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Hood？〃 At these words the Sheriff shaded his eyes and looked eagerly。 〃Why； certes；〃 quoth he； 〃yon fellow is the same。 Now； Heaven send that he hath slain the master thief； as we will presently slay the man！〃
When Little John heard this speech he looked up； and straightway his heart crumbled away within him； for not only were the man's garments all covered with blood； but he wore Robin Hood's bugle horn and carried his bow and broadsword。
〃How now！〃 cried the Sheriff； when Robin Hood； in Guy of Gisbourne's clothes； had come nigh to them。 〃What luck hath befallen thee in the forest？ Why； man； thy clothes are all over blood！〃
〃An thou likest not my clothes；〃 said Robin in a harsh voice like that of Guy of Gisbourne； 〃thou mayst shut thine eyes。 Marry； the blood upon me is that of the vilest outlaw that ever trod the woodlands； and one whom I have slain this day； albeit not without wound to myself。〃
Then out spake Little John； for the first time since he had fallen into the Sheriff's hands。 〃O thou vile； bloody wretch！ I know thee； Guy of Gisbourne； for who is there that hath not heard of thee and cursed thee for thy vile deeds of blood and rapine？ Is it by such a hand as thine that the gentlest heart that ever beat is stilled in death？ Truly； thou art a fit tool for this coward Sheriff of Nottingham。 Now I die joyfully； nor do I care how I die； for life is nought to me！〃 So spake Little John； the salt tears rolling down his brown cheeks。
But the Sheriff of Nottingham clapped his hands for joy。 〃Now； Guy of Gisbourne；〃 cried he； 〃if what thou tellest me is true； it will be the best day's doings for thee that ever thou hast done in all thy life。〃
〃What I have told thee is sooth； and I lie not；〃 said Robin； still in Guy of Gisbourne's voice。 〃Look； is not this Robin Hood's sword； and is not this his good bow of yew； and is not this his bugle horn？ Thinkest thou he would have given them to Guy of Gisbourne of his own free will？〃
Then the Sheriff laughed aloud for joy。 〃This is a good day！〃 cried he。 〃The great outlaw dead and his right…hand man in my hands！ Ask what thou wilt of me； Guy of Gisbourne； and it is thine！〃
〃Then this I ask of thee；〃 said Robin。 〃As I have slain the master I would now kill the man。 Give this fellow's life into my hands； Sir Sheriff。〃
〃Now thou art a fool！〃 cried the Sheriff。 〃Thou mightst have had money enough for a knight's ransom if thou hadst asked for it。 I like ill to let this fellow pass from my hands； but as I have promised； thou shalt have him。〃
〃I thank thee right heartily for thy gift；〃 cried Robin。 〃Take the rogue down from the horse； men； and lean him against yonder tree； while I show you how we stick a porker whence I come！〃
At these words some of the Sheriff's men shook their heads； for； though they cared not a whit whether Little John were hanged or not； they hated to see him butchered in cold blood。 But the Sheriff called to them in a loud voice； ordering them to take the yeoman down from the horse and lean him against the tree； as the other bade。
While they were doing this Robin Hood strung both his bow and that of Guy of Gisbourne； albeit none of them took notice of his doing so。 Then； when Little John stood against the tree； he drew Guy of Gisbourne's sharp； double…edged dagger。 〃Fall back！ fall back！〃 cried he。 〃Would ye crowd so on my pleasure； ye unmannerly knaves？ Back； I say！ Farther yet！〃 So they crowded back； as he ordered； many of them turning their faces away； that they might not see what was about to happen。
〃Come！〃 cried Little John。 〃Here is my breast。 It is meet that the same hand that slew my dear master should butcher me also！ I know thee； Guy of Gisbourne！〃
〃Peace； Little John！〃 said Robin in a low voice。 〃Twice thou hast said thou knowest me； and yet thou knowest me not at all。 Couldst thou not tell me beneath this wild beast's hide？ Yonder； just in front of thee； lie my bow and arrows； likewise my broadsword。 Take them when I cut thy bonds。 Now！ Get them quickly！〃 So saying； he cut the bonds； and Little John； quick as a wink； leaped forward and caught up the bow and arrows and the broadsword。 At the same time Robin Hood threw back the cowl of horse's hide from his face and bent Guy of Gisbourne's bow； with a keen； barbed arrow fitted to the string。 〃Stand back！〃 cried he sternly。 〃The first man that toucheth finger to bowstring dieth！ I have slain thy man； Sheriff； take heed that it is not thy turn next。〃 Then； seeing that Little John had armed himself； he clapped his bugle horn to his lips and blew three blasts both loud and shrill。
Now when the Sheriff of Nottingham saw whose face it was beneath Guy of Gisbourne's hood； and when he heard those bugle notes ring in his ear； he felt as if his hour had come。 〃Robin Hood！〃 roared he； and without another word he wheeled his horse in the road and went off in a cloud of dust。 The Sheriff's men； seeing their master thus fleeing for his life； thought that it was not their business to tarry longer； so； clapping spurs to their horses； they also dashed away after him。 But though the Sheriff of Nottingham went fast； he could not outstrip a clothyard arrow。 Little John twanged his bowstring with a shout； and when the Sheriff dashed in through the gates of Nottingham Town at full speed； a gray goose shaft stuck out behind him like a moulting sparrow with one feather in its tail。 For a month afterward the poor Sheriff could sit upon nought but the softest cushions that could be gotten for him。
Thus the Sheriff and a score of men ran away from Robin Hood and Little John； so that when Will Stutely and a dozen or more of stout yeomen burst from out the covert； they saw nought of their master's enemies； for the Sheriff and his men were scurrying away in the distance； hidden within a cloud of dust like a little thunderstorm。
Then they all went back into the forest once more； where they found the widow's three sons； who ran to Little John and kissed his hands。 But it would not do for them to roam the forest at large any more； so they promised that； after they had gone and told their mother of their escape； they would come that night to the greenwood tree； and thenceforth become men of the band。
King Richard Comes to Sherwood Forest
NOT MORE than two months had passed and gone since these stirring adventures befell Robin Hood and Little John； when all Nottinghamshire was a mighty stir and tumult； for King Richard of the Lion's Heart was making a royal progress through merry England； and everyone expected him to come to Nottingham Town in his journeying。 Messengers went riding back and forth between the Sheriff and the King； until at last the time was fixed upon when His Majesty was to stop in Nottingham； as the guest of his worship。
And now came more bustle than ever； a great running hither and thither； a rapping of hammers and a babble of voices sounded everywhere through the place； for the folk were building great arches across the streets； beneath which the King was to pass； and were draping these arches with silken banners and streamers of many colors。 Great hubbub was going on in the Guild Hall of the town； also； for here a grand banquet was to be given to the King and the nobles of his train； and the best master carpenters were busy building a throne where the King and the Sheriff were to sit at the head of the table； side by side。
It seemed to many of the good folk of the place as if the day that should bring the King into the town would never come； but all the same it did come in its own season； and bright shone the sun down into the stony streets； which were all alive with a restless sea of people。 On either side of the way great crowds of town and country folk stood packed as close together as dried herring in a box； so that the Sheriffs men； halberds in hands； could hardly press them back to leave space for the King's riding。
〃Take care whom thou pushest against！〃 cried a great； burly friar to one of these men。 〃Wouldst thou dig thine elbows into me； sirrah？ By'r Lady of the Fountain； an thou dost not treat me with more deference I will crack thy knave's pate for thee； even though thou be one of the mighty Sheriff's men。〃
At this a gre