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therefore deemed it fitting to take my departure； which they would fain
have prohibited。 I was enforced to clear the way with my staff。 I have
grievously beaten my dearly beloved brethren： I grieve thereat； but they
enforced me thereto。 I have beaten them much； I mowed them down to
the right and to the left； and left them like an ill…reaped field of wheat； ear
and straw pointing all ways； scattered in singleness and jumbled in masses；
and so bade them farewell； saying； Peace be with you。 But I must not tarry；
lest danger be in my rear： therefore； farewell； sweet Matilda； and
farewell； noble baron； and farewell； sweet Matilda again； the alpha and
omega of father Michael； the first and the last。〃
〃Farewell； father；〃 said the baron； a little softened； 〃and God send you
be never assailed by more than fifty men at a time。〃
〃Amen；〃 said the friar； 〃to that good wish。〃
〃And we shall meet again； father； I trust；〃 said Matilda。
〃When the storm is blown over；〃 said the baron。
〃Doubt it not；〃 said the friar； 〃though flooded Trent were between us；
and fifty devils guarded the bridge。〃
He kissed Matilda's forehead； and walked away without a song。
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CHAPTER VIII
Let gallows gape for dog： let man go free。 Henry V。
A page had been brought up in Gamwell…Hall； who； while he was
little； had been called Little John； and continued to be so called after he
had grown to be a foot taller than any other man in the house。 He was full
seven feet high。 His latitude was worthy of his longitude； and his
strength was worthy of both； and though an honest man by profession； he
had practiced archery on the king's deer for the benefit of his master's
household； and for the improvement of his own eye and hand； till his aim
had become infallible within the range of two miles。 He had fought
manfully in defence of his young master； took his captivity exceedingly to
heart； and fell into bitter grief and boundless rage when he heard that he
had been tried in Nottingham and sentenced to die。 Alice Gamwell； at
Little John's request； wrote three letters of one tenour； and Little John；
having attached them to three blunt arrows； saddled the fleetest steed in
old Sir Guy of Gamwell's stables； mounted； and rode first to Arlingford
Castle； where he shot one of the three arrows over the battlements； then to
Rubygill Abbey； where he shot the second into the abbey…garden； then
back past Gamwell…Hall to the borders of Sherwood Forest； where he shot
the third into the wood。 Now the first of these arrows lighted in the nape
of the neck of Lord Fitzwater； and lodged itself firmly between his skin
and his collar； the second rebounded with the hollow vibration of a
drumstick from the shaven sconce of the abbot of Rubygill； and the third
pitched perpendicularly into the centre of a venison pasty in which Robin
Hood was making incision。
Matilda ran up to her father in the court of Arlingford Castle； seized
the arrow； drew off the letter； and concealed it in her bosom before the
baron had time to look round； which he did with many expressions of rage
against the impudent villain who had shot a blunt arrow into the nape of
his neck。
〃But you know； father；〃 said Matilda； 〃a sharp arrow in the same place
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would have killed you； therefore the sending a blunt one was very
considerate。〃
〃Considerate； with a vengeance！〃 said the baron。 〃Where was the
consideration of sending it at all？ This is some of your forester's pranks。
He has missed you in the forest； since I have kept watch and ward over
you； and by way of a love…token and a remembrance to you takes a
random shot at me。〃
The abbot of Rubygill picked up the missile…missive or messenger
arrow； which had rebounded from his shaven crown； with a very unghostly
malediction on the sender； which he suddenly checked with a pious and
consolatory reflection on the goodness of Providence in having blessed
him with such a thickness of skull； to which he was now indebted for
temporal preservation； as he had before been for spiritual promotion。 He
opened the letter； which was addressed to father Michael； and found it to
contain an intimation that William Gamwell was to be hanged on Monday
at Nottingham。
〃And I wish；〃 said the abbot； 〃father Michael were to be hanged with
him： an ungrateful monster； after I had rescued him from the fangs of civil
justice； to reward my lenity by not leaving a bone unbruised among the
holy brotherhood of Rubygill。〃
Robin Hood extracted from his venison pasty a similar intimation of
the evil destiny of his cousin； whom he determined； if possible； to rescue
from the jaws of Cerberus。
The sheriff of Nottingham； though still sore with his bruises； was so
intent on revenge； that he raised himself from his bed to attend the
execution of William Gamwell。 He rode to the august structure of
retributive Themis； as the French call a gallows； in all the pride and pomp
of shrievalty； and with a splendid retinue of well…equipped knaves and
varlets； as our ancestors called honest serving…men。
Young Gamwell was brought forth with his arms pinioned behind him；
his sister Alice and his father； Sir Guy； attending him in disconsolate mood。
He had rejected the confessor provided by the sheriff； and had insisted on
the privilege of choosing his own； whom Little John had promised to bring。
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Little John； however； had not made his appearance when the fatal
procession began its march； but when they reached the place of execution；
Little John appeared； accompanied by a ghostly friar。
〃Sheriff；〃 said young Gamwell； 〃let me not die with my hands
pinioned： give me a sword； and set any odds of your men against me； and
le