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Though Little John was vexed with this； he strove to pass it off with a jest。 〃Nay； good master；〃 quoth he； 〃if thou thinkest the Sheriff gave us not the plate； I will fetch him； that he may tell us with his own lips he giveth it all to us。〃 So saying he leaped to his feet； and was gone before Robin could call him back。
Little John ran for full five miles till he came to where the Sheriff of Nottingham and a gay company were hunting near the forest。 When Little John came to the Sheriff he doffed his cap and bent his knee。 〃God save thee； good master；〃 quoth he。
〃Why； Reynold Greenleaf！〃 cried the Sheriff； 〃whence comest thou and where hast thou been？〃
〃I have been in the forest；〃 answered Little John； speaking amazedly； 〃and there I saw a sight such as ne'er before man's eyes beheld！ Yonder I saw a young hart all in green from top to toe； and about him was a herd of threescore deer； and they； too； were all of green from head to foot。 Yet I dared not shoot； good master； for fear lest they should slay me。〃
〃Why； how now； Reynold Greenleaf；〃 cried the Sheriff； 〃art thou dreaming or art thou mad； that thou dost bring me such； a tale？〃
〃Nay； I am not dreaming nor am I mad；〃 said Little John； 〃and if thou wilt come with me； I will show thee this fair sight； for I have seen it with mine own eyes。 But thou must come alone； good master； lest the others frighten them and they get away。〃
So the party all rode forward； and Little John led them downward into the forest。
〃Now； good master；〃 quoth he at last； 〃we are nigh where I saw this herd。〃
Then the Sheriff descended from his horse and bade them wait for him until he should return； and Little John led him forward through a close copse until suddenly they came to a great open glade； at the end of which Robin Hood sat beneath the shade of the great oak tree； with his merry men all about him。 〃See； good Master Sheriff；〃 quoth Little John； 〃yonder is the hart of which I spake to thee。〃
At this the Sheriff turned to Little John and said bitterly； 〃Long ago I thought I remembered thy face； but now I know thee。 Woe betide thee； Little John； for thou hast betrayed me this day。〃
In the meantime Robin Hood had come to them。 〃Now welcome； Master Sheriff；〃 said he。 〃Hast thou come today to take another feast with me？〃
〃Nay； Heaven forbid！〃 said the Sheriff in tones of deep earnest。 〃I care for no feast and have no hunger today。〃
〃Nevertheless；〃 quoth Robin； 〃if thou hast no hunger； maybe thou hast thirst； and well I know thou wilt take a cup of sack with me。 But I am grieved that thou wilt not feast with me； for thou couldst have victuals to thy liking； for there stands thy Cook。〃
Then he led the Sheriff； willy…nilly； to the seat he knew so well beneath the greenwood tree。
〃Ho； lads！〃 cried Robin； 〃fill our good friend the Sheriff a right brimming cup of sack and fetch it hither； for he is faint and weary。〃
Then one of the band brought the Sheriff a cup of sack； bowing low as he handed it to him； but the Sheriff could not touch the wine； for he saw it served in one of his own silver flagons； on one of his own silver plates。
〃How now；〃 quoth Robin； 〃dost thou not like our new silver service？ We have gotten a bag of it this day。〃 So saying； he held up the sack of silver that Little John and the Cook had brought with them。
Then the Sheriff's heart was bitter within him； but； not daring to say anything； he only gazed upon the ground。 Robin looked keenly at him for a time before he spoke again。 Then said he； 〃Now； Master Sheriff； the last time thou camest to Sherwood Forest thou didst come seeking to despoil a poor spendthrift； and thou wert despoiled thine own self； but now thou comest seeking to do no harm； nor do I know that thou hast despoiled any man。 I take my tithes from fat priests and lordly squires； to help those that they despoil and to raise up those that they bow down； but I know not that thou hast tenants of thine own whom thou hast wronged in any way。 Therefore； take thou thine own again； nor will I dispossess thee today of so much as one farthing。 Come with me； and I will lead thee from the forest back to thine own party again。〃
Then； slinging the bag upon his shoulder； he turned away； the Sheriff following him； all too perplexed in mind to speak。 So they went forward until they came to within a furlong of the spot where the Sheriff's companions were waiting for him。 Then Robin Hood gave the sack of silver back to the Sheriff。 〃Take thou thine own again；〃 he said； 〃and hearken to me； good Sheriff； take thou a piece of advice with it。 Try thy servants well ere thou dost engage them again so readily。〃 Then； turning； he left the other standing bewildered； with the sack in his hands。
The company that waited for the Sheriff were all amazed to see him come out of the forest bearing a heavy sack upon his shoulders； but though they questioned him； he answered never a word； acting like one who walks in a dream。 Without a word； he placed the bag across his nag's back and then； mounting； rode away； all following him； but all the time there was a great turmoil of thoughts within his head； tumbling one over the other。 And thus ends the merry tale of Little John and how he entered the Sheriff's service。
Little John and the Tanner of Blyth
ONE FINE DAY； not long after Little John had left abiding with the Sheriff and had come back； with his worship's cook； to the merry greenwood； as has just been told； Robin Hood and a few chosen fellows of his band lay upon the soft sward beneath the greenwood tree where they dwelled。 The day was warm and sultry； so that while most of the band were scattered through the forest upon this mission and upon that； these few stout fellows lay lazily beneath the shade of the tree； in the soft afternoon； passing jests among themselves and telling merry stories； with laughter and mirth。
All the air was laden with the bitter fragrance of the May； and all the bosky shades of the woodlands beyond rang with the sweet song of birdsthe throstle cock； the cuckoo； and the wood pigeon and with the song of birds mingled the cool sound of the gurgling brook that leaped out of the forest shades； and ran fretting amid its rough； gray stones across the sunlit open glade before the trysting tree。 And a fair sight was that halfscore of tall； stout yeomen； all clad in Lincoln green； lying beneath the broad…spreading branches of the great oak tree； amid the quivering leaves of which the sunlight shivered and fell in dancing patches upon the grass。
Suddenly Robin Hood smote his knee。
〃By Saint Dunstan；〃 quoth he； 〃I had nigh forgot that quarter…day cometh on apace； and yet no cloth of Lincoln green in all our store。 It must be looked to； and that in quick season。 Come； busk thee； Little John！ Stir those lazy bones of thine； for thou must get thee straightway to our good gossip； the draper Hugh Longshanks of Ancaster。 Bid him send us straightway twentyscore yards of fair cloth of Lincoln green； and mayhap the journey may take some of the fat from off thy bones； that thou hast gotten from lazy living at our dear Sheriff's。〃
〃Nay；〃 muttered Little John （for he had heard so much upon this score that he was sore up