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said the stranger。
〃Then； by Our Lady； Jock； thou art the fairest archer that e'er mine
eyes beheld； and if thou wilt join my service I will clothe thee with a
better coat than that thou hast upon thy back； thou shalt eat and drink
of the best； and at every Christmastide fourscore marks shall be thy wage。
I trow thou drawest better bow than that same coward knave Robin Hood；
that dared not show his face here this day。 Say； good fellow； wilt thou
join my service？〃
〃Nay； that will I not；〃 quoth the stranger roughly。
〃I will be mine own； and no man in all merry England shall
be my master。〃
〃Then get thee gone； and a murrain seize thee！〃 cried the Sheriff；
and his voice trembled with anger。 〃And by my faith and troth；
I have a good part of a mind to have thee beaten for thine insolence！〃
Then he turned upon his heel and strode away。
It was a right motley company that gathered about the noble
greenwood tree in Sherwood's depths that same day。
A score and more of barefoot friars were there； and some that
looked like tinkers； and some that seemed to be sturdy beggars
and rustic hinds； and seated upon a mossy couch was one all clad
in tattered scarlet； with a patch over one eye； and in his
hand he held the golden arrow that was the prize of the great
shooting match。 Then； amidst a noise of talking and laughter；
he took the patch from off his eye and stripped away the scarlet
rags from off his body and showed himself all clothed in fair
Lincoln green； and quoth he； 〃Easy come these things away；
but walnut stain cometh not so speedily from yellow hair。〃
Then all laughed louder than before； for it was Robin Hood
himself that had won the prize from the Sheriff's very hands。
Then all sat down to the woodland feast and talked among themselves
of the merry jest that had been played upon the Sheriff； and of the
adventures that had befallen each member of the band in his disguise。
But when the feast was done； Robin Hood took Little John apart and said；
〃Truly am I vexed in my blood； for I heard the Sheriff say today；
‘Thou shootest better than that coward knave Robin Hood； that dared
not show his face here this day。' I would fain let him know who it
was who won the golden arrow from out his hand； and also that I am
no coward such as he takes me to be。〃
Then Little John said； 〃Good master； take thou me and Will Stutely；
and we will send yon fat Sheriff news of all this by a messenger
such as he doth not expect。〃
That day the Sheriff sat at meat in the great hall of his
house at Nottingham Town。 Long tables stood down the hall；
at which sat men…at…arms and household servants and good stout
villains；＇1＇ in all fourscore and more。 There they talked of
the day's shooting as they ate their meat and quaffed their ale。
The Sheriff sat at the head of the table upon a raised seat
under a canopy； and beside him sat his dame。
＇1＇ Bond…servants。
〃By my troth；〃 said he； 〃I did reckon full roundly that that knave Robin Hood
would be at the game today。 I did not think that he was such a coward。
But who could that saucy knave be who answered me to my beard so bravely？
I wonder that I did not have him beaten； but there was something about him
that spoke of other things than rags and tatters。〃
Then； even as he finished speaking； something fell rattling among
the dishes on the table； while those that sat near started up wondering
what it might be。 After a while one of the men…at…arms gathered courage
enough to pick it up and bring it to the Sheriff。 Then everyone
saw that it was a blunted gray goose shaft； with a fine scroll；
about the thickness of a goose quill； tied near to its head。
The Sheriff opened the scroll and glanced at it； while the veins upon
his forehead swelled and his cheeks grew ruddy with rage as he read；
for this was what he saw：
〃_Now Heaven bless Thy Grace this day
Say all in sweet Sherwood
For thou didst give the prize away
To merry Robin Hood_。〃
〃Whence came this？〃 cried the Sheriff in a mighty voice。
〃Even through the window； Your Worship；〃 quoth the man who had handed
the shaft to him。
Will Stutely Rescued by His Companions
NOW WHEN THE SHERIFF found that neither law nor guile could overcome
Robin Hood； he was much perplexed； and said to himself； 〃Fool that I am！
Had I not told our King of Robin Hood； I would not have gotten myself
into such a coil； but now I must either take him captive or have wrath
visited upon my head from his most gracious Majesty。 I have tried law；
and I have tried guile； and I have failed in both； so I will try what may
be done with might。〃
Thus communing within himself； he called his constables together and told
them what was in his mind。 〃Now take ye each four men； all armed in proof；〃
said he； 〃and get ye gone to the forest； at different points； and lie
in wait for this same Robin Hood。 But if any constable finds too many men
against him； let him sound a horn； and then let each band within hearing
come with all speed and join the party that calls them。 Thus； I think；
shall we take this green…clad knave。 Furthermore； to him that first meeteth
with Robin Hood shall one hundred pounds of silver money be given； if he be
brought to me dead or alive； and to him that meeteth with any of his band
shall twoscore pounds be given； if such be brought to me dead or alive。
So； be ye bold and be ye crafty。〃
So thus they went in threescore companies of five to Sherwood Forest；
to take Robin Hood； each constable wishing that he might be
the one to find the bold outlaw； or at least one of his band。
For seven days and nights they hunted through the forest glades；
but never saw so much as a single man in Lincoln green； for tidings
of all this had been brought to Robin Hood by trusty Eadom o'
the Blue Boar。
When he first heard the news； Robin said； 〃If the Sheriff dare send force
to meet force； woe will it be for him and many a better man besides；
for blood will flow and there will be great trouble for all。
But fain would I shun blood and battle； and fain would I not deal sorrow
to womenfolk and wives because good stout yeomen lose their lives。
Once I slew a man； and never do I wish to slay a man again；
for it is bitter for the soul to think thereon。 So now we will
abide silently in Sherwood Forest； so that it may be well for all；
but should we be forced to defend ourselves； or any of our band；
then let each man draw bow and brand with might and main。〃
At this speech many of the band shook their heads； and said to themselves；
〃Now the Sheriff will think that we are cowards； and folk will scoff
throughout the countryside； saying that we fear to meet these men。〃
But they said nothing aloud； swallowing their words and doing as
Robin bade them。
Thus they hid in the depths of Sherwood Forest for seven days and seven
nights and never showed their faces abroad in all that time； but early in
the morning of the eighth day Robin Hood called the band together and said；
〃Now who will go and find what the Sheriff's men are at by this time？
For I know right well they will not bide forever within Sherwood shades。〃
At this a great shout arose； and each m