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〃Yes； thanks to thee； Robin；〃 said the Knight； laying his hand upon
the yeoman's shoulder。 〃But for thee I would have been wandering in
misery in a far country by this time。 But I have kept my word； Robin；
and have brought back the money that thou didst lend me； and which I
have doubled four times over again； and so become rich once more。
Along with this money I have brought a little gift to thee and thy
brave men from my dear lady and myself。〃 Then； turning to his men；
he called aloud； 〃Bring forth the pack horses。〃
But Robin stopped him。 〃Nay； Sir Richard；〃 said he； 〃think it not bold
of me to cross thy bidding； but we of Sherwood do no business till after
we have eaten and drunk。〃 Whereupon； taking Sir Richard by the hand；
he led him to the seat beneath the greenwood tree； while others
of the chief men of the band came and seated themselves around。
Then quoth Robin； 〃How cometh it that I saw young David of Doncaster
with thee and thy men； Sir Knight？〃
Then straightway the Knight told all about his stay at Denby
and of the happening at the fair； and how it was like to go
hard with young David； so he told his tale； and quoth he；
〃It was this； good Robin； that kept me so late on the way；
otherwise I would have been here an hour agone。〃
Then； when he had done speaking； Robin stretched out his hand
and grasped the Knight's palm。 Quoth he in a trembling voice；
〃I owe thee a debt I can never hope to repay； Sir Richard；
for let me tell thee； I would rather lose my right hand than have
such ill befall young David of Doncaster as seemed like to come
upon him at Denby。〃
So they talked until after a while one came forward to say
that the feast was spread； whereupon all arose and went thereto。
When at last it was done； the Knight called upon his men to bring
the pack horses forward； which they did according to his bidding。
Then one of the men brought the Knight a strongbox； which he opened
and took from it a bag and counted out five hundred pounds；
the sum he had gotten from Robin。
〃Sir Richard；〃 quoth Robin； 〃thou wilt pleasure us all if thou wilt keep
that money as a gift from us of Sherwood。 Is it not so； my lads？〃
Then all shouted 〃Ay〃 with a mighty voice。
〃I thank you all deeply；〃 said the Knight earnestly； 〃but think it
not ill of me if I cannot take it。 Gladly have I borrowed it from you；
but it may not be that I can take it as a gift。〃
Then Robin Hood said no more but gave the money to Little John to put away
in the treasury； for he had shrewdness enough to know that nought breeds
ill will and heart bitterness like gifts forced upon one that cannot choose
but take them。
Then Sir Richard had the packs laid upon the ground and opened；
whereupon a great shout went up that made the forest ring again； for lo；
there were tenscore bows of finest Spanish yew； all burnished till
they shone again； and each bow inlaid with fanciful figures in silver；
yet not inlaid so as to mar their strength。 Beside these were tenscore
quivers of leather embroidered with golden thread； and in each quiver
were a score of shafts with burnished heads that shone like silver；
each shaft was feathered with peacock's plumes； innocked with silver。
Sir Richard gave to each yeoman a bow and a quiver of arrows； but to Robin
he gave a stout bow inlaid with the cunningest workmanship in gold；
while each arrow in his quiver was innocked with gold。
Then all shouted again for joy of the fair gift； and all swore
among themselves that they would die if need be for Sir Richard
and his lady。
At last the time came when Sir Richard must go； whereupon Robin Hood
called his band around him； and each man of the yeomen took
a torch in his hand to light the way through the woodlands。
So they came to the edge of Sherwood； and there the Knight kissed
Robin upon the cheeks and left him and was gone。
Thus Robin Hood helped a noble knight out of his dire misfortunes；
that else would have smothered the happiness from his life。
Little John Turns Barefoot Friar
COLD WINTER had passed and spring had come。 No leafy thickness
had yet clad the woodlands； but the budding leaves hung like a
tender mist about the trees。 In the open country the meadow
lands lay a sheeny green； the cornfields a dark velvety color；
for they were thick and soft with the growing blades。
The plowboy shouted in the sun； and in the purple new…turned
furrows flocks of birds hunted for fat worms。 All the broad
moist earth smiled in the warm light； and each little green
hill clapped its hand for joy。
On a deer's hide； stretched on the ground in the open in front of the
greenwood tree； sat Robin Hood basking in the sun like an old dog fox。
Leaning back with his hands clasped about his knees； he lazily watched
Little John rolling a stout bowstring from long strands of hempen thread；
wetting the palms of his hands ever and anon； and rolling the cord upon
his thigh。 Near by sat Allan a Dale fitting a new string to his harp。
Quoth Robin at last； 〃Methinks I would rather roam this forest in
the gentle springtime than be King of all merry England。 What palace
in the broad world is as fair as this sweet woodland just now；
and what king in all the world hath such appetite for plover's
eggs and lampreys as I for juicy venison and sparkling ale？
Gaffer Swanthold speaks truly when he saith； ‘Better a crust
with content than honey with a sour heart。' 〃
〃Yea；〃 quoth Little John； as he rubbed his new…made bowstring
with yellow beeswax； 〃the life we lead is the life for me。
Thou speakest of the springtime； but methinks even the winter
hath its own joys。 Thou and I； good master； have had more than
one merry day； this winter past； at the Blue Boar。 Dost thou
not remember that night thou and Will Stutely and Friar Tuck
and I passed at that same hostelry with the two beggars and
the strolling friar？〃
〃Yea；〃 quoth merry Robin； laughing； 〃that was the night that
Will Stutely must needs snatch a kiss from the stout hostess；
and got a canakin of ale emptied over his head for his pains。〃
〃Truly； it was the same；〃 said Little John； laughing also。
〃Methinks that was a goodly song that the strolling friar sang。
Friar Tuck； thou hast a quick ear for a tune； dost thou
not remember it？〃
〃I did have the catch of it one time；〃 said Tuck。 〃Let me see；〃
and he touched his forefinger to his forehead in thought；
humming to himself； and stopping ever and anon to fit
what he had got to what he searched for in his mind。
At last he found it all and clearing his throat； sang merrily：
〃_In the blossoming hedge the robin cock sings；
For the sun it is merry and bright；
And he joyfully hops and he flutters his wings；
For his heart is all full of delight。
For the May bloometh fair；
And there's little of care；
And plenty to eat in the Maytime rare。
When the flowers all die；
Then off he will fly；
To keep himself warm
In some jolly old barn
Where the snow and the wind neither chill him nor harm。
〃And such is the life of the strolling friar；
With aplenty to eat and to drink；
For the goodwife will keep him a sea