fly one

shaft after another at the worthy friar. But they rattled harmlessly off his steel buckler, while he laughed and

"Shoot on, shoot on, good fellow," he sang out; "shoot as you have begun; if you shoot here a summer's day,

So Robin shot, and passing well, till all his arrows were gone, when from very rage he began to revile him.

"You bloody villain!" shouted he, "You psalmsinging hypocrite! You reviler of good hasty pudding! Come

but within reach of my sword arm, and, friar or no friar, I'll shave your tonsure closer than ever baldpated

"Soft you and fair!" said the friar unconcernedly; "hard words are cheap, and you may need your wind

presently. An you would like a bout with swords, meet me halfway i' the stream."

And with this speech the friar waded into the brook, sword in hand, where he was met halfway by the

Thereupon began a fierce and mighty battle. Up and down, in and out, back and forth they fought. The

swords flashed in the rays of the declining sun and then met with a clash that would have shivered less sturdy

weapons or disarmed less sturdy wielders. Many a smart blow was landed, but each perceived that the other

wore an undercoat of linked mail which might not be pierced. Nathless, their ribs ached at the force of the

blows. Once and again they paused by mutual consent and caught breath and looked hard each at the other;

Finally in a furious onset of lunge and parry Robin's foot stepped on a rolling stone, and he went down upon

his knees. But his antagonist would not take this advantage: he paused until Robin should get upon his feet.

"Now by our Lady!" cried the outlaw, using his favorite oath, "you are the fairest swordsman that I have met

"That will I do," said the curtall friar, "blow till your breath fails, an it please you."

Then, says the old ballad, Robin Hood set his horn to mouth and blew mighty blasts; and half a hundred

"These men are mine," said Robin Hood, feeling that his time to laugh was come at last.

Then said the friar in his turn, "A boon, a boon, the like I gave to you. Give me leave to set my fist to my

The friar set his fist to his mouth and put the horn to shame by the piercing whistles he blew; whereupon half

a hundred great dogs came running and jumping so swiftly that they had reached their bank as soon as Robin

Then followed a rare foolish conflict. Stutely, Much, Little John and the other outlaws began sending their

arrows whizzing toward the opposite bank; but the dogs, which were taught of the friar, dodged the missiles

cleverly and ran and fetched them back again, just as the dogs of today catch sticks.

"Take off your dogs, Friar Tuck!" shouted Will Scarlet, who had but then run up, and who now stood

"Friar Tuck!" exclaimed Robin, astounded. "Are you Friar Tuck? Then am I your friend, for you are he I

"I am but a poor anchorite, a curtall friar," said the other, whistling to his pack, "by name Friar Tuck of

Fountain's Dale. For seven years have I tended the Abbey here, preached o' Sundays, and married and

christened and buried folkand fought too, if need were; and if it smacks not too much of boasting, I have

not yet met the knight or trooper or yeoman that I would yield before. But yours is a stout blade. I would fain

"'Tis Robin Hood, the outlaw, who has been assisting you at this christening," said Will Scarlet glancing

roguishly at the two opponents' dripping garments. And at this sally the whole bad burst into a shout of

"Robin Hood!" cried the good friar presently, holding his sides; "are you indeed that famous yeoman? Then I

like you well; and had I known you earlier, would have both carried you across and shared my pasty pie with

"To speak soothly," replied Robin gaily, "'twas that same pie that led me to be rude. Now, therefore, bring it

and your dogs and repair with us to the greenwood. We have need of youwith this message came I today

to seek you. We will build you a hermitage in Sherwood Forest, and you shall keep us from evil ways. Will

"Marry, that will I!" cried Friar Tuck jovially. "Once more will I cross this much beforded stream, and go

Friar Tuck and Much the miller's son soon became right good friends over the steaming stew they jointly

prepared for the merry men that evening. Tuck was mightily pleased when he found a man in the forest who

could make pasties and who had cooked for no less person than the High Sheriff himself. While Much

marveled at the friar's knowledge of herbs and simples and woodland things which savored a stew greatly. So

they gabbled together like two old gossips and, between them, made such a tasty mess that Robin Hood and

his stout followers were like never to leave off eating. And the friar said grace too, with great unction, over

the food; and Robin said Amen! and that henceforth they were always to have mass of Sundays.

So Robin walked forth into the wood that evening with his stomach full and his heart, therefore, in great

contentment and love for other men. He did not stop the first passerby, as his manner often was, and desire a

fight. Instead, he stepped behind a tree, when he heard a man's voice in song, and waited to behold the singer.

Perhaps he remembered, also, the merry chanting of Will Scarlet, and how he had tried to give it pause a few

Like Will, this fellow was clad in scarlet, though he did not look quite as fine a gentleman. Nathless, he was a

sturdy yeoman of honest face and a voice far sweeter than Will's. He seemed to be a strolling minstrel, for he

bore a harp in his hand, which he thrummed, while his lusty tenor voice rang out with

"Hey down, and a down, and a down! I've a lassie back i' the town; Come day, come night, Come dark or

"'Tis not in me to disturb a lighthearted lover, this night," he muttered, a memory of Marian coming back to

him. "Pray heaven she may be true to him and the wedding be a gay one 'back i' the town!"'

"If any of ye set on him after this," quoth he in ending, "bring him to me, for I would have speech with him."

The very next day his wish was gratified. Little John and Much the miller's son were out together on a

foraging expedition when they espied the same young man; at least, they thought it must be he, for he was

clad in scarlet and carried a harp in his hand. But now he came drooping along the way; his scarlet was all in

"Ho! do not wet the earth with your weeping," said Little John, "else we shall all have lumbago."

No sooner did the young man catch sight of them than he bent his bow, and held an arrow back to his ear.

"Put by your weapon," said Much, "we will not harm you. But you must come before our master straight,

So the minstrel put by his bow and suffered himself to be led before Robin Hood.

"How now!" quoth Robin, when he beheld his sorry countenance, "are you not he whom I heard no longer

"The same in body, good sir," replied the other sadly; "but my spirit is grievously changed."

"That can no man on earth, I fear," said the stranger; "nathless, I'll tell you the tale. Yesterday I stood pledged

to a maid, and thought soon to wed her. But she has been taken from me and is to become an old knight's

bride this very day; and as for me, I care not what ending comes to my days, or how soon, without her."

"Look you, worship, 'tis this way. The Normans overrun us, and are in such great favor that none may say

them nay. This old returned Crusader coveted the land whereon my lady dwells. The estate is not large, but

all in her own right; whereupon her brother says she shall wed a title, and he and the old knight have fixed it

"Hear me out, worship," said the other. "Belike you think me a sorry dog not to make fight of this. But the old

knight, look you, is not comeatable. I threw one of his varlets into a thorn hedge, and another into a

waterbutt, and a third landed headfirst into a ditch. But I couldn't do any fighting at all."

"'Tis a pity!" quoth Little John gravely. He had been sitting crosslegged listening to this tale of woe. "What

"By our troth, she loved me right well," said the minstrel. "I have a little ring of hers by me which I have kept

"What will you give me, AllanaDale," said Robin Hood, "in ready gold or fee, to help you to your true

"I have no money, save only five shillings," quoth Allan; "butare you not Robin Hood?"

"Then you, if any one, can aid me!" said AllanaDale eagerly. "And if you give me back my love, I swear

"At Plympton Church, scarce five miles from here; and at three o' the afternoon."

"Then to Plympton we will go!" cried Robin suddenly springing into action; and he gave out orders like a

general: "Will Stutely, do you have fourandtwenty good men over against Plympton Church 'gainst three o'

the afternoon. Much, good fellow, do you cook up some porridge for this youth, for he must have a good

round stomachaye, and a better gear! Will Scarlet, you will see to decking him out bravely for the nonce.

And Friar Tuck, hold yourself in readiness, good book in hand, at the church. Mayhap you had best go ahead

The fat Bishop of Hereford was full of pomp and importance that day at Plympton Church. He was to

celebrate the marriage of an old knighta returned Crusaderand a landed young woman; and all the

gentry thereabout were to grace the occasion with their presence. The church itself was gaily festooned with

flowers for the ceremony, while out in the churchyard at one side brown ale flowed freely for all the

Already were the guests beginning to assemble, when the Bishop, back in the vestry, saw a minstrel clad in

green walk up boldly to the door and peer within. It was Robin Hood, who had borrowed Allan's beribboned

"Now who are you, fellow?" quoth the Bishop, "and what do you here at the churchdoor with you harp and

"May it please your Reverence," returned Robin bowing very humbly, "I am but a strolling harper, yet

likened the best in the whole North Countree. And I had hope that my thrumming might add zest to the

"I can harp a tune so merry that a forlorn lover will forget he is jilted," said Robin. "I can harp another tune

that will make a bride forsake her lord at the altar. I can harp another tune that will bring loving souls

together though they were up hill and down dale five good miles away from each other."

"Then welcome, good minstrel," said the Bishop, "music pleases me right well, and if you can play up to your

prattle, 'twill indeed grace your ceremony. Let us have a sample of your wares."

"Nay, I must not put finger to string until the bride and groom have come. Such a thing would ill fortune both

Then up the lane to the church came the old knight, preceded by ten archers liveried in scarlet and gold. A

brave sight the archers made, but their master walked slowly leaning upon a cane and shaking as though in a

And after them came a sweet lass leaning upon her brother's arm. Her hair did shine like glistering gold, and

her eyes were like blue violets that peep out shyly at the sun. The color came and went in her cheeks like that

tinting of a seashell, and her face was flushed as though she had been weeping. But now she walked with a

proud air, as though she defied the world to crush her spirit. She had but two maids with her, finikin lasses,

with black eyes and broad bosoms, who set off their lady's more delicate beauty well. One held up the bride's

"Now by all the wedding bells that ever were rung!" quoth Robin boldly, "this is the worst matched pair that

The Bishop had hurriedly donned his gown and now stood ready to meet the couple at the chancel.

But Robin paid no heed to him. He let the knight and his ten archers pass by, then he strode up to the bride,

"Courage, lady!" he whispered, "there is another minstrel near, who mayhap may play more to your liking."

The lady glanced at him with a frightened air, but read such honesty and kindness in his glance that she

"Nay, but I am to bring good fortune to the bride by accompanying her through the churchdoors," said

Thereupon he was allowed to walk by her side unmolested, up to the chancel with the party.

"Right gladly will I," quoth Robin, "an you will let me choose my instrument. For sometimes I like the harp,

And he drew forth his bugle from underneath his green cloak and blew three winding notes that made the

"Seize him!" yelled the Bishop; "there's mischief afoot! These are the tricks of Robin Hood!"

The ten liveried archers rushed forward from the rear of the church, where they had been stationed. But their

rush was blocked by the onlookers who now rose from their pews in alarm and crowded the aisles.

Meanwhile Robin had leaped lightly over the chancel rail and stationed himself in a nook by the altar.

"Stand where you are!" he shouted, drawing his bow, "the first man to pass the rail dies the death. And all ye

who have come to witness a wedding stay in your seats. We shall e'en have one, since we are come into the

Then up rose another great commotion at the door, and fourandtwenty good bowmen came marching in

with Will Stutely at their head. And they seized the ten liveried archers and the bride's scowling brother and

Then in came AllanaDale, decked out gaily, with Will Scarlet for best man. And they walked gravely

"Before a maiden weds she choosesan the laws of good King Harry be just ones," said Robin. "Now,

The maiden answered not in words, but smiled with a glad light in her eyes, and walked over to Allan and

"That is her true love," said Robin. "Young Allan instead of the gouty knight. And the true lovers shall be

married at this time before we depart away. Now my lord Bishop, proceed with the ceremony!"

"Nay, that shall not be," protested the Bishop; "the banns must be cried three times in the church. Such is the

"Come here, Little John," called Robin impatiently; and plucked off the Bishop's frock from his back and put

Now the Bishop was short and fat, and Little John was long and lean. The gown hung loosely over Little

John's shoulders and came only to his waist. He was a fine comical sight, and the people began to laugh

"By the faith o' my body," said Robin, "this cloth makes you a man. You're the finest Bishop that ever I saw

So Little John clambered awkwardly into the quire, his short gown fluttering gaily; and he called the banns

"That's not enough," said Robin; "your gown is so short that you must talk longer."

"Good enough!" said Robin. "Now belike I see a worthy friar in the back of this church who can say a better

service than ever my lord Bishop of Hereford. My lord Bishop shall be witness and seal the papers, but do

So Friar Tuck, who all along had been back in one corner of the church, came forward; and Allan and his

maid kneeled before him, while the old knight, held an unwilling witness, gnashed his teeth in impotent rage;

When he asked, "Who giveth this woman?" Robin stepped up and answered in a clear voice:

"I do! I, Robin Hood of Barnesdale and Sherwood! And he who takes her from AllanaDale shall buy her

So the twain were declared man and wife and duly blessed; and the bride was kissed by each sturdy yeoman

Now I cannot end this jolly tale better than in the words of the ballad which came out of the happening and

"And thus having end of this merry wedding, The bride lookt like a queen; And so they returned to the merry

The weddingparty was a merry one that left Plympton Church, I ween; but not so merry were the ones left

behind. My lord Bishop of Hereford was stuck up in the organloft and left, gownless and fuming. The ten

liveried archers were variously disposed about the church to keep him company; two of them being locked in

a tiny crypt, three in the belfry, "to ring us a wedding peal," as Robin said; and the others under quire seats or

in the vestry. The bride's brother at her entreaty was released, but bidden not to return to the church that day

or interfere with his sister again on pain of death. While the rusty old knight was forced to climb a high tree,

where he sat insecurely perched among the branches, feebly cursing the party as it departed.

It was then approaching sundown, but none of the retainers or villagers dared rescue the imprisoned ones that

night, for fear of Robin Hood's men. So it was not until sunup the next day, that they were released. The

Bishop and the old knight, stiff as they were, did not delay longer than for breakfast, but so great was their

rage and shamemade straight to Nottingham and levied the Sheriff's forces. The Sheriff himself was not

anxious to try conclusions again with Robin in the open. Perhaps he had some slight scruples regarding his

oath. But the others swore that they would go straight to the King, if he did not help them, so he was fain to

A force of an hundred picked men from the Royal Foresters and swordsmen of the shire was gathered

together and marched straightway into the greenwood. There, as fortune would have it, they surprised some

score of outlaws hunting, and instantly gave chase. But they could not surround the outlaws, who kept well in

the lead, ever and anon dropping behind a log or boulder to speed back a shaft which meant mischief to the

pursuers. One shaft indeed carried off the Sheriff's hat and caused that worthy man to fall forward upon his

horse's neck from sheer terror; while five other arrows landed in the fleshy parts of Foresters' arms.

But the attacking party was not wholly unsuccessful. One outlaw in his flight stumbled and fell; when two

others instantly stopped and helped to put him on his feet again. They were the widow's three sons, Stout

Will, and Lester, and John. The pause was an unlucky one for them, as a party of Sheriff's men got above

them and cut them off from their fellows. Swordsmen came up in the rear, and they were soon hemmed in on

every side. But they gave good account of themselves, and before they had been overborne by force of

The infuriated attackers were almost on the point of hewing the stout outlaws to pieces, when the Sheriff

"Hold! Bind the villains! We will follow the law in this and take them to the town jail. But I promise ye the

biggest public hanging that has been seen in this shire for many changes of the moon!"

So they bound the widow's three sons and carried them back speedily to Nottingham.

Now Robin Hood had not chanced to be near the scene of the fight, or with his men; so for a time he heard

But that evening while returning to the camp he was met by the widow herself, who came weeping along the

"What news, what news, good woman?" said Robin hastily but courteously; for he liked her well.

"God save ye, Master Robin!" said the dame wildly. "God keep ye from the fate that has met my three sons!

"Now, by our Lady! That cuts me to the heart! Stout Will, and Lester, and merry John! The earliest friends I

had in the band, and still among the bravest! It must not be! When is this hanging set?"

"By the truth o' my body," quoth Robin, "you could not tell me in better time. The memory of the old days

when you freely bade me sup and dine would spur me on, even if three of the bravest lads in all the shire

"'Tis dire danger I am asking ye to face," she said weeping; "and yet I knew your brave true heart would

answer me. Heaven help ye, good Master Robin, to answer a poor widow's prayers!"

Then Robin Hood sped straightway to the forestcamp, where he heard the details of the skirmishhow that

his men had been outnumbered five to one, but got off safely, as they thought, until a count of their

"We must rescue them, my men!" quoth Robin, "even from out the shadow of the rope itself!"

Robin walked apart a little way with his head leaned thoughtfully upon his breastfor he was sore

troubledwhen whom should he meet but an old begging palmer, one of a devout order which made

This old fellow walked boldly up to Robin and asked alms of him; since Robin had been wont to aid

"What news, what news, thou foolish old man?" said Robin, "what news, I do thee pray?"

"Three squires in Nottingham town," quoth the palmer, "are condemned to die. Belike that is greater news

"Come, change thine apparel with me, old man," he said, "and I'll give thee forty shillings in good silver to

"O, thine apparel is good," the palmer protested, "and mine is ragged and torn. The holy church teaches that

"I am in simple earnest, I say. Come, change thine apparel with mine. Here are twenty pieces of good broad

So the palmer was persuaded; and Robin put on the old man's hat, which stood full high in the crown; and his

cloak, patched with black and blue and red, like Joseph's coat of many colors in its old age; and his breeches,

which had been sewed over with so many patterns that the original was scarce discernible; and his tattered

hose; and his shoes, cobbled above and below. And while as he made the change in dress he made so many

whimsical comments also about a man's pride and the dress that makes a man, that the palmer was like to

I warrant you, the two were comical sights when they parted company that day. Nathless, Robin's own

The next morning the whole town of Nottingham was early astir, and as soon as the gates were open

countryfolk began to pour in; for a triple hanging was not held there every day in the week, and the bustle

Robin Hood in his palmer's disguise was one of the first ones to enter the gates, and he strolled up and down

and around the town as though he had never been there before in all his life. Presently he came to the

"For three of Robin Hood's men," answered the other. "And it were Robin himself, 'twould be thrice as high I

"Ha!" said the soldier, "he may be bold enough out behind stumps i' the forest, but the open marketplace is

"That hath the Sheriff not decided. But here he comes now to answer his own questions." And the soldier

came to stiff attention as the Sheriff and his bodyguard stalked pompously up to inspect the gallows.

"O, Heaven save you, worshipful Sheriff!" said the palmer. "Heaven protect you! What will you give a silly

"Naught save a poor old palmer. But I can shrive their souls and hang their bodies most devoutly."

"Very good," replied the other. "The fee today is thirteen pence; and I will add thereunto some suits of

"God bless ye!" said the palmer. And he went with the soldier to the jail to prepare his three men for

Just before the stroke of noon the doors of the prison opened and the procession of the condemned came

forth. Down through the long lines of packed people they walked to the marketplace, the palmer in the lead,

At the gallows foot they halted. The palmer whispered to them, as though offering last words of consolation;

and the three men, with arms bound tightly behind their backs, ascended the scaffold, followed by their

Then Robin stepped to the edge of the scaffold, while the people grew still as death; for they desired to hear

the last words uttered to the victims. But Robin's voice did not quaver forth weakly, as formerly, and his

"Hark ye, proud Sheriff!" he cried. "I was ne'er a hangman in all my life, nor do I now intend to begin that

trade. Accurst be he who first set the fashion of hanging! I have but three more words to say. Listen to them!"

And forth from the robe he drew his horn and blew three loud blasts thereon. Then his keen huntingknife

flew forth and in a trice, Stout Will, Lester, and merry John were free men and had sprung forward and seized

"Seize them! 'Tis Robin Hood!" screamed the Sheriff, "an hundred pounds if ye hold them, dead or alive!"

But their voices were drowned in the uproar that ensued immediately after Robin blew his horn. He himself

had drawn his sword and leaped down the stairs from the scaffold, followed by his three men. The guard had

closed around them in vain effort to disarm them, when "A rescuer" shouted Will Stutely's clear voice on one

side of them, and "A rescue!" bellowed Little John's on the other; and down through the terrorstricken

crowd rushed fourscore men in Lincoln green, their force seeming twice that number in the confusion. With

swords drawn they fell upon the guard from every side at once. There was a brief clash of hot weapons, then

the guard scattered wildly, and Robin Hood's men formed in a compact mass around their leader and forced

In truth, the peril would have been even greater, had this last order been carried out. But Will Scarlet and

AllanaDale had foreseen that event, and had already overpowered the two warders.

The soldiers rallied a force of twice their number and tried resolutely to pierce their center. But the retreating

force turned thrice and sent such volleys of keen arrows from their good yew bows, that they kept a distance

And thus the gate was reached, and the long road leading up the hill, and at last the protecting greenwood

itself. The soldiers dared come no farther. And the widow's three sons, I warrant you, supped more heartily

One bright morning, soon after the stirring events told in the last chapter, Robin wandered forth alone down

the road to Barnesdale, to see if aught had come of the Sheriff's pursuit. But all was still and serene and

peaceful. No one was in sight save a solitary beggar who came sturdily along his way in Robin's direction.

The beggar caught sight of Robin, at the same moment, as he emerged from the trees, but gave no sign of

having seen him. He neither slackened nor quickened his pace, but jogged forward merrily, whistling as he

came, and beating time by punching holes in the dusty road with the stout pikestaff in his hand.

The curious look of the fellow arrested Robin's attention, and he decided to stop and talk with him. The

fellow was barelegged and barearmed, and wore a long shift of a shirt, fastened with a belt. About his neck

He had three hats upon his head, Together sticked fast, He cared neither for the wind nor wet, In lands

The fellow looked so fat and hearty, and the wallet on his shoulder seemed so well filled, that Robin thought

"Ha! this is a lucky beggar for me! If any of them have money, this is the chap, and, marry, he should share it

"Sirrah, fellow!" quoth he; "whither away so fast? Tarry, for I would have speech with ye!"

The beggar made as though he heard him not, and kept straight on with his faring.

"Tarry, I say, fellow!" said Robin again; "for there's a way to make folks obey!"

"Nay, 'tis not so," answered the beggar, speaking for the first time; "I obey no man in all England, not even

the King himself. So let me pass on my way, for 'tis growing late, and I have still far to go before I can care

"Now, by my troth," said Robin, once more getting in front of the other, "I see well by your fat countenance,

that you lack not for good food, while I go hungry. Therefore you must lend me of your means till we meet

"I have no money to lend," said the beggar crossly. "Methinks you are as young a man as 1, and as well able

to earn a supper. So go your way, and I'll go mine. If you fast till you get aught out of me, you'll go hungry

"Not while I have a stout stick to thwack your saucy bones!" cried Robin. "Stand and deliver, I say, or I'll

dust your shirt for you; and if that will not teach you manners, then we'll see what a broad arrow can do with

The beggar smiled, and answered boast with boast. "Come on with your staff, fellow! I care no more for it

And with amazing quickness, he swung his pikestaff around and knocked Robin's bow clean out of his

hand, so that his fingers smarted with pain. Robin danced and tried to bring his own staff into action; but the

beggar never gave him a chance. Biff! whack! came the pikestaff, smiting him soundly and beating down

There were but two things to do; either stand there and take a sound drubbing, or beat a hasty retreat. Robin

chose the latteras you or I would probably have doneand scurried back into the wood, blowing his horn

"Fie, for shame, man!" jeered the bold beggar after him. "What is your haste? We had but just begun. Stay

and take your money, else you will never be able to pay your reckoning at the tavern!"

But Robin answered him never a word. He fled up hill and down dale till he met three of his men who were

"'Tis a saucy beggar," said Robin, catching his breath. "He is back there on the highroad with the hardest stick

I've met in a good many days. He gave me no chance to reason with him, the dirty scamp!"

The menMuch and two of the widow's sonscould scarce conceal their mirth at the thought of Robin

Hood running from a beggar. Nathless, they kept grave faces, and asked their leader if he was hurt.

"Nay," he replied, "but I shall speedily feel better if you will fetch me that same beggar and let me have a fair

So the three yeomen made haste and came out upon the highroad and followed after the beggar, who was

going smoothly along his way again, as though he were at peace with all the world.

"The easiest way to settle this beggar," said Much, "is to surprise him. Let us cut through yon neck of woods

"Now!" quoth Much; and the other two sprang quickly upon the beggar's back and wrested his pikestaff

from his hand. At the same moment Much drew his dagger and flashed it before the fellow's breast.

"Yield you, my man!" cried he; "for a friend of ours awaits you in the wood, to teach you how to fight

"Give me a fair chance," said the beggar valiantly, "and I'll fight you all at once."

But they would not listen to him. Instead, they turned him about and began to march him toward the forest.

"Good my masters," quoth he, "why use this violence? I will go with ye safe and quietly, if ye insist, but if ye

will set me free I'll make it worth your while. I've a hundred pounds in my bag here. Let me go my way, and

"What say you?" asked Much of the others. "Our master will be more glad to see this beggar's wallet than his

The other two agreed, and the little party came to a halt and loosed hold of the beggar.

"Count out your gold speedily, friend," said Much. There was a brisk wind blowing, and the beggar turned

"It shall be done, gossips," said he. "One of you lend me your cloak and we will spread it upon the ground

The cloak was handed him, and he placed his wallet upon it as though it were very heavy indeed. Then he

crouched down and fumbled with the leather fastenings. The outlaws also bent over and watched the

proceeding closely, lest he should hide some of the money on his person. Presently he got the bag unfastened

and plunged his hands into it. Forth from it he drewnot shining goldbut handfuls of fine meal which he

dashed into the eager faces of the men around him. The wind aided him in this, and soon there arose a

blinding cloud which filled the eyes, noses, and mouths of the three outlaws till they could scarcely see or

While they gasped and choked and sputtered and felt around wildly for that rogue of a beggar, he finished the

job by picking up the cloak by its corners and shaking it vigorously in the faces of his suffering victims. Then

he seized a stick which lay conveniently near, and began to rain blows down upon their heads, shoulders, and

"Villains! rascals! here are the hundred pounds I promised. How do you like them? I' faith, you'll get all that's

Whack! whack! whack! whack! went the stick, emphasizing each word. Howls of pain might have gone up

from the sufferers, but they had too much meal in their throats for that. Their one thought was to flee, and

they stumbled off blindly down the road, the beggar following them a little way to give them a few parting

"Fare ye well, my masters," he said finally turning the other way; "and when next I come along the

With this he departed, an easy victor, and again went whistling on his way, while the three outlaws rubbed

As soon as they could look around them clearly, they beheld Robin Hood leaning against a tree trunk and

surveying them smilingly. He had recovered his own spirits in full measure, on seeing their plight.

"God save ye, gossips!" he said, "ye must, in sooth, have gone the wrong way and been to the mill, from the

Then when they looked shamefaced and answered never a word, he went on, in a soft voice,

"In sooth, master," responded Much the miller's son, "we heard more of him than we saw him. He filled us so

full of meal that I shall sweat meal for a week. I was born in a mill, and had the smell of meal in my nostrils

from my very birth, you might say, and yet never before did I see such a quantity of the stuff in so small

"Why we laid hold of the beggar, as you did order, when he offered to pay for his release out of the bag he

"So we agreed to this," went on Much, "and spread a cloak down, and he opened his bag and shook it thereon.

Instantly a great cloud of meal filled the air, whereby we could neither see nor breathe; and in the midst of

"But not before he left certain black and blue spots, to be remembered by, I see," commented Robin.

"He was in league with the evil one," said one of the widow's sons, rubbing himself ruefully.

Then Robin laughed outright, and sat him down upon the gnarled root of a tree, to finish his merriment.

"Four bold outlaws, put to rout by a sorry beggar!" cried he. "I can laugh at ye, my men, for I am in the same

boat with ye. But 'twould never do to have this tale get abroadeven in the greenwoodhow that we could

not hold our own with the odds in our favor. So let us have this little laugh all to ourselves, and no one else

The others saw the point of this, and felt better directly, despite their itching desire to get hold of the beggar

But the beggar must have boasted of it at the next tavern; or a little bird perched among the branches of a

neighboring oak must have sung of it. For it got abroad, as such tales will, and was put into a right droll

Some weeks passed after the rescue of the widow's three sons; weeks spent by the Sheriff in the vain effort to

entrap Robin Hood and his men. For Robin's name and deeds had come to the King's ears, in London town,

and he sent word to the Sheriff to capture the outlaw, under penalty of losing his office. So the Sheriff tried

every manner of means to surprise Robin Hood in the forest, but always without success. And he increased

the price put upon Robin's head, in the hope that the best men of the kingdom could be induced to try their

Now there was a certain Guy of Gisborne, a hireling knight of the King's army, who heard of Robin and of

the price upon his head. Sir Guy was one of the best men at the bow and the sword in all the King's service.

But his heart was black and treacherous. He obtained the King's leave forthwith to seek out the forester; and

"I have come to capture Robin Hood," quoth he, "and mean to have him, dead or alive."

"Right gladly would I aid you," answered the Sheriff, "even if the King's seal were not sufficient warrant.

"None," replied Sir Guy, "for I am convinced that forces of men can never come at the bold robber. I must

needs go alone. But do you hold your men in readiness at Barnesdale, and when you hear a blast from this

"Very good," said the Sheriff. "Marry, it shall be done." And he set about giving orders, while Guy of

Now as luck would have it, Will Scarlet and Little John had gone to Barnesdale that very day to buy suits of

Lincoln green for certain of the yeomen who had come out at the knees and elbows. But not deeming it best

for both of them to run their necks into a noose, together, they parted just outside the town, and Will went

within the gates, while John tarried and watched at the brow of the hill on the outside.

Presently whom should he see but this same Will flying madly forth from the gates again, closely pursued by

the Sheriff and threescore men. Over the moat Will sprang, through the bushes and briars, across the swamp,

over stocks and stones, up the woodland roads in long leaps like a scared jack rabbit. And after him puffed

the Sheriff and his men, their force scattering out in the flight as one man would tumble headfirst into a

ditch, another mire up in the swamp, another trip over a rolling stone, and still others sit down on the roadside

Little John could not forbear laughing heartily at the scene, though he knew that 'twould be anything but a

laughing matter if Will should stumble. And in truth one man was like to come upon him. It was

WilliamaTrent, the best runner among the Sheriff's men. He had come within twenty feet of Scarlet and

was leaping upon him with long bounds like a greyhound, when John rose up quickly, drew his bow and let

fly one of his fatal shafts. It would have been better for WilliamaTrent to have been abed with

sorrowsays the balladthan to be that day in the greenwood slade to meet with Little John's arrow. He

The others halted a moment in consternation, when the shaft came hurtling down from the hill; but looking

up they beheld none save Little John, and with a cry of fierce joy they turned upon him. Meanwhile Will

"I'll just send one more little message of regret to the Sheriff," said Little John, "before I join Will."

But this foolhardy deed was his undoing, for just as the arrow left the string, the good yew bow that had never

"Woe worth, woe worth thee, wicked wood, that ere thou grew on a tree!" cursed Little John, and planted his

feet resolutely in the earth resolved to sell the path dearly; for the soldiers were now so close upon him that

And a right good account of himself he gave that day, dealing with each man as he came up according to his

merit. And so winded were the pursuers when they reached the top of the hill that he laid out the first ten of

A body of archers stood off at a prudent distance and covered Little John with their arrows.

"Now yield you!" panted the Sheriff. "Yield you, Little John, or Reynold Greenleaf, or whatever else name

you carry this day! Yield you, or some few of these shafts will reach your heart!"

"Marry, my heart has been touched by your words ere now," said Little John; "and I yield me."

So the Sheriff's men laid hold of Little John and bound him fast with many cords, so fearful were they lest he

should escape. And the Sheriff laughed aloud in glee, and thought of how he should avenge his stolen plate,

"By the Saints!" he said, "you shall be drawn by dale and down, and hanged high on a hill in Barnesdale this

"Hang and be hanged!" retorted the prisoner. "You may fail of your purpose if it be Heaven's will."

Back down the hill and across the moor went the company speedily, for they feared a rescue. And as they

went the stragglers joined them. Here a man got up feebly out of the ditch and rubbed his pate and fell in like

a chicken with the pip going for its dinner. Yonder came hobbling a man with a lame ankle, or another with

his shins torn by the briars or another with his jacket all muddy from the marsh. So in truth it was a

tatterdemalion crew that limped and straggled and wandered back into Barnesdale that day. Yet all were

merry, for the Sheriff had promised them flagons of wine, and moreover they were to hang speedily the

"Now up with you!" commanded the Sheriff, "and let us see if your greenwood tricks will avail you

"I would that I had bold Robin's horn," muttered poor John; "methinks 'tis all up with me even as the Sheriff

In good sooth the time was dire and pressing. The rope was placed around the prisoner's neck and the men

But before the "three" left his lips the faint sound of a silver bugle came floating over the hill.

"By my troth, that is Sir Guy of Gisborne's horn," quoth the Sheriff; "and he bade me not to delay answering

"Pardon, Excellency," said one of his men; "but if he has caught Robin Hood, this is a merry day indeed. And

"That's a brave thought!" said the Sheriff slapping his knee. "Take the rascal down and bind him fast to the

So Little John was made fast to the gallowstree, while the Sheriff and all his men who could march or

Let us leave talking of Little John and the Sheriff, and see what has become of Robin Hood.

In the first place, he and Little John had come near having a quarrel that selfsame morning because both had

seen a curious looking yeoman, and each wanted to challenge him singly. But Robin would not give way to

his lieutenant, and that is why John, in a huff, had gone with Will to Barnesdale.

Meanwhile Robin approached the curious looking stranger. He seemed to be a threelegged creature at first

sight, but on coming nearer you would have seen that 'twas really naught but a poorly clad man, who for a

freak had covered up his rags with a capulhide, nothing more nor less than the sundried skin of a horse,

complete with head, tail, and mane. The skin of the head made a helmet; while the tail gave the curious

"Goodmorrow, good fellow," said Robin cheerily, "methinks by the bow you bear in your hand that you

"Indifferent good," said the other returning his greeting; "but 'tis not of archery that I am thinking this

"By my faith, I could have believed 'twas your wits you'd lost!" thought Robin smiling. Then aloud: "I'll lead

you through the wood," quoth he, "an you will tell me your business. For belike your speech is much gentler

"I am one of the King's Rangers," replied Robin, "set here to guard his deer against curious looking strollers."

"Curious looking I may be," returned the other, "but no stroller. Hark ye, since you are a Ranger, I must e'en

demand your service. I am on the King's business and seek an outlaw. Men call him Robin Hood. Are you

"That is another tale. But I'd rather meet with that proud outlaw than forty good pounds of the King's money."

"Come with me, good yeoman," said he, "and belike, a little later in the day, I can show you Robin's haunts

when he is at home. Meanwhile let us have some pastime under the greenwood tree. Let us first try the

The other agreed, and they cut down two willow wands of a summer's growth that grew beneath a brier, and

So Robin stepped forth and bent his bow carelessly and sent his shaft whizzing toward the wand, missing it

by a scant inch. He of the horsehide followed with more care yet was a good threefingers' breadth away.

On the second round, the stranger led off and landed cleverly within the small garland at the top of the wand;

"A blessing on your heart!" shouted CapulHide; "never saw I such shooting as that! Belike you are better

"Nay, by my faith,"quoth Robin, "I must keep it secret till you have told me your own."

"I do not disdain to tell it," said the other. "I dwell by dale and down, and to take bold Robin am I sworn. This

would I tell him to his face, were he not so great a craven. When I am called by my right name, I am Guy of

This he said with a great show of pride, and he strutted back and forth, forgetful that he had just been beaten

Robin eyed him quietly. "Methinks I have heard of you elsewhere. Do you not bring men to the gallows for a

"Has he ever taken from the rich that he did not give again to the poor? Does he not protect the women and

children and side with weak and helpless? Is not his greatest crime the shooting of a few King's deer?"

"Have done with your sophistry," said Sir Guy impatiently. "I am more than ever of opinion that you are one

"I have told you I am not," quoth Robin briefly. "But if I am to help you catch him, what is your plan?"

"Do you see this silver bugle?" said the other. "A long blast upon it will summon the Sheriff and all his men,

when once I have Robin within my grasp. And if you show him to me, I'll give you the half of my forty

"I would not help hang a man for ten times forty pounds," said the outlaw. "Yet will I point out Robin to you

for the reward I find at my sword's point. I myself am Robin Hood of Sherwood and Barnesdale."

"Then have at you!" cried the other springing swiftly into action. His sword leaped forth from beneath the

horse's hide with the speed born of long practice, and before Robin had come to guard, the other had smitten

Then neither spoke more, but fell sternly to worklunge and thrust and ward and parryfor two full hours

the weapons smote together sullenly, and neither Robin Hood nor Sir Guy would yield an inch. I promise you

that if you could have looked forth on the fight from behind the trunk of some friendly tree, you would have

seen deadly sport such as few men beheld in Sherwood Forest. For the fighters glared sullenly at each other,

the fires of hatred burning in their eyes. One was fighting for his life; the other for a reward and the King's

Still circled the bright blades swiftly in the airnow gleaming in the peaceful sunlightagain hissing like

maddened serpents. Neither had yet touched the other, until Robin, in an unlucky moment, stumbled over the

projecting root of a tree; when Sir Guy, instead of giving him the chance to recover himself, as any courteous

knight would have done, struck quickly at the falling man and wounded him in the left side.

"Ah, dear Lady in Heaven," gasped Robin uttering his favorite prayer, "shield me now! 'Twas never a man's

And adroitly he sprang up again, and came straight at the other with an awkward but unexpected stroke. The

knight had raised his weapon high to give a final blow, when Robin reached beneath and across his guard.

One swift lunge, and Sir Guy of Gisborne staggered backward with a deep groan, Robin's sword through his

"You did bring it upon yourself," said he; "and traitor and hireling though you were, I would not willingly

He looked to his own wound. It was not serious, and he soon staunched the blood and bound up the cut. Then

he dragged the dead body into the bushes, and took off the horse's hide and put it upon himself. He placed his

own cloak upon Sir Guy, and marked his face so none might tell who had been slain. Robin's own figure and

Pulling the capulhide well over himself, so that the helmet hid most of his face, Robin seized the silver

bugle and blew a long blast. It was the blast that saved the life of Little John, over in Barnesdale, for you and

I have already seen how it caused the fond Sheriff to prick up his ears and stay the hanging, and go scurrying

"Robin Hood and Guy of Gisborne had a fight; and he that wears Robin's cloak lies under the covert yonder."

"The best news I have heard in all my life!" exclaimed the Sheriff rubbing his hands. "I would that we could

"Yes. This is our lucky day on the calendar. After you left me we narrowly missed running one of the

fellowsI believe 'twas Will Scarletto earth; and another who came to his relief we were just about to

"Whom do you suppose?" laughed the Sheriff. "The best man in the greenwood, next to Robin Hood

himselfLittle John, Reynold Greenleaf!" For the Sheriff could not forget the name Little John had borne

"Little John!" thought Robin with a start. Verily that was a lucky blast of the bugle! "But I see you have not

escaped without a scratch," continued the Sheriff, becoming talkative through pure glee. "Here, one of you

men! Give Sir Guy of Gisborne your horse; while others of you bury that dog of an outlaw where he lies. And

So they put spurs to their horses, and as they rode Robin forced himself to talk merrily, while all the time he

"I do not want any of your gold, for I have had a brave fight. But now that I have slain the master, let me put

an end to the man; so it shall be said that Guy of Gisborne despatched the two greatest outlaws of England in

"Have it as you will," said the Sheriff, "but you should have asked a knight's fee and double your reward, and

it would have been yours. It isn't every man that can take Robin Hood." "No, Excellency," answered Robin.

"I say it without boasting, that no man took Robin Hood yesterday and none shall take him tomorrow."

Then he approached Little John, who was still tied to the gallowstree; and he said to the Sheriff's men,

"Now stand you back here till I see if the prisoner has been shrived." And he stooped swiftly, and cut Little

John's bonds, and thrust into his hands Sir Guy's bow and arrows, which he had been careful to take.

"'Tis I, Robin!" he whispered. But in truth, Little John knew it already, and had decided there was to be no

Then Robin blew three loud blasts upon his own horn, and drew forth his own bow; and before the astonished

Sheriff and his men could come to arms the arrows were whistling in their midst in no uncertain fashion.

And look! Through the gates and over the walls came pouring another flight of arrows! Will Scarlet and Will

Stutely had watched and planned a rescue ever since the Sheriff and Robin rode back down the hill. Now in

good time they came; and the Sheriff's demoralized force turned tail and ran, while Robin and Little John

stood under the harmless gallows, and sped swift arrows after them, and laughed to see them go.

Then they joined their comrades and hasted back to the good greenwood, and there rested. They had got

Now it fell out that one day not long thereafter, Robin was minded to try his skill at hunting. And not

knowing whom he might meet in his rambles, he stained his face and put on a sorrylooking jacket and a

long cloak before he sallied forth. As he walked, the peacefulness of the morning came upon him, and

brought back to his memory the early days so long ago when he had roamed these same glades with Marian.

How sweet they seemed to him now, and how far away! Marian, too, the dainty friend of his youthwould

he ever see her again? He had thought of her very often of late, and each time with increasing desire to hear

Perhaps the happiness of AllenaDale and his lady had caused Robin's heartstrings to vibrate more

strongly; perhaps, too, the coming of Will Scarlet. But, certes, Robin was anything but a hunter this bright

Presently a hart entered the glade in full view of him, grazing peacefully, and instantly the man of action

awoke. His bow was drawn and a shaft all but loosed, when the beast fell suddenly, pierced by a clever arrow

Then a handsome little page sprang gleefully from the covert and ran toward the dying animal. This was

plainly the archer, for he flourished his bow aloft, and likewise bore a sword at his side, though for all that he

"I have as much right to shoot them as the King himself," answered the page haughtily. "How dare you

The voice stirred Robin strongly. It seemed to chime into his memories of the old days. He looked at the page

"Softly! Fair and softly, sweet page, or we of the forest will have to teach you manners!" said Robin.

"Not if YOU stand for the forest!" cried the page, whipping out his sword. "Come, draw, and defend

He swung his blade valiantly; and Robin saw nothing for it but to draw likewise. The page thereupon engaged

him quite fiercely, and Robin found that he had many pretty little tricks at fencing.

Nathless, Robin contented himself with parrying, and was loth to exert all his superior strength upon the lad.

So the fight lasted for above a quarter of an hour, at the end of which time the page was almost spent and the

The outlaw saw his distress, and to end the fight allowed himself to be pricked slightly on the wrist.

"Are you satisfied, fellow?" asked the page, wincing a little at sight of the blood.

"Aye, honestly," replied Robin; "and now perhaps you will grant me the honor of knowing to whom I owe

"I am Richard Partington, page to Her Majesty, Queen Eleanor," answered the lad with dignity; and again the

The lad considered his answer while wiping his sword with a small lace kerchief. The action brought a dim

"Forester, whether or no you be a King's man, know that I seek one Robin Hood, an outlaw, to whom I bring

amnesty from the Queen. Can you tell me aught of him?" And while awaiting his answer, he replaced the

kerchief in his shirt. As he did so, the gleam of a golden trophy caught the outlaw's eye.

"Ah! I know you now! By the sight of yon golden arrow won at the Sheriff's tourney, you are she on whom I

"Robin's self!" said he gaily; and forthwith, clad as he was in rags, and stained of face, he clasped the dainty

"But Robin!" she exclaimed presently, "I knew you not, and was rude, and wounded you!"

But she made more ado over the sore wrist than Robin had received for all his former hurts put together. And

she bound it with the little kerchief, and said, "Now 'twill get well!" and Robin was convinced she spoke the

truth, for he never felt better in all his life. The whole woods seemed tinged with a roseate hue, since Marian

But she, while happy also, was ill at ease; and Robin with a man's slow discernment at last saw that it was

because of her boy's attire. He thought bluntly that there was naught to be ashamed of, yet smilingly handed

her his tattered long cloak, which she blushingly put on, and forthwith recovered her spirits directly.

Then they began to talk of each other's varied fortunes, and of the many things which had parted them; and so

much did they find to tell that the sun had begun to decline well into the afternoon before they realized how

"I am but a sorry host!" exclaimed Robin, springing to his feet. "I have not once invited you to my wild roof."

"And I am but a sorry page," replied Marian; "for I had clean forgot that I was Richard Partington, and really

"Tell me on our way home, and there you shall be entrusted to Mistress Dale. While the first of my men we

So she told him, as they walked back through the glade, how that the fame of his prowess had reached Queen

Eleanor's ears, in London town. And the Queen had said, "Fain would I see this bold yeoman, and behold his

skill at the longbow." And the Queen had promised him amnesty if he and four of his archers would repair

to London against the next tournament the week following, there to shoot against King Henry's picked men,

"When I heard Her Majesty say she desired to see you, I asked leave to go in search of you, saying I had

known you once. And the Queen was right glad, and bade me go, and sent this gold ring to you from off her

Then Robin took the ring and bowed his head and kissed it loyally. "By this token will I go to London town,"

quoth he, "and ere I part with the Queen's pledge, may the hand that bears it be stricken off at the wrist!" By

this time they were come to the grove before the cave, and Robin presented Maid Marian to the band, who

treated her with the greatest respect. Will Scarlet was especially delighted to greet again his old time friend,

while AllanaDale and his good wife bustled about to make her welcome in their tiny thatched cottage.

That evening after they had supped royally upon the very hart that Marian had slain, Allan sang sweet songs

of Northern minstrelsy to the fair guest as she sat by Robin's side, the golden arrow gleaming in her dark hair.

The others all joined in the chorus, from Will Scarlet's baritone to Friar Tuck's heavy bass. Even Little John

Then Robin bade Marian repeat her message from the Queen, which Marian did in a way befitting the dignity

of her royal mistress. After which the yeomen gave three cheers for the Queen and three more for her page,

"Ye have heard," quoth Robin standing forth, "how that Her Majestywhom God preserve!wishes but

four men to go with me. Wherefore, I choose Little John and Will Stutely, my two lieutenants, Will Scarlet,

my cousin, and AllanaDale, my minstrel. Mistress Dale, also, can go with her husband and be company for

the Queen's page. We will depart with early morning, decked in our finest. So stir ye, my lads! and see that

not only your tunics are fresh, but your swords bright and your bows and arrows fit. For we must be a credit

to the Queen as well as the good greenwood. You, Much, with Stout Will, Lester, and John, the widow's three

sons, shall have command of the band while we are away; and Friar Tuck shall preside over the needs of your

The orders were received with shouts of approval, and toasts all around were drunk again in nutbrown ale,

The next morning was as fine a summer's day as ever you want to see, and the green leaves of the forest made

a pleasing background for the gay picture of the yeomen setting forth. Says the old balladit was a seemly

sight to see how Robin Hood himself had dressed, and all his yeomanry. He clothed his men in Lincoln

green, and himself in scarlet red, with hats of black and feathers white to bravely deck each head. Nor were

Thus the chosen party of seven sallied forth being accompanied to the edge of the wood by the whole band,

The journey to London town was made without incident. The party proceeded boldly along the King's

highroad, and no man met them who was disposed to say them nay. Besides, the good Queen's warrant and

ring would have answered for them, as indeed it did at the gates of London. So on they sped and in due

Now the King had gone that day to Finsbury Field, where the tourney was soon to be held, in order to look

over the lists and see some of his picked men whom he expected to win against all comers. So much had he

boasted of these men, that the Queen had secretly resolved to win a wager of him. She had heard of the fame

of Robin Hood and his yeomen, as Marian had said; and Marian on her part had been overjoyed to be able to

Today the Queen sat in her private audienceroom chatting pleasantly with her ladies, when in came

Mistress Marian Fitzwalter attired again as befitted her rank of ladyinwaiting. She courtesied low to the

"How now!" said the Queen smiling; "is this my lady Marian, or the page, Richard Partington?"

"Both, an it please Your Majesty. Richard found the man you sought, while Marian brought him to you."

"Awaiting your audiencehe and four of his men, likewise a lady of whose wooing and wedding I can tell

So Marian gave orders to a herald, and presently Robin Hood and his little party entered the room.

Now the Queen had halfexpected the men to be rude and uncouth in appearance, because of their wild life in

the forest; but she was delightfully disappointed. Indeed she started back in surprise and almost clapped her

hands. For, sooth to say, the yeomen made a brave sight, and in all the court no more gallant men could be

found. Marian felt her cheeks glow with pride, at sight of the halfhidden looks of admiration sent forth by

Robin had not forgot the gentle arts taught by his mother, and he wore his fine red velvet tunic and breeches

with the grace of a courtier. We have seen, before, what a dandified gentleman Will Scarlet was; and

AllanaDale, the minstrel, was scarcely less goodly to look upon. While the giant Little John and

broadshouldered Will Stutely made up in stature what little they lacked in outward polish. Mistress Dale, on

her part, looked even more charming, if possible, than on the momentous day when she went to Plympton

Thus came the people of the greenwood before Queen Eleanor, in her own private audience room. And Robin

"Here I am, Robin HoodI and my chosen men! At Your Majesty's bidding am I come, bearing the ring of

amnesty which I will protectas I would protect Your Majesty's honorwith my life!"

Then Robin presented each of his men in turn, and each fell on his knee and was greeted with most kindly

words. And the Queen kissed fair Mistress Dale upon the cheek, and bade her remain in the palace with her

ladies while she was in the city. And she made all the party be seated to rest themselves after their long

journey. Fine wines were brought, and cake, and rich food, for their refreshment. And as they ate and drank,

the Queen told them further of the tourney to be held at Finsbury Field, and of how she desired them to wear

her colors and shoot for her. Meantime, she concluded, they were to lie by quietly and be known of no man.

To do all this, Robin and his men pledged themselves full heartily. Then at the Queen's request, they related

to her and her ladies some of their merry adventures; whereat the listeners were vastly entertained, and

laughed heartily. Then Marian, who had heard of the wedding at Plympton Church, told it so drolly that tears

"My lord Bishop of Hereford!" she said, "'Twas indeed a comical business for him! I shall keep that to twit

his bones, I promise you! So this is our minstrel?" she added presently, turning to AllanaDale. "Methinks I

Allan bowed low, and took a harp which was brought to him, and he thrummed the strings and sang full

sweetly the border songs of the North Countree. And the Queen and all her ladies listened in rapt silence till

The morning of the great archery contest dawned fair and bright, bringing with it a fever of impatience to

every citizen of London town, from the proudest courtier to the lowest kitchen wench. Aye, and all the

surrounding country was early awake, too, and began to wend their way to Finsbury Field, a fine broad

stretch of practice ground near Moorfields. Around three sides of the Field were erected tier upon tier of

seats, for the spectators, with the royal boxes and booths for the nobility and gentry in the center. Down along

one end were pitched gaily colored tents for the different bands of King's archers. There were ten of these

bands, each containing a score of men headed by a captain of great renown; so today there were ten of the

pavilions, each bearing aloft the Royal Arms and varicolored pennants which fluttered lightly in the fresh

Each captain's flag was of peculiar color and device. First came the royal purple streamer of Tepus, own

bowbearer to the King, and esteemed the finest archer in all the land. Then came the yellow of Clifton of

Buckinghamshire; and the blue of Gilbert of the White Handhe who was renowned in Nottinghamshire;

and the green of Elwyn the Welshman; and the White of Robert of Cloudesdale; and, after them, five other

captains of bands, each a man of proved prowess. As the Queen had said aforetime, the King was mightily

proud of his archers, and now held this tourney to show their skill and, mayhap, to recruit their forces.

The uprising tiers of seats filled early, upon this summer morning, and the merry chatter of the people went

abroad like the hum of bees in a hive. The royal party had not yet put in an appearance, nor were any of the

King's archers visible. So the crowd was content to hide its impatience by laughing jibes passed from one

section to another, and crying the colors of their favorite archers. In and out among the seats went hawkers,

their arms laden with small pennants to correspond with the rival tents. Other vendors of pie and small cakes

and cider also did a thrifty business, for so eager had some of the people been to get good seats, that they had

Suddenly the gates at the far end, next the tents, opened wide, and a courier in scarlet and gold, mounted

upon a white horse, rode in blowing lustily upon the trumpet at his lips; and behind him came six

standardbearers riding abreast. The populace arose with a mighty cheer. King Harry had entered the arena.

He bestrode a fine white charger and was clad in a rich dark suit of slashed velvet with satin and gold facings.

His hat bore a long curling ostrich plume of pure white and he doffed it graciously in answer to the shouts of

the people. By his side rode Queen Eleanor, looking regal and charming in her long brocade ridinghabit;

while immediately behind them came Prince Richard and Prince John, each attired in knightly coats of mail

and helmets. Lords and ladies of the realm followed; and finally, the ten companies of archers, whose

progress round the field was greeted with hardly less applause than that given the King himself.

The King and Queen dismounted from their steeds, ascended the steps of the royal box, and seated

themselves upon two thrones, decked with purple and gold trapping, upon a dais sheltered by striped canvas.

In the booths at each side the members of the Court took their places; while comely pages ran hither and

thither bearing the royal commands. 'Twas a lordly sight, I ween, this shifting of proud courtiers, flashing of

Now the herald arose to command peace, and soon the clear note of his bugle rose above the roar of the

crowd and hushed it to silence. The tenscore archers ranged themselves in two long rows on each side of the

listsa gallant arraywhile their captains, as a special mark of favor, stood near the royal box.

"Come hither, Tepus," said the King to his bowbearer. "Come, measure me out this line, how long our mark

"That will the herald presently proclaim," answered the King. "For first prize we have offered a purse

containing twoscore golden pounds; for second, a purse containing twoscore silver pennies; and for third a

silver bugle, inlaid with gold. Moreover, if the King's companies keep these prizes, the winning companies

shall have, first, two tuns of Rhenish wine; second, two tuns of English beer; and, third, five of the fattest

harts that run on Dallom Lea. Methinks that is a princely wager," added King Harry laughingly.

Up spake bold Clifton, secure in the King's favor. "Measure no marks for us, most sovereign liege," quoth he;

"'Twill not be so far as that," said the King. "But get a line of good length, Tepus, and set up the targets at

Forthwith, Tepus bowed low, and set up ten targets, each bearing the pennant of a different company, while

the herald stood forth again and proclaimed the rules and prizes. The entries were open to all comers. Each

man, also, of the King's archers should shoot three arrows at the target bearing the colors of his band, until

the best bowman in each band should be chosen. These ten chosen archers should then enter a contest for an

open targetthree shots apieceand here any other bowman whatsoever was asked to try his skill. The

Then all the people shouted again, in token that the terms of the contest pleased them; and the archers waved

The shooting now began, upon all the targets at once, and the multitude had so much ado to watch them, that

they forgot to shout. Besides, silence was commanded during the shooting. Of all the fine shooting that

morning, I have not now space to tell you. The full score of men shot three times at each target, and then

three times again to decide a tie. For, more than once, the arrow shot by one man would be split wide open by

his successor. Every man's shaft bore his number to ease the counting; and so close would they stick at the

end of a round, that the target looked like a big bristle hairbrush. Then must the spectators relieve their tense

spirits by great cheering; while the King looked mighty proud of his skilled bowmen.

At last the company targets were decided, and Tepus, as was expected, led the score, having made six exact

centers in succession. Gilbert of the White Hand followed with five, and Clifton with four. Two other

captains had touched their center four times, but not roundly. While in the other companies it so chanced that

The winners then saluted the King and Queen, and withdrew for a space to rest and renew their bowstrings

for the keenest contest of all; while the lists were cleared and a new targetthe open onewas set up at

twelvescore paces. At the bidding of the King, the herald announced that the open target was to be shot at, to

decide the title of the best archer in all England; and any man there present was privileged to try for it. But so

keen had been the previous shooting, that many yeomen who had come to enter the lists now would not do

"By my halidom!" said the King, "these must be hardy men to pit themselves against my archers!"

"Think you that your ten chosen fellows are the best bowmen in all England?" asked the Queen.

"Aye, and in all the world beside," answered the King; "and thereunto I would stake five hundred pounds."

"I am minded to take your wager," said the Queen musingly, "and will e'en do so if you grant me a boon."

"If I produce five archers who can outshoot your ten, will you grant my men full grace and amnesty?"

"Assuredly!" quoth the King in right good humor. "Nathless, I tell you now, your wager is in jeopardy, for

"Hum!" said the Queen puckering her brow, still as though lost in thought. "I must see if there be none

present to aid me in my wager. Boy, call hither Sir Richard of the Lea and my lord Bishop of Hereford!"

"Sir Richard," said she, "thou art a full knight and good. Would'st advise me to meet a wager of the King's,

"Nay, Your Majesty," he said, bending his knee. "There be none present that can match them. Howbeit,"he

added dropping his voice'I have heard of some who lie hid in Sherwood Forest who could show them

"Come hither, my lord Bishop of Hereford," quoth she, "would'st thou advance a sum to support my wager

"Nay, Your Majesty," said the fat Bishop, "an you pardon me, I'd not lay down a penny on such a bet. For by

"But suppose I found men whom THOU KNEWEST to be masters at the bow," she insisted roguishly,

"would'st thou not back them? Belike, I have heard that there be men round about Nottingham and Plympton

The Bishop glanced nervously around, as if half expecting to see Robin Hood's men standing near; then

turned to find the Queen looking at him with much amusement lurking in her eyes.

"Odds bodikins! The story of my misadventure must have preceded me!" he thought, ruefully. Aloud he said,

"Your Majesty, such tales are idle and exaggerated. An you pardon me, I would add to the King's wager that

"Here is my purse," said the Bishop uneasily. "It contains fifteen score nobles, or near a hundred pounds."

"I'll take it at even money," she said, dismissing him; "and Your Majesty"turning to the King who had

been conversing with the two princes and certain of the nobles"I accept your wager of five hundred

"Very good," said the King, laughing as though it were a great jest. "But what had minded you to take such

"It is as I have said. I have found five men whom I will pit against any you may produce."

"Then we will try their skill speedily," quoth the King. "How say you, if first we decide this open target and

"Agreed," said the Queen. Thereupon she signed to Maid Marian to step forward, from a nearby booth

where she sat with other ladiesinwaiting, and whispered something in her ear. Marian courtesied and

Now the ten chosen archers from the King's bands came forth again and took their stand; and with them stood

forth the twelve untried men from the open lists. Again the crowd was stilled, and every eye hung upon the

speeding of the shafts. Slowly but skilfully each man shot, and as his shaft struck within the inner ring a deep

breath broke from the multitude like the sound of the wind upon the seashore. And now Gilbert of the White

Hand led the shooting, and 'twas only by the space of a hairsbreadth upon the line that Tepus tied his score.

Stout Elwyn, the Welshman, took third place; one of the private archers, named Geoffrey, come fourth; while

The men from the open lists shot fairly true, but nervousness and fear of ridicule wrought their undoing.

The herald then came forward again, and, instead of announcing the prizewinners, proclaimed that there was

to be a final contest. Two men had tied for first place, declared His Majesty the King, and three others were

entitled to honors. Now all these five were to shoot again, and they were to be pitted against five other of the

A thrill of astonishment and excitement swept around the arena. "Who were these men of the Queen's

choosing?" was upon every lip. The hubbub of eager voices grew intense; and in the midst of it all, the gate at

the far end of the field opened and five men entered and escorted a lady upon horseback across the arena to

the royal box. The lady was instantly recognized as Mistress Marian of the Queen's household, but no one

seemed to know the faces of her escort. Four were clad in Lincoln green, while the fifth, who seemed to be

the leader, was dressed in a brave suit of scarlet red. Each man wore a close fitting cap of black, decked with

a curling white feather. For arms, they carried simply a stout bow, a sheaf of new arrows, and a short

When the little party came before the dais on which the King and Queen sat, the yeomen doffed their caps

"Your Gracious Majesty," she said, addressing the Queen, "these be the men for whom you sent me, and who

"Lockesley," she said in a clear voice, "I thank thee and thy men for this service. Know that I have laid a

wager with the King that ye can outshoot the best five whom he has found in all his bowmen." The five men

"Your pardon, my liege lord!" cried he; "But I must denounce these fellows as outlaws. Yon man in scarlet is

none other than Robin Hood himself. The others are Little John and Will Stutely and Will Scarlet and

The King's brows grew dark. The name of Robin Hood was well known to him, as to every man there

"Aye, my lord," responded the Queen demurely. "But, bethink youI have your royal promise of grace and

"That will I keep," said the King, holding in check his ire by a mighty effort. "But, look you! Only forty days

do I grant of respite. When this time has elapsed, let these bold outlaws look to their safety!"

Then turning to his five victorious archers, who had drawn near, he added, "Ye have heard, my men, how that

I have a wager with the Queen upon your prowess. Now here be men of her choosingcertain free shafts of

Sherwood and Barnesdale. Wherefore look well to it, Gilbert and Tepus and Geoffrey and Elwyn and Clifton!

If ye outshoot these knaves, I will fill your caps with silver penniesaye, and knight the man who stands

first. But if ye lose, I give the prizes, for which ye have just striven, to Robin Hood and his men, according to

"Robin Hood and his men!" the saying flew round the arena with the speed of wildfire, and every neck

craned forward to see the famous fellows who had dared to brave the King's anger, because of the Queen.

Another target was now set up, at the same distance as the last, and it was decided that the ten archers should

shoot three arrows in turn. Gilbert and Robin tossed up a penny for the lead, and it fell to the King's men. So

Forth he stood, planting his feet firmly, and wetting his fingers before plucking the string. For he was

resolved to better his losing score of that day. And in truth he did so, for the shaft he loosed sped true, and

landed on the black bull'seye, though not in the exact center. Again he shot, and again he hit the black, on

the opposite rim. The third shaft swerved downward and came within the second ring, some two fingers'

breadths away. Nathless, a general cry went up, as this was the best shooting Clifton had done that day.

Will Scarlet was chosen to follow him, and now took his place and carefully chose three round and

"Careful, my sweet coz!" quoth Robin in a low tone. "The knave has left wide space at the center for all of

But Robin gave Will the wrong caution, for overmuch care spoiled his aim. His first shaft flew wide and

"Your pardon, coz!" quoth Robin hastily. "Bid care go to the bottom of the sea, and do you loose your string

And Will profited by this hint, and loosed his next two shafts as freely as though they flew along a Sherwood

glade. Each struck upon the bull'seye, and one even nearer the center than his rival's mark. Yet the total

score was adjudged in favor of Clifton. At this Will Scarlet bit his lip, but said no word, while the crowd

shouted and waved yellow flags for very joy that the King's man had overcome the outlaw. They knew, also,

The target was now cleared for the next two contestantsGeoffrey and AllanaDale. Whereat, it was

noticed that many ladies in the Queen's booths boldly flaunted Allan's colors, much to the honest pride which

"In good truth," said more than one lady to Mistress Dale, "if thy husband can handle the longbow as skilfully

The saying augured well. Geoffrey had shot many good shafts that day; and indeed had risen from the ranks

by virtue of them. But now each of his three shots, though well placed in triangular fashion around the rim of

the bull'seye, yet allowed an easy space for Allan to graze within. His shooting, moreover, was so prettily

done, that he was right heartily applaudedthe ladies and their gallants leading in the handclapping.

Now you must know that there had long been a friendly rivalry in Robin Hood's band as to who was the best

shot, next after Robin himself. He and Will Stutely had lately decided their marksmanship, and Will had

found that Robin's skill was now so great as to place the leader at the head of all good bowmen in the forest.

But the second place lay between Little John and Stutely, and neither wished to yield to the other. So today

they looked narrowly at their leader to see who should shoot third. Robin read their faces at a glance, and

Elwyn the Welshman was to precede him; and his score was no whit better than Geoffrey's. But Stutely failed

to profit by it. His besetting sin at archery had ever been an undue haste and carelessness. Today these were

increased by a certain moodiness, that Little John had outranked him. So his first two shafts flew swiftly, one

"Man! man!" cried Robin entreatingly, "you do forget the honor of the Queen, and the credit of Sherwood!"

"I ask your pardon, master!" quoth Will humbly enough, and loosing as he spoke his last shaft. It whistled

down the course unerringly and struck in the exact centerthe best shot yet made.

Now some shouted for Stutely and some shouted for Elwyn; but Elwyn's total mark was declared the better.

Whereupon the King turned to the Queen. "What say you now?" quoth he in some triumph. "Two out of the

three first rounds have gone to my men. Your outlaws will have to shoot better than that in order to save your

"Yea, my lord," she said. "But the twain who are left are able to do the shooting. You forget that I still have

So each turned again to the lists and awaited the next rounds in silent eagerness. I ween that King Harry had

Tepus was chosen to go next and he fell into the same error with Will Scarlet. He held the string a moment

too long, and both his first and second arrows came to grief. One of them, however, came within the black

rim, and he followed it up by placing his third in the full center, just as Stutely had done in his last. These two

centers were the fairest shots that had been made that day; and loud was the applause which greeted this

second one. But the shouting was as nothing to the uproar which followed Little John's shooting. That

goodnatured giant seemed determined to outdo Tepus by a tiny margin in each separate shot; for the first

and the second shafts grazed his rival's on the inner side, while for the third Little John did the old trick of the

forest: he shot his own arrow in a graceful curve which descended from above upon Tepus's final center shaft

with a glancing blow that drove the other out and left the outlaw's in its place.

The King could scarce believe his eyes. "By my halidom!" quoth he, "that fellow deserves either a dukedom

or a hanging! He must be in league with Satan himself! Never saw I such shooting."

The score is tied, my lord," said the Queen; "we have still to see Gilbert and Robin Hood."

Gilbert now took his stand and slowly shot his arrows, one after another, into the bull'seye. 'Twas the best

shooting he had yet done, but there was still the smallest of spaces leftif you looked closelyat the very

"Well done, Gilbert!" spoke up Robin Hood. "You are a foeman worthy of being shot against." He took his

own place as he spoke. "Now if you had placed one of your shafts THERE"loosing one of his own"and

another THERE"out sped the second"and another THERE"the third was launched"mayhap the

But the last part of his merry speech was drowned in the wild tumult of applause which followed his exploit.

His first two shafts had packed themselves into the small space left at the bull'seye; while his third had split

down between them, taking half of each, and making all three appear from a distance, as one immense arrow.

"Gilbert is not yet beaten!" he cried. "Did he not shoot within the mark thrice? And that is allowed a best in

"As it please Your Majesty!" quoth he. "But may I be allowed to place the mark for the second shooting?"

The King waved his hand sullenly.. Thereupon Robin prepared another old trick of the greenwood, and got

him a light, peeled willow wand which he set in the ground in place of the target.

"I can scarce see it from here," said Gilbert, "much less hit it. Nathless, for the King's honor, I will try."

But this final shot proved his undoing, and his shaft flew harmlessly by the thin white streak. Then came

Robin to his stand again, and picked his arrow with exceeding care, and tried his string. Amid a breathless

pause he drew the good yew bow back to his ear, glanced along the shaft, and let the feathered missile fly.

Straight it sped, singing a keen note of triumph as it went. The willow wand was split in twain, as though it

"Verily, I think your bow is armed with witchcraft!" cried Gilbert. "For I did not believe such shooting

"You should come to see our merry lads in the greenwood," retorted Robin lightly. "For willow wands do not

Meanwhile the King in great wrath had risen to depart, first signing the judges to distribute the prizes. Never

a word said he, of good or ill, to the Queen, but mounted his horse and, followed by his sons and knights,

rode off the field. The archers dropped upon one knee as he passed, but he gave them a single baleful look

Then the Queen beckoned the outlaws to approach, and they did so and knelt at her feet.

"Right well have ye served me," she said, "and sorry am I that the King's anger is aroused thereby. But fear

ye not. His word and grace hold true. As to these prizes ye have gained, I add others of mine ownthe

wagers I have won from His Majesty the King and from the lord Bishop of Hereford. Buy with some of these

moneys the best swords ye can find in London, for all your band, and call them the swords of the Queen. And

swear with them to protect all the poor and the helpless and the womenkind who come your way."

Then the Queen gave each of them her hand to kiss, and arose and departed with all her ladies. And after they

were gone, the King's archers came crowding around Robin and his men, eager to get a glimpse of the

fellows about whom they had heard so much. And back of them came a great crowd of the spectators pushing

Now the judges came up, and announced each man his prize, according to the King's command. To Robin

was give the purse containing twoscore golden pounds; to Little John the twoscore silver pennies; and to

AllanaDale the fine inlaid bugle, much to his delight, for he was skilled at blowing sweet tunes upon the

horn hardly less than handling the harp strings. But when the Rhenish wine and English beer and harts of

"Nay, what need we of wine or beer, so far from the greenwood? And 'twould be like carrying coals to

Newcastle, to drive those harts to Sherwood! Now Gilbert and Tepus and their men have shot passing well.

"Right gladly," replied Gilbert grasping his hand. "Ye are good men all, and we will toast you every one, in

memory of the greatest day at archery that England has ever seen, or ever will see!"

Thus said all the King's archers, and the hand of goodfellowship was given amid much shouting and

And so ended King Harry's tourney, whose story has been handed down from sire to son, even unto the

King Henry was as good as his word. Robin Hood and his party were suffered to depart from Londonthe

parting bringing keen sorrow to Marianand for forty days no hand was raised against them. But at the end

of that time, the royal word was sent to the worthy Sheriff at Nottingham that he must lay hold upon the

Indeed, the exploits of Robin and his band, ending with the great tourney in Finsbury Field, had made a

mighty stir through all England, and many there were to laugh boldly at the Nottingham official for his

The Sheriff thereupon planned three new expeditions into the greenwood, and was even brave enough to lead

them, since he had fifteenscore men at his beck and call each time. But never the shadow of an outlaw did

he see, for Robin's men lay close, and the Sheriff's men knew not how to come at their chief hidingplace in

Now the Sheriff's daughter had hated Robin Hood bitterly in her heart ever since the day he refused to bestow

upon her the golden arrow, and shamed her before all the company. His tricks, also, upon her father were not

calculated to lessen her hatred, and so she sought about for means to aid the Sheriff in catching the enemy.

"There is no need to go against this man with force of arms," she said. "We must meet his tricks with other

"Would that we could!" groaned the Sheriff. "The fellow is becoming a nightmare unto me."

"Let me plan a while," she replied. "Belike I can cook up some scheme for his undoing."

"Agreed," said the Sheriff, "and if anything comes of your planning, I will e'en give you an hundred silver

pennies for a new gown, and a double reward to the man who catches the outlaws."

Now upon that same day, while the Sheriff's daughter was racking her brains for a scheme, there came to the

Mansion House a strolling tinker named Middle, a great gossip and braggart. And as he pounded away upon

some pots and pans in the scullery, he talked loudly about what HE would do, if he once came within reach of

"It might be that this simple fellow could do something through his very simplicity," mused the Sheriff's

daughter, overhearing his prattle. "Odds bodikins! 'twill do no harm to try his service, while I bethink myself

And she called him to her, and looked him overa big brawny fellow enough, with an honest look about the

eye, and a countenance so open that when he smiled his mouth seemed the only country on the map.

"I am minded to try your skill at outlaw catching," she said, "and will add goodly measure to the stated

"Then here is a warrant made out this morning by the Sheriff himself. See that you keep it safely and use it to

Middle departed from the house mightily pleased with himself, and proud of his commission. He swung his

crabtreestaff recklessly in his gleeso recklessly that he imperiled the shins of more than one angry

passerbyand vowed he'd crack the ribs of Robin Hood with it, though he was surrounded by every outlaw

Spurred on by the thoughts of his own coming bravery, he left the town and proceeded toward Barnesdale.

The day was hot and dusty, and at noontime he paused at a wayside inn to refresh himself. He began by

Mine host of the "Seven Does" stood by, discussing the eternal Robin with a drover.

"Folk do say that my lord Sheriff has sent into Lincoln for more menatarms and horses, and that when he

"Of Robin Hood and his men," said the host; "but go to sleep again. You will never get the reward!"

"Where our Sheriff has failed, and the stout Guy of Gisborne, and many more beside, it behoves not a mere

The tinker laid a heavy hand upon the innkeeper's fat shoulder, and tried to look impressive.

"There is your reckoning, host, upon the table. I must e'en go upon my way, because I have more important

business than to stand here gossiping with you. But be not surprised, if, the next time you see me, I shall have

And he strode loftily out the door and walked up the hot white road toward Barnesdale.

He had not gone above a quarter of a mile when he met a young man with curling brown hair and merry eyes.

The young man carried his light cloak over his arm, because of the heat, and was unarmed save for a light

sword at his side. The newcomer eyed the perspiring tinker in a friendly way, and seeing he was a stout

"What is the news?" said the gossipy tinker, pricking up his ear; "I am a tinker by trade, Middle by name, and

"Why as for the news," laughed the stranger, "I hear that two tinkers were set i' the stocks for drinking too

"If that be all your news," retorted Middle, "I can beat you clear to the end of the lane."

"What news have you? Seeing that you go from town to town, I ween you can outdo a poor country yokel at

"All I have to tell," said the other, "is that I am especially commissioned"he felt mightily proud of these

big words"especially commissioned to seek a bold outlaw which they call Robin Hood."

"I have a warrant from the Sheriff, sealed with the King's own seal, to take him where I can; and if you can

"Let me see the warrant," said the other, "to satisfy myself if it be right; and I will do the best I can to bring

"That will I not," replied the tinker; "I will trust none with it. And if you'll not help me to come at him I must

"The middle of the road on a hot July day is not a good place to talk things over. Now if you're the man for

me and I'm the man for you, let's go back to the inn, just beyond the bend of road, and quench our thirst and

"Marry come up!" quoth the tinker. "That will I! For though I've just come from there, my thirst rises

The landlord arched his eyebrows silently when he saw the two come in, but served them willingly.

The tinker asked for wine, and Robin for ale. The wine was not the most cooling drink in the cellar, nor the

clearest headed. Nathless, the tinker asked for it, since it was expensive and the other man had invited him to

drink. They lingered long over their cups, Master Middle emptying one after another while the stranger

expounded at great length on the best plans for coming at and capturing Robin Hood.

In the end the tinker fell sound asleep while in the act of trying to get a tankard to his lips. Then the stranger

deftly opened the snoring man's pouch, took out the warrant, read it, and put it in his own wallet. Calling

mine host to him, he winked at him with a half smile and told him that the tinker would pay the whole score

when he awoke. Thus was Master Middle left in the lurch "for the great shot to pay."

Nathless, the stranger seemed in no great hurry. He had the whim to stay awhile and see what the droll tinker

might do when he awoke. So he hid behind a window shutter, on the outside, and awaited events.

Presently the tinker came to himself with a prodigious yawn, and reached at once for another drink.

"What were you saying, friend, about the best plan (yaaaah!) for catching this fellow?Hello!where's

"I know not," answered the landlord sharply. "Mayhap he left the money in your purse."

"No he didn't!" roared Middle, looking therein. "Help! Help! I've been robbed! Look you, host, you are liable

to arrest for high treason! I am here upon the King's business, as I told you earlier in the day. And yet while I

did rest under your roof, thinking you were an honest man (hic!) and one loving of the King, my pouch has

"Oh, many weighty matters, I do assure you. I had with me, item, a warrant, granted under the hand of my

lord High Sheriff of Nottingham, and sealed with the Kings's own seal, for the capture (hic!)and

arrestand overcoming of a notorious rascal, one Robin Hood of Barnesdale. Item, one crust of bread. Item,

one lump (hic!) of solder. Item, three pieces of twine. Item, six single keys (hic!), useful withal. Item, twelve

"Have done with your items!" said the host. "And I marvel greatly to hear you speak in such fashion of your

friend, Robin Hood of Barnesdale. For was he not with you in all goodfellowship?"

"Whaat? THAT Robin Hood?" gasped Middle with staring eyes. "Why did you not tell me?"

"Faith, _I_ saw no need o' telling you! Did you not tell me the first time you were here today, that I need not

"Jesu give me pardon!" moaned the tinker. "I see it all now. He got me to drinking, and then took my warrant,

"Yes, yes," interrupted the host. "I know all about that. But pay me the score for both of you."

"But I have no money, gossip. Let me go after that vile bago'bones, and I'll soon get it out of him."

"Not so," replied the other. "If I waited for you to collect from Robin Hood, I would soon close up shop."

"Then take here my workingbag and my good hammer too; and if I light upon that knave I will soon come

"Give me your leathern coat as well," said mine host; "the hammer and bag of tools are as naught to me."

"Gramercy!" cried Master Middle, losing what was left of his temper. "It seems that I have escaped one thief

only to fall into the hands of another. If you will but walk with me out into the middle of the road, I'll give

Middle thought this to be good advice; so he strode forth from the "Seven Does" in a black mood.

Ere he had gone half a mile, he saw Robin Hood walking demurely among the trees a little in front of him.

"Ho there, you villain!" roared the tinker. "Stay your steps! I am desperately in need of you this day!"

"No knave! no knave at all!" panted the other, rushing up. "But an honestmanwho would havethat

"Why, as I live, it is our honest tinker who was seeking Robin Hood! Did you find him, gossip?"

Robin tried to draw his sword, but could not do it for a moment through dodging the other's furious blows.

When he did get it in hand, the tinker had reached him thrice with resounding thwacks. Then the tables were

turned, for he dashed in right manfully with his shining blade and made the tinker give back again.

The greenwood rang with the noise of the fray. 'Twas steel against wood, and they made a terrible clattering

when they came together. Robin thought at first that he could hack the cudgel to pieces, for his blade was one

of Toledofinely tempered steel which the Queen had given him. But the crabtreestaff had been fired and

hardened and seasoned by the tinker's arts until it was like a bar of ironno pleasant neighbor for one's ribs.

Robin presently found this out to his sorrow. The long reach and long stick got to him when 'twas impossible

But even as he spoke, Robin found the moment's grace for which he longed; and immediately grasped his

"A murrain seize you!" roared the tinker commencing afresh. "Up to your old tricks again, are you? Well, I'll

But Robin was quite able to hold his own at a pinch, and they had not exchanged many lunges and passes

when up came Little John and Will Scarlet and a score of yeomen at their heels. Middle was seized without

ceremony, while Robin sat himself down to breathe. "What is the matter?" quoth Little John, "that you should

"Faith, that rascally tinker yonder has paid his score well upon my hide," answered Robin ruefully.

"That tinker, then," said Little John, "must be itching for more work. Fain would I try if he can do as much

"Or me," said Will Scarlet, who like Little John was always willing to swing a cudgel.

"Nay," laughed Robin. "Belike I could have done better, an he had given me time to pull a young tree up by

the roots. But I hated to spoil the Queen's blade upon his tough stick or no less tough hide. He had a warrant

"Also, item, twelve silver pennies," interposed the tinker, unsubdued; "item, one crust of bread, 'gainst my

supper. Item, one lump of solder. Item, three pieces of twine. Item, six single keys. Item"

"Yes, I know," quoth the merry Robin; "I stood outside the landlord's window and heard you count over your

losses. Here they are again; and the silver pennies are turned by magic into gold. Here also, if you will, is my

"I take it heartily, with the pence!" cried Middle. "By my leathern coat and tools, which I shall presently have

out of that sly host, I swear that I never yet met a man I liked as well as you! An you and your men here will

take me, I swear I'll serve you honestly. Do you want a tinker? Nay, but verily you must! Who else can mend

and grind your swords and patch your pannikinsand fight, too, when occasion serve? Mend your pots!

"What say you, fellows?" asked Robin. "Would not this tinker be a good recruit?"

"That he would!" answered Will Scarlet, clapping the new man on the back. "He will keep Friar Tuck and

So amid great merriment and right good fellowship the outlaws shook Middle by the hand, and he took oath

The Sheriff's daughter bided for several days in the faint hope that she might hear tidings of the prattling

tinker. But never a word heard she, and she was forced to the conclusion that her messenger had not so much

as laid eyes upon the outlaw. Little recked she that he was, even then, grinding swordpoints and sharpening

arrows out in the good greenwood, while whistling blithely or chatting merrily with the good Friar Tuck.

Then she bethought herself of another good man, one ArthuraBland, a tanner who dwelt in Nottingham

town and was farfamed in the tourneys round about. He had done some pretty tricks at archery, but was

strongest at wrestling and the quarterstaff. For three years he had cast all comers to the earth in wrestling

until the famous Eric o' Lincoln broke a rib for him in a mighty tussle. Howsoever, at quarterstaff he had

never yet met his match; so that there was never a squire in Nottinghamshire dare bid bold Arthur stand.

With a long pikestaff on his shoulder, So well he could clear his way That by two and three he made men

"This is just the man for me!" thought the Sheriff's daughter to herself; and she forthwith summoned him to

The warrant was quite to Arthur's liking, for he was happiest when out in the forest taking a sly peep at the

King's deer; and now he reckoned that he could look at them boldly, instead of by the rays of the moon. He

could say to any King's Forester who made bold to stop him: "I am here on the King's business!"

"Gramercy! No more oakbark and ditchwater and the smell of halftanned hides today!" quoth he, gaily.

"I shall e'en see what the free air of heaven tastes like, when it sweeps through the open wood."

So the tanner departed joyfully upon his errand, but much more interested in the dun deer of the forest than in

any twolegged rovers therein. This interest had, in fact, caused the Foresters to keep a shrewd eye upon him

in the past, for his tannery was apt to have plenty of meat in it that was more like venison than the law

allowed. As for the outlaws, Arthur bore them no illwill; indeed he had felt a secret envy in his heart at their

free life; but he was not afraid to meet any two men who might come against him. Nathless, the Sheriff's

Away sped the tanner, a piece of bread and some wine in his wallet, a good longbow and arrows slung across

his shoulder, his stout quarterstaff in his hand, and on his head a cap of trebled rawhide so tough that it

would turn the edge of a broadsword. He lost no time in getting out of the hot sun and into the welcome

shade of the forest, where he stalked cautiously about seeking some sign of the dun deer.

Now it so chanced that upon that very morning Robin Hood had sent Little John to a neighboring village to

buy some cloth of Lincoln green for new suits for all the band. Some of the money recently won of the King

was being spent in this fashion, 'gainst the approach of winter. Will Scarlet had been sent on a similar errand

to Barnesdale some time before, if you remember, only to be chased up the hill without his purchase. So

today Little John was chosen, and for sweet company's sake Robin went with him a part of the way until

they came to the "Seven Does," the inn where Robin had recently played his prank upon Middle the tinker.

Here they drank a glass of ale to refresh themselves withal, and for good luck; and Robin tarried a bit while

Presently Robin entered the edge of the wood, when whom should he see but ArthuraBland, busily

creeping after a graceful deer that browsed alone down the glade. "Now by Saint George and the Dragon!"

quoth Robin to himself. "I much fear that yon same fellow is a rascally poacher come after our own and the

For you must know, by a curious process of reasoning, Robin and his men had hunted in the royal preserves

so long that they had come to consider themselves joint owners to every animal which roamed therein.

"Nay!" he added, "this must be looked into! That cowskin cap in sooth must hide a scurvy varlet!"

And forthwith he crept behind a tree, and thence to another, stalking our friend Arthur as busily as Arthur was

This went on for quite a space, until the tanner began to come upon the deer and to draw his bow in order to

tickle the victim's ribs with a clothyard shaft. But just at this moment Robin unluckily trod upon a twig

Robin saw that he was discovered, so he determined to put a bold face on the matter, and went forward with

"Hold!" he cried: "stay your hand! Why, who are you, bold fellow, to range so boldly here? In sooth, to be

"Marry, it is scant concern of yours, what I look like!" retorted ArthuraBland. "Who are you, who speak so

"You shall soon find out who I am!" quoth Robin, determining to find some sport in the matter. "I am a

keeper of this forest. The King knows that I am looking after his deer for him; and therefore we must stay

"Have you any assistants, friend?" asked the tanner calmly. "For it is not one man alone who can stop me."

"Nay truly, gossip," replied Robin. "I have a good yew bow, also a right sharp blade at my side. Nathless I

need no better assistant than a good oakgraff like unto yours. Give me a baker's dozen of minutes with it and

"Softly, my man! Fair and softly! Big words never killed so much as a mouseleast of all yon deer which

has got away while you were filling all the woods with your noisy breath. So choose your own playthings.

For your sword and your bow I care not a straw; nor for all your arrows to boot. If I get but a knock at you,

"Now by our Lady! Will you listen to the braggart?" cried Robin in a fine rage. "Marry, but I'll teach ye to be

So saying he unbuckled his belt; and, flinging his bow upon the ground he seized hold of a young sapling that

was growing near by. His hunting knife soon had it severed and lopped into shape.

"Now come, fellow!" said ArthuraBland, seeing that he was ready. "And if I do not tan your hide for you

in better shape than ever calfskin was turned into topboots, may a murrain seize me!"

"Stay," said Robin, "methinks my cudgel is half a foot longer than yours. I would have them of even length

"I pass not for length," bold Arthur replied; "my staff is long enough, as you will shortly find out. Eight foot

and a half, and 'twill knock down a calf"here he made it whistle in the air"and I hope it will knock down

Forthwith the two men spat on their hands, laid firm hold upon their cudgels and began slowly circling round

Now it so chanced that Little John had fared expeditiously with his errand. He had met the merchant, from

whom he was wont to buy Lincoln green, coming along the road; and had made known his wants in few

words. The merchant readily undertook to deliver the suits by a certain day in the following month. So Little

John, glad to get back to the cool shelter of the greenwood, hasted along the road lately taken by Robin.

Presently he heard the sound of angry voices, one of which he recognized as his captain's.

"Now, Heaven forfend," quoth he, "that Robin Hood has fallen into the clutches of a King's man! I must take

So he cautiously made his way from tree to tree, as Robin had done, till he came to the little open space

where Robin and Arthur were circling about each other with angry looks, like two dogs at bay.

"Ha! this looks interesting!" muttered Little John to himself, for he loved a good quarterstaff bout above

anything else in the world, and was the best man at it in all the greenwood. And he crawled quietly

underneath a friendly bushmuch as he had done when Robin undertook to teach Will Scarlet a

lessonand chuckled softly to himself and slapped his thigh and prepared to watch the fight at his ease.

Indeed it was both exciting and laughable. You would have chuckled one moment and caught your breath the

next, to see those two stout fellows swinging their stickseach half as long again as the men were, and thick

as their armand edging along sidewise, neither wishing to strike the first blow.

At last Robin could no longer forbear, and his good right arm swung round like a flash. Ping! went the stick

on the back of the other's head, raising such a welt that the blood came. But the tanner did not seem to mind it

at all, for bing! went his own staff in return, giving Robin as good as he had sent. Then the battle was on, and

furiously it waged. Fast fell the blows, but few save the first ones landed, being met in midair by a

counterblow till the thwacking sticks sounded like the steady roll of a kettledrum and the oakbark flew

Round and round they fought, digging their heels into the ground to keep from slipping, so that you would

have vowed there had been a yoke of oxen ploughing a potatopatch. Round and round, up and down, in and

out, their arms working like threshingmachines, went the yeoman and the tanner, for a full hour, each

becoming more astonished every minute that the other was such a good fellow. While Little John from

underneath his bushy covert had much ado to keep from roaring aloud in pure joy.

Finally Robin saw his chance and brought a full arm blow straight down upon the other's head with a force

that would have felled a bullock. But Arthur's trebled cowskin cap here stood him in good stead: the blow

glanced off without doing more than stunning him. Nathless, he reeled and had much ado to keep from

falling; seeing which Robin stayed his handto his own sorrow, for the tanner recovered his wits in a

marvelous quick space and sent back a sidelong blow which fairly lifted Robin off his feet and sent him

"Hold your hand! hold your hand!" roared Robin with what little breath he had left. "Hold, I say, and I will

"Well, well, gossip' let be as it may. But prithee tell me your name and trade. I like to know fellows who can

"I am a tanner," replied ArthuraBland. "In Nottingham long have I wrought. And if you'll come to me I

"Odds bodikins!" quoth Robin ruefully. "Mine own hide is tanned enough for the present. Howsoever, there

be others in this wood I would fain see you tackle. Harkee, if you will leave your tanpots and come with me,

"By the breath o' my body!" said Arthur, "that will I do!" and he gripped him gladly by the hand. "But I am

minded that I clean forgot the errand that brought me to Sherwood. I was commissioned by some, under the

"Verily 'tis a new way to recruit forces!" said the tanner laughing loudly. "But tell me, good Robin Hood,

where is Little John? I fain would see him, for he is a kinsman on my mother's side."

"Here am I, good ArthuraBland!" said a voice; and Little John literally rolled out from under the bush to

the sward. His eyes were full of tears from much laughter which had wellnigh left him powerless to get on

As soon as the astonished tanner saw who it was, he gave Little John a mighty hug around the neck, and lifted

him up on his feet, and the two pounded each other on the back soundly, so glad were they to meet again.

"O, man, man!" said Little John as soon as he had got his breath. "Never saw I so fine a sight in all my born

"And you do joy to see me thwacked about on the ribs?" asked Robin with some choler.

"Nay, not that, master!" said Little John. "But 'tis the second time I have had special tickets to a show from

beneath the bushes, and I cannot forbear my delight. Howsoever, take no shame unto yourself, for this same

ArthuraBland is the best man at the quarterstaff in all Nottinghamshire. It commonly takes two or three

"Unless it be Eric o' Lincoln," said Arthur modestly; "and I well know how you paid him out at the Fair."

"Say no more!" said Robin springing to his feet; "for well I know that I have done good business this day, and

a few bruises are easy payment for the stout cudgel I am getting into the band. Your hand again, good

"Righty gladly!" quoth Arthur. "Come, Cousin Little John! Away with vats and tanbark and vilesmelling

Now you must know that some months passed by. The winter dragged its weary length through Sherwood

Forest, and Robin Hood and his merry men found what cheer they could in the big crackling fires before their

woodland cave. Friar Tuck had built him a little hermitage not far away, where he lived comfortably with his

The winter, I say, reached an end at last, and the blessed spring came and went. Another summer passed on

apace, and still neither King nor Sheriff nor Bishop could catch the outlaws, who, meanwhile, thrived and

prospered mightily in their outlawry. The band had been increased from time to time by picked men such as

ArthuraBland and David of Doncasterhe who was the jolliest cobbler for miles arounduntil it now

numbered a full sevenscore of men; seven companies each with its stout lieutenant serving under Robin

Hood. And still they relieved the purses of the rich, and aided the poor, and feasted upon King's deer until the

Indeed, that official would probable have lost his office entirely, had it not been for the fact of the King's

death. Henry passed away, as all Kings will, in common with ordinary men, and Richard of the Lion Heart

Then Robin and his men, after earnest debate, resolved to throw themselves upon the mercy of the new King,

swear allegiance, and ask to be organized into Royal Foresters. So Will Scarlet and Will Stutely and Little

John were sent to London with this message, which they were first to entrust privately to Maid Marian. But

they soon returned with bad tidings. The new King had formerly set forth upon a crusade to the Holy Land,

and Prince John, his brother, was impossible to deal withbeing crafty, cruel and treacherous. He was laying

his hands upon all the property which could easily be seized; among other estates, that of the Earl of

Marian herself was in sore straits. Not only had her estates been taken away, and the maid been deprived of

the former protection of the Queen, but the evil Prince John had persecuted her with his attentions. He

thought that since the maid was defenseless he could carry her away to one of his castles and none could

No word of this peril reached Robin's ears, although his men brought him word of the seizure of the

Huntingdon lands. Nathless he was greatly alarmed for the safety of Maid Marian, and his heart cried out for

her strongly. She had been continually in his thoughts ever since the memorable shooting at London town.

One morning in early autumn when the leaves were beginning to turn gold at the edges, the chestnutpods to

swell with promise of fatness, and the whole wide woodland was redolent with the ripe fragrance of fruit and

flower, Robin was walking along the edge of a small open glade busy with his thoughts. The peace of the

woods was upon him, despite his broodings of Marian and he paid little heed to a group of does quietly

But presently this sylvan picture was rudely disturbed for him. A stag, wild and furious, dashed suddenly

forth from among the trees, scattering the does in swift alarm. The vicious beast eyed the greenandgold

tunic of Robin, and, lowering it head, charged at him impetuously. So sudden was its attack that Robin had

A moment later the wild stag crashed blindly into the treetrunk with a shock which sent the beast reeling

backward, while the dislodged leaves from the shivering tree fell in a small shower over Robin's head.

"By my halidom, I am glad it was not me you struck, my gentle friend!" quoth Robin, fixing an arrow upon

the string. "Sorry indeed would be any one's plight who should encounter you in this black humor."

Scarcely had he spoken when he saw the stag veer about and fix its glances rigidly on the bushes to the left

side of the glade. These were parted by a delicate hand, and through the opening appeared the slight figure of

She advanced, unconscious alike of Robin's horrified gaze and the evil fury of the stag.

She was directly in line with the animal, so Robin dared not launch an arrow. Her own bow was slung across

her shoulder, and her small sword would be useless against the beast's charge. But now as she caught sight of

"For the love of God, dear lady!" cried Robin; and then the words died in his throat.

With a savage snort of rage, the beast rushed at this new and inviting targetrushed so swiftly and from so

short a distance that she could not defend herself. She sprang to one side as it charged down upon her, but a

side blow from its antlers stretched her upon the ground. The stag stopped, turned, and lowered its head

Already its cruel horns were coming straight for her, while she, white of face and bewildered by the sudden

attack, was struggling to rise and draw her sword. A moment more and the end would come. But the sharp

"Down, Marian!" he cried, and the girl instinctively obeyed, just as the shaft from Robin's bow went

whizzing close above her head and struck with terrific force full in the center of the stag's forehead.

The beast stumbled in its charge and fell dead, across the body of the fainting maid.

Picking her up in his strong arms, he bore her swiftly to the side of one of the many brooks which watered the

He dashed cool water upon her face, roughly almost, in his agony of fear that the she was already dead, and

he could have shed tears of joy to see those poor, closed eyelids tremble. He redoubled his efforts; and

She opened her eyes and sat up. "Methinks you have rescued me from sudden danger, sir," she said.

Then she recognized Robin for the first time, and a radiant smile came over her face, together with the rare

blush of returned vitality, and her head sank upon his shoulder with a little tremble and sigh of relief.

"Aye, 'tis I. Thank heaven, I was at hand to do you service!" Robin's tones were deep and full of feeling. "I

Not another word was spoken for some moments, while her head still rested confidingly upon his breast.

"Gramercy, I make but a poor nurse! I have not even asked if any of your bones were broken."

"That foolish dizziness o'ercame me for the nonce, but we can now proceed on our way."

"Nay, I meant not that," he protested; "why should we haste? First tell me of the news in London town, and of

So she told him how that the Prince had seized upon her father's lands, and had promised to restore them to

her if she would listen to his suit; and how that she knew he meant her no good, for he was even then suing

"That is all, Robin," she ended simply; "and that is why I donned again my page's costume and came to you

Robin's brow had grown fiercely black at the recital of her wrong; and he had laid stern hand upon the hilt of

his sword. "By this sword which Queen Eleanor gave me!" he said impetuously; "and which was devoted to

the service of all womankind, I take oath that Prince John and all his armies shall not harm you!"

So that is how Maid Marian came to take up her abode in the greenwood, where the whole band of yeomen

welcomed her gladly and swore fealty; and where the sweet lady of AllanaDale made her fully at home.

But this was a day of deeds in Sherwood Forest, and we 'gan to tell you another happening which led to later

While Robin and Marian were having their encounter with the stag, Little John, Much the miller's son, and

Will Scarlet had sallied forth to watch the highroad leading to Barnesdale, if perchance they might find some

They had scarcely watched the great road known as Watling Street which runs from Dover in Kent to Chester

townfor many minutes, when they espied a knight riding by in a very forlorn and careless manner.

All dreary was his semblance, And little was his pride, His one foot in the stirrup stood, His other waved

His visor hung down o'er his eyes, He rode in single array, A sorrier man than he was one Rode never in

Little John came up to the knight and bade him stay; for who can judge of a man's wealth by his looks? The

outlaw bent his knee in all courtesy, and prayed him to accept the hospitality of the forest.

"My master expects you to dine with him, today," quoth he, "and indeed has been fasting while awaiting

"None other than Robin Hood," replied Little John, laying his hand upon the knight's bridle.

Seeing the other two outlaws approaching, the knight shrugged his shoulders, and replied indifferently.

"'Tis clear that your invitation is too urgent to admit of refusal," quoth he, "and I go with you right willingly,

my friends. My purpose was to have dined today at Blyth or Doncaster; but nothing matters greatly."

So in the same lackadaisical fashion which had marked all his actions that day, the knight suffered his horse

Marian had not yet had time to change her page's attire, when the three escorts of the knight hove in sight.

She recognized their captive as Sir Richard of the Lea, whom she had often seen at court; and fearing lest he

might recognize her, she would have fled. But Robin asked her, with a twinkle, if she would not like to play

"Welcome, Sir Knight," said Robin, courteously. "You are come in good time, for we were just preparing to

"God save and thank you, good master Robin," returned the knight; "and all your company. It likes me well

So while his horse was cared for, the knight laid aside his own heavy gear, and laved his face and hands, and

sat down with Robin and all his men to a most plentiful repast of venison, swans, pheasants, various small

birds, cake and ale. And Marian stood behind Robin and filled his cup and that of the guest.

After eating right heartily of the good cheer, the knight brightened up greatly and vowed that he had not

enjoyed so good a dinner for nigh three weeks. He also said that if ever Robin and his fellows should come to

his domains, he would strive to set them down to as good a dinner on his own behalf.

But this was not exactly the sort of payment which Robin had expected to receive. He thanked the knight,

therefore, in set phrase, but reminded him that a yeoman like himself might hardly offer such a dinner to a

"I have no money, Master Robin," answered the knight frankly. "I have so little of the world's goods, in

"Money, however little, always jingles merrily in our pockets," said Robin, smiling. "Pray you tell me what

"I have of my own ten silver pennies," said the knight. "Here they are, and I wish they were ten times as

"'Tis true enough, as the worthy knight hath said," responded the big fellow gravely emptying the contents on

"Pledge me, Sir Knight!" cried the merry outlaw; "and pledge me heartily, for these sorry times. I see that

your armor is bent and that your clothes are torn. Yet methinks I saw you at court, once upon a day, and in

more prosperous guise. Tell me now, were you a yeoman and made a knight by force? Or, have you been a

bad steward to yourself, and wasted your property in lawsuits and the like? Be not bashful with us. We shall

"I am a Saxon knight in my own right; and I have always lived a sober and quiet life," the sorrowful guest

replied. "'Tis true you have seen me at court, mayhap, for I was an excited witness of your shooting before

King HarryGod rest his bones! My name is Sir Richard of the Lea, and I dwell in a castle, not a league

from one of the gates of Nottingham, which has belonged to my father, and his father, and his father's father

before him. Within two or three years ago my neighbors might have told you that a matter of four hundred

pounds one way or the other was as naught to me. But now I have only these ten pennies of silver, and my

"Through folly and kindness," said the knight, sighing. "I went with King Richard upon a crusade, from

which I am but lately returned, in time to find my sona goodly youthgrown up. He was but twenty, yet

he had achieved a squire's training and could play prettily in jousts and tournaments and other knightly

games. But about this time he had the ill luck to push his sport too far, and did accidentally kill a knight in the

open lists. To save the boy, I had to sell my lands and mortgage my ancestral castle; and this not being

enough, in the end I have had to borrow money, at a ruinous interest, from my lord of Hereford."

"Four hundred pounds," said Sir Richard, "and the Bishop swears he will foreclose the mortgage if they are

"Fill your goblet again, Sir Knight," said Robin; and he turned to whisper a word in Marian's ear. She nodded

and drew Little John and Will Scarlet aside and talked earnestly with them, in a low tone.

"Here is health and prosperity to you, gallant Robin," said Sir Richard, tilting his goblet. "I hope I may pay

Will Scarlet and Little John had meanwhile fallen in with Marian's idea, for they consulted the other outlaws,

who nodded their heads. Thereupon Little John and Will Scarlet went into the cave near by and presently

returned bearing a bag of gold. This they counted out before the astonished knight; and there were four times

"Take this loan from us, Sir Knight, and pay your debt to the Bishop," then said Robin. "Nay, no thanks; you

are but exchanging creditors. Mayhap we shall not be so hard upon you as the Christian Bishop; yet, again we

There were actual tears in Sir Richard's eyes, as he essayed to thank the foresters. But at this juncture, Much,

the miller's son, came from the cave dragging a bale of cloth. "The knight should have a suit worthy of his

"Give him a good horse, also," whispered Marian. "'Tis a gift which will come back fourfold, for this is a

So the horse was given, also, and Robin bade ArthuraBland ride with the knight as far as his castle, as

The knight was sorrowful no longer; yet he could hardly voice his thanks through his broken utterance. And

having spent the night in rest, after listening to AllanaDale's singing, he mounted his new steed the

"God save you, comrades, and keep you all!" said he, with deep feeling in his tones; "and give me a grateful

"We shall wait for you twelve months from today, here in this place," said Robin, shaking him by the hand;

"I shall return it to you within the year, upon my honor as Sir Richard of the Lea. And for all time, pray count

So saying the knight and his esquire rode down the forest glade till they were lost to view.

Not many days after Sir Richard of the Lea came to Sherwood Forest, word reached Robin Hood's ears that

my lord Bishop of Hereford would be riding that way betimes on that morning. 'Twas ArthuraBland, the

knight's quondam esquire, who brought the tidings, and Robin's face brightened as he heard it.

"Now, by our Lady!" quoth he, "I have long desired to entertain my lord in the greenwood, and this is too fair

a chance to let slip. Come, my men, kill me a venison; kill me a good fat deer. The Bishop of Hereford is to

"Nay, we play a droll game on the churchman. We will dress it by the highway side, and watch for the Bishop

So Robin gave his orders, and the main body of his men dispersed to different parts of the forest, under Will

Stutely and Little John, to watch other roads; while Robin Hood himself took six of his men, including Will

Scarlet, and Much, and posted himself in full view of the main road. This little company appeared funny

enough, I assure you, for they had disguised themselves as shepherds. Robin had an old wool cap, with a tail

to it, hanging over his ear, and a shock of hair stood straight up through a hole in the top. Besides there was

so much dirt on his face that you would never have known him. An old tattered cloak over his hunter's garb

completed his makeup. The others were no less ragged and unkempt, even the foppish Will Scarlet being so

badly run down at the heel that the court ladies would hardly have had speech with him.

They quickly provided themselves with a deer and made great preparations to cook it over a small fire, when

a little dust was seen blowing along the highway, and out of it came the portly Bishop cantering along with

ten menatarms at his heels. As soon as he saw the fancied shepherds he spurred up his horse, and came

"Heaven have mercy! Ye seem a sorry lot of shepherds. But who gave you leave to cease eating mutton?"

"'Tis one of our feast days, lording, and we were disposed to be merry this day, and make free with a deer,

"Give me first your name, excellence, so that I may speak where 'tis fitting," replied Robin stubbornly.

"'Tis my lord Bishop of Hereford, fellow!" interposed one of the guards fiercely. "See that you keep a civil

"If 'tis a churchman," retorted Will Scarlet, "he would do better to mind his own flocks rather than concern

"Ye are saucy fellows, in sooth," cried the Bishop, "and we will see if your heads will pay for your manners.

Come! quit your stolen roast and march along with me, for you shall be brought before the Sheriff of

"Pardon, excellence!" said Robin, dropping on his knees. "Pardon, I pray you. It becomes not your lordship's

"Faith, I'll pardon you!" said the Bishop. "I'll pardon you, when I see you hanged! Seize upon them, my

But Robin had already sprung away with his back against a tree. And from underneath his ragged cloak he

drew his trusty horn and winded the piercing notes which were wont to summon the band.

The Bishop no sooner saw this action than he knew his man, and that there was a trap set; and being an arrant

coward, he wheeled his horse sharply and would have made off down the road; but his own men, spurred on

the charge, blocked his way. At almost the same instant the bushes round about seemed literally to become

alive with outlaws. Little John's men came from one side and Will Stutely's from the other. In less time than

it takes to tell it, the worthy Bishop found himself a prisoner, and began to crave mercy from the men he had

"O pardon, O pardon," said the Bishop, "O pardon, I you pray. For if I had known it had been you, I'd have

"I owe you no pardon," retorted Robin, "but I will e'en treat you better than you would have treated me.

Come, make haste, and go along with me. I have already planned that you shall dine with me this day."

So the unwilling prelate was dragged away, cheek by jowl, with the halfcooked venison upon the back of

his own horse; and Robin and his band took charge of the whole company and led them through the forest

Here they rested, and Robin gave the Bishop a seat full courteously. Much the miller's son fell to roasting the

deer afresh, while another and fatter beast was set to frizzle on the other side of the fire. Presently the

appetizing odor of the cooking reached the Bishop's nostrils, and he sniffed it eagerly. The morning's ride had

made him hungry; and he was nothing loath when they bade him come to the dinner. Robin gave him the best

"Nay, my lord, craving your pardon, but we are accustomed to have grace before meat," said Robin

decorously. "And as our own chaplain is not with us today, will you be good enough to say it for us?"

The Bishop reddened, but pronounced grace in the Latin tongue hastily, and then settled himself to make the

best of his lot. Red wines and ale were brought forth and poured out, each man having a horn tankard from

Laughter bubbled among the diners, and the Bishop caught himself smiling at more than one jest. But who, in

sooth, could resist a freshly broiled venison streak eaten out in the open air to the tune of jest and good

fellowship? Stutely filled the Bishop's beaker with wine each time he emptied it, and the Bishop got mellower

and mellower as the afternoon shades lengthened on toward sunset. Then the approaching dusk warned him

"I wish, mine host," quoth he gravely to Robin, who had soberly drunk but one cup of ale, "that you would

now call a reckoning. 'Tis late, and I fear the cost of this entertainment may be more than my poor purse can

"Verily, your lordship," said Robin, scratching his head, "I have enjoyed your company so much, that I scarce

"Lend me your purse, my lord," said Little John, interposing, "and I'll give you the reckoning by and by." The

Bishop shuddered. He had collected Sir Richard's debt only that morning, and was even then carrying it

"I have but a few silver pennies of my own," he whined; "and as for the gold in my saddlebags, 'tis for the

But Little John was already gone to the saddlebags, and returning he laid the Bishop's cloak upon the

ground, and poured out of the portmantua a matter of four hundred glittering gold pieces. 'Twas the identical

"Ah!" said Robin, as though an idea had but just then come to him. "The church is always willing to aid in

charity. And seeing this goodly sum reminds me that I have a friend who is indebted to a churchman for this

exact amount. Now we shall charge you nothing on our own account; but suffer us to make use of this in

"Nay, nay," began the Bishop with a wry face, "this is requiting me ill indeed. Was this not the King's meat,

"Poor forsooth!" answered Robin in scorn. "You are the Bishop of Hereford, and does not the whole

countryside speak of your oppression? Who does not know of your cruelty to the poor and ignorantyou

who should use your great office to aid them, instead of oppress? Have you not been guilty of far greater

robbery than this, even though less open? Of myself, and how you have pursued me, I say nothing; nor of

your unjust enmity against my father. But on account of those you have despoiled and oppressed, I take this

money, and will use it far more worthily than you would. God be my witness in this! There is an end of the

matter, unless you will lead us in a song or dance to show that your body had a better spirit than your mind.

"Faith, then we must help you," said Little John; and he and ArthuraBland seized the fat struggling

churchman and commenced to hop up and down. The Bishop being shorter must perforce accompany them in

their gyrations; while the whole company sat and rolled about over the ground, and roared to see my lord of

Hereford's queer capers. At last he sank in a heap, fuddled with wine and quite exhausted.

Little John picked him up as though he were a log of wood and carrying him to his horse, set him astride

facing the animal's tail; and thus fastened him, leading the animal toward the highroad and, starting the

The easy success with which they had got the better of the good Bishop led Robin to be a little careless. He

thought that his guest was too great a coward to venture back into the greenwood for many a long day; and so

after lying quiet for one day, the outlaw ventured boldly upon the highway, the morning of the second. But he

had gone only half a mile when, turning a sharp bend in the road, he plunged full upon the prelate himself.

My lord of Hereford had been so deeply smitten in his pride, that he had lost no time in summoning a

considerable body of the Sheriff's men, offering to double the reward if Robin Hood could be come upon.

This company was now at his heels, and after the first shock of mutual surprise, the Bishop gave an exultant

It was too late for Robin to retreat by the way he had come, but quick as a flash he sprang to one side of the

road, dodged under some bushes, and disappeared so suddenly that his pursuers thought he had truly been

"After him!" yelled the Bishop; "some of you beat up the woods around him, while the rest of us will keep on

For, truth to tell, the Bishop did not care to trust his bones away from the highroad.

About a mile away, on the other side of this neck of woods, wherein Robin had been trapped, was a little

tumbledown cottage. 'Twas where the widow lived, whose three sons had been rescued. Robin remembered

Doubling in and out among the underbrush and heather with the agility of a hare, he soon came out of the

"They should be with you, Robin. Well do you know that. Do they not owe their lives to you?"

"If that be so, I come to seek payment of the debt," said Robin in a breath. "The Bishop is on my heels with

"I'll cheat the Bishop and all!" cried the woman quickly. "Here, Robin, change your raiment with me, and we

"Good!" said Robin. "Pass your gray cloak out the window, and also your spindle and twine; and I will give

While they were talking, Robin had been nimbly changing clothes with the old woman, through the window,

Presently up dashed the Bishop and his men, and, at sight of the cottage and the old woman, gave pause. The

crone was hobbling along with difficulty, leaning heavily upon a gnarled stick and bearing the spindle on her

other arm. She would have gone by the Bishop's company, while muttering to herself, but the Bishop ordered

"Come, come, my good woman," said the soldier, who really was afraid of her curses. "I'll not molest you.

But my lord Bishop of Hereford wants to know if you have seen aught of the outlaw, Robin Hood?"

"And why shouldn't I see him?" she whined. "Where's the King or law to prevent good Robin from coming to

see me and bring me food and raiment? That's more than my lord Bishop will do, I warrant ye!"

"Peace, woman!" said the Bishop harshly. "We want none of your opinions. But we'll take you to Barnesdale

and burn you for a witch if you do not instantly tell us when you last saw Robin Hood."

"We'll see about that," cried the Bishop triumphantly. "Enter the cottage, my men. Fire it, if need be. But I'll

give a purse of gold pieces, above the reward, to the man who captures the outlaw alive."

The old woman, being released, went on her way slowly. But it might have been noticed that the farther she

got away from the company and the nearer to the edge of the woods, the swifter and straighter grew her pace.

Once inside the shelter of the forest she broke into a run of surprising swiftness.

"Gadzooks!" exclaimed Little John who presently spied her. "Who comes here? Never saw I witch or woman

run so fast. Methinks I'll send an arrow close over her head to see which it is."

"O hold your hand! hold your hand!" panted the supposed woman. "'Tis I, Robin Hood. Summon the yeomen

and return with me speedily. We have still another score to settle with my lord of Hereford."

"Now, mistress Robin," quoth he, grinning. "Lead on! We'll be close to your heels."

Meanwhile, back at the widow's cottage the Bishop was growing more furious every moment. For all his bold

words, he dared not fire the house, and the sturdy door had thus far resisted all his men's efforts.

"Break it down! Break it down!" he shouted, "and let me soon see who will fetch out that traitor, Robin

At last the door crashed in and the men stood guard on the threshold. But not one dared enter for fear a sharp

"Here he is!" cried one keeneyed fellow, peering in. "I see him in the corner by the cupboard. Shall we slay

"Nay," said the Bishop, "take him alive if you can. We'll make the biggest public hanging of this that the

But the joy of the Bishop over his capture was short lived. Down the road came striding the shabby figure of

the old woman who had helped him set the trap; and very wrathy was she when she saw that the cottage door

"Stand by, you lazy rascals!" she called to the soldiers. "May all the devils catch ye for hurting an old

"Hold your tongue!" ordered the Bishop. "These are my men and carrying out my orders."

"Godmercy!" swore the beldame harshly. "Things have come to a pretty pass when our homes may be

treated like common gaols. Couldn't all your men catch one poor forester without this ado? Come! clear out,

you and your robber, on the instant, or I'll curse every mother's son of ye, eating and drinking and sleeping!"

"Seize on the hag!" shouted the Bishop, as soon as he could get in a word. "We'll see about a witch's cursing.

And at the signal a goodly array of greenwood men sprang forth from all sides of the cottage, with bows

drawn back threateningly. The Bishop saw that his men were trapped again, for they dared not stir. Nathless,

"If one of you but budge an inch toward me, you rascals," he cried, "it shall sound the death of your master,

Robin Hood! My men have him here under their pikes, and I shall command them to kill him without mercy."

"Faith, I should like to see the Robin you have caught," said a clear voice from under the widow's cape; and

the outlaw chief stood forth with bared head, smilingly. "Here am I, my lord, in no wise imperiled by your

The old woman who, in the garb of Robin Hood, had been lying quiet in the cottage through all the uproar,

jumped up nimbly at this. In the bald absurdity of her disguise she came to the doorway and bowed to the

"Give you goodden, my lord Bishop," she piped in a shrill voice; "and what does your Grace at my humble

"Aye, that does he," answered Robin. "We shall see if his saddlebags contain enough to pay you for that

"Take care; they are all watching you," interrupted Robin; "so name them not upon your unchurchly lips. But

I will trouble you to hand over that purse of gold you had saved to pay for my head."

"I'll see you hanged first!" raged the Bishop, stating no more than what would have been so, if he could do

the ordering of things. "Have at them, my men, and hew them down in their tracks!"

"Hold!" retorted Robin. "See how we have you at our mercy." And aiming a sudden shaft he shot so close to

the Bishop's head that it carried away both his hat and the skullcap which he always wore, leaving him quite

The prelate turned as white as his shiny head and clutched wildly at his ears. He thought himself dead almost.

His men being left leaderless had nothing for it but to retreat after him, which they did in sullen order,

covered by the bows of the yeomen. And thus ended the Bishop of Hereford's great outlawhunt in the forest.

Now the Sheriff was so greatly troubled in heart over the growing power of Robin Hood, that he did a very

foolish thing. He went to London town to lay his troubles before the King and get another force of troops to

cope with the outlaws. King Richard was not yet returned from the Holy Land, but Prince John heard him

"Pooh!" said he, shrugging his shoulders. "What have I to do with all this? Art thou not sheriff for me? The

law is in force to take thy course of them that injure thee. Go, get thee gone, and by thyself devise some

tricking game to trap these rebels; and never let me see thy face at court again until thou hast a better tale to

So away went the Sheriff in sorrier pass than ever, and cudgeled his brain, on the way home, for some plan of

His daughter met him on his return and saw at once that he had been on a poor mission. She was minded to

upbraid him when she learned what he had told the Prince. But the words of the latter started her to thinking

"I have it!" she exclaimed at length. "Why should we not hold another shootingmatch? 'Tis Fair year, as you

know, and another tourney will be expected. Now we will proclaim a general amnesty, as did King Harry

himself, and say that the field is open and unmolested to all comers. Belike Robin Hood's men will be

"And then," said the Sheriff jumping up with alacrity, "we shall see on which side of the gate they stop

So the Sheriff lost no time in proclaiming a tourney, to be held that same Fall at the Fair. It was open to all

comers, said the proclamation, and none should be molested in their going and coming. Furthermore, an

arrow with a golden head and shaft of silverwhite should be given to the winner, who would be heralded

abroad as the finest archer in all the North Countree. Also, many rich prizes were to be given to other clever

Thesemtidings came in due course to Robin Hood, under the greenwood tree, and fired his impetuous spirit.

"Come, prepare ye, my merry men all," quoth he, "and we'll go to the Fair and take some part in this sport."

"Master," quoth he, "be ruled by me and stir not from the greenwood. To tell the truth, I'm well informed yon

match is naught but a trap. I know the Sheriff has devised it to beguile us archers into some treachery."

"That word savors of the coward," replied Robin, "and pleases me not. Let come what will, I'll try my skill at

Then up spoke Little John and said: "Come, listen to me how it shall be that we will not be discovered."

"Our mantles all of Lincolngreen Behind us we will leave; We'll dress us all so several, They shall not us

"One shall wear white, another red, One yellow, another blue; Thus in disguise to the exercise We'll go,

This advice met with general favor from the adventurous fellows, and they lost no time in putting it into

practice. Maid Marian and Mistress Dale, assisted by Friar Tuck, prepared some varicolored costumes, and

'gainst the Fair day had fitted out the sevenscore men till you would never have taken them for other than

And forth went they from the greenwood, with hearts all firm and stout, resolved to meet the Sheriff's men

and have a merry bout. Along the highway they fell in with many other bold fellows from the countryside,

So in through the gates trooped the whole gay company, Robin's men behaving as awkwardly and laughing

and talking as noisily as the rest; while the Sheriff's scowling menatarms stood round about and sought to

The herald now set forth the terms of the contest, as on former occasions, and the shooting presently began.

Robin had chosen five of his men to shoot with him, and the rest were to mingle with the crowd and also

watch the gates. These five were Little John, Will Scarlet, Will Stutely, Much, and AllanaDale'.

The other competitors made a brave showing on the first round, especially Gilbert of the White Hand, who

was present and never shot better. The contest later narrowed down between Gilbert and Robin. But at the

first lead, when the butts were struck so truly by various well known archers, the Sheriff was in doubt

whether to feel glad or sorry. He was glad to see such skill, but sorry that the outlaws were not in it.

Some said, "If Robin Hood were here, And all his men to boot, Sure none of them could pass these men, So

"Aye," quoth the Sheriff, and scratched his head, "I thought he would be here; I thought he would, but tho'

This word was privately brought to Robin by David of Doncaster, and the saying vexed him sorely. But he bit

"Ere long," he thought to himself, "we shall see whether Robin Hood be here or not!"

Meantime the shooting had been going forward, and Robin's men had done so well that the air was filled with

One cried, "Blue jacket!" another cried, "Brown!" And a third cried, "Brave Yellow!" But the fourth man

For that was Robin Hood himself, For he was clothed in red, At every shot the prize he got, For he was both

Thus went the second round of the shooting, and thus the third and last, till even Gilbert of the White Hand

was fairly beaten. During all this shooting, Robin exchanged no word with his men, each treating the other as

a perfect stranger. Nathless, such great shooting could not pass without revealing the archers.

The Sheriff thought he discovered, in the winner of the golden arrow, the person of Robin Hood without

peradventure. So he sent word privately for his menatarms to close round the group. But Robin's men also

To keep up appearances, the Sheriff summoned the crowd to form in a circle; and after as much delay as

possible the arrow was presented. The delay gave time enough for the soldiers to close in. As Robin received

his prize, bowed awkwardly, and turned away, the Sheriff, letting his zeal get the better of his discretion,

But the moment the Sheriff touched Robin, he received such a buffet on the side of his head that he let go

instantly and fell back several paces. Turning to see who had struck him, he recognized Little John.

"Ah, rascal Greenleaf, I have you now!" he exclaimed springing at him. Just then, however, he met a new

"This is from another of your devoted servants!" said a voice which he knew to be that of Much the miller's

son; and "Thwack!" went his open palm upon the Sheriff's cheek sending that worthy rolling over and over

By this time the conflict had become general, but the Sheriff's men suffered the disadvantage of being

hampered by the crowd of innocent onlookers, whom they could not tell from the outlaws and so dared not

attack; while the other outlaws in the rear fell upon them and put them in confusion.

For a moment a fierce rain of blows ensued; then the clear buglenote from Robin ordered a retreat. The two

warders at the nearest gate tried to close it, but were shot dead in their tracks. David of Doncaster threw a

third soldier into the moat; and out through the gate went the foresters in good order, keeping a respectful

distance between themselves and the advancing soldiery, by means of their welldirected shafts.

But the fight was not to go easily this day, for the soldiery, smarting from their recent discomfiture at the

widow's cottage, and knowing that the eyes of the whole shire were upon them, fought well, and pressed

closely after the retreating outlaws. More than one ugly wound was given and received. No less than five of

the Sheriff's men were killed outright, and a dozen others injured; while four of Robin's men were bleeding

Then Little John, who had fought by the side of his chief, suddenly fell forward with a slight moan. An arrow

had pierced his knee. Robin seized the big fellow with almost superhuman strength.

Up he took him on his back, And bare him well a mile; Many a time he laid him down, And shot another

Meanwhile Little John grew weaker and closed his eyes; at last he sank to the ground, and feebly motioned

Robin to let him lie. "Master Robin," said he, "have I not served you well, ever since we met upon the

"Then if ever you loved me, and for the sake of that service, draw your bright brown sword and strike off my

"God forbid!" cried ArthuraBland, hurrying to the rescue. And packing his wounded kinsman upon his

Once there, the Sheriff's men did not follow; and Robin caused litters of boughs to be made for Little John

and the other four wounded men. Quickly were they carried through the wood until the hermitage of Friar

Tuck was reached, where their wounds were dressed. Little John's hurt was pronounced to be the most

serious of any, but he was assured that in two or three weeks' time he could get about again; whereat the

That evening consternation came upon the hearts of the band. A careful rollcall was taken to see it all the

yeomen had escaped, when it was found that Will Stutely was missing, and Maid Marian also was nowhere to

be found. Robin was seized with dread. He knew that Marian had gone to the Fair, but felt that she would

hardly come to grief. Her absence, however, portended some danger, and he feared that it was connected with

Will Stutely. The Sheriff would hang him speedily and without mercy, if he were captured.

The rest of the band shared their leader's uneasiness, though they said no word. They knew that if Will were

captured, the battle must be fought over again the next day, and Will must be saved at any cost. But no man

That evening, while the Sheriff and his wife and daughter sat at meat in the Mansion House, the Sheriff

boasted of how he would make an example of the captured outlaw; for Stutely had indeed fallen into his

"He shall be strung high," he said, in a loud voice; "and none shall dare lift a finger. I now have Robin Hood's

men on the run, and we shall soon see who is master in this shire. I am only sorry that we let them have the

As he spoke a missive sped through a window and fell clattering upon his plate, causing him to spring back in

It was the golden arrow, and on its feathered shaft was sewed a little note which read:

"This from one who will take no gifts from liars; and who henceforth will show no mercy. Look well to

The next day dawned bright and sunny. The whole face of nature seemed gay as if in despite of the tragedy

which was soon to take place in the walls of Nottingham town. The gates were not opened upon this day, for

the Sheriff was determined to carry through the hanging of Will Stutely undisturbed. No man, therefore, was

to be allowed entrance from without, all that morning and until after the fatal hour of noon, when Will's soul

Early in the day Robin had drawn his men to a point, as near as he dared, in the wood where he could watch

the road leading to the East gate. He himself was clad in a bright scarlet dress, while his men, a goodly array,

wore their suits of sober Lincoln green. They were armed with broadswords, and 'each man carried his bow

and a full quiver of new arrows, straightened and sharpened cunningly by Middle, the tinker. Over their

greenwood dress, each man had thrown a rough mantle, making him look not unlike a friar.

"I hold it good, comrades," then said Robin Hood, "to tarry here in hiding for a season while we sent some

one forth to obtain tidings. For, in sooth, 'twill work no good to march upon the gates if they be closed."

"Look, master," quoth one of the widow's sons. "There comes a palmer along the road from the town. Belike

he can tell us how the land ties, and if Stutely be really in jeopardy. Shall I go out and engage him in

So Stout Will went out from the band while the others hid themselves and waited. When he had come close

to the palmer, who seemed a slight, youngish man, he doffed his hat full courteously and said,

"I crave your pardon, holy man, but can you tell me tidings of Nottingham town? Do they intend to put an

"Yea," answered the palmer sadly. "'Tis true enough, sorry be the day. I have passed the very spot where the

gallowstree is going up. 'Tis out upon the roadway near the Sheriff's castle. One, Will Stutely, is to be hung

The palmer spoke in a muffled voice; and as his hood was pulled well over his head, Stout Will could not

discern what manner of man he was. Over his shoulder he carried a long staff, with the fashion of a little

cross at one end; and he had sandaled feet like any monk. Stout Will notice idly that the feet were very small

"Who will shrive the poor wretch, if you have come away from him?" he asked reproachfully.

The question seemed to put a new idea into the palmer's head. He turned so quickly that he almost dropped

"By Saint Peter and the Blessed Virgin, I do indeed! Else, who will do it? The Bishop and all his whining

"Right gladly would I go," then said the palmer; "but I fear me I cannot get into the city. You may know that

the gates are fast locked, for this morning, to all who would come in, although they let any pass out who

"Come with me," said Stout Will, "and my master will see that you pass through the gates."

So the palmer pulled his cloak still closer about him and was brought before Robin Hood, to whom he told all

"If I may make so bold, I would not try to enter the city from this gate, as 'tis closely guarded since yesterday.

"My thanks, gentle palmer," quoth Robin, "your suggestion is good, and we will deploy to the gate upon the

So the men marched silently but quickly until they were near to the western gate. Then ArthuraBland

asked leave to go ahead as a scout, and quietly made his way to a point under the tower by the gate. The moat

was dry on this side, as these were times of peace, and Arthur was further favored by a stout ivy vine which

Swinging himself up boldly by means of this friendly vine, he crept through the window and in a moment

more had sprung upon the warder from behind and gripped him hard about the throat. The warder had no

chance to utter the slightest sound, and soon lay bound and gagged upon the floor; while ArthuraBland

'Twas the work of but a few moments more to open the gates, let down the bridge, and admit the rest of the

band; and they lot inside the town so quietly that none knew of their coming. Fortune also favored them in

the fact that just at this moment the prison doors had been opened for the march of the condemned man, and

every soldier and idle lout in the marketlace had trooped thither to see him pass along.

Presently out came Will Stutely with firm step but dejected air. He looked eagerly to the right hand and to the

left, but saw none of the band. And though more than one curious face betrayed friendship in it, he knew

Will's hands were tied behind his back. He marched between rows of soldiery, and the Sheriff and the Bishop

brought up the rear on horses, looking mightily puffed up and important over the whole proceeding. He

would show these sturdy rebelswould the Sheriffwhose word was law! He knew that the gates were

tightly fastened; and further he believed that the outlaws would hardly venture again within the walls, even if

the gates were open. And as he looked around at the fivescore archers and pikemen who lined the way to the

Seeing that no help was nigh, the prisoner paused at the foot of the scaffold and spoke in a firm tone to the

"My lord Sheriff," quoth he, "since I must needs die, grant me one boon; for my noble master ne'er yet had a

'Give me a sword all in my hand, And let me be unbound, And with thee and thy men will I fight Till I lie

But the Sheriff would by no means listen to his request; but swore that he should be hanged a shameful death,

"O no, no, no," the Sheriff said, "Thou shalt on the gallows die, Aye, and so shall they master too, If ever it in

"O dastard coward!" Stutely cried, "Fainthearted peasant slave! If ever my master do thee meet, Thou shalt

"My noble master thee doth scorn, And all thy cowardly crew, Such silly imps unable are Bold Robin to

This brave speech was not calculated to soothe the Sheriff. "To the gallows with him!" he roared, giving a

sign to the hangman; and Stutely was pushed into the rude cart which was to bear him under the gallows until

his neck was leashed. Then the cart would be drawn roughly away and the unhappy man would swing out

But at this moment came a slight interruption. A boyishlooking palmer stepped forth, and said:

"Your Excellency, let me at least shrive this poor wretch's soul ere it be hurled into eternity."

"Then his damnation will rest upon you," said the monk firmly. "You, my lord Bishop, cannot stand by and

The Bishop hesitated. Like the Sheriff, he wanted no delay; but the people were beginning to mutter among

themselves and move about uneasily. He said a few words to the Sheriff, and the latter nodded to the monk

"Perform your duty, Sir Priest," quoth he, "and be quick about it!" Then turning to his soldiers. "Watch this

palmer narrowly," he commanded. "Belike he is in league with those rascally outlaws."

But the palmer paid no heed to his last words. He began to tell his beads quickly, and to speak in a low voice

Then came another stir in the crowd, and one came pushing through the press of people and soldiery to come

"I pray you, Will, before you die, take leave of all your friends!" cried out the wellknown voice of Much,

At the word the palmer stepped back suddenly and looked to one side. The Sheriff also knew the speaker.

"Seize him!" he shouted. "'Tis another of the crew. He is the villain cook who once did rob me of my silver

"Not so fast, good master Sheriff," retorted Much. "First catch your man and then hang him. But meanwhile I

And with one stroke of his keen huntingknife he cut the bonds which fastened the prisoner's arms, and

So saying he spurred his horse fiercely forward, and rising in his stirrups brought down his sword with might

and main at Much's head. But his former cook dodged nimbly underneath the horse and came up on the other

"Nay, Sir Sheriff!" he cried, "I must e'en borrow your sword for the friend I have borrowed."

"Here, Stutely!" said he, "the Sheriff has lent you his own sword. Back to back with me, man, and we'll teach

Meanwhile the soldiers had recovered from their momentary surprise and had flung themselves into the fray.

A clear buglenote had also sounded the same which the soldiers had learned to dread. 'Twas the rallying

Cloth yard shafts began to hurtle through the air, and Robin and his men cast aside their cloaks and sprang

On the instant, a terrible scene of hand to hand fighting followed. The Sheriff's men, though once more taken

by surprise, were determined to sell this rescue dearly. They packed in closely and stubbornly about the

condemned man and Much and the palmer, and it was only by desperate rushes that the foresters made an

opening in the square. Ugly cuts and bruises were exchanged freely; and lucky was the man who escaped

with only these. Many of the onlookers, who had long hated the Sheriff and felt sympathy for Robin's men,

also plunged into the conflictalthough they could not well keep out of it, in sooth!and aided the rescuers

At last with a mighty onrush, Robin cleaved a way through the press to the scaffold itself, and not a second

too soon; for two men with pikes had leaped upon the cart, and were in the act of thrusting down upon the

palmer and Will Stutely. A mighty upward blow from Robin's good blade sent the pike flying from the hand

of one, while a welldirected arrow from the outskirt pierced the other fellow's throat.

"God save you, master!" cried Will Stutely joyfully. "I had begun to fear that I would never see your face

"A rescue!" shouted the outlaws afresh, and the soldiery became fainthearted and 'gan to give back. But the

field was not yet won, for they retreated in close order toward the East gate, resolved to hem the attackers

within the city walls. Here again, however, they were in error, since the outlaws did not go out by their

nearest gate. They made a sally in that direction, in order to mislead the soldiery, then abruptly turned and

The Sheriff's men raised an exultant shout at this, thinking they had the enemy trapped. Down they charged

after them, but the outlaws made good their lead, and soon got through the gate and over the bridge which

Close upon their heels came the soldiersso close, that Arthur had no time to close the gate again or raise

the bridge. So he threw away his key and fell in with the yeomen, who now began their retreat up the long

On this side the town, the road leading to the forest was long and almost unprotected. The greenwood men

were therefore in some distress, for the archers shot at them from loopholes in the walls, and the pikemen

were reinforced by a company of mounted men from the castle. But the outlaws retreated stubbornly and now

and again turned to hold their pursuers at bay by a volley of arrows. Stutely was in their midst, fighting with

the energy of two; and the little palmer was there also, but took no part save to keep close to Robin's side and

Robin put his horn to his lips to sound a rally, when a flying arrow from the enemy pierced his hand. The

palmer gave a little cry and sprang forward. The Sheriff, who followed close with the men on horseback, also

"You lie!" retorted Robin fiercely, wrenching the shaft from his hand despite the streaming blood; "I have

And he fitted the same arrow, which had wounded him, upon the string of his bow and let it fly toward the

Sheriff's head. The Sheriff fell forward upon his horse in mortal terror, but not so quickly as to escape unhurt.

The sharp point laid bare a deep gash upon his scalp and must certainly have killed him if it had come closer.

The fall of the Sheriff discomfited his followers for the moment, and Robin's men took this chance to speed

on up the hill. The palmer had whipped out a small white handkerchief and tried to staunch Robin's wound as

they went. At sight of the palmer's hand, Robin turned with a start, and pushed back the other's hood.

It was indeed Maid Marian, who had helped save Will, and been in the stress of battle from the first. Now she

"I had to come, Robin," she said simply, "and I knew you would not let me come, else."

"By the saints, we are trapped!" he said, and pointed to the top of the hill, toward which they were pressing.

There from out a gray castle poured a troop of men, armed with pikes and axes, who shouted and came

running down upon them. At the same instant, the Sheriff's men also renewed the pursuit.

"Courage, dear heart!" said Robin, drawing her close to him. But his own spirit sank as he looked about for

Thenoh, joyful sight!he recognized among the foremost of those coming from the castle the once

doleful knight, Sir Richard of the Lea. He was smiling now, and greatly excited.

"A Hood! a Hood!" he cried; "a rescue! a rescue!" Never were there more welcome sights and sounds than

these. With a great cheer the outlaws raced up the hill to meet their new friends; and soon the whole force had

gained the shelter of the castle. Bang! went the bridge as it swung back, with great clanking of chains. Clash!

went one great door upon the other, as they shut in the outlaw band, and shut out the Sheriff, who dashed up

at the head of his men, his bandaged face streaked with blood and inflamed with rage.

"Open the gate!" shouted the Sheriff hoarsely, to the sentinel upon the walls. "Open, I say, in the king's

"Why who are you to come thus brawling upon my premises?" asked a haughty voice; and Sir Richard

"You know me well, traitor knight!" said the Sheriff, "now give up into my hands the enemy of the King

"Fair and softly, sir," quoth the knight smoothly. "I well avow that I have done certain deeds this day. But I

have done them upon mine own land, which you now trespass upon; and I shall answer only to the

"Thou softspoken villain!" said the Sheriff, still in a towering passion. "I, also, serve the King; and if these

outlaws are not given up to me at once, I shall lay siege to the castle and burn it with fire."

"If you are, in sooth," retorted the knight, "you should know that you have no authority within my lands

unless you bear the King's order. In the meantime, go mend your manners, lording."

And Sir Richard snapped his fingers and disappeared from the walls. The Sheriff, after lingering a few

moments longer in hope of further parley, was forced to withdraw, swearing fiercely.

"The King's order!" muttered he. "That shall I have without delay, as well as this upstart knight's estates; for

Meanwhile the knight had gone back to Robin Hood, and the two men greeted each other right gladly. "Well

met, bold Robin!" cried he, taking him in his arms. "Well met, indeed! The Lord has lately prospered me, and

"Nay, 'twas nothingthis small service!" said the knight. "I meant the moneys coming to you."

"They have all been repaid," said Robin; "my lord of Hereford himself gave them to me."

Sir Richard smiled, but said no more at the time. Robin was made to rest until dinner should be served.

Meanwhile a leech bound up his hand with ointment, promising him that he should soon have its use again.

Some halfscore others of the yeomen had been hurt in the fight, but luckily none of grave moment. They were

At dinner Sir Richard presented Robin to his wife and son. The lady was stately and gracious, and made

much of Marian, whom she had known as a little girl and who was now clothed more seemly for a dinner

than in monkish garments. The young esquire was a goodly youth and bade fair to make as stout a knight as

The feast was a joyous event. There were two long tables, and two hundred men sat down at them, and ate

and drank and afterward sang songs. An hundred and forty of these men wore Lincoln green and called Robin

Hood their chief. Never, I ween, had there been a more gallant company at table in Lea Castle!

That night the foresters tarried within the friendly walls, and the next day took leave; though Sir Richard

protested that they should have made a longer stay. And he took Robin aside to his strong room and pressed

"Keep the money, for it is your own," said Robin; "I have but made the Bishop return that which he extorted

Sir Richard thanked him in a few earnest words, and asked him and all his men to visit the armory, before

they departed. And therein they saw, placed apart, an hundred and forty stout yew bows of cunning make,

with fine waxen silk strings; and an hundred and forty sheaves of arrows. Every shaft was a just ell long, set

with peacock's feathers, and notched with silver. And Sir Richard's fair lady came forward and with her own

"In sooth, these are poor presents we have made you, good Robin Hood," said Sir Richard; "but they carry

The Sheriff made good his threat to inform the King. Forth rode he to London town upon the week following,

his scalp wound having healed sufficiently to permit him to travel. This time he did not seek out Prince John,

but asked audience with King Richard of the Lion Heart himself. His Majesty had but lately returned from the

crusades, and was just then looking into the state of his kingdom. So the Sheriff found ready audience.

Then to him the Sheriff spoke at length concerning Robin Hood; how that for many months the outlaws had

defied the King, and slain the King's deer; how Robin had gathered about him the best archers in all the

countryside; and, finally, how the traitorous knight Sir Richard of the Lea had rescued the band when capture

"Meseems I have heard of this same Robin Hood, and his men, and also seen somewhat of their prowess. Did

For the good of the shire," began the Sheriff again, falteringly, "we did proclaim an amnesty; but 'twas

"Now by my halidom!" quoth the King, while his brow grew black. "Such treachery would be unknown in

The Sheriff kept silence through very fear and shame; then the King began speech again:

"Nathless, my lord Sheriff, we promise to look into this matter. Those outlaws must be taught that there is but

So the Sheriff was dismissed, with very mixed feelings, and went his way home to Nottingham town. A

fortnight later the King began to make good his word, by riding with a small party of knights to Lea Castle.

Sir Richard was advised of the cavalcade's approach, and quickly recognized his royal master in the tall

knight who rode in advance. Hasting to open wide his castle gates he went forth to meet the King and fell on

one knee and kissed his stirrup. For Sir Richard, also, had been with the King to the Holy Land, and they had

The King bade him rise, and dismounted from his own horse to greet him as a brother in arms; and

arminarm they went into the castle, while bugles and trumpets sounded forth joyous welcome in honor of

After the King had rested and supped, he turned upon the knight and with grave face inquired:

"What is this I hear about your castle's becoming a nest and harbor for outlaws?"

The Sir Richard of the Lea, divining that the Sheriff had been at the King's ear with his story, made a clean

breast of all he knew; how that the outlaws had befriended him in sore needas they had befriended

The King liked the story well, for his own soul was one of chivalry. And he asked other questions about

Robin Hood, and heard of the ancient wrong done his father before him, and of Robin's own enemies, and of

"In sooth," cried King Richard, springing up, "I must see this bold fellow for myself! An you will entertain

my little company, and be ready to sally forth, upon the second day, in quest of me if need were, I shall e'en

But of this adventure you shall be told in the next tale; for I have already shown you how Sir Richard of the

Friar Tuck had nursed Little John's wounded knee so skilfully that it was now healed. In sooth, the last part of

the nursing depended more upon strength than skill; for it consisted chiefly of holding down the patient, by

main force, to his cot. Little John had felt so well that he had insisted upon getting up before the wound was

healed; and he would have done so, if the friar had not piled some holy books upon his legs and sat upon his

Under this vigorous treatment Little John was constrained to lie quiet until the friar gave him leave to get up.

At last he had this leave, and he and the friar went forth to join the rest of the band, who were right glad to

see them, you may be sure. They sat around a big fire, for 'twas a chilly evening, and they feasted and made

A cold rain set in, later, but the friar wended his way back, nathless, to his little hermitage. There he made

himself a cheerful blaze, and changed his dripping robe, and had sat himself down, with a sigh of satisfaction,

before a tankard of hot mulled wine and a pasty, when suddenly a voice was heard on the outside, demanding

admission. His kennel of dogs set up furious uproar, on the instant, by way of proving the fact of a stranger's

"Now by Saint Peter!" growled the friar, "who comes here at this unseemly hour? Does he take this for a

So saying he put the tankard to his lips, when a thundering rap sounded upon the doorpanel, making it to

quiver, and causing Tuck almost to drop his tankard; while an angry voice shouted, "Ho! Within there! Open,

"Go your way in peace!" roared back the friar; "I can do nothing for you. 'Tis but a few miles to Gamewell, if

"But I do not know the road, and if I did I would not budge another foot. 'Tis wet without and dry within. So

"A murrain seize you for disturbing a holy man in his prayers!" muttered Tuck savagely. Nathless, he was

fain to unbar the door in order to keep it from being battered down. Then lighting a torch at his fire and

The figure of a tall knight clad in a black coat of mail, with plumed helmet, stood before him. By his side

"Have you no supper, brother?" asked the Black Knight curtly. "I must beg of you a bed and a bit of roof, for

"I have no room that even your steed would deign to accept, Sir Knight; and naught save a crust of bread and

"I' faith, I can smell better fare than that, brother, and must e'en force my company upon you, though I shall

recompense it for gold in the name of the church. As for my horse, let him but be blanketed and put on the

And without further parley the knight boldly strode past Tuck and his dog and entered the hermitage.

"Sit you down, Sir Knight," quoth he, "and I will fasten up up your steed, and find him somewhat in the

shape of grain. Half, also, of my bed and board is yours, this night; but we shall see later who is the better

"With all my soul!" said the knight, laughing. "I can pay my keeping in blows or gold as you prefer."

"Now, Sir Knight," quoth he, "put off your sword and helm and such other wargear as it pleases you, and

The knight did as he was told, and put aside the visor which had hid his face. He was a bronzed and bearded

Then once again the priest sat him down to his pasty and mulled wine, right hopefully. He spoke his grace

with some haste, and was surprised to hear his guest respond fittingly in the Latin tongue. Then they attacked

the wine and pasty valiantly, and the Black Knight made good his word of being in need of refreshment. Tuck

looked ruefully at the rapidly disappearing food, but came to grudge it not, by reason of the stories with

which his guest enlivened the meal. The wine and warmth of the room had cheered them both, and they were

soon laughing uproariously as the best of comrades in the world. The Black Knight, it seemed, had traveled

everywhere. He had been on crusades, had fought the courteous Saladin, had been in prison, and often in

peril. But now he spoke of it lightly, and laughed it off, and made himself so friendly that Friar Tuck was like

to choke with merriment. So passed the time till late; and the two fell asleep together, one on each side of the

In the morning Friar Tuck awoke disposed to be surly, but was speedily mollified by the sight of the Black

Knight, who had already risen gay as a lark, washed his face and hands, and was now stirring a hot gruel over

"By my faith, I make a sorry host!" cried Tuck springing to his feet. And later as they sat at breakfast, he

added, "I want not your gold, of which you spoke last night; but instead I will do what I can to speed you on

"Then tell me," said the knight, "how I may find Robin Hood the outlaw; for I have a message to him from

Friar Tuck lifted up his hands in holy horror. "I am a lover of peace, Sir Knight, and do not consort with

"Nay, I think no harm of Master Hood," said the knight; "but much I yearn to have speed with him in mine

"If that be all, mayhap I can guide you to his haunts," said Tuck, who foresaw in this knight a possible

goldbag for Robin. "In sooth, I could not well live in these woods without hearing somewhat of the outlaws;

So without more ado they went their way into the forest, the knight riding upon his charger, and Tuck pacing

The day had dawned clear and bright, and now with the sun a good three hours high a sweet autumn

fragrance was in the air. The wind had just that touch of coolness in it which sets the hunter's blood to

"By my halidom!" quoth he; "but the good greenwood is the best place to live in, after all! What court or

"None of this earth," replied Tuck smilingly. And once more his heart warmed toward the courteous stranger.

They had not proceeded more than three or four miles along the way from Fountain Abbey to Barnesdale,

when of a sudden the bushes just ahead of them parted and a wellknit man with curling brown hair stepped

It was Robin Hood. He had seen Friar Tuck, a little way back, and shrewdly suspected his plan. Tuck,

"Hold!" cried Robin; "I am in charge of the highway this day, and must exact an accounting from all

"Who is it bids me hold?" asked the knight quietly. "I am not i' the habit of yielding to one man."

"Then here are others to keep me company," said Robin clapping his hands. And instantly a halfscore other

"We be yeomen of the forest, Sir Knight," continued Robin, "and live under the greenwood tree. We have no

means of supportthanks to the tyranny of our overlordsother than the aid which fat churchmen and

goodly knights like yourselves can give. And as ye have churches and rents, both, and gold in great plenty,

"I am but a poor monk, good sir!" said Friar Tuck in a whining voice, "and am on my way to the shrine of

"Tarry a space with us," answered Robin, biting back a smile, "and we will speed you on your way."

The Black Knight now spoke again. "But we are messengers of the King," quoth he; "His Majesty himself

"God save the King!" said Robin, doffing his cap loyally; "and all that wish him well! I am Robin Hood, but I

"Nay, not so," replied Robin curtly; "the King has no more devoted subject than I. Nor have I despoiled aught

of his save, mayhap, a few deer for my hunger. My chief war is against the clergy and barons of the land who

bear down upon the poor. But I am glad," he continued, "that I have met you here; and before we end you

"But what is the reckoning?" asked the knight. "For I am told that some of your feasts are costly."

"Nay," responded Robin waving his hands, "you are from the King. Nathlesshow much money is in your

"I have no more than forty gold pieces, seeing that I have lain a fortnight at Nottingham with the King, and

Robin took the forty pounds and gravely counted it. One half he gave to his men and bade them drink the

"Sir," said he courteously, "have this for your spending. If you lie with kings and lordings overmuch, you are

"Gramercy!" replied the other smiling. "And now lead on to your greenwood hostelry."

So Robin went on the one side of the knight's steed, and Friar Tuck on the other, and the men went before and

behind till they came to the open glade before the caves of Barnesdale. Then Robin drew forth his bugle and

winded the three signal blasts of the band. Soon there came a company of yeomen with its leader, and

another, and a third, and a fourth, till there were sevenscore yeomen in sight. All were dressed in new livery

of Lincoln green, and carried new bows in their hands and bright short swords at their belts. And every man

bent his knee to Robin Hood ere taking his place before the board, which was already set.

A handsome darkhaired page stood at Robin's right hand to pour his wine and that of the knightly guest;

At the signal from Robin the dinner began. There was venison and fowl and fish and wheaten cake and ale

and red wine in great plenty, and 'twas a goodly sight to see the smiles upon the hungry yeomen's faces.

First they listened to an unctuous grace from Friar Tuck, and then Robin lifted high a tankard of ale.

"Come, let us now begin," quoth he, "and every man shall have his can. In honor of our guest who comes

The guest responded heartily to this toast, and round about the board it went, the men cheering noisily for

After the feast was over, Robin turned to his guest and said, "Now you shall see what life we lead, so that you

So at a signal from him, the men rose up and smartly bent their bows for practice, while the knight was

greatly astonished at the smallness of the their targets. A wand was set up, far down the glade, and thereon

was balanced a garland of roses. Whosoever failed to speed his shaft through the garland, without knocking it

"Ho, ho!" cried the knight, as his late traveling companion rose up and bared his brawny arm ready for

"I have not gainsaid it," replied Tuck growling at having betrayed himself. "But chastisement is a rule of the

David of Doncaster shot first and landed safely through the rose garland. Then came AllanaDale and Little

John and Stutely and Scarlet and many of the rest, while the knight held his breath from very amazement.

Each fellow shot truly through the garland, until Middle the tinkernot to be outdonestepped up for a

trial. But alas! while he made a fair shot for a townsman, the arrow never came within a handbreath of the

"Come hither, fellow," said Little John coaxingly. "The priest would bless thee with his open hand."

Then because Middle made a wry face, as though he had already received the buffet, and loitered in his steps,

ArthuraBland and Will Stutely seized him by the arms and stood him before the friar. Tuck's big arm

flashed through the air"whoof!" and stopped suddenly against the tinker's ear; while Middle himself went

rolling over and over on the grass. He was stopped by a small bush, and up he sat, thrusting his head through

it, rubbing his ear and blinking up at the sky as though the stars had fallen and struck him. The yeomen roared

with merriment, and as for the knight, he laughed till the tears came out of his blue eyes and rolled down his

After Middle's mishap, others of the band seemed to lose their balance, and fared in the same fashion. The

garland would topple over in a most impish way at every breath, although the arrows went through it. So

Middle 'gan to feel better when he saw this one and that one tumbling on the sward.

At last came Robin's turn. He shot carefully, but as ill luck would have it the shaft was illfeathered and

swerved sidewise so that it missed the garland by full three fingers. Then a great roar went up from the whole

company; for 'twas rare that they saw their leader miss his mark. Robin flung his bow upon the ground from

"A murrain take it!" quoth he. "The arrow was sadly winged. I felt the poor feather upon it as it left my

Then suddenly seizing his bow again, he sped three shafts as fast as he could sent them, and every one went

"By Saint George!" muttered the knight. "Never before saw I such shooting in all Christendom!"

The band cheered heartily at these last shots; but Will Scarlet came up gravely to Robin.

"Pretty shooting, master!" quoth he, "but 'twill not save you from paying for the bad arrow. So walk up and

"Nay, that may not be!" protested Robin. "The good friar belongs to my company and has no authority to lift

hands against me. But you, Sir Knight, stand as it were for the King. I pray you, serve out my blow."

"Not so!" said Friar Tuck. "My son, you forget I stand for the church, which is greater even than the King."

"Not in merry England," said the knight in a deep voice. Then rising to his feet, he added, "I stand ready to

"Now out upon ye for an upstart knight!" cried Friar Tuck. "I told you last night, sirrah, that we should yet

see who was the better man! So we will e'en prove it now, and thus settle who is to pay Robin Hood."

"Good!" said Robin, "for I want not to start a dispute between church and state."

"Good!" also said the knight. "'Tis an easy way to end prattling. Come, friar, strike and ye dare. I will give

"You have the advantage of an iron pot on your head and gloves on your hands," said the friar; "but have at

Once more the priest's brawny arm flashed through the air, and struck with a "whoof!" But to the amazement

of all, the knight did not budge from his tracks, though the upper half of his body swerved slightly to ease the

force of the blow. A loud shout burst from the yeomen at this, for the friar's fist was proverbial, and few of

"Now 'tis my turn," said his antagonist coolly, casting aside his gauntlet. And with one blow of his fist the

If there had been uproar and shouting before, it was as naught to the noise which now broke forth. Every

fellow held his sides or rolled upon the ground from laughter; every fellow, save one, and that was Robin

"Out of the fryingpan into the fire!" thought he. "I wish I had let the friar box my ears, after all!"

Robin's plight did, indeed, seem a sorry one, before the steel muscles of his stranger. But he was saved from a

tumble heels over head by an unlookedfor diversion. A horn winded in the glade, and a party of knights

And so it was. Sir Richard spurred forward his horse and dashed up to the camp while the outlaws stood at

stiff attention. When he had come near the spot where the Black Knight stood, he dismounted and knelt

"The King!" echoed Robin Hood after a moment of dumb wonderment; and he and all his men bent

"Your pardon, sire!" exclaimed Robin Hood. "Pardon, from your royal bounty, for these my men who stand

"We be not outlaws from choice alone," continued Robin; "but have been driven to outlawry through

oppression. Grant us grace and royal protection, and we will forsake the greenwood and follow the King."

Richard's eyes sparkled as he looked from one to another of this stalwart band, and he thought within himself

"Swear!" he said in his full rich voice; "swear that you, Robin Hood, and all your men from this day

"Arise, then," said King Richard. "I give you all free pardon, and will speedily put your service to the test.

For I love such archers as you have shown yourselves to be, and it were a sad pity to decree such men to

death. England could not produce the like again, for many a day. But, in sooth, I cannot allow you to roam in

the forest and shoot my deer; nor to take the law of the land into your own hands. Therefore, I now appoint

you to be Royal Archers and mine own especial bodyguard. There be one or two civil matters to settle with

certain Norman noblemen, in which I crave your aid. Thereafter, the half of your number, as may later be

determined, shall come back to these woodlands as Royal Foresters. Mayhap you will show as much zeal in

protecting my preserves as you have formerly shown in hunting them. Where, now, is that outlaw known as

"Good master Little John," said the King, looking him over approvingly. "Could your weak sinews stand the

strain of an office in the shire? If so, you are this day Sheriff of Nottingham; and I trust you will make a

"I shall do my best, sire," said Little John, great astonishment and gladness in his heart.

"Master Scarlet, stand forth," said the King; and then addressing him: "I have heard somewhat of your tale,"

quoth he, "and that your father was the friend of my father. Now, therefore, accept the royal pardon and

resume the care of your family estates; for your father must be growing old. And come you to London next

Likewise the King called for Will Stutely and made him Chief of the Royal Archers. Then he summoned

"I crave my King's pardon," said the priest, humbly enough; "for who am I to lift my hand against the Lord's

"Nay, the Lord sent the smiter to thee without delay," returned Richard smiling; "and 'tis not for me to

continue a quarrel between church and state. So what can I do for you in payment of last night's hospitality?

Can I find some fat living where there are no wicked to chastise, and where the work is easy and

"Not so, my lord," replied Tuck. "I wish only for peace in this life. Mine is a simple nature and I care not for

the fripperies and follies of court life. Give me a good meal and a cup of right brew, health, and enough for

Richard sighed. "You ask the greatest thing in the world, brothercontentment. It is not mine to give or to

deny. But ask your God for it, an if belike he grant it, then ask it also in behalf of your King." He glanced

around once more at the foresters. "Which one of you is AllanaDale?" he asked; and Allan came forward.

"So," said the King with sober face, "you are that errant minstrel who stole a bride at Plympton, despite her

wouldbe groom and attending Bishop. I heard something of this in former days. Now what excuse have you

"Only that I loved her, sire, and she loved me," said Allan, simply; "and the Norman lord would have married

"Which have since been forfeited by the Bishop of Hereford," added Richard. "But my lord Bishop must

disgorge them; and from tomorrow you and Mistress Dale are to return to them and live in peace and loyalty.

And if ever I need your harp at Court, stand ready to attend me, and bring also the lady. Speaking of ladies,"

he continued, turning to Robin Hood, who had stood silent, wondering if a special punishment was being

reserved for him, "did you not have a sweetheart who was once at Courtone, Mistress Marian? What has

"Nay, Your Majesty," said the blackeyed page coming forward blushingly; "Robin has not forgotten me!"

"So!" said the King, bending to kiss her small hand in all gallantry. "Verily, as I have already thought within

myself, this Master Hood is better served than the King in his palace! But are you not the only child of the

"I am, sire, though there be some who say that Robin Hood's father was formerly the rightful Earl of

Huntingdon. Nathless, neither he is advantaged nor I, for the estates are confiscate."

"Then they shall be restored forthwith!" cried the King; "and lest you two should revive the ancient quarrel

Robin came and knelt before his king. Richard drew his sword and touched him upon the shoulder.

"Rise, Robin Fitzooth, Earl of Huntingdon!" he exclaimed, while a mighty cheer arose from the band and rent

the air of the forest. "The first command I give you, my lord Earl," continued the King when quiet was

"May I obey all Your Majesty's commands as willingly!" cried the new Earl of Huntingdon, drawing the old

Earl's daughter close to him. "The ceremony shall take place tomorrow, an this maid is willing."

"She makes little protest," said the King; "so I shall e'en give away the bride myself!"

Then the King chatted with others of the foresters, and made himself as one of them for the evening, rejoicing

that he could have this careless freedom of the woods. And Much, the miller's son, and ArthuraBland, and

Middle, and Stutely and Scarlet and Little John and others played at the quarterstaff, giving and getting

many lusty blows. Then as the shades of night drew on, the whole companyknights and foresterssupped

and drank around a blazing fire, while Allen sang sweetly to the thrumming of the harp, and the others joined

'Twas a happy, carefree nightthis last one together under the greenwood tree. Robin could not help

feeling an undertone of sadness that it was to be the last; for the charm of the woodland was still upon him.

But he knew 'twas better so, and that the new life with Marian and in the service of his King would bring its

Then the night deepened, the fire sank, but was replenished and the company lay down to rest. The King, at

his own request, spent the night in the open. Thus they sleptKing and subject alikeout under the stars,

In the morning the company was early astir and on their way to Nottingham. It was a goodly cavalcade. First

rode King Richard of the Lion Heart, with his tall figure set forth by the black armor and waving plume in his

helm. Then came Sir Richard of the Lea with fourscore knights and menatarms. And after them came

Robin Hood and Maid Marian riding upon milkwhite steeds. AllanaDale also escorted Mistress Dale on

horseback, for she was to be matronofhonor at the wedding. These were followed by sevenscore archers

clad in their bravest Lincoln green, and with their new bows unstrung in token of peace.

"Open to the King of England!" came back the clear answer, and the gates were opened and the bridge let

Almost before the company had crossed the moat the news spread through the town like wildfire.

From every corner flocked the people to see the company pass; and wildly did they cheer for the King, who

At the far end of it, he was met by the Sheriff who came up puffing in his haste to do the King honor. He

fairly turned green with rage when he saw Sir Richard of the Lea and Robin Hood in the royal company, but

"Sir Sheriff," quoth the King, "I have come to rid the shire of outlaws, according to my promise. There be

none left, for all have now taken service with their King. And lest there should be further outbreak, I have

determined to place in charge of this shire a man who fears no other man in it. Master Little John is hereby

created Sheriff of Nottingham, and you will turn over the keys to him forthwith."

The Sheriff bowed, but dared utter no word. Then the King turned to the Bishop of Hereford, who had also

"Harkee, my lord Bishop," quoth he, "the stench of your evil actions had reached our nostrils. We shall

demand strict accounting for certain seizures of the lands and certain acts of oppression which ill become a

churchman. But of this later. This afternoon you must officiate at the wedding of two of our company, in

The Bishop also bowed and departed, glad to escape a severer censure for the time.

The company then rode on to the Mansion House, where the King held high levee through all the noon hours,

In the afternoon the way from the Mansion House to Nottingham Church was lined with cheering people, as

the wedding party passed by. The famous bowmen were gazed at as curiously as though they had been wild

animals, but were cheered none the less. Robin who had long been held in secret liking was now doubly

Along the way ahead of the King and the smiling bride and groom to be ran little maids strewing flowers;

while streamers floated in greeting from the windows. I ween, the only hearts that were not glad this day were

those of the old Sheriff, and of his proud daughter, who peered between the shutters of her window and was

At last the party reached the church, where the King dismounted lightly from his horse and helped the bride

to alight; while Will Scarlet, the best man, assisted Mistress Dale. Within the church they found the Bishop

robed in state, and by his side Friar Tuck who had been especially deputed to assist.

The service was said in Latin, while the organ pealed forth softly. The King gave away the bride, as he had

said, and afterwards claimed first kiss for his pains. Then the happy party dispersed, and Robin and Marian

Out through the cheering streets they fared, while the greenwood men ran ahead and flung gold pennies right

and left in their joy, and bade the people drink the health of the young couple and the King. Then the whole

party took horse at Will Scarlet's earnest wish, and went down to Gamewell Lodge, where the old Squire

George wept for joy at seeing his son and the King and the weddingparty. That night they spent there, and

And thus, amid feasting and rejoicing and kingly favor, Robin Hood, the new Earl of Huntingdon, and his

Now by good rights this story should end with the wedding of Robin Hood and Maid Marian; for do not

many pleasant tales end with a wedding and the saying, "and they lived happy ever after"?

But this is a true accountin so far as we can find the quaint old ballads which tell of itand so we must

follow one more of these songs and learn how Robin, after living many years longer, at last came to seek his

Robin Hood and his men, now the Royal Archers, went with King Richard of the Lion Heart through England

settling certain private disputes which had arisen among the Norman barons while the King was gone to the

Holy Land. Then the King proceeded amid great pomp and rejoicing to the palace at London, and Robin, the

new Earl of Huntingdon, brought his Countess thither, where she became one of the finest ladies of the Court.

The Royal Archers were now divided into two bands, and onehalf of them were retained in London, while

the other half returned to Sherwood and Barnesdale, there to guard the King's preserves.

Several months passed by, and Robin began to chafe under the restraint of city life. He longed for the fresh

pure air of the greenwood, and the rollicking society of his yeomen. One day, upon seeing some lads at

archery practice upon a green, he could not help but lament, saying, "Woe is me! I fear my hand is fast losing

Finally he became so distraught that he asked leave to travel in foreign lands, and this was granted him. He

took Maid Marian with him, and together they went through many strange countries. Finally in an Eastern

land a great grief came upon Robin. Marian sickened of a plague and died. They had been married but five

He wandered about the world for a few months longer, trying to forget his grief, then came back to the court,

at London, and sought some commission in active service. But unluckily, Richard was gone again upon his

adventures, and Prince John, who acted as Regent, had never been fond of Robin. He received him with a

"Go forth into the greenwood," said he, coldly, "and kill some more of the King's deer. Belike, then, the King

The taunt fired Robin's blood. He had been in a morose mood, ever since his dear wife's death. He answered

Prince John hotly, and the Prince bade his guards seize him and cast him into the Tower.

After lying there for a few weeks, he was released by the faithful Stutely and the remnant of the Royal

Archers, and all together they fled the city and made their way to the greenwood. There Robin blew the old

familiar call, which all had known and loved so well. Up came running the remainder of the band, who had

been Royal Foresters, and when they saw their old master they embraced his knees and kissed his hands, and

fairly cried for joy that he had come again to them. And one and all forswore fealty to Prince John, and lived

quietly with Robin in the greenwood, doing harm to none and only awaiting the time when King Richard

But King Richard came not again, and would never need his Royal Guard more. Tidings presently reached

them, of how he had met his death in a foreign land, and how John reigned as King in his stead. The proof of

these events followed soon after, when there came striding through the glade the big, familiar form of Little

"Art come to arrest us?" called out Robin, as he ran forward and embraced his old comrade.

"Nay, I am not come as the Sheriff of Nottingham, thanks be," answered Little John. "The new King has

deposed me, and 'tis greatly to my liking, for I have long desired to join you here again in the greenwood."

Then were the rest of the band right glad at this news, and toasted Little John royally.

The new King waged fierce war upon the outlaws, soon after this, and sent so many scouting parties into

Sherwood and Barnesdale that Robin and his men left these woods for a time and went into Derbyshire, near

Haddon Hall. A curious pile of stone is shown to this day as the ruins of Robin's Castle, where the bold

outlaw is believed to have defied his enemies for a year or more. At any rate King John found so many

But in one of the last sorties Robin was wounded. The cut did not seem serious, and healed over the top; but

it left a lurking fever. Daily his strength ebbed away from him, until he was in sore distress.

One day as he rode along on horseback, near Kirklees Abbey, he was seized with so violent a rush of blood to

the head that he reeled and came near falling from his saddle. He dismounted weakly and knocked at the

"Who are you that knock here? For we allow no man within these walls," she said.

"Open, for the love of Heaven!" he begged. "I am Robin Hood, ill of a fever and in sore straits."

At the name of Robin Hood the woman started back, and then, as though bethinking herself, unbarred the

door and admitted him. Assisting his fainting frame up a flight of stairs and into a front room, she loosed his

collar and bathed his face until he was revived. Then she spoke hurriedly in a low voice:

"Your fever will sink, if you are bled. See, I have provided a lancet and will open your veins, while you lie

So she bled him, and he fell into a stupor which lasted nearly all that day, so that he awoke weak and

Now there is a dispute as to this abbess who bled him. Some say that she did it in all kindness of heart; while

others aver that she was none other than the former Sheriff's daughter, and found her revenge at last in this

He called wearily for help, but there was no response. He looked longingly through the window at the green

of the forest; but he was too weak to make the leap that would be needed to reach the ground.

He then bethought him of his horn, Which hung down at his knee; He set his horn unto his mouth, And blew

Little John was out in the forest near by, or the blasts would never have been heard. At their sound he sprang

So he made haste and came running up to the door of the abbey, and knocked loudly for admittance. Failing

to get reply, he burst in the door with frenzied blows of his mighty fist, and soon came running up to the

room where Robin lay, white and faint. "Alas, dear master!" cried Little John in great distress; "I fear you

"Nay, good comrade," answered Robin Hood gently, "I cannot grant such a boon. The dear Christ bade us

forgive all our enemies. Moreover, you know I never hurt woman in all my life; nor man when in woman's

He closed his eyes and fell back, so that his friend thought him dying. The great tears fell from the giant's

eyes and wet his master's hand. Robin slowly rallied and seized his comrade's outstretched arm.

"Lift me up, good Little John," he said brokenly, "I want to smell the air from the good greenwood once

again. Give me my good yew bowherehereand fix a broad arrow upon the string. Out yonderamong

And with one last mighty effort he sped his shaft out of the open window, straight and true, as in the days of

old, till it struck the largest oak of them all and dropped in the shadow of the trees. Then he fell back upon the

"'Tis the last!" he murmured, "tell the brave hearts to lay me there with the green sod under my head and feet.

Andlet them laymy bent bow at my side, for it has made sweet music in mine ears."

He rested a moment, and Little John scarce knew that he was alive. But on a sudden Robin's eye brightened,

and he seemed to think himself back once more with the band in the open forest glade. He struggled to rise.

"Ha! 'tis a fine stag, Will! And Allan, thou never didst thrum the harp more sweetly. How the light blazes!

So died the body of Robin Hood; but his spirit lives on through the centuries in the deathless ballads which

They buried him where his last arrow had fallen, and they set a stone to mark the spot. And on the stone were