Robin Hood

was clothed

et fine

frisk it o'

ted a ro

m 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

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 a

aily, as though he owned the whole world and 'twas but made

g up on his elbow. "Let us lie still, and trus

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 h

t not so bad a build for all his prettiness. Look you, those calves and thighs are well rounded and straight. The arms, for all

ld run and bellow lustily at sight of a quarter-staff. Stay you behind this bush and I will soon get some rare sport

lked so slowly that he was scarce come to their resting-place; and now on beholding Robin he neither slackened nor quickened his pac

hat mean ye by running thus

said the stranger in a smooth voice, a

id you to,"

" asked the other as

ust 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

tly as though a lady wer

peech amuses me mightily. Pray continue, if you h

d under the collar. "Nathless, I have other arguments which may not be so pleasing to

that I cannot show my purse to every rough lout that asks to see it. But I really could not, a

will go the harder with you

patience? Now that is all I promised to do. My conscience is salved and I m

ling at this from behind the bushes. "Hold I say, else I shall have to bloo

have to run this fellow through with my sword! And I hoped to be a peaceable ma

th common oak cudgel; and that is what would happen on the first pass I made at you. G

r 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

d hardly restrain a long whistle. "By our Lady!" he mutt

th, he uttered not a word and budged not an inch. He onl

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 woo

attle 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 agai

f the bushes and seizing the st

le he was down. But if there be a whole nest of you hatching here by the w

low and a gentleman. I'll fight no more with you, for verily I feel

irt, one of his hosen had slipped halfway down from his knee, the sleeve of his jerkin

rt you were to kick up has left you in sor

ng that all men are but dust, for it has sifted me through and through and lined my gullet an in

ing Robin attentively and listening to h

y at last, "you are that famous o

"but my fame has been tumbling

have happened, for I came abroad to find you to-day, and thought to have remembered

about the other in sheer affection. "What an ass I was not to recognize you! But it h

his cousin no

ou have changed and strengthened much from the stripli

utlaw and dangerous company. And how left you mine uncl

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 earsho

e you come tripping along decked out in all your gay plumage and trolling forth a roundelay, one would think you had no

the Great? Shake hands with me, an you will, and promise me to

artily. "Here's my hand on it. What

hang for all of us. Let me bethink myself. Ah!-I have it! In scarlet he came to u

ey all clasped hands again and swore to be true each t