Robin Hood

been described, an ox-waggon might have been seen outspanned on theh

r-hewn, pierced the range, and looking onit, Owen knew it for the gorge of his dream. Night and day the mouthof it was guarded by a company of armed soldiers, whose huts werebuilt high on outlook places in the mountains, whenc

such speedas would bring him there in time for him to behold the last ceremonyof the feast of first-fruits; but, for the present,

all the wild finery of their regiment. Owen descendedfrom the waggon and came to meet them, and so for a few moments theyremained, face to face, in silence. A strange contrast they presentedas they stood there; the

med, White Man?"

eace of the king be with you, Messenge

ou, Chief," answered Owen, ho

od?" asked

, for the way is rough; but yourwaggon, your oxen, and your servants, save this man only who is of theChildren of Fire, must stay here in my keeping. Fear not, Messenger, Iwill hold them safe.""I do not fear, Chief, there is honour in your

u still afrai

n, praying for mercy that doesnot come, and from its boughs there hangs fruit, a fruit of dead men--yes, twenty of them hang there this day.""How know you these things, my father," asked the man amazed, "seeingthat I have never spoken to you of them?""Nay," he answered, "God has spoken

p to that tree," Ow

seek of their own will, and, because I like youwell, Messenger, I pray it may never be my duty to lead you there ofthe king's will."Then Owen went up to the tr

he breath of the tree is

creeper that twined about it, he pressedtheir milky juice into a little bottle that he had ma

anches he halted, and removed

e Tree of Life for allthe children of your people. Look! there above you is its sign andpromise."John lifted his eyes, following the line of Owen's outstretched hand,and saw this. High

ore proper and exact. It was verystrange to find this symbol of the Christian hope towering above

journey. At length, passing beneath a natural arch ofrock, they were out of the Valley of

ence, and the fence of the town itself wasabout four miles in circumference. Within the fence and following itscurve, for it was round, stood thousands of dome-shaped huts carefullyset out in streets. Within these again was a

king to announce the adventof the white man. Of this pause Owen took advantage to array himselfin the surplice a

er?" asked the leader o

lf in my war-dre

ere," said Owen, presenting to his eyes a

of the family of wizards,"

onderful sight,such a sight as few white men have seen. The ground of the enormousoval before him was not flat. Either from natural accident or bydesign it sloped gently upwards, so that the

t one of which was less than 2500 strong. At thismoment the regiments were massed in deep lines, each battalion byitself, on either side of the broad roadway t

a white spot at the foot of theslope, countless heads turned and myriads of eyes fastened themselvesupon him. For an instant he was dismayed; there was somethingterrifying in this numberless multitude of warriors, and the thoughtof the task tha

foundhimself standing before a thickset old man, who was cl

ng," whispered

u," said Owen, br

amed Messenger, and mymission is to deliver to you the saying of God, my King and--yours."At these words a gasp of astonishment went up from those who stoodwithin hearing, expecting as they did to see them rewarded by instantdeath. But Umsuka only said:--"'My King and yours'? Bold words,

t that laugh never left them; a sudden impulse, amysterious wave of feeling choked it in their throats. A sense of thestrangeness of the contrast between thems

ught in their hearts, and wha

ads ready? Ho,you, loose the bull!"At the command a line of soldiers moved from the right, forming itselfup in front of the king and his attendants, revealing a number ofyouths, of from sixteen to seventeen years of age, armed with sticksonly, who stood in companies outside a massive gate. Presently thisgate was opened, and thr

llowed by a second and athird. Now the animal was through the throng and carrying a poor boyon its horn, whence

ied, thebrute headed back straight up the lane where the main body of theyouths were waiting for it. Now it was among them, and, reckless ofwounds or death, they swarmed about it like bees, seizi

are killed

e dead be buried, thehurt tended, or, if their harms are hopeless, slain, and to the restgive a double ration of beer. Ho, now, fall back, men, and make aspace for the

ments, known as theBees and the Wasps respectively

on the Bees; who wagers on

ed the Prince Hafel

ightto back them, they are your own regiment. Ah! they are at it."B

n all, had come together,and the roar of their

sucheffect that soon hundreds of them were down dead or with shatteredskulls and bruised limbs. Fiercely they fought, while the whole

ast. At length the end came; the Bees began to give, theyfell back ever more quickly till their retreat was a rout, and,leaving many stretched upo

somewhat heavy, quiet fa

y returned,bringing with them a man of magnificent appearance and middle age,whose left arm had been broken by a blow from a kerr

y?" asked the king, in

the king. "Let all the wounded among thembe carried away; and for you, captain, who turn my soldiers intocowards, you shall die a dog's death, hanging to-morrow on the Tree ofDoom. As for you

n the past; I ask that it maybe presently a

, in the name of Him I serve, I conjure you to spare this man andthose others that are hurt, who have done no crime except to be drivenback by soldiers stronger than themselves.""Messenger," answered the king, "I bear with you because you areignorant. Know that, according to

ke you.""Do you threaten me, Messenger? Well, we will see. Let him be killed,I say."Then the man was led away;