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the scabbard； and； coming to where Guy of Gisbourne lay；
he stood over him with folded arms； talking to himself the while。
〃This is the first man I have slain since I shot the Kings
forester in the hot days of my youth。 I ofttimes think bitterly；
even yet； of that first life I took； but of this I am as glad
as though I had slain a wild boar that laid waste a fair country。
Since the Sheriff of Nottingham hath sent such a one as this
against me； I will put on the fellow's garb and go forth to see
whether I may not find his worship； and perchance pay him back
some of the debt I owe him upon this score。〃
So saying； Robin Hood stripped the hairy garments from off
the dead man； and put them on himself； all bloody as they were。
Then； strapping the other's sword and dagger around his
body and carrying his own in his hand； together with the two bows
of yew； he drew the cowl of horse's hide over his face； so that none
could tell who he was； and set forth from the forest； turning his
steps toward the eastward and Nottingham Town。 As he strode along
the country roads； men； women； and children hid away from him；
for the terror of Guy of Gisbourne's name and of his doings had
spread far and near。
And now let us see what befell Little John while these things were happening。
Little John walked on his way through the forest paths until he had
come to the outskirts of the woodlands； where； here and there；
fields of barley； corn； or green meadow lands lay smiling in the sun。
So he came to the highroad and to where a little thatched
cottage stood back of a cluster of twisted crab trees；
with flowers in front of it。 Here he stopped of a sudden；
for he thought that he heard the sound of someone in sorrow。
He listened； and found that it came from the cottage； so； turning his
footsteps thither； he pushed open the wicket and entered the place。
There he saw a gray…haired dame sitting beside a cold hearthstone；
rocking herself to and fro and weeping bitterly。
Now Little John had a tender heart for the sorrows of other folk； so；
coming to the old woman and patting her kindly upon the shoulder；
he spoke comforting words to her； bidding her cheer up and tell him
her troubles； for that mayhap he might do something to ease them。
At all this the good dame shook her head； but all the same his kind
words did soothe her somewhat； so after a while she told him all
that bore upon her mind。 That that morning she had three as fair；
tall sons beside her as one could find in all Nottinghamshire； but that
they were now taken from her； and were like to be hanged straightway；
that； want having come upon them； her eldest boy had gone out；
the night before； into the forest； and had slain a hind in the moonlight；
that the King's rangers had followed the blood upon the grass
until they had come to her cottage； and had there found the deer's
meat in the cupboard； that； as neither of the younger sons would
betray their brother； the foresters had taken all three away；
in spite of the oldest saying that he alone had slain the deer；
that； as they went； she had heard the rangers talking among themselves；
saying that the Sheriff had sworn that he would put a check upon
the great slaughter of deer that had been going on of late by
hanging the very first rogue caught thereat upon the nearest tree；
and that they would take the three youths to the King's Head Inn；
near Nottingham Town； where the Sheriff was abiding that day；
there to await the return of a certain fellow he had sent into
Sherwood to seek for Robin Hood。
To all this Little John listened； shaking his head sadly now and then。
〃Alas；〃 quoth he； when the good dame had finished her speech；
〃this is indeed an ill case。 But who is this that goeth into
Sherwood after Robin Hood； and why doth he go to seek him？
But no matter for that now； only that I would that Robin Hood were
here to advise us。 Nevertheless； no time may be lost in sending
for him at this hour； if we would save the lives of thy three sons。
Tell me； hast thou any clothes hereabouts that I may put on in place
of these of Lincoln green？ Marry； if our stout Sheriff catcheth me
without disguise； I am like to be run up more quickly than thy sons；
let me tell thee； dame。〃
Then the old woman told him that she had in the house some of the
clothes of her good husband； who had died only two years before。
These she brought to Little John； who； doffing his garb of Lincoln green；
put them on in its stead。 Then； making a wig and false beard
of uncarded wool； he covered his own brown hair and beard； and；
putting on a great； tall hat that had belonged to the old peasant；
he took his staff in one hand and his bow in the other； and set
forth with all speed to where the Sheriff had taken up his inn。
A mile or more from Nottingham Town； and not far from the southern
borders of Sherwood Forest； stood the cosy inn bearing the sign
of the King's Head。 Here was a great bustle and stir on this
bright morning； for the Sheriff and a score of his men had come
to stop there and await Guy of Gisbourne's return from the forest。
Great hiss and fuss of cooking was going on in the kitchen；
and great rapping and tapping of wine kegs and beer barrels was
going on in the cellar。 The Sheriff sat within； feasting merrily
of the best the place afforded； and the Sheriff's men sat upon
the bench before the door； quaffing ale； or lay beneath the shade
of the broad…spreading oak trees； talking and jesting and laughing。
All around stood the horses of the band； with a great noise
of stamping feet and a great switching of tails。 To this inn came
the King's rangers； driving the widow's three sons before them。
The hands of the three youths were tied tightly behind their backs；
and a cord from neck to neck fastened them all together。
So they were marched to the room where the Sheriff sat at meat；
and stood trembling before him as he scowled sternly upon them。
〃So；〃 quoth he； in a great； loud； angry voice； 〃ye have been poaching upon
the King's deer； have you？ Now I will make short work of you this day；
for I will hang up all three of you as a farmer would hang up three crows
to scare others of the kind from the field。 Our fair county of Nottingham
hath been too long a breeding place for such naughty knaves as ye are。
I have put up with these things for many years； but now I will stamp them
out once for all； and with you I will begin。〃
Then one of the poor fellows opened his mouth to speak；
but the Sheriff roared at him in a loud voice to be silent；
and bade the rangers to take them away till he had done
his eating and could attend to the matters concerning them。
So the three poor youths were marched outside； where they stood
with bowed heads and despairing hearts； till after a while
the Sheriff came forth。 Then he called his men about him；
and quoth he； 〃These three villains shall be hanged straightway；
but not here； lest they breed ill luck to this goodly inn。
We will take them over yonder to that belt of woodlands； for I
would fain hang them upon the very trees of Sherwood itself；
to show those vile outlaws therein what they may expect of me
if I ever have the g