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diff --git a/old/1rbnh10.txt b/old/1rbnh10.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..afee06a --- /dev/null +++ b/old/1rbnh10.txt @@ -0,0 +1,8209 @@ +The Project Gutenberg Etext of Robin Hood by J. Walker McSpadden + + +Copyright laws are changing all over the world, be sure to check +the copyright laws for your country before posting these files!! + +Please take a look at the important information in this header. +We encourage you to keep this file on your own disk, keeping an +electronic path open for the next readers. Do not remove this. + + +**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts** + +**Etexts Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971** + +*These Etexts Prepared By Hundreds of Volunteers and Donations* + +Information on contacting Project Gutenberg to get Etexts, and +further information is included below. We need your donations. + + +Robin Hood, by J. 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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 olden 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 1, and as well able to earn a supper. +So go your way, and I'll go mine. If you fast till you get aught +out of me, you'll go hungry 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 as 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. + +Thesemtidings came in due course to Robin Hood, under the +greenwood tree, and fired his impetuous spirit. + +"Come, prepare ye, my merry men all," quoth he, "and we'll go to +the Fair and take some part in this sport." + +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 Etext of Robin Hood by J. 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