Robin Hood

ued, and, with themost perfect order, moving like one man, the regiments changed theirarray, forming up battalion upon b

rth! Have any of you a boon to ask of the king?"Men stood forward, and having saluted, one by one asked this thin

d, lifted his spear,and cried:--"A boon, King!""Wh

towards that woman; I no longer desire to take her towife, and I pray that you will order that she shall now be handed backto Hokosa her guardian.""You blow hot and cold with the same mouth, Hafela," said Umsuka, "andin love or war I do not like such men. What have you to say to thisdemand, Hokosa?"Now Hokosa stepped forward from where he stood at the head of thecompany of wizards. His dress, like that of h

Hokosa," answered Umsuka, "to leave this to me. Prince,you would not wish the fine that you should pay to be that of anycommon man. With the girl shall be handed over two hundred head ofcattle. More, I will do justice: unless she herself consents, sheshall not be put away. Let the Lady Noma be summoned."Now the face of Hafela grew sullen, and watching, Owen saw a swiftchange pass over that of Hokosa. Evidently he was not certain of thewoman. Presently there was a stir, and from the gates of the royalhouse the Lady Noma appeared, attended by women, and stood before theking. She was a tall and lovely girl, and the su

m here, O King," she said,

d be to-morrow.""It is true that the prince has honoured me thus, and that you havebeen pleased to approve of his choice," she said, lifting hereyebrows. "What of it, O King?""This, girl: the prince who was pleased to honour you

shall have it. Say but the word, and heto whom you were promised in marriage shall take you in marriage,whether he wills or wills it not."At this speech, the face of Hafela was suddenly lit up as with thefire of hope, while over that of H

ivers that is about to strikeits prey. To the careless eye there was nothing remarkable about hislook and attitude; to the observer it was evident that both were fullof extraordinary purpose. He was talking to the girl, not with words,but in some s

as you see, I have made my choice. I will not force myselfupon a man who scorns me, no, not even to share his place and power,though it is true that I love them both. Nay, I will return to Hokosamy guardian, and to his wife, Zinti, who has been as my mother, andwith them be at peace.""It is well," said the king, "and perhaps, girl, your choice is wise;perhaps your loss is not so great as you have thought. Hafela, ta

second son of the king, and one by one the great councillorsapproached, and, with appropriate words, let fall into it offeringsemblematic of fertility and increase. The first cast in a grain ofcorn; the second, a blade

e eyes were lightning, and whose voice was thunder, the spiritwhom they worshipped, might increase and multiply to them during thecoming ye

m that had been made red hot in thefire. Taking the spear, he stabbed with it towards the four quartersof the horizon; then, muttering some invocation, he plunged it intot

ela told Owen that it was there; for though he kept hisface under control, he could n

hadbeen prepared. As the last word left the king's lips, every one of thethirty thousand men present in that great place began to rattle hiskerry against the surface of his ox-hide shield. At first the s

untains around theechoes still crashed and volleyed. When the last of them had diedaway, the king brought the cup to the level of his lips. Owen saw, andknowing its contents, was almost mov

ch time more loudly than thelast. Then pouring the rest of the liquor on the ground, Umsuka setaside the cup, and in the midst of a silence that seemed deep afterthe crash of the great salute, he began to address the multitude:--"Hearken, Councillors and Captains, and you, my people, hearken. Asyou know,

he paused. While they still spoke, the veins in theking's neck were seen to swell sud