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his purse； for I swear that neither butcher nor Sheriff shall
pay one penny for this feast。〃
〃Now thou art a right merry soul；〃 quoth the Sheriff； 〃and I wot thou
must have many a head of horned beasts and many an acre of land；
that thou dost spend thy money so freely。〃
〃Ay； that have I；〃 quoth Robin； laughing loudly again； 〃five hundred
and more horned beasts have I and my brothers； and none of them
have we been able to sell； else I might not have turned butcher。
As for my land； I have never asked my steward how many acres I have。〃
At this the Sheriff's eyes twinkled； and he chuckled to himself。
〃Nay； good youth；〃 quoth he； 〃if thou canst not sell thy cattle；
it may be I will find a man that will lift them from thy hands；
perhaps that man may be myself； for I love a merry youth and would
help such a one along the path of life。 Now how much dost thou
want for thy horned cattle？〃
〃Well；〃 quoth Robin； 〃they are worth at least five hundred pounds。〃
〃Nay；〃 answered the Sheriff slowly； and as if he were thinking within himself；
〃well do I love thee； and fain would I help thee along； but five hundred
pounds in money is a good round sum； besides I have it not by me。
Yet I will give thee three hundred pounds for them all； and that in good
hard silver and gold。〃
〃Now thou old miser！〃 quoth Robin； 〃well thou knowest that so many horned
cattle are worth seven hundred pounds and more； and even that is but small
for them； and yet thou； with thy gray hairs and one foot in the grave；
wouldst trade upon the folly of a wild youth。〃
At this the Sheriff looked grimly at Robin。 〃Nay；〃 quoth Robin；
〃look not on me as though thou hadst sour beer in thy mouth； man。
I will take thine offer； for I and my brothers do need the money。
We lead a merry life； and no one leads a merry life for a farthing；
so I will close the bargain with thee。 But mind that thou bringest
a good three hundred pounds with thee； for I trust not one that driveth
so shrewd a bargain。〃
〃I will bring the money；〃 said the Sheriff。 〃But what is
thy name； good youth？〃
〃Men call me Robert o' Locksley；〃 quoth bold Robin。
〃Then； good Robert o' Locksley；〃 quoth the Sheriff； 〃I will come this
day to see thy horned beasts。 But first my clerk shall draw up a paper
in which thou shalt be bound to the sale； for thou gettest not my money
without I get thy beasts in return。〃
Then Robin Hood laughed again。 〃So be it；〃 he said； smiting his palm
upon the Sheriff's hand。 〃Truly my brothers will be thankful to thee
for thy money。〃
Thus the bargain was closed； but many of the butchers talked among
themselves of the Sheriff； saying that it was but a scurvy trick
to beguile a poor spendthrift youth in this way。
The afternoon had come when the Sheriff mounted his horse and joined
Robin Hood； who stood outside the gateway of the paved court waiting
for him； for he had sold his horse and cart to a trader for two marks。
Then they set forth upon their way； the Sheriff riding upon his
horse and Robin running beside him。 Thus they left Nottingham Town
and traveled forward along the dusty highway； laughing and jesting
together as though they had been old friends。 But all the time
the Sheriff said within himself； 〃Thy jest to me of Robin Hood shall
cost thee dear； good fellow； even four hundred pounds； thou fool。〃
For he thought he would make at least that much by his bargain。
So they journeyed onward till they came within the verge of Sherwood Forest；
when presently the Sheriff looked up and down and to the right and
to the left of him； and then grew quiet and ceased his laughter。
〃Now；〃 quoth he； 〃may Heaven and its saints preserve us this day from
a rogue men call Robin Hood。〃
Then Robin laughed aloud。 〃Nay；〃 said he； 〃thou mayst set thy mind at rest；
for well do I know Robin Hood and well do I know that thou art in no more
danger from him this day than thou art from me。〃
At this the Sheriff looked askance at Robin； saying to himself；
〃I like not that thou seemest so well acquainted with this bold outlaw；
and I wish that I were well out of Sherwood Forest。〃
But still they traveled deeper into the forest shades； and the deeper
they went； the more quiet grew the Sheriff。 At last they came
to where the road took a sudden bend； and before them a herd of dun
deer went tripping across the path。 Then Robin Hood came close
to the Sheriff and pointing his finger； he said； 〃These are my
horned beasts； good Master Sheriff。 How dost thou like them？
Are they not fat and fair to see？〃
At this the Sheriff drew rein quickly。 〃Now fellow；〃 quoth he；
〃I would I were well out of this forest； for I like not thy company。
Go thou thine own path； good friend； and let me but go mine。〃
But Robin only laughed and caught the Sheriff's bridle rein。
〃Nay；〃 cried he； 〃stay awhile； for I would thou shouldst see
my brothers； who own these fair horned beasts with me。〃
So saying； he clapped his bugle to his mouth and winded three
merry notes； and presently up the path came leaping fivescore
good stout yeomen with Little John at their head。
〃What wouldst thou have； good master？〃 quoth Little John。
〃Why；〃 answered Robin； 〃dost thou not see that I have brought
goodly company to feast with us today？ Fye； for shame！
Do you not see our good and worshipful master； the Sheriff
of Nottingham？ Take thou his bridle； Little John； for he has
honored us today by coming to feast with us。〃
Then all doffed their hats humbly； without smiling or seeming to be in jest；
while Little John took the bridle rein and led the palfrey still deeper into
the forest； all marching in order； with Robin Hood walking beside the Sheriff；
hat in hand。
All this time the Sheriff said never a word but only looked
about him like one suddenly awakened from sleep； but when he found
himself going within the very depths of Sherwood his heart sank
within him； for he thought； 〃Surely my three hundred pounds
will be taken from me； even if they take not my life itself；
for I have plotted against their lives more than once。〃
But all seemed humble and meek and not a word was said of danger；
either to life or money。
So at last they came to that part of Sherwood Forest where a noble oak
spread its branches wide； and beneath it was a seat all made of moss；
on which Robin sat down； placing the Sheriff at his right hand。
〃Now busk ye； my merry men all；〃 quoth he； 〃and bring forth the best
we have； both of meat and wine； for his worship the Sheriff hath
feasted me in Nottingham Guild Hall today； and I would not have him
go back empty。〃
All this time nothing had been said of the Sheriff's money；
so presently he began to pluck up heart。 〃For；〃 said he to himself；
〃maybe Robin Hood hath forgotten all about it。〃
Then； while beyond in the forest bright fires crackled and savory
smells of sweetly roasting venison and fat capons filled the glade；
and brown pasties warmed beside the blaze； did Robin Hood
entertain the Sheriff right royally。 First； several couples
stood forth at quarterstaff； and so shrewd were they at the game；
and so quickly did they give stroke and parry； that the Sheriff；
who loved to watch all lusty sports