diff options
Diffstat (limited to '832.txt')
| -rw-r--r-- | 832.txt | 7751 |
1 files changed, 7751 insertions, 0 deletions
@@ -0,0 +1,7751 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Robin Hood, by J. Walker McSpadden + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Robin Hood + +Author: J. Walker McSpadden + +Release Date: January 21, 2006 [EBook #832] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ROBIN HOOD *** + + + + +Produced by Joseph S. Miller and David Widger + + + + + +ROBIN HOOD + + +by J. Walker McSpadden + + + + CHAPTER I How Robin Hood Became an Outlaw + + CHAPTER II How Robin Hood Met Little John + + CHAPTER III How Robin Hood Turned Butcher, and Entered the + Sheriff's Service + + CHAPTER IV How Little John Entered the Sheriff's Service + + CHAPTER V How the Sheriff Lost Three Good Servants, and + Found Them Again + + CHAPTER VI How Robin Hood Met Will Scarlett + + CHAPTER VII How Robin Hood Met Friar Tuck + + CHAPTER VIII How Allan-a-Dale's Wooing Was Prospered + + CHAPTER IX How the Widow's Three Sons Were Rescued + + CHAPTER X How a Beggar Filled the Public Eye + + CHAPTER XI How Robin Hood Fought Guy of Gisbourne + + CHAPTER XII How Maid Marion Came Back to Sherwood Forest; + Also, How Robin Hood Came Before Queen Eleanor + + CHAPTER XIII How the Outlaws Shot in King Harry's Tourney + + CHAPTER XIV How Robin Hood Was Sought of the Tinker + + CHAPTER XV How Robin Hood Was Tanned of the Tanner + + CHAPTER XVI How Robin Hood Met Sir Richard of the Lea + + CHAPTER XVII How the Bishop Was Dined + + CHAPTER XVIII How the Bishop Went Outlaw-Hunting + + CHAPTER XIX How the Sheriff Held Another Shooting Match + + CHAPTER XX How Will Stutely Was Rescued + + CHAPTER XXI How Sir Richard of the Lea Repaid His Debt + + CHAPTER XXII How King Richard Came to Sherwood Forest + + CHAPTER XXIII How Robin Hood and Maid Marion Were Wed + + CHAPTER XXIV How Robin Hood Met His Death + + + + +CHAPTER I + +HOW ROBIN HOOD BECAME AN OUTLAW + + List and hearken, gentlemen, + That be of free-born blood, + I shall you tell of a good yeoman, + His name was Robin Hood. + + Robin was a proud outlaw, + While as he walked on the ground. + So courteous an outlaw as he was one + Was never none else found. + +In the days of good King Harry the Second of England--he of the warring +sons--there 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 town--in the year 1160, +stern records say--and was often called Lockesley, or Rob of Lockesley. +He was a comely, well-knit 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 at will, listening to the murmur of the trees. + +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 green--wood 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 good--or evil--purpose 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 treason--of which, poor man, he was as guiltless as you or +I--and 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 +kinsman, Squire George of Gamewell, who sheltered them in all kindness. + +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 could agree upon the charges by which he was to be brought to +trial. + +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 he could not recall. + +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. + +"What may that be, Uncle Gamewell?" asked the young man. + +"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 golden arrow--a 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 tankard. + +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 me +try?" + +"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!" +And the huge tankard came a third time into play. + +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 cloth-yard arrows must be of +the straightest and soundest. + +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 oak-tree. They had a +huge meat pie before them and were washing down prodigious slices of it +with nut brown ale. + +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 and toy arrows? Belike he would shoot at Nottingham +Fair! Ho! Ho!" + +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 lessons of any of ye." + +They laughed again loudly at this, and the leader said with frown: + +"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 not you are in for a sound +drubbing for your pertness." + +"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 target." + +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 his last." + +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 angriest of all. + +"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 +upon your face again." + +Rob's blood boiled within him, and he uttered a rash speech. "I have +looked upon your face once too often already, my fine Forester. 'Tis you +who wear my father's shoes." + +And with this he turned upon his heel and strode away. + +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 it. Rob turned upon +his assailant, now twoscore yards away. + +"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 wits--still forward into the great +greenwood. The swaying trees seemed to open their arms to the wanderer, +and to welcome him home. + +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." + +"Where are they, good mother?" cried Rob. "By my faith, I will join +them." + +"Nay, nay," replied the old woman at first. But when she saw that there +was no other way, she said: "My sons will visit me to-night. Stay you +here and see them if you must." + +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 band--a place he knew right well. Finally one of them said: + +"But the band lacks a leader--one 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 self-same 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 brothers seized his hand and +shouted: + +"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 Foresters had even then set a +price on his head in the market-place. + +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 quarter-staves, 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. His hatred of the father +had descended to the son. + +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 beggar-man, 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 open to all comers, so no man said him nay. + +Side by side with Rob--for it was he--stood 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 +with practiced hand. + +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 with the King's Foresters. He it was also who crowned the +queen of the day. + +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 vari-colored 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's-eye. + +The mob cheered and yelled themselves hoarse at this even marksmanship. +The trumpet sounded again, and a new target was set up at forty ells. + +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 confidence sped it unerringly +toward the shining circle. + +"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 was not seen every +day in Nottingham town. + +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 target was set up fifty ells distant. + +"By my halidom you draw a good bow, young master," said Rob's queer +comrade to him in the interval allowed for rest. "Do you wish me to +shoot first on this trial?" + +"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 +hers were hastily averted. + +"Blinder's" quick eye followed those of Rob. "A fair maid, that," he +said smilingly, "and one more worthy the golden arrow than the Sheriff's +haughty miss." + +Rob looked at him swiftly, and saw naught but kindliness in his glance. + +"You are a shrewd fellow and I like you well," was his only comment. + +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 not more than graze the inner circle. + +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 dark-eyed 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 true-singing 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 friends. "Can you beat that, +Blinder?" + +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 he was the first to +congratulate the victor. + +"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 him. + +And now the herald summoned Rob to the Sheriff's box to receive the +prize. + +"You are a curious fellow enough," said the Sheriff, biting his lip +coldly; "yet you shoot well. What name go you by?" + +Marian sat near and was listening intently. + +"I am called Rob the Stroller, my Lord Sheriff," said the archer. + +Marian leaned back and smiled. + +"Well, Rob the Stroller, with a little attention to your skin and +clothes you would not be so bad a man," said the Sheriff. "How like you +the idea of entering my service. + +"Rob the Stroller has ever been a free man, my Lord, and desires no +service." + +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. You are awarded the prize. See +that you bestow it worthily." + +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 +Maid Marian. + +"Lady," he said, "pray accept this little pledge from a poor stroller +who would devote the best shafts in his quiver to serve you." + +"My thanks to you, Rob in the Hood," replied she with a roguish twinkle +in her eye; and she placed the gleaming arrow in her hair, while the +people shouted, "The Queen! the Queen!" + +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 throng, and headed straight +for the town gate. + +That same evening within a forest glade a group of men--some twoscore +clad in Lincoln green--sat round a fire roasting venison and making +merry. Suddenly a twig crackled and they sprang to their feet and seized +their weapons. + +"I look for the widow's sons," a clear voice said, "and I come alone." + +Instantly the three men stepped forward. + +"Tis Rob!" they cried; "welcome to Sherwood Forest, Rob!" And all the +men came and greeted him; for they had heard his story. + +Then one of the widow's sons, Stout Will, stepped forth and said: + +"Comrades all, ye know that our band has sadly lacked a leader--one 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?" + +The band gave assent. + +Will turned to Rob. "What news bring you from Nottingham town?" asked +he. + +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 common archer. For there +are others older and mayhap more skilled than I." + +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 Hood--for 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 other chief save only you." + +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 camp-fire 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, +under the greenwood tree. + +And that is how Robin Hood became an outlaw. + + + + +CHAPTER II + +HOW ROBIN HOOD MET LITTLE JOHN + + "O here is my hand," the stranger reply'd, + "I'll serve you with all my whole heart. + My name is John Little, a man of good mettle, + Ne'er doubt me for I'll play my part." + + "His name shall be altered," quoth William Stutely, + "And I will his godfather be: + Prepare then a feast, and none of the least, + For we will be merry," quoth he. + +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 end of the summer fourscore +good men and true had sworn fealty. + +But the days of quiet which came on grew irksome to Robin's adventurous +spirit. Up rose he, one gay morn, and slung his quiver over his +shoulders. + +"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 bugle call." + +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 +wind blew the ruddy color into his cheeks. + +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 +by-path 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 +foot-bridge was still there, but at this end of it a puddle intervened +which could be crossed only with a leap, if you would not get your feet +wet. + +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 thinking to cross first. Midway they +met, and neither would yield an inch. + +"Give way, fellow!" roared Robin, whose leadership of a band, I am +afraid, had not tended to mend his manners. + +The stranger smiled. He was almost a head taller than the other. + +"Nay," he retorted, "fair and softly! I give way only to a better man +than myself." + +"Give way, I say", repeated Robin, "or I shall have to show you a better +man." + +His opponent budged not an inch, but laughed loudly. "Now by my +halidom!" he said good-naturedly, "I would not move after hearing that +speech, even if minded to it before; for this better man I have sought +my life long. Therefore show him to me, an it please you." + +"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 was a full foot +shorter than his opponent's. Then back came he boldly. + +"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, two--" + +"Three!" roared the giant smiting at him instantly. + +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 +his own, and back came he forthwith--whack! + +Whack! parried the other. + +Whack! whack! whack! whack! + +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 foot-bridge. 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 stream. + +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 that, an your fists +whirl not so much as your head!" + +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 and gravely rubbed his pate. + +"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 Robin, with good Will +Stutely and the widow's three sons at their head. + +"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 ribs, he must needs answer by +a pat on the head which landed me overboard." + +"Then shall he taste some of his own porridge," quoth Will. "Seize him, +lads!" + +"Nay, let him go free," said Robin. "The fight was a fair one and I +abide by it. I surmise you also are quits?" he continued, turning to the +stranger with a twinkling eye. + +"I am content," said the other, "for verily you now have the best end of +the cudgel. Wherefore, I like you well, and would fain know your name." + +"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 begun. + +"But you have not yet told us your name," said Robin, bethinking +himself. + +"Whence I came, men call me John Little." + +"Enter our company then, John Little; enter and welcome. The rites are +few, the fee is large. We ask your whole mind and body and heart even +unto death." + +"I give the bond, upon my life," said the tall man. + +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 John." + +At this jest the men roared long and loud. + +"Give him a bow, and find a full sheath of arrows for Little John," +said Robin joyfully. "Can you shoot as well as fence with the staff, my +friend?" + +"I have hit an ash twig at forty yards," said Little John. + +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 one can find a recruit as stout of bone and true of soul +as Little John. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +HOW ROBIN HOOD TURNED BUTCHER, AND ENTERED THE SHERIFF'S SERVICE + + The butcher he answered jolly Robin, + "No matter where I do dwell, + For a butcher am I, and to Nottingham + Am I going, my flesh to sell." + +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. + +When they returned to town the Sheriff waxed red with rage. + +"What," he gasped, "do my men fear to fight this Robin Hood, face to +face? Would that I could get him within my reach, once. We should see +then; we should see!" + +What it was the Sheriff would see, he did not state. But he was to have +his wish granted in short space, and you and I will see how he profited +by it. + +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 captured him. + +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 quarter-staff in the shire"--meaning Little John. + +Others of the band besought him to let them go with him, but he would +not. + +"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 to-morrow +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 which the cart was loaded. + +"A good morrow to you, friend," hailed Robin. "Whence come you and where +go you with your load of meat?" + +"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 a +fair penny," and he laughed loudly at his jest. "But whence come you?" + +"A yeoman am I, from Lockesley town. Men call me Robin Hood." + +"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 of meat, perchance, for enough to pay my quarter's rent." + +"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 well-filled 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 good-will, +without loss, for five marks?" + +"Heaven bless ye, good Robin," cried the butcher right joyfully, "that +can I!" And he leaped down forthwith from the cart, and handed Robin the +reins in exchange for the purse. + +"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 to the town. + +When he came to Nottingham he greeted the scowling gate-keeper blithely +and proceeded to the market-place. 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 wares: + + "Hark ye, lasses and dames, hark ye, + Good meat come buy, come buy, + Three pen'orths go for one penny, + And a kiss is good, say I!" + +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 serving-lasses +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 their heads together. + +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 good-humor made the people laugh also and crowd round +his cart closely, shouting uproariously when some buxom lass submitted +to be kissed. + +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 to-day," 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 fast as I can hie." + +Whereupon, having sold all his meat, he left his horse and cart in +charge of a friendly hostler and prepared to follow his mates to the +Mansion House. + +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 market-place. 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 table groaning beneath the good cheer of the feast. + +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 to-day. 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 a +shrewd man right closely." + +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 Sheriff--the 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 not +the wine, but fall to lustily." + +"Hear! hear!" shouted the butchers. + +"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 +trade, and would gladly sell the whole herd, an I could find a buyer." + +At this, the Sheriff's greed 'gan to rise. Since this fool _would_ be +plucked, thought he, why should not he do the plucking? + +"Five hundred beasts, say you?" he queried sharply. + +"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 Bishop in his fat ribs. + +"Nay, good fellow," quoth he chuckling, "I am always ready to help +any in my shire. An you cannot find a buyer for your herd at this just +figure, I will e'en buy them myself." + +At this generosity Robin was quite overcome, and fell to praising the +Sheriff to the skies, and telling him that he should not have cause to +forget the kindness. + +"Tut, tut," said the Sheriff, "'tis naught but a trade. Drive in your +herd tomorrow to the market-place and you shall have money down." + +"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 tomorrow?" + +"Aye, that I will," said the Sheriff, his cupidity casting his caution +to the winds. "Tarry with me over night, and I will go with you in the +morning." + +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 meeting-place +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 serving-man 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 forgetting something turned about and +left the hall. + +It was Little John. + +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 that Little John was faithful and +true. + +He recovered his spirits and began again upon a vein of foolish banter, +for the amusement of the Sheriff and his guests, all being now merry +with wine. + +"A song!" one of them shouted, and the cry was taken up round the table. +Robin mounted his chair and trolled forth: + + "A lass and a butcher of Nottingham + Agreed 'twixt them for to wed. + Says he, 'I'll give ye the meat, fair dame, + And ye will give me the bread." + +Then they joined in the chorus amid a pounding of cups upon the board: + + "With a hey and a ho + And a hey nonny no, + A butcher of Nottingham!" + +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 +to-night." + +Robin nodded, and sang loudly. The day was already far spent, and +presently the company broke up with many hiccupy bows of the Sheriff and +little notice of the drowsy Bishop. + +When the company was dispersed, the Sheriff bade a servant show Robin to +his room, and promised to see him at breakfast the next day. + +Robin kept his word and met Little John that night, and the sheriff next +day; but Little John has been doing so much in the meantime that he must +be allowed a chapter to himself. + +So let us turn to another story that was sung of, in the ballads of +olden time, and find out how Little John entered the Sheriff's service. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +HOW LITTLE JOHN ENTERED THE SHERIFF'S SERVICE + + List and hearken, gentlemen, + All ye that now be here, + Of Little John, that was Knight's-man, + Good mirth ye now shall hear. + +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 cross-street a free show was in progress. +Here and there, stages had been erected for the play at quarter-staff, 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 to-day +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 manner, amid the jeers and laughter of the onlookers. + +A beggar-man 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 boasts--for there +was a lull in the game, because no man else wanted to come within reach +of Eric's blows. Eric, I say, noticed the beggar-man grinning at him +rather impudently, and turned toward him sharply. + +"How now, you dirty villain!" quoth he, "mend your manners to your +betters, or, by our Lady, I'll dust your rags for you." + +The beggar-man still grinned. "I am always ready to mend my manners to +my betters," said he, "but I am afraid you cannot teach me any better +than you can dust my jacket." + +"Come up! Come up!" roared the other, flourishing his staff. + +"That will I," said the beggar, getting up slowly and with difficulty. +"It will pleasure me hugely to take a braggart down a notch, an some +good man will lend me a stout quarter-staff." + +At this a score of idlers reached him their staves--being ready enough +to see another man have his head cracked, even if they wished to save +their own--and 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 in great glee. + +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 back-handed 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 new sight to see Eric of Lincoln eating +dust. + +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 this time. + +And now those who stood around saw the merriest game of quarter-staff +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 hail-storm was pounding on the shingles over your head. Yet he +never so much as entered the tall beggar's guard. + +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 window pane. + +Now the people danced and shouted and made so much ado that the +shop-keepers 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 their presence, while the people crowded to their places. + +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 keen-eyed 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 beggar-man, who must needs twang a bow-string +with the best of them. + +The Sheriff noted his queer figure and asked: "Who is that ragged +fellow?" + +"'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 turn. + +"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 +ground. "There," said he, "is a right good mark. Will any man try it?" + +But not an archer would risk his reputation on so small a target. + +Whereupon the beggar drew his bow with seeming carelessness and split +the wand with his shaft. + +"Long live the beggar!" yelled the bystanders. + +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 born?" + +"In Holderness I was born," the man replied; "men call me Reynold +Greenleaf." + +"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 +clothes." + +"Three good suits, say you? Then right gladly will I enter your service, +for my back has been bare this many a long day." + +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 two +chief outlaws of the whole countryside beneath his roof. + +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 laid by. +But there, locking up the stores for the night, stood the fat steward. + +"Good Sir Steward," said Little John, "give me to dine, for it is long +for Greenleaf to be fasting." + +The steward looked grimly at him and rattled the keys at his girdle. + +"Sirrah lie-abed," quoth he, "'tis late in the day to be talking of +eating. Since you have waited thus long to be hungry, you can e'en take +your appetite back to bed again." + +"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 chuckled and jangled his keys +again. + +Then was Little John right mad, and he brought down his huge fist on the +door-panel with a sledge-hammer 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 pheasant--goodly sights to a hungry man. Placing these down on a +convenient shelf he fell to with right good will. So Little John ate and +drank as much as he would. + +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 table like a bundle of rags. + +"I make my vow!" said the cook, "you are a shrewd hind to dwell thus in +a household, and ask thus to dine." So saying he laid aside his spit and +drew a good sword that hung at his side. + +"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 with the +cook. + +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, but neither might the other harm for the space of a full hour. + +"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, friend--for +I protest you are my friend henceforth--what is the score we have to +settle?" + +"Naught save who can handle the sword best," said the cook. "By my troth +I had thought to carve you like a capon ere now." + +"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 that of the Sheriff." + +"Whose service would that be?" asked the cook. + +"Mine," answered a would-be butcher entering the room, "and I am Robin +Hood." + + + + +CHAPTER V + +HOW THE SHERIFF LOST THREE GOOD SERVANTS AND FOUND THEM AGAIN + + "Make good cheer," said Robin Hood. + "Sheriff! for charity! + And for the love of Little John + Thy life is granted thee!" + +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 not been told. But who might +this tall slasher be?" + +"Men do call me Little John, good fellow." + +"Then Little John, or Reynold Greenleaf, I like you well, on my honor as +Much the miller's son; and you too, bold Robin Hood. An you take me, I +will enter your service right gladly." + +"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 to-day; else the noise of your combat would have +brought other onlookers besides Robin Hood. Now if ye would flee the +house to-night, I will join you in the good greenwood to-morrow." + +"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. To-morrow +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 to-morrow eve, for we shall have great company +and lordly sport." + +And Robin left them as suddenly as he had come. + +"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 +grace our special feasts." + +"'Tis well said indeed," quoth the cook. + +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 +into the friendly shelter of Sherwood Forest. + +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 +owned so much as one silver dish. So the theft went undiscovered for the +nonce. + +Robin Hood met the Sheriff at breakfast, when his host soon spoke of +what was uppermost in his heart--the 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 the herd. + +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 and sang snatches of tunes. + +"Why are you so gay, fellow?" said the Sheriff, for, sooth to say, the +silence of the woods was making him uneasy. + +"I am whistling to keep my courage up," replied Robin. + +"What is there to fear, when you have the Sheriff of Nottingham beside +you?" quoth the other pompously. + +Robin scratched his head. + +"They do say that Robin Hood and his men care little for the Sheriff," +he said. + +"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," said the other. + +The Sheriff started at the crackling of a twig under his horse's feet, +and looked around. + +"Did you see him?" he asked. + +"Aye, that did I! He wanted the use of this mare and cart to drive to +Nottingham. He said he would fain turn butcher. But see!" + +As he spoke he came to a turn in the road, and there before them stood a +herd of the King's deer, feeding. Robin pointed to them and continued: + +"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 me go mine." + +"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 lately entertained me at your board." + +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 very amazement. + +"Welcome to the greenwood!" said one of the leaders, bending the knee +with mock reverence before the Sheriff. + +The Sheriff glared. It was Little John. + +"Woe the worth, Reynold Greenleaf," he said, "you have betrayed me!" + +"I make my vow," said Little John, "that you are to blame, master. I was +misserved of my dinner, when I was at your house. But we shall set you +down to a feast we hope you will enjoy." + +"Well spoken, Little John," said Robin Hood. "Take you his bridle and +let us do honor to the guest who has come to feast with us." + +Then turning abruptly the whole company plunged into the heart of the +forest. + +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 +wide-spreading 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 with hearty gladness to see him +back again. + +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 ground of Sherwood was unused to such dignitaries. + +"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 +Sheriff upon a knoll beneath the largest oak and sat himself down by +him. + +First stepped forward several pairs of men armed with the quarter-staff, +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 seen such blows at all the Fairs of +Nottingham!" + +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 him. + +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 +silverware from the Mansion House! + +"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!" + +But Robin Hood bade him pause. + +"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 your life is granted you!" + +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, one-time +butcher, and you, Little John, one-time beggar, and you, Much, one-time +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 +be pleased to pilot me to the road." + +Then Robin Hood and all his men arose and drank the Sheriff's health, +and Robin said: "If you must needs go at once we will not detain +you--except that you have forgotten two things." + +"What may they be?" asked the Sheriff, while his heart sank within him. + +"You forget that you came with me to-day to buy a herd of horned beasts; +likewise that he who dines at the Greenwood Inn must pay the landlord." + +The Sheriff fidgeted like a small boy who has forgotten his lesson. + +"Nay, I have but a small sum with me," he began apologetically. + +"What is that sum, gossip?" questioned Little John, "for my own wage +should also come out of it!" + +"And mine!" said Much. + +"And mine!" smiled Robin. + +The Sheriff caught his breath. "By my troth, are all these silver dishes +worth anything?" + +The outlaws roared heartily at this. + +"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 use--and the King's. But this little +tavern bill should be settled! Now, what sum have you about you?" + +"I have only those twenty pieces of gold, and twenty others," said the +Sheriff: and well it was that he told the truth for once, for Robin +said: + +"Count it, Little John." + +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 soothly, men of greenwood?" + +"Good!" echoed the others. + +"The Sheriff should swear by his patron saint that he will not molest +us," said Will Stutely; and his addition was carried unanimously. + +"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 or distress the outlaws +in Sherwood." + +"But let me catch any of you _out_ of Sherwood!" thought he to himself. + +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." + +"Nay, I protest against your going needlessly far," said Sheriff. + +"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 main road was reached. + +"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 that +he is not employing you." + +So saying he smote the nag's haunch, and off went the Sheriff upon the +road to Nottingham. + +And that is how--you will find from many ballads that came to be sung +at the Sheriff's expense, and which are known even to the present +day--that, I say, is how the Sheriff lost three good servants and found +them again. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +HOW ROBIN HOOD MET WILL SCARLET + + The youngster was clothed in scarlet red + In scarlet fine and gay; + And he did frisk it o'er the plain, + And chanted a roundelay. + +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 foot--bridge 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. +So the cooling stream was very pleasing and grateful to their senses. + +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 lily-pads; 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 'twas but made to whistle in. Anon +he chanted a roundelay with a merry note. + +"By my troth, a gay bird!" quoth Robin, raising up on his elbow. "Let us +lie still, and trust that his purse is not as light as his heart." + +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 words--then 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 gold-wrought cloak, hang +stoutly from full shoulders. I warrant you the fop can use his dainty +sword right well on occasion." + +"Nay," retorted Robin, "he is naught but a ladies' man from court. My +long-bow 'gainst a plugged shilling that he would run and bellow lustily +at sight of a quarter-staff. 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 Sherwood or Barnesdale." + +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 resting-place; 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 first time. + +"Because I bid you to," replied Robin. + +"And who may you be?" asked the other as coolly as you please. + +"What my name is matters not," said Robin; "but know that I am a public +tax-gatherer 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 +fashion." + +The other smiled as sweetly as though a lady were paying him a +compliment. + +"You are a droll fellow," he said calmly. "Your speech amuses me +mightily. Pray continue, if you have not done, for I am in no hurry this +morning." + +"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 deliver. I promise to deal fairly with the purse." + +"Alack-a-day!" 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 myself and every farthing it contains. Wherefore, pray stand aside." + +"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. To-rol-o-rol-e-loo!" he caroled, making as +though to depart. + +"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 quarter-staff +threateningly. + +"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 blade +and stood on guard. + +"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 +undergrowth, and we will fight fairly, man to man." + +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 hiding-place saw the feat, and could hardly +restrain a long whistle. "By our Lady!" he muttered to himself, "I would +not be in Master Robin's boots!" + +Whatever Robin thought upon seeing the stranger's strength, he uttered +not a word and budged not an inch. He only put his oak staff at parry as +the other took his stand. + +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 +man--with 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 dust-covered oath, the other's staff came +swinging through the cloud at one side--zip!--and struck him under the +arm. Down went Robin as though he were a nine-pin--flat down into the +dust of the road. But despite the pain he was bounding up again like an +India rubber man to renew the attack, when Little John interfered. + +"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 all." + +"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 and dirt. Little John eyed him drolly. + +"How now, good master," quoth he, "the sport you were to kick up has +left you in sorry plight. Let me dust your coat for you." + +"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 +leave"--and he went to the brookside and drank deep and laved his face +and hands. + +All this while the stranger had been eyeing Robin attentively and +listening to his voice as though striving to recall it. + +"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 to-day." + +"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 to-day, and +thought to have remembered your face and speech. Know you not me, Rob, +my lad? Hast ever been to Gamewell Lodge?" + +"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 +gentle schooling has polished you off mightily." + +Will embraced his cousin no less heartily. + +"We are quits on not knowing kinsmen," he said, "for you have changed +and strengthened much from the stripling with whom I used to run foot +races in old Sherwood." + +"But why seek you me?" asked Robin. "You know I am an outlaw and +dangerous company. And how left you mine uncle? and have you heard aught +of late of--of Maid Marian?" + +"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, boot-licked 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 brow-beat 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 hoped your purse was not as light as your +heart." + +"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 the greenwood, Will Scarlet!" + +"Aye, welcome, Will Scarlet!" said Little John; and they all clasped +hands again and swore to be true each to the other and to Robin Hood's +men in Sherwood Forest. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +HOW ROBIN HOOD MET FRIAR TUCK + + The friar took Robin Hood on his back, + Deep water he did bestride, + And spake neither good word nor bad, + Till he came at the other side. + +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 quarter-staff +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 England. + +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 +encounter--which did not always end happily for Robin. And when he had +found a man to his liking he offered him service with the bold fellows +of Sherwood Forest. + +Thus it came about that one day after a practice at shooting, in which +Little John struck down a hart at five hundred feet distance, Robin Hood +was fain to boast. + +"God's blessing on your heart!" he cried, clapping the burly fellow on +the shoulder; "I would travel an hundred miles to find one who could +match you!" + +At this Will Scarlet laughed full roundly. + +"There lives a curtall friar in Fountain's Abbey--Tuck, by name--who can +beat both him and you," he said. + +Robin pricked up his ears at this free speech. + +"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 arrows. + +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 bearings. + +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, +"especially"--quoth this one--"when flavored with young onions!" + +"Gramercy!" muttered Robin to himself, "that is a tantalizing speech to +a hungry man! But, odds bodikins! did ever two men talk more alike than +those two fellows yonder!" + +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 one--and 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 wonder! for it was the present witness, +soon to give its own testimony. + +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 two-faced talk and then +seen this jovial one-faced 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 buckler as stout as Robin's own. + +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 one hand deep into the pie, while he crossed himself with the +other. + +Thereupon Robin seized his bow and fitted a shaft. + +"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 Robin's arrow pointing full upon +him. + +"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 me. In short, my son, you must e'en carry me back again." + +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 he was fain to temporize. + +"Nay, good father, but I shall get my feet wet," he commenced. + +"Are your feet any better than mine?" retorted the other. "I fear me +now that I have already wetted myself so sadly as to lay in a store of +rheumatic pains by way of penance." + +"I am not so strong as you," continued Robin; "that helmet and sword and +buckler would be my undoing on the uncertain footing amidstream, to say +nothing of your holy flesh and bones." + +"Then I will lighten up, somewhat," replied the other calmly. "Promise +to carry me across and I will lay aside my war gear." + +"Agreed," said Robin; and the friar thereupon stripped himself; and +Robin bent his stout back and took him up even as he had promised. + +Now the stones at the bottom of the stream were round and slippery, and +the current swept along strongly, waist-deep, in the middle. More-over +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 +managed to stagger out on the bank and deposit his unwieldy load. + +No sooner had he set the friar down than he seized his own sword. + +"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 +cheese-cloth out of your jacket!" + +The friar's gray eyes once more twinkled with a cunning gleam that boded +no good to Robin; but his voice was as calm and courteous as ever. + +"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 of the stream, where the crafty friar had +conveyed him. + +"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 +grasp a willow wand and thus haul himself ashore on the other side. + +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 minded them no more than if they had been hail-stones. + +"Shoot on, shoot on, good fellow," he sang out; "shoot as you have +begun; if you shoot here a summer's day, your mark I will not shun!" + +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 psalm-singing 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 +bald-pated monk was shaven before!" + +"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 impetuous outlaw. + +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; for never had either met so +stout a fellow. + +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 in many a long day. I would beg a +boon of you." + +"What is it?" said the other. + +"Give me leave to set my horn to my mouth and blow three blasts +thereon." + +"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 yeomen, bows bent, came raking over +the lee. + +"Whose men are these," said the friar, "that come so hastily?" + +"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 mouth and whistle three blasts +thereon." + +"That will I do," said Robin, "or else I were lacking in courtesy." + +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 Hood's men had reached his side. + +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 to-day catch sticks. + +"I have never seen the like of this in my days!" cried Little John, +amazed. + +"'Tis rank sorcery and witchcraft." + +"Take off your dogs, Friar Tuck!" shouted Will Scarlet, who had but then +run up, and who now stood laughing heartily at the scene. + +"Friar Tuck!" exclaimed Robin, astounded. "Are you Friar Tuck? Then am I +your friend, for you are he I came to seek." + +"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 folk--and 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 know you." + +"'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 +laughter, in which Robin and Friar Tuck joined. + +"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 +you." + +"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 you--with this message came I to-day +to seek you. We will build you a hermitage in Sherwood Forest, and you +shall keep us from evil ways. Will you not join our band?" + +"Marry, that will I!" cried Friar Tuck jovially. "Once more will I cross +this much beforded stream, and go with you to the good greenwood!" + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +HOW ALLAN-A-DALE'S WOOING WAS PROSPERED + + "What is thy name?" then said Robin Hood, + "Come tell me, without any fail!" + "By the faith o' my body," then said the young man, + "My name it is Allan-a-Dale." + +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 passer-by, 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 days before. + +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 light, + She will wed me, back i' the town!" + +Robin let the singer pass, caroling on his way. + +"'Tis not in me to disturb a light-hearted 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!"' + +So Robin went back to his camp, where he told of the minstrel. + +"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 tatters; and at every step he +fetched a sigh, "Alack and a well-a-day!" + +Then stepped forth Little John and Much the miller's son. + +"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. + +"Stand off! stand off!" he said; "what is your will with me?" + +"Put by your weapon," said Much, "we will not harm you. But you must +come before our master straight, under yon greenwood tree." + +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 ago than yesternight caroling so blithely +about 'a lassie back i' the town'?" + +"The same in body, good sir," replied the other sadly; "but my spirit is +grievously changed." + +"Tell me your tale," said Robin courteously. "Belike I can help you." + +"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." + +"Marry, come up!" said Robin; "how got the old knight so sudden +vantage?" + +"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 up for to-day." + +"Nay, but surely--" began Robin. + +"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 +come-at-able. I threw one of his varlets into a thorn hedge, and another +into a water-butt, and a third landed head-first into a ditch. But I +couldn't do any fighting at all." + +"'Tis a pity!" quoth Little John gravely. He had been sitting +cross-legged listening to this tale of woe. "What think you, Friar Tuck, +doth not a bit of fighting ease a man's mind?" + +"Blood-letting is ofttimes recommended of the leeches," replied Tuck. + +"Does the maid love you?" asked Robin Hood. + +"By our troth, she loved me right well," said the minstrel. "I have a +little ring of hers by me which I have kept for seven long years." + +"What is your name?" then said Robin Hood. + +"By the faith of my body," replied the young man, "my name is +Allan-a-Dale." + +"What will you give me, Allan-a-Dale," said Robin Hood, "in ready gold +or fee, to help you to your true love again, and deliver her back unto +you?" + +"I have no money, save only five shillings," quoth Allan; "but--are you +not Robin Hood?" + +Robin nodded. + +"Then you, if any one, can aid me!" said Allan-a-Dale eagerly. "And if +you give me back my love, I swear upon the Book that I will be your true +servant forever after." + +"Where is this wedding to take place, and when?" asked Robin. + +"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 four-and-twenty 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 stomach--aye, 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 of us all." + +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 knight--a +returned Crusader--and 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 church-yard at one side brown ale flowed freely for all the +servitors. + +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 be-ribboned +harp for the time. + +"Now who are you, fellow?" quoth the Bishop, "and what do you here at +the church-door with you harp and saucy air?" + +"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 wedding +to-day." + +"What tune can you harp?" demanded the Bishop. + +"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 us and them." + +"Have it as you will," said the Bishop, "but here comes the party now." + +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 palsy. + +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 sea-shell, 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 gown from the +ground; the other carried flowers in plenty. + +"Now by all the wedding bells that ever were rung!" quoth Robin boldly, +"this is the worst matched pair that ever mine eyes beheld!" + +"Silence, miscreant!" said a man who stood near. + +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, and placed himself on the other +side from her brother. + +"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 brightened and gave him a grateful look. + +"Stand aside, fool!" cried the brother wrathfully. + +"Nay, but I am to bring good fortune to the bride by accompanying her +through the church-doors," said Robin laughing. + +Thereupon he was allowed to walk by her side unmolested, up to the +chancel with the party. + +"Now strike up your music, fellow!" ordered the Bishop. + +"Right gladly will I," quoth Robin, "an you will let me choose my +instrument. For sometimes I like the harp, and other times I think the +horn makes the merriest music in all the world." + +And he drew forth his bugle from underneath his green cloak and blew +three winding notes that made the church--rafters ring again. + +"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 church. But the bride shall choose her own swain!" + +Then up rose another great commotion at the door, and four-and-twenty +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 the +other men on guard and bound them prisoners. + +Then in came Allan-a-Dale, decked out gaily, with Will Scarlet for best +man. And they walked gravely down the aisle and stood over against the +chancel. + +"Before a maiden weds she chooses--an the laws of good King Harry be +just ones," said Robin. "Now, maiden, before this wedding continues, +whom will you have to husband?" + +The maiden answered not in words, but smiled with a glad light in her +eyes, and walked over to Allan and clasped her arms about his neck. + +"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 law of our land." + +"Come here, Little John," called Robin impatiently; and plucked off the +Bishop's frock from his back and put it on the yeoman. + +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 +consumedly at him. + +"By the faith o' my body," said Robin, "this cloth makes you a man. +You're the finest Bishop that ever I saw in my life. Now cry the banns." + +So Little John clambered awkwardly into the quire, his short gown +fluttering gaily; and he called the banns for the marriage of the maid +and Allan-a-Dale once, twice, and thrice. + +"That's not enough," said Robin; "your gown is so short that you must +talk longer." + +Then Little John asked them in the church four, five, six, and seven +times. + +"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 +you, good friar, bless this pair with book and candle." + +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; +and the friar began with the ceremony. + +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 Allan-a-Dale shall buy her full dearly." + +So the twain were declared man and wife and duly blessed; and the bride +was kissed by each sturdy yeoman beginning with Robin Hood. + +Now I cannot end this jolly tale better than in the words of the ballad +which came out of the happening and which has been sung in the villages +and countryside ever since: + + "And thus having end of this merry wedding, + The bride lookt like a queen; + And so they returned to the merry greenwood + Amongst the leaves so green." + + + +CHAPTER IX + +HOW THE WIDOW'S THREE SONS WERE RESCUED + + Now Robin Hood is to Nottingham gone, + With a link a down and a down, + And there he met with the proud Sheriff, + Was walking along the town. + +The wedding-party 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 organ-loft 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 shame--made 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 consent. + +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 numbers they had killed two and disabled +three more. + +The infuriated attackers were almost on the point of hewing the stout +outlaws to pieces, when the Sheriff cried: + +"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 nothing of the happening. + +But that evening while returning to the camp he was met by the widow +herself, who came weeping along the way. + +"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! The Sheriff has laid hands on them and +they are condemned to die." + +"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?" + +"Middle the tinker tells me that it is for tomorrow noon," replied the +dame. + +"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 +were not imperiled. Trust to me, good woman!" + +The old widow threw herself on the ground and embraced his knees. + +"'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 forest-camp, where he heard the +details of the skirmish--how that his men had been out-numbered five to +one, but got off safely, as they thought, until a count of their members +had shown the loss of the widow's three sons. + +"We must rescue them, my men!" quoth Robin, "even from out the shadow of +the rope itself!" + +Whereupon the band set to work to devise ways and means. + +Robin walked apart a little way with his head leaned thoughtfully upon +his breast--for he was sore troubled--when whom should he meet but an +old begging palmer, one of a devout order which made pilgrimages and +wandered from place to place, supported by charity. + +This old fellow walked boldly up to Robin and asked alms of him; since +Robin had been wont to aid members of his order. + +"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 than the shire has had in some +Sundays." + +Then Robin's long-sought idea came to him like a flash. + +"Come, change thine apparel with me, old man," he said, "and I'll give +thee forty shillings in good silver to spend in beer or wine." + +"O, thine apparel is good," the palmer protested, "and mine is ragged +and torn. The holy church teaches that thou should'st ne'er laugh an old +man to scorn." + +"I am in simple earnest, I say. Come, change thine apparel with mine. +Here are twenty pieces of good broad gold to feast they brethren right +royally." + +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 choke with cackling +laughter. + +I warrant you, the two were comical sights when they parted company that +day. Nathless, Robin's own mother would not have known him, had she been +living. + +The next morning the whole town of Nottingham was early astir, and as +soon as the gates were open country-folk began to pour in; for a triple +hanging was not held there every day in the week, and the bustle almost +equated a Fair day. + +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 +market-place, and beheld thereon three gallows erected. + +"Who are these builded for, my son?" asked he of a rough soldier +standing by. + +"For three of Robin Hood's men," answered the other. "And it were Robin +himself, 'twould be thrice as high I warrant ye. But Robin is too smart +to get within the Sheriff's clutches again." + +The palmer crossed himself. + +"They say that he is a bold fellow," he whined. + +"Ha!" said the soldier, "he may be bold enough out behind stumps i' the +forest, but the open market-place is another matter." + +"Who is to hang these three poor wretches?" asked the palmer. + +"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 body-guard 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 old man to-day to be your +hangman?" + +"Who are you, fellow?" asked the Sheriff sharply. + +"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 to-day is thirteen pence; and +I will add thereunto some suits of clothing for that ragged back of +yours." + +"God bless ye!" said the palmer. And he went with the soldier to the +jail to prepare his three men for execution. + +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 market-place, the palmer in the lead, +and the widow's three sons marching firmly erect between soldiers. + +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 +confessor. + +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 figure had stiffened bolt upright beneath the black robe that +covered his rags. + +"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 hunting-knife flew forth and in a trice, Stout +Will, Lester, and merry John were free men and had sprung forward and +seized the halberds from the nearest soldiers guarding the gallows. + +"Seize them! 'Tis Robin Hood!" screamed the Sheriff, "an hundred pounds +if ye hold them, dead or alive!" + +"I make it two hundred!" roared the fat Bishop. + +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 +terror-stricken 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 their way slowly down the +market-place. + +"Seize them! In the King's name!" shrieked the Sheriff. "Close the +gates!" + +In truth, the peril would have been even greater, had this last order +been carried out. But Will Scarlet and Allan-a-Dale had foreseen that +event, and had already overpowered the two warders. + +So the gates stood wide open, and toward them the band of outlaws +headed. + +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 between the two forces. + +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 +that night than ever before in their whole lives. + + + + +CHAPTER X + +HOW A BEGGAR FILLED THE PUBLIC EYE + + Good Robin accost him in his way, + To see what he might be; + If any beggar had money, + He thought some part had he. + +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 pike-staff 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 bare-legged and +bare-armed, and wore a long shift of a shirt, fastened with a belt. +About his neck hung a stout, bulging bag, which was buckled by a good +piece of leather thong. + + He had three hats upon his head, + Together sticked fast, + He cared neither for the wind nor wet, + In lands where'er he past. + +The fellow looked so fat and hearty, and the wallet on his shoulder +seemed so well filled, that Robin thought within himself, + +"Ha! this is a lucky beggar for me! If any of them have money, this is +the chap, and, marry, he should share it with us poorer bodies." + +So he flourished his own stick and planted himself in the traveler's +path. + +"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 for my stomach's good." + +"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 +again, so that I may hie to the nearest tavern." + +"I have no money to lend," said the beggar crossly. "Methinks you are as +young a man as I, 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 +for the next twelvemonth." + +"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 a beggar's skin!" + +The beggar smiled, and answered boast with boast. "Come on with your +staff, fellow! I care no more for it than for a pudding stick. And as +for your pretty bow--_that_ for it!" + +And with amazing quickness, he swung his pike-staff 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 pike-staff, +smiting him soundly and beating down his guard. + +There were but two things to do; either stand there and take a sound +drubbing, or beat a hasty retreat. Robin chose the latter--as you or I +would probably have done--and scurried back into the wood, blowing his +horn as he went. + +"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 running up in answer to his summons. + +"What is wrong?" they asked. + +"'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 men--Much and two of the widow's sons--could 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 chance at him." + +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 and come upon him before he is +aware." + +The others agreed to this, and the three were soon close upon their +prey. + +"Now!" quoth Much; and the other two sprang quickly upon the beggar's +back and wrested his pike-staff 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 properly." + +"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. Seeing that it was useless to +struggle, the beggar began to parley. + +"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 ye shall have all that's in the bag." + +The three outlaws took council together at this. + +"What say you?" asked Much of the others. "Our master will be more glad +to see this beggar's wallet than his sorry face." + +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 about to face it, directly they had +unhanded him. + +"It shall be done, gossips," said he. "One of you lend me your cloak and +we will spread it upon the ground and put the wealth upon it." + +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 drew--not shining gold--but 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 +breathe. + +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 sides, all the time +dancing first on one leg, then on the other, and crying, + +"Villains! rascals! here are the hundred pounds I promised. How do you +like them? I' faith, you'll get all that's in the bag." + +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 love-taps. + +"Fare ye well, my masters," he said finally turning the other way; "and +when next I come along the Barnesdale road, I hope you will be able to +tell gold from meal dust!" + +With this he departed, an easy victor, and again went whistling on his +way, while the three outlaws rubbed the meal out of their eyes and began +to catch their breath again. + +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 looks of your clothes." + +Then when they looked shamefaced and answered never a word, he went on, +in a soft voice, + +"Did ye see aught of that bold beggar I sent you for, lately?" + +"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 space." + +And he sneezed violently. + +"How was that?" asked Robin demurely. + +"Why we laid hold of the beggar, as you did order, when he offered to +pay for his release out of the bag he carried upon his back." + +"The same I coveted," quoth Robin as if to himself. + +"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 this cloud he vanished like a wizard." + +"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 abroad--even in the greenwood--how 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 need be the wiser!" + +The others saw the point of this, and felt better directly, despite +their itching desire to get hold of the beggar again. And none of the +four ever told of the adventure. + +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 ballad which, I warrant you, the four outlaws did not like to +hear. + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +HOW ROBIN HOOD FOUGHT GUY OF GISBORNE + + "I dwell by dale and down," quoth he, + "And Robin to take I'm sworn; + And when I am called by my right name, + I am Guy of good Gisborne." + +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 skill at a capture. + +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 armed with the King's scroll he +came before the Sheriff at Nottingham. + +"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. How many men need you?" + +"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 +silver bugle, come quickly, for I shall have the sly Robin within my +clutches." + +"Very good," said the Sheriff. "Marry, it shall be done." And he set +about giving orders, while Guy of Gisborne sallied forth disguised. + +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 head-first +into a ditch, another mire up in the swamp, another trip over a rolling +stone, and still others sit down on the roadside and gasp for wind like +fish out of water. + +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 +William-a-Trent, 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 William-a-Trent +to have been abed with sorrow--says the ballad--than to be that day in +the greenwood slade to meet with Little John's arrow. He had run his +last race. + +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 +Scarlet had reached the brow of the hill and sped down the other side. + +"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 before failed him snapped in +twain. + +"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 he dared not turn. + +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 them right and left with huge blows of his brawny fist. + +But if five men can do more than three, a score can overcome one. + +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, and determined to make a good day's work of it. + +"By the Saints!" he said, "you shall be drawn by dale and down, and +hanged high on a hill in Barnesdale this very day." + +"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 +boldest outlaw in England, next to Robin Hood himself. + +The gallows was quickly put up and a new rope provided. + +"Now up with you!" commanded the Sheriff, "and let us see if your +greenwood tricks will avail you to-morrow." + +"I would that I had bold Robin's horn," muttered poor John; "methinks +'tis all up with me even as the Sheriff hath spoken." + +In good sooth the time was dire and pressing. The rope was placed around +the prisoner's neck and the men prepared to haul away. + +"Are you ready?" called the Sheriff. "One--two--" + +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 its summons. He has caught Robin +Hood." + +"Pardon, Excellency," said one of his men; "but if he has caught Robin +Hood, this is a merry day indeed. And let us save this fellow and build +another gallows and hang them both together." + +"That's a brave thought!" said the Sheriff slapping his knee. "Take the +rascal down and bind him fast to the gallows-tree against our return." + +So Little John was made fast to the gallows-tree, while the Sheriff and +all his men who could march or hobble went out to get Robin Hood and +bring him in for the double hanging. + +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 self-same 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 three-legged 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 capul-hide, nothing more nor less +than the sun-dried skin of a horse, complete with head, tail, and mane. +The skin of the head made a helmet; while the tail gave the curious +three-legged appearance. + +"Good-morrow, good fellow," said Robin cheerily, "methinks by the bow +you bear in your hand that you should be a good archer." + +"Indifferent good," said the other returning his greeting; "but 'tis not +of archery that I am thinking this morning, for I have lost my way and +would fain find it again." + +"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 than your attire." + +"Who are you to ask me my business?" asked the other roughly. + +"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 one +of his men?"--eyeing him keenly. + +"Nay, God forbid!" said Robin; "but what want you with him?" + +"That is another tale. But I'd rather meet with that proud outlaw than +forty good pounds of the King's money." + +Robin now saw how the land lay. + +"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 mastery +at shooting arrows." + +The other agreed, and they cut down two willow wands of a summer's +growth that grew beneath a brier, and set them up at a distance of +threescore yards. + +"Lead on, good fellow," quoth Robin. "The first shot to you." + +"Nay, by my faith," said the other, "I will follow your lead." + +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 +horse-hide followed with more care yet was a good three-fingers' breadth +away. On the second round, the stranger led off and landed cleverly +within the small garland at the top of the wand; but Robin shot far +better and clave the wand itself, clean at the middle. + +"A blessing on your heart!" shouted Capul-Hide; "never saw I such +shooting as that! Belike you are better than Robin Hood himself. But you +have not yet told me your name." + +"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 Gisborne." + +This he said with a great show of pride, and he strutted back and forth, +forgetful that he had just been beaten at archery. + +Robin eyed him quietly. "Methinks I have heard of you elsewhere. Do you +not bring men to the gallows for a living?" + +"Aye, but only outlaws such as Robin Hood." + +"But pray what harm has Robin Hood done you?" + +"He is a highway robber," said Sir Guy, evading the question. + +"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 of Robin's men yourself." + +"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 +pounds reward." + +"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 +at him full and foul. Robin eluded the lunge and drew his own weapon. + +"A scurvy trick!" quoth he grimly, "to strike at a man unprepared." + +Then neither spoke more, but fell sternly to work--lunge and thrust and +ward and parry--for 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 favor. + +Still circled the bright blades swiftly in the air--now gleaming in the +peaceful sunlight--again 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 destiny to die before his day." + +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 throat. + +Robin looked at the slain man regretfully. + +"You did bring it upon yourself," said he; "and traitor and hireling +though you were, I would not willingly have killed you." + +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 face were not unlike the other's. + +Pulling the capul-hide 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 up over the hill and +into the wood with his men in search of another victim. + +In five-and-twenty minutes up came running a score of the Sheriff's best +archers. + +"Did you signal us, lording?" they asked, approaching Robin. + +"Aye," said he, going to meet the puffing Sheriff. + +"What news, what news, Sir Guy?" said that officer. + +"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 have saved him for the +hanging--though I cannot now complain." + +"The hanging?" repeated Robin. + +"Yes. This is our lucky day on the calendar. After you left me we +narrowly missed running one of the fellows--I believe 'twas Will +Scarlet--to earth; and another who came to his relief we were just about +to hang, when your horn blew." + +"Who was the other?" asked the disguised outlaw. + +"Whom do you suppose?" laughed the Sheriff. "The best man in the +greenwood, next to Robin Hood himself--Little John, Reynold Greenleaf!" +For the Sheriff could not forget the name Little John had borne under +his own roof at Nottingham. + +"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 let us hasten back to +Barnesdale and finish hanging the other." + +So they put spurs to their horses, and as they rode Robin forced himself +to talk merrily, while all the time he was planning the best way to +succor Little John. + +"A boon, Sheriff," he said as they reached the gates of the town. + +"What is it, worthy sir? You have but to speak." + +"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 one day." + +"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 to-morrow." + +Then he approached Little John, who was still tied to the gallows-tree; +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 hanging that day. + +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 enough sport for one day. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +HOW MAID MARIAN CAME BACK TO SHERWOOD FOREST; ALSO, HOW ROBIN HOOD CAME +BEFORE QUEEN ELEANOR. + + But Robin Hood, he himself had disguis'd, + And Marian was strangely attir'd, + That they proved foes, and so fell to blows, + Whose valor bold Robin admir'd. + + And when he came at London's court, + He fell down on his knee. + "Thou art welcome, Lockesley," said the Queen, + "And all thy good yeomandree." + +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 sorry-looking 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 youth--would he ever see her again? He had thought of her very +often of late, and each time with increasing desire to hear her clear +voice and musical laugh, and see her eyes light up at his coming. + +Perhaps the happiness of Allen-a-Dale and his lady had caused Robin's +heart-strings to vibrate more strongly; perhaps, too, the coming of +Will Scarlet. But, certes, Robin was anything but a hunter this bright +morning as he walked along with head drooping in a most love-lorn way. + +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 from the far side of the glade. + +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 looked a mere lad. + +Robin approached the hart from the other side. + +"How dare you shoot the King's beasts, stripling?" he asked severely. + +"I have as much right to shoot them as the King himself," answered the +page haughtily. "How dare you question me?" + +The voice stirred Robin strongly. It seemed to chime into his memories +of the old days. He looked at the page sharply, and the other returned +the glance, straight and unafraid. + +"Who are you, my lad?" Robin said more civilly. + +"No lad of yours, and my name's my own," retorted the other with spirit. + +"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 yourself!" + +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 hot blood flushed his cheeks in a most charming manner. + +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 this scratch?" + +"I am Richard Partington, page to Her Majesty, Queen Eleanor," answered +the lad with dignity; and again the sound of his voice troubled Robin +sorely. + +"Why come you to the greenwood alone, Master Partington?" + +The lad considered his answer while wiping his sword with a small lace +kerchief. The action brought a dim confused memory to Robin. The lad +finally looked him again in the eye. + +"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. + +Robin started forward with a joyful cry. + +"Ah! I know you now! By the sight of yon golden arrow won at the +Sheriff's tourney, you are she on whom I bestowed it, and none other +than Maid Marian!" + +"You--are--?" gasped Marian, for it was she; "not Robin!" + +"Robin's self!" said he gaily; and forthwith, clad as he was in rags, +and stained of face, he clasped the dainty page close to his breast, and +she forsooth yielded right willingly. + +"But Robin!" she exclaimed presently, "I knew you not, and was rude, and +wounded you!" + +"'Twas nothing," he replied laughingly, "so long as it brought me 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 had come again. + +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 the hours sped. + +"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 did bring you a message from +Queen Eleanor!" + +"Tell me on our way home, and there you shall be entrusted to Mistress +Dale. While the first of my men we meet will I send back for your deer." + +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 long-bow." 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, of whom the King was right vain. All this Marian told in +detail, and added: + +"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 +finger, in token of her faith." + +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 Allan-a-Dale 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 essayed to sing, +although looked at threateningly by Much the miller's son. + +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, +and drank toasts to them both, rising to their feet. + +"Ye have heard," quoth Robin standing forth, "how that Her Majesty--whom +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 Allan-a-Dale, 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 souls and stomachs." + +The orders were received with shouts of approval, and toasts all around +were drunk again in nut-brown ale, ere the company dispersed to rest +after making ready for the journey. + +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 ballad--it 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 the two ladies behind-hand, I ween, at the bedecking. + +Thus the chosen party of seven sallied forth being accompanied to the +edge of the wood by the whole band, who gave them a merry parting and +Godspeed! + +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 course came to the palace itself and awaited +audience with the Queen. + +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 +add a word in their favor and to set out in search of them. + +To-day the Queen sat in her private audience-room chatting pleasantly +with her ladies, when in came Mistress Marian Fitzwalter attired again +as befitted her rank of lady-in-waiting. She courtesied low to the Queen +and awaited permission to speak. + +"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." + +"Where is he?" asked Queen Eleanor eagerly. + +"Awaiting your audience--he and four of his men, likewise a lady of +whose wooing and wedding I can tell you a pretty story at another time." + +"Have them admitted." + +So Marian gave orders to a herald, and presently Robin Hood and his +little party entered the room. + +Now the Queen had half-expected 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 half-hidden looks of +admiration sent forth by the other ladies-in-waiting. + +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 +Allan-a-Dale, the minstrel, was scarcely less goodly to look upon. +While the giant Little John and broad-shouldered 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 Church to marry one man and found another. + +Thus came the people of the greenwood before Queen Eleanor, in her own +private audience room. And Robin advanced and knelt down before her, and +said: + +"Here I am, Robin Hood--I and my chosen men! At Your Majesty's bidding +am I come, bearing the ring of amnesty which I will protect--as I would +protect Your Majesty's honor--with my life!" + +"Thou art welcome, Lockesley," said the Queen smiling graciously. + +"Thou art come in good time, thou and all thy brave yeomanry." + +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 stood in the Queen's eyes from +merriment. + +"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 Allan-a-Dale. "Methinks I +have already heard of him. Will he not harp awhile for us to-day?" + +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 +all the songs were ended. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +HOW THE OUTLAWS SHOT IN KING HARRY'S TOURNEY + + The King is into Finsbury Field + Marching in battle 'ray, + And after follows bold Robin Hood, + And all his yeomen gay. + +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 to-day there were ten of the pavilions, each bearing aloft +the Royal Arms and vari-colored pennants which fluttered lightly in the +fresh morning breeze. + +Each captain's flag was of peculiar color and device. First came the +royal purple streamer of Tepus, own bow-bearer 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 Hand--he 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 rushed away from home without their breakfast. + +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 +standard-bearers 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 +riding-habit; 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 jeweled fans, and commingling of bright colors with costly gems! + +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 lists--a gallant array--while their captains, as a special mark of +favor, stood near the royal box. + +"Come hither, Tepus," said the King to his bow-bearer. "Come, measure me +out this line, how long our mark must be." + +"What is the reward?" then asked the Queen. + +"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; "for such largess as that, we'll +shoot at the sun and the moon." + +"'Twill not be so far as that," said the King. "But get a line of good +length, Tepus, and set up the targets at tenscore paces." + +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 target--three shots apiece--and here any other +bowman whatsoever was asked to try his skill. The result at the open +targets should decide the tourney. + +Then all the people shouted again, in token that the terms of the +contest pleased them; and the archers waved their bows aloft, and +wheeled into position facing their respective targets. + +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 captains had been out-shot by +some of the men under them. + +The winners then saluted the King and Queen, and withdrew for a space to +rest and renew their bow-strings for the keenest contest of all; while +the lists were cleared and a new target--the open one--was 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 so; and only a dozen men +stepped forth to give in their names. + +"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." + +"What is it?" asked the King. + +"If I produce five archers who can out-shoot 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 there never were such bowmen as +Tepus and Clifton and Gilbert!" + +"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!" + +The two summoned ones, who had been witnessing the sport, came forward. + +"Sir Richard," said she, "thou art a full knight and good. Would'st +advise me to meet a wager of the King's, that I can produce other +archers as good as Tepus and Gilbert and Clifton?" + +"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 strange +targets." + +The Queen smiled and dismissed him. + +"Come hither, my lord Bishop of Hereford," quoth she, "would'st thou +advance a sum to support my wager 'gainst the King?" + +"Nay, Your Majesty," said the fat Bishop, "an you pardon me, I'd not lay +down a penny on such a bet. For by my silver mitre, the King's archers +are men who have no peers." + +"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 who carry +such matters with a high hand!" + +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, resolved to face it out, + +"Your Majesty, such tales are idle and exaggerated. An you pardon me, I +would add to the King's wager that his men are invincible." + +"As it pleases thee," replied the Queen imperturbably. "How much?" + +"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 +pounds." + +"Very good," said the King, laughing as though it were a great jest. +"But what had minded you to take such interest in the sport, of a +sudden?" + +"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 then match the five best thereat +against your unknown champions?" + +"Agreed," said the Queen. Thereupon she signed to Maid Marian to +step forward, from a near-by booth where she sat with other +ladies-in-waiting, and whispered something in her ear. Marian courtesied +and withdrew. + +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 Clifton must needs content himself with fifth. + +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 +prize-winners, 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 Queen's +choosing--men who had not yet shot upon that day. + +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 hunting-knife. + +When the little party came before the dais on which the King and Queen +sat, the yeomen doffed their caps humbly, while Maid Marian was assisted +to dismount. + +"Your Gracious Majesty," she said, addressing the Queen, "these be the +men for whom you sent me, and who are now come to wear your colors and +service you in the tourney." + +The Queen leaned forward and handed them each a scarf of green and gold. + +"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 pressed the scarfs to their lips in token of fealty. + +The King turned to the Queen inquiringly. + +"Who are these men you have brought before us?" asked he. + +Up came the worthy Bishop of Hereford, growing red and pale by turns. + +"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 Allan-a-Dale--all famous in the North Countree for their deeds of +violence." + +"As my lord Bishop personally knows!" added the Queen significantly. + +The King's brows grew dark. The name of Robin Hood was well known to +him, as to every man there present. + +"Is this true?" he demanded sternly. + +"Aye, my lord," responded the Queen demurely. "But, bethink you--I have +your royal promise of grace and amnesty." + +"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 choosing--certain 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 pennies--aye, 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 my royal word." + +"Robin Hood and his men!" the saying flew round the arena with the speed +of wild-fire, 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 Clifton was bidden to shoot first. + +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's-eye, 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 full-feathered arrows. + +"Careful, my sweet coz!" quoth Robin in a low tone. "The knave has left +wide space at the center for all of your darts." + +But Robin gave Will the wrong caution, for over-much care spoiled +his aim. His first shaft flew wide and lodged in the second ring even +further away than the worst shot of Clifton. + +"Your pardon, coz!" quoth Robin hastily. "Bid care go to the bottom of +the sea, and do you loose your string before it sticks to your fingers!" + +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's-eye, 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, that this demonstration would please the King. + +The target was now cleared for the next two contestants--Geoffrey and +Allan-a-Dale. Whereat, it was noticed that many ladies in the Queen's +booths boldly flaunted Allan's colors, much to the honest pride which +glowed in the cheeks of one who sat in their midst. + +"In good truth," said more than one lady to Mistress Dale, "if thy +husband can handle the longbow as skilfully as the harp, his rival has +little show of winning!" + +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's-eye, yet allowed an easy space for Allan to graze within. +His shooting, moreover, was so prettily done, that he was right heartily +applauded--the ladies and their gallants leading in the hand-clapping. + +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 +to-day they looked narrowly at their leader to see who should shoot +third. Robin read their faces at a glance, and laughing merrily, broke +off two straws and held them out. + +"The long straw goes next!" he decided; and it fell to Stutely. + +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. To-day these +were increased by a certain moodiness, that Little John had outranked +him. So his first two shafts flew swiftly, one after the other, to +lodging places outside the Welshman's mark. + +"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 center--the 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 wager!" + +The Queen smiled gently. + +"Yea, my lord," she said. "But the twain who are left are able to do the +shooting. You forget that I still have Little John and Robin Hood." + +"And you forget, my lady, that I still have Tepus and Gilbert." + +So each turned again to the lists and awaited the next rounds in silent +eagerness. I ween that King Harry had never watched the invasion of an +enemy with more anxiety than he now felt. + +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 good-natured 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's-eye. 'Twas the best shooting he had yet +done, but there was still the smallest of spaces left--if you looked +closely--at the very center. + +"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 King would have declared you the best bowman in +all England!" + +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's-eye; while his third +had split down between them, taking half of each, and making all three +appear from a distance, as one immense arrow. + +Up rose the King in amazement and anger. + +"Gilbert is not yet beaten!" he cried. "Did he not shoot within the mark +thrice? And that is allowed a best in all the rules of archery." + +Robin bowed low. + +"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. + +"There, friend Gilbert," called he gaily; "belike you can hit that!" + +"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 +had met a hunter's knife. + +"Verily, I think your bow is armed with witchcraft!" cried Gilbert. "For +I did not believe such shooting possible." + +"You should come to see our merry lads in the greenwood," retorted Robin +lightly. "For willow wands do not grow upon the cobblestones of London +town." + +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 and was gone. + +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 +own--the 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 women--kind who come your way." + +"We swear," said the five yeomen solemnly. + +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 and jostling in their efforts to +come nearer. + +"Verily!" laughed Little John, "they must take us for a Merry Andrew +show!" + +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 +Allan-a-Dale 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 Dallom Lea were spoken of, Robin said: + +"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. +Wherefore, the meat and drink must go to them, an they will accept it of +us." + +"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 good-fellowship was +given amid much shouting and clapping on the shoulder-blades. + +And so ended King Harry's tourney, whose story has been handed down from +sire to son, even unto the present day. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +HOW ROBIN HOOD WAS SOUGHT OF THE TINKER + + And while the tinker fell asleep, + Robin made haste away, + And left the tinker in the lurch, + For the great shot to pay. + +King Henry was as good as his word. Robin Hood and his party were +suffered to depart from London--the parting bringing keen sorrow to +Marian--and 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 outlaws without further delay, +as he valued his office. + +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 +failures to capture the outlaws. + +The Sheriff thereupon planned three new expeditions into the greenwood, +and was even brave enough to lead them, since he had fifteen-score 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 hiding-place in the cove before the cavern. + +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 tricks of our own." + +"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 that rascal Robin Hood. + +"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 of some better plan." + +And she called him to her, and looked him over--a 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 reward if you succeed. Do you wish to +make good your boasted prowess?" + +The tinker grinned broadly. + +"Yes, your ladyship," he said. + +"Then here is a warrant made out this morning by the Sheriff himself. +See that you keep it safely and use it to good advantage." + +And she dismissed him. + +Middle departed from the house mightily pleased with himself, and +proud of his commission. He swung his crab-tree-staff recklessly in his +glee--so recklessly that he imperiled the shins of more than one angry +passer-by--and vowed he'd crack the ribs of Robin Hood with it, though +he was surrounded by every outlaw in the whole greenwood. + +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 +eating and drinking and dozing, in turn, then sought to do all at once. + +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 +men-at-arms and horses, and that when he has these behind him, he'll +soon rid the forest of these fellows." + +"Of whom speak you?" asked the tinker sitting up. + +"Of Robin Hood and his men," said the host; "but go to sleep again. You +will never get the reward!" + +"And why not?" asked the tinker, rising with great show of dignity. + +"Where our Sheriff has failed, and the stout Guy of Gisborne, and many +more beside, it behoves not a mere tinker to succeed." + +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 with me no less person than Robin Hood himself!" + +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 fellow accosted him. + +"Good-day to you!" said he. + +"Good-day to you!" said the tinker; "and a morrow less heating." + +"Aye," laughed the other. "Whence come you? And know you the news?" + +"What is the news?" said the gossipy tinker, pricking up his ear; "I am +a tinker by trade, Middle by name, and come from over against Banbury." + +"Why as for the news," laughed the stranger, "I hear that two tinkers +were set i' the stocks for drinking too much ale and beer." + +"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 tidings." + +"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." + +"So?" said the other arching his brows. "How 'especially commissioned'?" + +"I have a warrant from the Sheriff, sealed with the King's own seal, to +take him where I can; and if you can tell me where he is, I will e'en +make a man of you." + +"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 him to you." + +"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 forsooth catch him by +myself." + +And he made his crab-tree-staff whistle shrill circles in the air. + +The other smiled at the tinker's simplicity, and said: + +"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 cool our heads for thinking." + +"Marry come up!" quoth the tinker. "That will I! For though I've just +come from there, my thirst rises mightily at the sound of your voice." + +So back he turned with the stranger and proceeded to the "Seven Does." + +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 (ya-a-a-ah!) for +catching this fellow?--Hello!--where's the man gone?" + +He had looked around and saw no one with him at the table. + +"Host! host!" he shouted, "where is that fellow who was to pay my +reckoning?" + +"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 been opened and many matters of +state taken from it." + +"Cease your bellowing!" said the landlord. "What did you lose?" + +"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 +arrest--and 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 silver pennies, the which I earned this week (hic!) +in fair labor. Item--" + +"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 good-fellowship?" + +"Wh-a-at? _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 to-day, that I need not be surprised if you came back +with no less person than Robin Hood himself?" + +"Jesu give me pardon!" moaned the tinker. "I see it all now. He got me +to drinking, and then took my warrant, and my pennies, and my crust--" + +"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 bag-o'-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." + +"What is the account?" asked Middle. + +"Ten shillings, just." + +"Then take here my working-bag and my good hammer too; and if I light +upon that knave I will soon come back after them." + +"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 you such a crack as shall drive some honesty into your thick +skull." + +"You are wasting your breath and my time," retorted the landlord. + +"Give me your things, and get you gone after your man, speedily." + +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!" + +Robin turned about with a surprised face. + +"What knave is this?" he asked gently, "who comes shouting after me?" + +"No knave! no knave at all!" panted the other, rushing up. "But an +honest--man--who would have--that warrant--and the money for drink!" + +"Why, as I live, it is our honest tinker who was seeking Robin Hood! Did +you find him, gossip?" + +"Marry, that did I! and I'm now going to pay him my respects!" + +And he plunged at him, making a sweeping stroke with his +crab-tree-cudgel. + +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 Toledo--finely tempered steel which the Queen had given him. +But the crab-tree-staff had been fired and hardened and seasoned by the +tinker's arts until it was like a bar of iron--no 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 for him to touch his antagonist. +So his sides began to ache sorely. + +"Hold your hand, tinker," he said at length. "I cry a boon of you." + +"Before I do it," said the tinker, "I'd hang you on this tree." + +But even as he spoke, Robin found the moment's grace for which he +longed; and immediately grasped his horn and blew the three well-known +blasts of the greenwood. + +"A murrain seize you!" roared the tinker commencing afresh. "Up to your +old tricks again, are you? Well, I'll have time to finish my job, if I +hurry." + +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 sit so weariedly upon the highway +side?" + +"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 for me." + +"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 for my arrest which I stole from him." + +"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 hand." + +"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 pannikins--and fight, too, when occasion serve? +Mend your pots! mend your pa-a-ans!" + +And he ended his speech with the sonorous cry of his craft. + +By this time the whole band was laughing uproariously at the tinker's +talk. + +"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 Much the miller's son from having the +blues." + +So amid great merriment and right good fellowship the outlaws shook +Middle by the hand, and he took oath of fealty, and thought no more of +the Sheriff's daughter. + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +HOW ROBIN HOOD WAS TANNED OF THE TANNER + + In Nottingham there lived a jolly tanner, + With a hey down, down, a down down! + His name was Arthur-a-Bland, + There was ne'er a squire in Nottinghamshire + + Dare bid bold Arthur stand. + And as he went forth, in a summer's morning, + With a hey down, down, a down down! + To the forest of merrie Sherwood, + To view the red deer, that range here and there, + There met he with bold Robin Hood. + +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 sword-points 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 Arthur-a-Bland, a +tanner who dwelt in Nottingham town and was far-famed in the tourneys +round about. He had done some pretty tricks at archery, but was +strongest at wrestling and the quarter-staff. 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 +quarter-staff he had never yet met his match; so that there was never a +squire in Nottinghamshire dare bid bold Arthur stand. + + With a long pike-staff on his shoulder, + So well he could clear his way + That by two and three he made men flee + And none of them could stay. + +Thus at least runs the old song which tells of his might. + +"This is just the man for me!" thought the Sheriff's daughter to +herself; and she forthwith summoned him to the Mansion House and +commissioned him to seek out Robin Hood. + +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 oak-bark and ditch-water and the smell of half-tanned +hides to-day!" 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 two-legged 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 ill-will; 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 daughter did +not choose a very good messenger, as you shall presently see. + +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 +quarter-staff in his hand, and on his head a cap of trebled raw-hide 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 to-day 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 Little John went on his +errand. + +Presently Robin entered the edge of the wood, when whom should he see +but Arthur-a-Bland, 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 King's meat!" + +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 cow-skin 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 stalking the deer. + +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 +cloth-yard shaft. But just at this moment Robin unluckily trod upon a +twig which snapped and caused the tanner to turn suddenly. + +Robin saw that he was discovered, so he determined to put a bold face on +the matter, and went forward with some smart show of authority. + +"Hold!" he cried: "stay your hand! Why, who are you, bold fellow, to +range so boldly here? In sooth, to be brief, ye look like a thief that +has come to steal the King's deer." + +"Marry, it is scant concern of yours, what I look like!" retorted +Arthur-a-Bland. "Who are you, who speak so bravely?" + +"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 +you." + +"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 +oak-graff like unto yours. Give me a baker's dozen of minutes with +it and it shall pleasure me to crack that pate of yours for your +sauciness!" + +"Softly, my man! Fair and softly! Big words never killed so much as a +mouse--least 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, 'twill be as much as you'll need." + +"Now by our Lady! Will you listen to the braggart?" cried Robin in a +fine rage. "Marry, but I'll teach ye to be more mannerly!" + +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 Arthur-a-Bland, seeing that he was ready. "And +if I do not tan your hide for you in better shape than ever calf-skin +was turned into top-boots, 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 before you begin your tanning." + +"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 you." + +Forthwith the two men spat on their hands, laid firm hold upon their +cudgels and began slowly circling round each other, looking for an +opening. + +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 a peep at this fray." + +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 quarter-staff 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 bush--much as he had done when Robin undertook to +teach Will Scarlet a lesson--and 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 sticks--each half as long again as the men were, and +thick as their arm--and 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 mid-air by a counter-blow till the thwacking sticks sounded like +the steady roll of a kettle-drum and the oak--bark flew as fine as it +had ever done in Arthur-a-Bland's tannery. + +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 potato-patch. Round and round, up and down, in and +out, their arms working like threshing-machines, 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 cow-skin 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 hand--to 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 tumbling on to the grass. + +"Hold your hand! hold your hand!" roared Robin with what little breath +he had left. "Hold, I say, and I will give you the freedom of the +greenwood." + +"Why, God-a-mercy," said Arthur; "I may thank my staff for that--not +_you_." + +"Well, well, gossip' let be as it may. But prithee tell me your name and +trade. I like to know fellows who can hit a blow like that same last." + +"I am a tanner," replied Arthur-a-Bland. "In Nottingham long have +I wrought. And if you'll come to me I swear I'll tan your hides for +naught." + +"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 tan-pots and come with +me, as sure as my name is Robin Hood, you shan't want gold or fee." + +"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 Sheriff's roof, to capture you." + +"So was a certain tinker, now in our service," said Robin smilingly. + +"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 Arthur-a-Bland!" 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 well-nigh left him powerless +to get on his feet. + +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 days. You did knock him over like +as he were a ninepin!" + +"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 Arthur-a-Bland is the best man at the quarter-staff in all +Nottinghamshire. It commonly takes two or three men to hold him." + +"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 +Arthur-a-Bland! Come! let us after the deer of which I spoiled your +stalking." + +"Righty gladly!" quoth Arthur. "Come, Cousin Little John! Away with +vats and tan-bark and vile-smelling cowhides! I'll follow you two in the +sweet open air to the very ends of earth!" + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +HOW ROBIN HOOD MET SIR RICHARD OF THE LEA + + Then answered him the gentle knight + With words both fair and thee: + "God save thee, my good Robin, + And all thy company!" + +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 numerous dogs. + +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 Arthur-a-Bland and David of +Doncaster--he who was the jolliest cobbler for miles around--until 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 lank Sheriff of Nottingham was well-nigh distracted. + +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 +was proclaimed as his successor. + +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 with--being +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 Huntingdon, Robin's old enemy and Marian's father, who had +lately died. + +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 gainsay him. + +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 chestnut-pods 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 +feeding among the trees at the far edge of the glade. + +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 green-and-gold tunic +of Robin, and, lowering it head, charged at him impetuously. So sudden +was its attack that Robin had no time to bend his bow. He sprang behind +a tree while he seized his weapon. + +A moment later the wild stag crashed blindly into the tree-trunk 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 a page. It was Maid Marian, come back again to the greenwood! + +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 the stag she pursed her lips as though she would whistle to it. + +"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 +target--rushed 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 preparing to gore her to death. + +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 +voice of Robin and already spoken. + +"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. + +Robin was quickly by her side, and dragged the beast from off the girl. + +Picking her up in his strong arms, he bore her swiftly to the side of +one of the many brooks which watered the vale. + +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 +presently she gave a little gasp. + +"Where am I? What is't?" + +"You are in Sherwood, dear maid, tho', i' faith, we gave you a rude +reception!" + +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. + +"Oh, Robin, it is you!" she murmured. + +"Aye, 'tis I. Thank heaven, I was at hand to do you service!" Robin's +tones were deep and full of feeling. "I swear, dear Marian, that I will +not let you from my care henceforth." + +Not another word was spoken for some moments, while her head still +rested confidingly upon his breast. Then recollecting, he suddenly +cried: + +"Gramercy, I make but a poor nurse! I have not even asked if any of your +bones were broken." + +"No, not any," she answered springing lightly to her feet to show him. + +"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 yourself." + +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 +for a Princess's hand. + +"That is all, Robin," she ended simply; "and that is why I donned again +my page's costume and came to you in the greenwood." + +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 Allan-a-Dale 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 events. + +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 +haughty knight or fat priest whose wallet needed lightening. + +They had scarcely watched the great road known as Watling Street which +runs from Dover in Kent to Chester town--for 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 beside. + + His visor hung down o'er his eyes, + He rode in single array, + A sorrier man than he was one + Rode never in summer's day. + +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, to-day," quoth he, "and indeed +has been fasting while awaiting your coming, these three hours." + +"Who is your master?" asked the knight. + +"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 to-day 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 to be led to the rendezvous of +the band in the greenwood. + +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 page that day, and she in roguish +mood consented to do so. + +"Welcome, Sir Knight," said Robin, courteously. "You are come in good +time, for we were just preparing to sit down to meat." + +"God save and thank you, good master Robin," returned the knight; "and +all your company. It likes me well to break the fast with you." + +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 +knight as a gift of charity. + +"I have no money, Master Robin," answered the knight frankly. "I have so +little of the world's goods, in sooth, that I should be ashamed to offer +you the whole of it." + +"Money, however little, always jingles merrily in our pockets," said +Robin, smiling. "Pray you tell me what you deem a little sum." + +"I have of my own ten silver pennies," said the knight. "Here they are, +and I wish they were ten times as many." + +He handed Little John his pouch, and Robin nodded carelessly. + +"What say you to the total, Little John?" he asked as though in jest. + +"'Tis true enough, as the worthy knight hath said," responded the big +fellow gravely emptying the contents on his cloak. + +Robin signed to Marian, who filled a bumper of wine for himself and his +guest. + +"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 +not betray your secrets." + +"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 Harry--God 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 wife and son." + +"In what manner have you lost your riches?" asked Robin. + +"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 son--a goodly youth--grown 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." + +"A most worthy Bishop," said Robin ironically. "What is the sum of your +debt?" + +"Four hundred pounds," said Sir Richard, "and the Bishop swears he will +foreclose the mortgage if they are not paid promptly." + +"Have you any friends who would become surety for you?" + +"Not one. If good King Richard were here, the tale might be otherwise." + +"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 your cheer more worthily, the next +time I ride by." + +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 one hundred gold pieces in +it. + +"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 may be harder. Who can tell?" + +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 rank, master--think you not so?" + +"Measure him twenty ells of it," ordered Robin. + +"Give him a good horse, also," whispered Marian. "'Tis a gift which will +come back four-fold, for this is a worthy man. I know him well." + +So the horse was given, also, and Robin bade Arthur-a-Bland ride with +the knight as far as his castle, as esquire. + +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 Allan-a-Dale's singing, he mounted his new steed the +following morning an altogether different man. + +"God save you, comrades, and keep you all!" said he, with deep feeling +in his tones; "and give me a grateful heart!" + +"We shall wait for you twelve months from to-day, here in this place," +said Robin, shaking him by the hand; "and then you will repay us the +loan, if you have been prospered." + +"I shall return it to you within the year, upon my honor as Sir Richard +of the Lea. And for all time, pray count on me as a steadfast friend." + +So saying the knight and his esquire rode down the forest glade till +they were lost to view. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +HOW THE BISHOP WAS DINED + + "O what is the matter?" then said the Bishop, + "Or for whom do you make this a-do? + Or why do you kill the King's venison, + When your company is so few?" + + "We are shepherds," quoth bold Robin Hood, + "And we keep sheep all the year, + And we are disposed to be merrie this day, + And to kill of the King's fat deer." + +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 Arthur-a-Bland, 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 dine with me today, and he shall pay well for his cheer." + +"Shall we dress it here, as usual?" asked Much, the miller's son. + +"Nay, we play a droll game on the churchman. We will dress it by the +highway side, and watch for the Bishop narrowly, lest he should ride +some other way." + +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 make-up. 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 men-at-arms at his heels. As soon as he saw the fancied shepherds he +spurred up his horse, and came straight toward them. + +"Who are ye, fellows, who make so free with the King's deer?" he asked +sharply. + +"We are shepherds," answered Robin Hood, pulling at his forelock +awkwardly. + +"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, out here where they are so many." + +"By me faith, the King shall hear of this. Who killed yon beast?" + +"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 tongue in your head." + +"If 'tis a churchman," retorted Will Scarlet, "he would do better to +mind his own flocks rather than concern himself with ours." + +"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 +Nottingham forthwith." + +"Pardon, excellence!" said Robin, dropping on his knees. "Pardon, I pray +you. It becomes not your lordship's coat to take so many lives away." + +"Faith, I'll pardon you!" said the Bishop. "I'll pardon you, when I see +you hanged! Seize upon them, my men!" + +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 so lately been ready to +sentence. + + "O pardon, O pardon," said the Bishop, + "O pardon, I you pray. + For if I had known it had been you, + I'd have gone some other way." + +"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 +half-cooked 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 +glades till they came to an open space near Barnesdale. + +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 place beside himself, and the Bishop prepared to +fall to. + +"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 to-day, 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 +which to drink. + +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 +of his position. + +"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 +stand." + +For he bethought himself of his friend, the Sheriff's former experience. + +"Verily, your lordship," said Robin, scratching his head, "I have +enjoyed your company so much, that I scarce know how to charge for it." + +"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 home. + +"I have but a few silver pennies of my own," he whined; "and as for the +gold in my saddle-bags, 'tis for the church. Ye surely would not levy +upon the church, good friends." + +But Little John was already gone to the saddle-bags, 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 money which Robin had lent Sir Richard a short while before! + +"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 aiding my good friend." + +"Nay, nay," began the Bishop with a wry face, "this is requiting me ill +indeed. Was this not the King's meat, after all, that we feasted upon? +Furthermore, I am a poor man." + +"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 ignorant--you 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. Come, strike up the harp, +Allan!" + +"Neither the one nor the other will I do," snarled the Bishop. + +"Faith, then we must help you," said Little John; and he and +Arthur-a-Bland 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 +Bishop, more dead than alive, toward Nottingham. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +HOW THE BISHOP WENT OUTLAW-HUNTING + + The Bishop he came to the old woman's house, + And called with furious mood, + "Come let me soon see, and bring unto me + That traitor, Robin Hood." + +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 shout and spurred upon the outlaw. + +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 +swallowed up by magic. + +"After him!" yelled the Bishop; "some of you beat up the woods around +him, while the rest of us will keep on the main road and head him off on +the other side!" + +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 the +cottage and saw his one chance to escape. + +Doubling in and out among the underbrush and heather with the agility +of a hare, he soon came out of the wood in the rear of the cottage, and +thrust his head through a tiny window. + +The widow, who had been at her spinning wheel, rose up with a cry of +alarm. + +"Quiet, good mother! 'Tis I, Robin Hood. Where are your three sons?" + +"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 many of his men." + +"I'll cheat the Bishop and all!" cried the woman quickly. "Here, Robin, +change your raiment with me, and we will see if my lord knows an old +woman when he sees her." + +"Good!" said Robin. "Pass your gray cloak out the window, and also your +spindle and twine; and I will give you my green mantle and everything +else down to my bow and arrows." + +While they were talking, Robin had been nimbly changing clothes with the +old woman, through the window, and in a jiffy he stood forth complete, +even to the spindle and twine. + +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 one of his men to question +her. The soldier laid his hand upon her shoulder. + +"Mind your business!" croaked the woman, "or I'll curse ye!" + +"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." + +"Mercy, good my lord!" chattered the crone, falling on her knees. + +"Robin is there in my cottage now, but you'll never take him alive." + +"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." + +When Little John could catch his breath from laughing, he winded his +horn. + +"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 Hood!" + +At last the door crashed in and the men stood guard on the threshold. +But not one dared enter for fear a sharp arrow should meet him halfway. + +"Here he is!" cried one keen-eyed fellow, peering in. "I see him in the +corner by the cupboard. Shall we slay him with our pikes?" + +"Nay," said the Bishop, "take him alive if you can. We'll make the +biggest public hanging of this that the shire ever beheld." + +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 +had been battered in. + +"Stand by, you lazy rascals!" she called to the soldiers. "May all the +devils catch ye for hurting an old woman's hut. Stand by, I say!" + +"Hold your tongue!" ordered the Bishop. "These are my men and carrying +out my orders." + +"God-mercy!" 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. Back to town she shall go, +alongside of Robin Hood." + +"Not so fast, your worship!" she retorted, clapping her hands. + +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, he +determined to make a fight for it. + +"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 +men's fierce pikes. So let us see whom you have been guarding so well." + +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 +Bishop. + +"Give you good-den, my lord Bishop," she piped in a shrill voice; "and +what does your Grace at my humble door? Do you come to bless me and give +me alms?" + +"Aye, that does he," answered Robin. "We shall see if his saddle-bags +contain enough to pay you for that battered door." + +"Now by all the saints--" began the Bishop. + +"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 skull-cap which he always wore, leaving him quite +bald. + +The prelate turned as white as his shiny head and clutched wildly at his +ears. He thought himself dead almost. + +"Help! Murder!" he gasped. "Do not shoot again! Here's your purse of +gold!" + +And without waiting for further parley he fairly bolted down the road. + +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 outlaw-hunt in the forest. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +HOW THE SHERIFF HELD ANOTHER SHOOTING MATCH + + "To tell the truth, I'm well informed + Yon match it is a wile; + The Sheriff, I know, devises this + Us archers to beguile." + +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 with scorn. + +"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 tell." + +So away went the Sheriff in sorrier pass than ever, and cudgeled his +brain, on the way home, for some plan of action. + +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 +afresh. + +"I have it!" she exclaimed at length. "Why should we not hold another +shooting-match? '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 tempted to twang the bow, and then--" + +"And then," said the Sheriff jumping up with alacrity, "we shall see on +which side of the gate they stop over-night!" + +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 silver-white 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 +archers. + +These tidings 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." + +With that stepped forth the merry cobbler, David of Doncaster. + +"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 that same archery." + +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 Lincoln-green + Behind us we will leave; + We'll dress us all so several, + They shall not us perceive." + + "One shall wear white, another red, + One yellow, another blue; + Thus in disguise to the exercise + We'll go, whate'er ensue." + +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 vari-colored costumes, and +'gainst the Fair day had fitted out the sevenscore men till you would +never have taken them for other than villagers decked for the holiday. + +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, +going with their ruddy-cheeked lasses toward the wide-open gates of +Nottingham. + +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 men-at-arms stood round about and sought to +find one who looked like a forester, but without avail. + +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 Allan-a-Dale'. + +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 bravely do they shoot." + +"Aye," quoth the Sheriff, and scratched his head, + + "I thought he would be here; + I thought he would, but tho' he's bold, + He durst not now appear." + +This word was privately brought to Robin by David of Doncaster, and the +saying vexed him sorely. But he bit his lip in silence. + +"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 shouts. + + One cried, "Blue jacket!" another cried, "Brown!" + And a third cried, "Brave Yellow!" + But the fourth man said, "Yon man in red + In this place has no fellow." + + For that was Robin Hood himself, + For he was clothed in red, + At every shot the prize he got, + For he was both sure and dead. + +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 men-at-arms to close round the group. But Robin's men also got +wind of the plan. + +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, grasped him about the neck and +called upon his men to arrest the traitor. + +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 check. + +"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 +upon the ground. + +By this time the conflict had become general, but the Sheriff's men +suffered the disadvantage of being hampered by the crowd of innocent +on-lookers, 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 bugle-note +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 well-directed +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 from severe flesh cuts. + +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 while. + +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 +bridge?" + +"Truer servant never man had," answered Robin. + +"Then if ever you loved me, and for the sake of that service, draw your +bright brown sword and strike off my head; never let me fall alive into +the hand of the Sheriff of Nottingham." + +"Not for all the gold in England would I do either of the things you +suggest." + +"God forbid!" cried Arthur-a-Bland, hurrying to the rescue. And packing +his wounded kinsman upon his own broad shoulders, he soon brought him +within the shelter of the forest. + +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 active +giant groaned mightily. + +That evening consternation came upon the hearts of the band. A careful +roll-call 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 +flinched from the prospect. + +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 hands. + +"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 golden arrow." + +As he spoke a missive sped through a window and fell clattering upon his +plate, causing him to spring back in alarm. + +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 yourself. R.H." + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +HOW WILL STUTELY WAS RESCUED + + Forth of the greenwood are they gone, + Yea, all courageously, + Resolving to bring Stutely home, + Or every man to die. + +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 was to be launched into eternity. + +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 +speech?" + +"Go," answered Robin. + +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 outlaw to death this day?" + +"Yea," answered the palmer sadly. "'Tis true enough, sorry be the day. +I have passed the very spot where the gallows-tree is going up. 'Tis out +upon the roadway near the Sheriff's castle. One, Will Stutely, is to be +hung thereon at noon, and I could not bear the sight, so came away." + +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 and white, but gave no second +thought to the matter. + +"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 his hood. + +"Do you think that I should undertake this holy office?" + +"By Saint Peter and the Blessed Virgin, I do indeed! Else, who will +do it? The Bishop and all his whining clerks may be there, but not one +would say a prayer for his soul." + +"But I am only a poor palmer," the other began hesitatingly. + +"Nathless, your prayers are as good as any and better than some," +replied Will. + +"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 +will." + +"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 he knew of the situation. He +ended with, + +"If I may make so bold, I would not try to enter the city from this +gate, as 'tis closely guarded since yesterday. But on the far side, no +attack is looked for." + +"My thanks, gentle palmer," quoth Robin, "your suggestion is good, and +we will deploy to the gate upon the far side." + +So the men marched silently but quickly until they were near to the +western gate. Then Arthur-a-Bland 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 grew out from an upper window. + +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 Arthur-a-Bland slipped himself into his uniform and got +hold of his keys. + +'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 +market-lace 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 there could be no aid from such source. + +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 rebels--would the Sheriff--whose 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 gallows, he smiled with grim +satisfaction. + +Seeing that no help was nigh, the prisoner paused at the foot of the +scaffold and spoke in a firm tone to the Sheriff. + +"My lord Sheriff," quoth he, "since I must needs die, grant me one boon; +for my noble master ne'er yet had a man that was hanged on a tree: + + 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 dead on the ground." + +But the Sheriff would by no means listen to his request; but swore +that he should be hanged a shameful death, and not die by the sword +valiantly. + + "O no, no, no," the Sheriff said, + "Thou shalt on the gallows die, + Aye, and so shall they master too, + If ever it in me lie." + + "O dastard coward!" Stutely cried, + "Faint-hearted peasant slave! + If ever my master do thee meet, + Thou shalt thy payment have!" + + "My noble master thee doth scorn, + And all thy cowardly crew, + Such silly imps unable are + Bold Robin to subdue." + +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 over the tail of it into another +world. + +But at this moment came a slight interruption. A boyish-looking palmer +stepped forth, and said: + +"Your Excellency, let me at least shrive this poor wretch's soul ere it +be hurled into eternity." + +"No!" shouted the Sheriff, "let him die a dog's death!" + +"Then his damnation will rest upon you," said the monk firmly. "You, my +lord Bishop, cannot stand by and see this wrong done." + +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 ungraciously. + +"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 to the condemned man. But he +did not touch his bonds. + +Then came another stir in the crowd, and one came pushing through the +press of people and soldiery to come near to the scaffold. + +"I pray you, Will, before you die, take leave of all your friends!" +cried out the well-known voice of Much, the miller's son. + +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 plate. We'll make a double hanging +of this!" + +"Not so fast, good master Sheriff," retorted Much. "First catch your man +and then hang him. But meanwhile I would like to borrow my friend of you +awhile." + +And with one stroke of his keen hunting-knife he cut the bonds which +fastened the prisoner's arms, and Stutely leaped lightly from the cart. + +"Treason!" screamed the Sheriff, getting black with rage. "Catch the +varlets!" + +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 side, while the weapon whistled harmlessly in the air. + +"Nay, Sir Sheriff!" he cried, "I must e'en borrow your sword for the +friend I have borrowed." + +Thereupon he snatched the weapon deftly from the Sheriff's hand. + +"Here, Stutely!" said he, "the Sheriff has lent you his own sword. Back +to back with me, man, and we'll teach these knaves a trick or two!" + +Meanwhile the soldiers had recovered from their momentary surprise and +had flung themselves into the fray. A clear bugle-note had also sounded +the same which the soldiers had learned to dread. 'Twas the rallying +note of the green wood men. + +Cloth yard shafts began to hurtle through the air, and Robin and his men +cast aside their cloaks and sprang forward crying: + +"Lockesley! Lockesley! a rescue! a rescue!" + +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 conflict--although +they could not well keep out of it, in sooth!--and aided the rescuers no +little. + +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 well-directed 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 again." + +"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 headed for the West gate, which was still guarded by +Arthur-a-Bland. + +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 +had been let down by Arthur-a-Bland. + +Close upon their heels came the soldiers--so 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 +hill to the woods. + +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 loop-holes 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 mutter silent +words as though in prayer. + +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 +saw the wound and gave a great huzza. + +"Ha! you will shoot no more bows for a season, master outlaw!" he +shouted. + +"You lie!" retorted Robin fiercely, wrenching the shaft from his hand +despite the streaming blood; "I have saved one shot for you all this +day. Here take it!" + +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. + +"Marian!" he exclaimed, "you here!" + +It was indeed Maid Marian, who had helped save Will, and been in the +stress of battle from the first. Now she hung her head as though caught +in wrong. + +"I had to come, Robin," she said simply, "and I knew you would not let +me come, else." + +Their further talk was interrupted by an exclamation from Will Scarlet. + +"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. + +"Alas!" cried poor Marian, "we are undone! There is no way of escape!" + +"Courage, dear heart!" said Robin, drawing her close to him. But his own +spirit sank as he looked about for some outlet. + +Then--oh, 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. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + +HOW SIR RICHARD OF THE LEA REPAID HIS DEBT + + The proud Sheriff loud 'gan cry + And said, "Thou traitor knight, + Thou keepest here the king's enemy + Against the laws and right." + +"Open the gate!" shouted the Sheriff hoarsely, to the sentinel upon the +walls. "Open, I say, in the king's name!" + +"Why who are you to come thus brawling upon my premises?" asked a +haughty voice; and Sir Richard himself stepped forth upon the turret. + +"You know me well, traitor knight!" said the Sheriff, "now give up into +my hands the enemy of the King whom you have sheltered against the laws +and right." + +"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 +King--whom God preserve!--for my actions." + +"Thou soft-spoken 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." + +"First show me your warrants," said Sir Richard curtly. + +"My word is enough! Am I not Sheriff of Nottingham?" + +"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 King Richard is lately +returned, I hear, from the Holy Land." + +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 I was minded this day to ride forth and repay my debt to you." + +"And so you have," answered Robin gaily. + +"Nay, 'twas nothing--this 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." + +"The exact sum?" asked the knight. + +"The exact sum," answered Robin, winking solemnly. + +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 all bandaged and made happy by bumpers +of ale. + +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 his father. + +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 +him again to take the four hundred golden pounds. But his guest was +firm. + +"Keep the money, for it is your own," said Robin; "I have but made the +Bishop return that which he extorted unjustly." + +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 hands gave each yeoman a bow and a sheaf. + +"In sooth, these are poor presents we have made you, good Robin Hood," +said Sir Richard; "but they carry with them a thousand times their +weight in gratitude." + +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 seemed certain, and refused to +deliver them up to justice. + +The King heard him through with attention and quoth he: + +"Meseems I have heard of this same Robin Hood, and his men, and also +seen somewhat of their prowess. Did not these same outlaws shoot in a +royal Tourney at Finsbury field?" + +"They did, Your Majesty, under a royal amnesty." + +In this speech the Sheriff erred, for the King asked quickly, + +"How came they last to the Fair at Nottingham--by stealth?" + +"Yes, Your Majesty." + +"Did you forbid them to come?" + +"No, Your Majesty. That is--" + +"Speak out!" + +"For the good of the shire," began the Sheriff again, falteringly, +"we did proclaim an amnesty; but 'twas because these men had proved a +menace--" + +"Now by my halidom!" quoth the King, while his brow grew black. "Such +treachery would be unknown in the camp of the Saracen; and yet we call +ourselves a Christian people!" + +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 one King in England, and that +he stands for the law." + +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 gone on many adventurous quests +together. + +The King bade him rise, and dismounted from his own horse to greet him +as a brother in arms; and arm-in-arm they went into the castle, while +bugles and trumpets sounded forth joyous welcome in honor of the great +occasion. + +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 need--as they had befriended +others--and how that he had given them only knightly protection in +return. + +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 his +manner of living. + +"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 fare alone into the greenwood to seek an adventure with him." + +But of this adventure you shall be told in the next tale; for I have +already shown you how Sir Richard of the Lea repaid his debt, with +interest. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + +HOW KING RICHARD CAME TO SHERWOOD FOREST + + King Richard hearing of the pranks + Of Robin Hood and his men, + He much admired and more desired + To see both him and them. + + Then Robin takes a can of ale: + "Come let us now begin; + And every man shall have his can; + Here's a health unto the King!" + +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 stomach. + +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 merry, in great content. + +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 presence. + +"Now by Saint Peter!" growled the friar, "who comes here at this +unseemly hour? Does he take this for a hostelry? Move on, friend, else +my mulled wine will get cold!" + +So saying he put the tankard to his lips, when a thundering rap sounded +upon the door-panel, making it to quiver, and causing Tuck almost to +drop his tankard; while an angry voice shouted, "Ho! Within there! Open, +I say!" + +"Go your way in peace!" roared back the friar; "I can do nothing for +you. 'Tis but a few miles to Gamewell, if you know the road." + +"But I do not know the road, and if I did I would not budge another +foot. 'Tis wet without and dry within. So open, without further parley!" + +"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 +whistling for one of his dogs, he strode forth to see who his visitor +might be. + +The figure of a tall knight clad in a black coat of mail, with plumed +helmet, stood before him. By his side stood his horse, also caparisoned +in rich armor. + +"Have you no supper, brother?" asked the Black Knight curtly. "I must +beg of you a bed and a bit of roof, for this night, and fain would +refresh my body ere I sleep." + +"I have no room that even your steed would deign to accept, Sir Knight; +and naught save a crust of bread and pitcher of water." + +"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 sheltered side of the house." + +And without further parley the knight boldly strode past Tuck and his +dog and entered the hermitage. Something about his masterful air pleased +Tuck, in spite of his churlishness. + +"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 man, and is to give the orders!" + +"With all my soul!" said the knight, laughing. "I can pay my keeping in +blows or gold as you prefer." + +The friar presently returned and drew up a small table near the fire. + +"Now, Sir Knight," quoth he, "put off your sword and helm and such other +war-gear as it pleases you, and help me lay this table, for I am passing +hungry." + +The knight did as he was told, and put aside the visor which had hid +his face. He was a bronzed and bearded man with blue eyes, and hair shot +with gold, haughty but handsome withal. + +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 table which had +been cleared to the platters. + +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 +the fire. + +"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 your way whenever you wish to depart." + +"Then tell me," said the knight, "how I may find Robin Hood the outlaw; +for I have a message to him from the King. All day yesterday I sought +him, but found him not." + +Friar Tuck lifted up his hands in holy horror. "I am a lover of peace, +Sir Knight, and do not consort with Robin's bold fellows." + +"Nay, I think no harm of Master Hood," said the knight; "but much I +yearn to have speed with him in mine own person." + +"If that be all, mayhap I can guide you to his haunts," said Tuck, who +foresaw in this knight a possible gold-bag for Robin. "In sooth, I could +not well live in these woods without hearing somewhat of the outlaws; +but matters of religion are my chief joy and occupation." + +"I will go with you, brother," said the Black Knight. + +So without more ado they went their way into the forest, the knight +riding upon his charger, and Tuck pacing along demurely by his side. + +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 tingling; +and every creature of nature seemed bounding with joyous life. + +The knight sniffed the fresh air in delight. + +"By my halidom!" quoth he; "but the good greenwood is the best place +to live in, after all! What court or capital can equal this, for +full-blooded men?" + +"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 well-knit man with curling brown hair stepped into the +road and laid his hand upon the knight's bridle. + +It was Robin Hood. He had seen Friar Tuck, a little way back, and +shrewdly suspected his plan. Tuck, however, feigned not to know him at +all. + +"Hold!" cried Robin; "I am in charge of the highway this day, and must +exact an accounting from all passersby." + +"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 half-score other stalwart fellows came out of the +bushes and stood beside him. + +"We be yeomen of the forest, Sir Knight," continued Robin, "and live +under the greenwood tree. We have no means of support--thanks to the +tyranny of our over-lords--other 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, we beseech ye for Saint Charity +to give us some of your spending." + +"I am but a poor monk, good sir!" said Friar Tuck in a whining voice, +"and am on my way to the shrine of Saint Dunstan, if your worshipfulness +will permit." + +"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 tarries near here and would have speech +with Robin Hood." + +"God save the King!" said Robin, doffing his cap loyally; "and all that +wish him well! I am Robin Hood, but I say cursed be the man who denies +our liege King's sovereignty!" + +"Have a care!" said the knight, "or you shall curse yourself!" + +"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 shall be my friend and taste of +our greenwood cheer." + +"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. +Nathless--how much money is in your purse?" + +"I have no more than forty gold pieces, seeing that I have lain a +fortnight at Nottingham with the King, and have spent some goodly +amounts upon other lordings," replied the knight. + +Robin took the forty pounds and gravely counted it. One half he gave to +his men and bade them drink the King's health with it. The other half he +handed back to the knight. + +"Sir," said he courteously, "have this for your spending. If you lie +with kings and lordings overmuch, you are like to need it." + +"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 dark-haired page stood at Robin's right hand to pour his wine +and that of the knightly guest; while the knight marveled much at all he +saw, and said within himself: + +"These men of Robin Hood's give him more obedience than my fellows give +to me." + +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 with royal word, here's a health unto +the King!" + +The guest responded heartily to this toast, and round about the board it +went, the men cheering noisily for King Richard! + +After the feast was over, Robin turned to his guest and said, "Now you +shall see what life we lead, so that you may report faithfully, for good +or bad, unto the King." + +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 off the wand, was to submit to +a buffet from the hand of Friar Tuck. + +"Ho, ho!" cried the knight, as his late traveling companion rose up and +bared his brawny arm ready for service; "so you, my friend, are Friar +Tuck!" + +"I have not gainsaid it," replied Tuck growling at having betrayed +himself. "But chastisement is a rule of the church, and I am seeking the +good of these stray sheep." + +The knight said no more, though his eyes twinkled; and the shooting +began. + +David of Doncaster shot first and landed safely through the rose +garland. Then came Allan-a-Dale 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 +tinker--not to be outdone--stepped up for a trial. But alas! while +he made a fair shot for a townsman, the arrow never came within a +hand-breath of the outer rim of the garland. + +"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, Arthur-a-Bland 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 face. + +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 ill-feathered 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 very vexation. + +"A murrain take it!" quoth he. "The arrow was sadly winged. I felt the +poor feather upon it as it left my fingers!" + +Then suddenly seizing his bow again, he sped three shafts as fast as he +could sent them, and every one went clean through the garland. + +"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 take your medicine!" + +"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 serve you, Master Hood." + +"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 first blow." + +"You have the advantage of an iron pot on your head and gloves on your +hands," said the friar; "but have at ye! Down you shall go, if you were +Goliath of Gath." + +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 those present had not +felt the force of it in times past. + +"Now 'tis my turn," said his antagonist coolly, casting aside his +gauntlet. And with one blow of his fist the knight sent the friar +spinning to the ground. + +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 +Hood. + +"Out of the frying-pan 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 unlooked-for diversion. A horn winded in the glade, and a party of +knights were seen approaching. + +"To your arms!" cried Robin, hurriedly seizing his sword and bow. + +"'Tis Sir Richard of the Lea!" cried another, as the troop came nearer. + +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 +before him. + +"I trust Your Majesty has not needed our arms before," he said humbly. + +"It is the King!" cried Will Scarlet, falling upon his knees. + +"The King!" echoed Robin Hood after a moment of dumb wonderment; and he +and all his men bent reverently upon their knees, as one man. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII + +HOW ROBIN HOOD AND MAID MARIAN WERE WED + + "Stand up again," then said the King, + "I'll thee thy pardon give; + Stand up, my friend, who can contend, + When I give leave to live?" + + Then Robin Hood began a health + To Marian, his only dear, + And his yeomen all, both comely and tall, + Did quickly bring up the rear. + +"Your pardon, sire!" exclaimed Robin Hood. "Pardon, from your royal +bounty, for these my men who stand ready to serve you all your days!" + +Richard of the Lion Heart looked grimly about over the kneeling band. + +"Is it as your leader says?" he asked. + +"Aye, my lord King!" burst from sevenscore throats at once. + +"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 that here, indeed, was a +royal bodyguard worth the while. + +"Swear!" he said in his full rich voice; "swear that you, Robin Hood, +and all your men from this day henceforth will serve the King!" + +"We swear!" came once more the answering shout from the yeomen. + +"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 body-guard. 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 Little John? Stand forth!" + +"Here, sire," quoth the giant, doffing his cap. + +"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 +better official than the man you relieve." + +"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 Court day and we shall see if there be +a knighthood vacant." + +Likewise the King called for Will Stutely and made him Chief of the +Royal Archers. Then he summoned Friar Tuck to draw near. + +"I crave my King's pardon," said the priest, humbly enough; "for who am +I to lift my hand against the Lord's anointed?" + +"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 comfortable?" + +"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 the day, and I ask no more." + +Richard sighed. "You ask the greatest thing in the world, +brother--contentment. 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 Allan-a-Dale?" 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 would-be groom and attending Bishop. I heard +something of this in former days. Now what excuse have you to make?" + +"Only that I loved her, sire, and she loved me," said Allan, simply; +"and the Norman lord would have married her perforce, because of her +lands." + +"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 +Court--one, Mistress Marian? What has become of her, that you should +have forgotten her?" + +"Nay, Your Majesty," said the black-eyed 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 late Earl of Huntingdon?" + +"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 over them, I bestow them upon you +jointly. Come forward, Robin Hood." + +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 +restored, "is to marry Mistress Marian without delay." + +"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 to-morrow, 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 Arthur-a-Bland, +and Middle, and Stutely and Scarlet and Little John and others played +at the quarter-staff, giving and getting many lusty blows. Then as +the shades of night drew on, the whole company--knights and +foresters--supped and drank around a blazing fire, while Allen sang +sweetly to the thrumming of the harp, and the others joined in the +chorus. + +'Twas a happy, care-free night--this 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 own joys. + +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 slept--King and subject alike--out under the +stars, cared for lovingly by Nature, kind mother of us all. + +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 men-at-arms. And after them came Robin Hood and Maid Marian +riding upon milk-white steeds. Allan-a-Dale also escorted Mistress Dale +on horseback, for she was to be matron-of-honor 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. + +Outside the gates of Nottingham town they were halted. + +"Who comes here?" asked the warder's surly voice. + +"Open to the King of England!" came back the clear answer, and the gates +were opened and the bridge let down without delay. + +Almost before the company had crossed the moat the news spread through +the town like wildfire. + +"The King is here! The King is here, and hath taken Robin Hood!" + +From every corner flocked the people to see the company pass; and wildly +did they cheer for the King, who rode smilingly with bared head down +through the market-place. + +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 made +low obeisance to his master. + +"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 come up to pay his respects. + +"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 Nottingham Church. So make you ready." + +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, and the whole town made a holiday. + +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 popular since he had the King's favor. + +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 like to eat out her heart +from envy and hatred. + +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 +passed out again through the portal, man and wife. + +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 wedding--party. That night they spent there, +and feasted, and the next day, Sir Richard of the Lea claimed them. + +And thus, amid feasting and rejoicing and kingly favor, Robin Hood, the +new Earl of Huntingdon, and his bride began their wedded life. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV + +HOW ROBIN HOOD MET HIS DEATH + + "Give me my bent bow in my hand, + And a broad arrow I'll let flee; + And where this arrow is taken up, + There shall my grave digg'd be." + +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 account--in so far as we can find the quaint old +ballads which tell of it--and so we must follow one more of these songs +and learn how Robin, after living many years longer, at last came to +seek his grave. And the story of it runs in this wise. + +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 one-half 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 its old time cunning at the +bow-string!" + +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 years, and Robin felt as though all +the light had gone out of his life. + +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 sarcastic smile. + +"Go forth into the greenwood," said he, coldly, "and kill some more of +the King's deer. Belike, then, the King will make you Prime Minister, at +the very least, upon his return." + +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 should come again. + +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 John. + +"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 troubles +of his own, after a time, that he ceased troubling the outlaws. + +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 Abbey gate. A woman shrouded in black peered forth. + +"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 quiet." + +So she bled him, and he fell into a stupor which lasted nearly all that +day, so that he awoke weak and exhausted from loss of blood. + +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 cruel deed. + +Be that as it may, Robin's eyes swam from very weakness when he awoke. + +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 out weak blasts three. + +Little John was out in the forest near by, or the blasts would never +have been heard. At their sound he sprang to his feet. + +"Woe! woe!" he cried, "I fear my master is near dead, he blows so +wearily!" + +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 have met with treachery! If +that be so, grant me one last boon, I pray." + +"What is it?" asked Robin. + +"Let me burn Kirklees-Hall with fire, and all its nunnery." + +"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 +company." + +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 +bow--here--here-and fix a broad arrow upon the string. Out yonder--among +the oaks--where this arrow shall fall--let them dig my grave." + +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 sobbing breast of his devoted friend. + +"'Tis the last!" he murmured, "tell the brave hearts to lay me there +with the green sod under my head and feet. And--let them lay--my 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! And Marian!--'tis my Marian--come at +last!" + +So died the body of Robin Hood; but his spirit lives on through the +centuries in the deathless ballads which are sung of him, and in the +hearts of men who love freedom and chivalry. + +They buried him where his last arrow had fallen, and they set a stone to +mark the spot. And on the stone were graven these words: + + "Here underneath his little stone + Lies Robert, Earl of Huntingdon; + Never archer as he so good, + And people called him Robin Hood. + Such outlaws as he and his men + Will England never see again." + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Robin Hood, by J. Walker McSpadden + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ROBIN HOOD *** + +***** This file should be named 832.txt or 832.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/8/3/832/ + +Produced by Joseph S. Miller and David Widger + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +http://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, is critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at http://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit http://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. +To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + http://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. |