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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 upon the point）； 〃nay； truly； mayhap I have
more flesh upon my joints than I once had； yet； flesh or no flesh；
I doubt not that I could still hold my place and footing upon a narrow
bridge against e'er a yeoman in Sherwood； or Nottinghamshire；
for the matter of that； even though he had no more fat about his
bones than thou hast； good master。〃
At this reply a great shout of laughter went up； and all looked at Robin Hood；
for each man knew that Little John spake of a certain fight that happened
between their master and himself； through which they first became acquainted。
〃Nay；〃 quoth Robin Hood； laughing louder than all。 〃Heaven forbid
that I should doubt thee； for I care for no taste of thy staff myself；
Little John。 I must needs own that there are those of my band
can handle a seven…foot staff more deftly than I； yet no man
in all Nottinghamshire can draw gray goose shaft with my fingers。
Nevertheless； a journey to Ancaster may not be ill for thee；
so go thou； as I bid； and thou hadst best go this very evening；
for since thou hast abided at the Sheriff's many know thy face；
and if thou goest in broad daylight； thou mayst get thyself
into a coil with some of his worship's men…at…arms。 Bide thou
here till I bring thee money to pay our good Hugh。 I warrant
he hath no better customers in all Nottinghamshire than we。〃
So saying； Robin left them and entered the forest。
Not far from the trysting tree was a great rock in which a chamber had been
hewn； the entrance being barred by a massive oaken door two palms'…breadth
in thickness； studded about with spikes； and fastened with a great padlock。
This was the treasure house of the band； and thither Robin Hood went and；
unlocking the door； entered the chamber； from which he brought forth a bag
of gold which he gave to Little John； to pay Hugh Longshanks withal；
for the cloth of Lincoln green。
Then up got Little John； and； taking the bag of gold； which he
thrust into his bosom； he strapped a girdle about his loins；
took a stout pikestaff full seven feet long in his hand；
and set forth upon his journey。
So he strode whistling along the leafy forest path that led
to Fosse Way； turning neither to the right hand nor the left；
until at last he came to where the path branched； leading on
the one hand onward to Fosse Way； and on the other； as well
Little John knew； to the merry Blue Boar Inn。 Here Little John
suddenly ceased whistling and stopped in the middle of the path。
First he looked up and then he looked down； and then； tilting his
cap over one eye； he slowly scratched the back part of his head。
For thus it was： at the sight of these two roads； two voices
began to alarum within him； the one crying； 〃There lies the road
to the Blue Boar Inn； a can of brown October； and a merry night
with sweet companions such as thou mayst find there〃； the other；
〃There lies the way to Ancaster and the duty thou art sent upon。〃
Now the first of these two voices was far the louder；
for Little John had grown passing fond of good living through
abiding at the Sheriff's house； so； presently； looking up
into the blue sky； across which bright clouds were sailing
like silver boats； and swallows skimming in circling flight；
quoth he； 〃I fear me it will rain this evening； so I'll e'en stop
at the Blue Boar till it passes by； for I know my good master
would not have me wet to the skin。〃 So； without more ado；
off he strode down the path that lay the way of his likings。
Now there was no sign of any foul weather； but when one wishes
to do a thing； as Little John did； one finds no lack of reasons
for the doing。
Four merry wags were at the Blue Boar Inn； a butcher； a beggar；
and two barefoot friars。 Little John heard them singing from afar；
as he walked through the hush of the mellow twilight that was now falling
over hill and dale。 Right glad were they to welcome such a merry
blade as Little John。 Fresh cans of ale were brought； and with jest
and song and merry tales the hours slipped away on fleeting wings。
None thought of time or tide till the night was so far gone that Little John
put by the thought of setting forth upon his journey again that night；
and so bided at the Blue Boar Inn until the morrow。
Now it was an ill piece of luck for Little John that he left
his duty for his pleasure； and he paid a great score for it；
as we are all apt to do in the same case； as you shall see。
Up he rose at the dawn of the next day； and； taking his stout
pikestaff in his hand； he set forth upon his journey once more；
as though he would make up for lost time。
In the good town of Blyth there lived a stout tanner； celebrated far and near
for feats of strength and many tough bouts at wrestling and the quarterstaff。
For five years he had held the mid…country champion belt for wrestling；
till the great Adam o' Lincoln cast him in the ring and broke one of his ribs；
but at quarterstaff he had never yet met his match in all the country about。
Besides all this； he dearly loved