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Then they tied his hands behind him； and lifting him up set him
upon the back of one of the horses； with his face to its tail
and his feet strapped beneath its belly。 So they took him back
to the King's Head Inn； laughing and rejoicing as they went along。
But in the meantime the widow's three sons had gotten safely away；
and were hidden in the woodlands。
Once more the Sheriff of Nottingham sat within the King's Head Inn。
His heart rejoiced within him； for he had at last done that which
he had sought to do for years； taken Little John prisoner。
Quoth he to himself； 〃This time tomorrow the rogue shall hang upon
the gallows tree in front of the great gate of Nottingham Town；
and thus shall I make my long score with him even。〃 So saying；
he took a deep draught of Canary。 But it seemed as if the Sheriff
had swallowed a thought with his wine； for he shook his head
and put the cup down hastily。 〃Now；〃 he muttered to himself；
〃I would not for a thousand pounds have this fellow slip through
my fingers； yet； should his master escape that foul Guy of Gisbourne；
there is no knowing what he may do； for he is the cunningest knave
in all the worldthis same Robin Hood。 Belike I had better not wait
until tomorrow to hang the fellow。〃 So saying； he pushed his chair
back hastily； and going forth from the inn called his men together。
Quoth he； 〃I will wait no longer for the hanging of this rogue； but it
shall be done forthwith； and that from the very tree whence he saved
those three young villains by stepping betwixt them and the law。
So get ye ready straightway。〃
Then once more they sat Little John upon the horse； with his
face to the tail； and so； one leading the horse whereon he sat
and the others riding around him； they went forward to that tree
from the branches of which they had thought to hang the poachers。
On they went； rattling and jingling along the road till they came
to the tree。 Here one of the men spake to the Sheriff of a sudden。
〃Your Worship；〃 cried he； 〃is not yon fellow coming along toward
us that same Guy of Gisbourne whom thou didst send into the forest
to seek Robin Hood？〃 At these words the Sheriff shaded his eyes
and looked eagerly。 〃Why； certes；〃 quoth he； 〃yon fellow is
the same。 Now； Heaven send that he hath slain the master thief；
as we will presently slay the man！〃
When Little John heard this speech he looked up； and straightway
his heart crumbled away within him； for not only were the man's
garments all covered with blood； but he wore Robin Hood's bugle
horn and carried his bow and broadsword。
〃How now！〃 cried the Sheriff； when Robin Hood； in Guy of Gisbourne's clothes；
had come nigh to them。 〃What luck hath befallen thee in the forest？
Why； man； thy clothes are all over blood！〃
〃An thou likest not my clothes；〃 said Robin in a harsh voice
like that of Guy of Gisbourne； 〃thou mayst shut thine eyes。
Marry； the blood upon me is that of the vilest outlaw that ever
trod the woodlands； and one whom I have slain this day；
albeit not without wound to myself。〃
Then out spake Little John； for the first time since he had
fallen into the Sheriff's hands。 〃O thou vile； bloody wretch！
I know thee； Guy of Gisbourne； for who is there that hath not heard
of thee and cursed thee for thy vile deeds of blood and rapine？
Is it by such a hand as thine that the gentlest heart that ever
beat is stilled in death？ Truly； thou art a fit tool for this
coward Sheriff of Nottingham。 Now I die joyfully； nor do I care
how I die； for life is nought to me！〃 So spake Little John；
the salt tears rolling down his brown cheeks。
But the Sheriff of Nottingham clapped his hands for joy。
〃Now； Guy of Gisbourne；〃 cried he； 〃if what thou tellest me is true；
it will be the best day's doings for thee that ever thou hast
done in all thy life。〃
〃What I have told thee is sooth； and I lie not；〃 said Robin； still in
Guy of Gisbourne's voice。 〃Look； is not this Robin Hood's sword；
and is not this his good bow of yew； and is not this his bugle horn？
Thinkest thou he would have given them to Guy of Gisbourne of his
own free will？〃
Then the Sheriff laughed aloud for joy。 〃This is a good day！〃 cried he。
〃The great outlaw dead and his right…hand man in my hands！
Ask what thou wilt of me； Guy of Gisbourne； and it is thine！〃
〃Then this I ask of thee；〃 said Robin。 〃As I have slain the master I would
now kill the man。 Give this fellow's life into my hands； Sir Sheriff。〃
〃Now thou art a fool！〃 cried the Sheriff。 〃Thou mightst have had
money enough for a knight's ransom if thou hadst asked for it。
I like ill to let this fellow pass from my hands； but as I have promised；
thou shalt have him。〃
〃I thank thee right heartily for thy gift；〃 cried Robin。 〃Take the rogue
down from the horse； men； and lean him against yonder tree； while I show
you how we stick a porker whence I come！〃
At these words some of the Sheriff's men shook their heads；
for； though they cared not a whit whether Little John were
hanged or not； they hated to see him butchered in cold blood。
But the Sheriff called to them in a loud voice； ordering them
to take the yeoman down from the horse and lean him against
the tree； as the other bade。
While they were doing this Robin Hood strung both his bow
and that of Guy of Gisbourne； albeit none of them took notice
of his doing so。 Then； when Little John stood against the tree；
he drew Guy of Gisbourne's sharp； double…edged dagger。
〃Fall back！ fall back！〃 cried he。 〃Would ye crowd so on
my pleasure； ye unmannerly knaves？ Back； I say！ Farther yet！〃
So they crowded back； as he ordered； many of them turning their
faces away； that they might not see what was about to happen。
〃Come！〃 cried Little John。 〃Here is my breast。 It is meet that
the same hand that slew my dear master should butcher me also！
I know thee； Guy of Gisbourne！〃
〃Peace； Little John！〃 said Robin in a low voice。 〃Twice thou
hast said thou knowest me； and yet thou knowest me not at all。
Couldst thou not tell me beneath this wild beast's hide？ Yonder； just in
front of thee； lie my bow and arrows； likewise my broadsword。
Take them when I cut thy bonds。 Now！ Get them quickly！〃
So saying； he cut the bonds； and Little John； quick as a wink；
leaped forward and caught up the bow and arrows and the broadsword。
At the same time Robin Hood threw back the cowl of horse's hide
from his face and bent Guy of Gisbourne's bow； with a keen；
barbed arrow fitted to the string。 〃Stand back！〃 cried he sternly。
〃The first man that toucheth finger to bowstring dieth！
I have slain thy man； Sheriff； take heed that it is not thy
turn next。〃 Then； seeing that Little John had armed himself；
he clapped his bugle horn to his lips and blew three blasts
both loud and shrill。
Now when the Sheriff of Nottingham saw whose face it was
beneath Guy of Gisbourne's hood； and when he heard those bugle
notes ring in his ear； he felt as if his hour had come。
〃Robin Hood！〃 roared he； and without another word he wheeled
his horse in the road and went off in a cloud of dust。
The Sheriff's men； seeing their master thus fleeing for his life；
thought that it was not their business to t