Robin Hood

hearken,

f free-bo

tell of a

was Rob

s a prou

walked on

an outlaw a

r none e

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 ch

en 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 ev

bbey. 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, althou

rwood; 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

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

nths 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 ano

ned 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 les

"I have news for you, Rob, my lad!" and the hearty old Squire finis

Uncle Gamewell?"

ment. The best fellows are to have places with the King's Foresters, and the one who shoots straightest of all will win for prize a golden arrow-a

id. "I should dearly love to let arrow fly alongside another man. And a pl

make a clerk of you; but well I see that the greenwood is where you will pass your days

rations for the journey. He traveled lightly; but his yew bow must needs have a

r 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 sudd

d 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, bell

sally. Rob flushed, for he was

and my shafts will carry as straight and as

dly at this, and the l

here's twenty silver pennies for you. But if you hit it

n a fine rage. "I'll lay my head ag

Forester angrily, "your head for your

istant full fivescore yards. They were King's deer, but at that di

eed a shaft for half that d

nty pennies I'll cause yon fine fellow

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

Foresters, and then a growl of rage. H

deer, and by the laws of King Harry your head remains forfeit. Talk not to me

ech. "I have looked upon your face once too often alread

urned upon his hee

t 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 arro

traight as I, for all your bravado

d Rob's father, but the son was outlawed. Forward he ran through the forest, before the band could gather their scattered wit

st. 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

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

ther?" cried Rob. "By my

saw that there was no other way, she said: "My sons will

heart. And when they found that his mood was with them, they made him swear an oath of fea

hand. So we have agreed that he who has skill enough to go to Notti

to that self-same Fair, and all the Foresters, and all the Sheriff's men

straight and his eye flashed with such fire tha

in the golden arrow you shall be ch

go to Nottingham town; for he knew that the Foresters h

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

talk about, that the reward was forgotten for the nonce, and only the Foresters and Sheriff's men watched the gates with d

gar-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 lik

e and with one eye hid by a green bandage. Him also the crowd jeered, but he

there in eager expectancy. The central box contained the lean but pompous Sheriff, his bejeweled wife, and their daughter, a supercilious

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 o

aced 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

string, while the crowd smiled and whispered at the odd figure he cut, with hi

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

this even marksmanship. The trumpet sounded ag

ed to win. Indeed 'twas whispered that each was backed by one of the three dignitaries of the day. The fourth and fifth archer

y of the others. But it was not so near that "Blinder," as the mob had promptly christened his neighbor, did not place his

to keep the pace. They missed one after another and dropped moodily back, while th

d Rob's queer comrade to him in the interval allowed f

ully 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

maid, that," he said smilingly, "and one more worth

ly, and saw naught but

ow and I like you well

ardly larger than the inner ring had looked, at the first trial. The first three sped th

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 t

d the fickle mob, who from jeering him were now

l 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

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

ned Rob to the Sheriff's

the Sheriff, biting his lip coldly; "y

r and was list

Stroller, my Lord She

ned back a

skin and clothes you would not be so bad a man," said t

r been a free man, my Lor

for the sake of his daughter an

ich has been offered to the best of archers this day. You

heriff's daughter, who sat with a thin smile upon her lips. But Rob heeded

ledge from a poor stroller who would devote

ish twinkle in her eye; and she placed the gleaming arrow in

s, and snubbed his daughter. He would have spoken, but his proud daughter restrained him. He called to his guard and bade t

in Lincoln green-sat round a fire roasting venison and making merry. Sudde

sons," a clear voice s

three men st

od Forest, Rob!" And all the men came and

's sons, Stout Will,

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

d gave

t news bring you from No

own pleasure, and won his golden arrow to boot. But as to the p

I'll gladly join your band, and you take me, as a common arche

b recognized him as the man with the green blinder; only this was

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,

her members every one, right gladly; because Will Stutely had heretofore been the truest bow in all the company. And they toasted him

e, 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

w Robin Hood b