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with great sound of weeping。
After a while Robin looked around him with tear…dimmed eyes and said；
in a husky voice； 〃Now； I swear that never again will I leave these
dear woodlands。 I have been away from them and from you too long。
Now do I lay by the name of Robert； Earl of Huntingdon； and take upon me
once again that nobler title； Robin Hood； the Yeoman。〃 At this a great
shout went up； and all the yeomen shook one another's hands for joy。
The news that Robin Hood had come back again to dwell in Sherwood as of old
spread like wildfire all over the countryside； so that ere a se'ennight
had passed nearly all of his old yeomen had gathered about him again。
But when the news of all this reached the ears of King John；
he swore both loud and deep； and took a solemn vow that he would
not rest until he had Robin Hood in his power； dead or alive。
Now there was present at court a certain knight； Sir William Dale；
as gallant a soldier as ever donned harness。 Sir William Dale
was well acquainted with Sherwood Forest； for he was head keeper
over that part of it that lay nigh to good Mansfield Town； so to him
the King turned； and bade him take an army of men and go straightway
to seek Robin Hood。 Likewise the King gave Sir William his signet ring
to show to the Sheriff； that he might raise all his armed men to aid
the others in their chase of Robin。 So Sir William and the Sheriff
set forth to do the King's bidding and to search for Robin Hood；
and for seven days they hunted up and down； yet found him not。
Now； had Robin Hood been as peaceful as of old； everything might have ended
in smoke； as other such ventures had always done before； but he had fought
for years under King Richard； and was changed from what he used to be。
It galled his pride to thus flee away before those sent against him；
as a chased fox flees from the hounds； so thus it came about； at last；
that Robin Hood and his yeomen met Sir William and the Sheriff and their
men in the forest； and a bloody fight followed。 The first man slain
in that fight was the Sheriff of Nottingham； for he fell from his horse
with an arrow in his brain ere half a score of shafts had been sped。
Many a better man than the Sheriff kissed the sod that day； but at last；
Sir William Dale being wounded and most of his men slain； he withdrew； beaten；
and left the forest。 But scores of good fellows were left behind him；
stretched out all stiff beneath the sweet green boughs。
But though Robin Hood had beaten off his enemies in fair fight；
all this lay heavily upon his mind； so that he brooded over it
until a fever seized upon him。 For three days it held him；
and though he strove to fight it off； he was forced to yield at last。
Thus it came that； on the morning of the fourth day； he called Little John
to him； and told him that he could not shake the fever from him；
and that he would go to his cousin； the prioress of the nunnery
near Kirklees； in Yorkshire； who was a skillful leech； and he would
have her open a vein in his arm and take a little blood from him；
for the bettering of his health。 Then he bade Little John make ready
to go also； for he might perchance need aid in his journeying。
So Little John and he took their leave of the others； and Robin Hood bade
Will Stutely be the captain of the band until they should come back。
Thus they came by easy stages and slow journeying until they reached
the Nunnery of Kirklees。
Now Robin had done much to aid this cousin of his； for it was through
King Richard's love of him that she had been made prioress of the place。
But there is nought in the world so easily forgot as gratitude；
so； when the Prioress of Kirklees had heard how her cousin；
the Earl of Huntingdon； had thrown away his earldom and gone back
again to Sherwood； she was vexed to the soul； and feared lest her
cousinship with him should bring the King's wrath upon her also。
Thus it happened that when Robin came to her and told her how he wished
her services as leech； she began plotting ill against him in her mind；
thinking that by doing evil to him she might find favor with his enemies。
Nevertheless； she kept this well to herself and received Robin
with seeming kindness。 She led him up the winding stone stair
to a room which was just beneath the eaves of a high； round tower；
but she would not let Little John come with him。
So the poor yeoman turned his feet away from the door of
the nunnery； and left his master in the hands of the women。
But； though he did not come in； neither did he go far away；
for he laid him down in a little glade near by； where he could
watch the place that Robin abided； like some great； faithful dog
turned away from the door where his master has entered。
After the women had gotten Robin Hood to the room beneath the eaves；
the Prioress sent all of the others away； then； taking a little cord；
she tied it tightly about Robin's arm； as though she were about
to bleed him。 And so she did bleed him； but the vein she opened
was not one of those that lie close and blue beneath the skin；
deeper she cut than that； for she opened one of those veins
through which the bright red blood runs leaping from the heart。
Of this Robin knew not； for； though he saw the blood flow；
it did not come fast enough to make him think that there was
anything ill in it。
Having done this vile deed； the Prioress turned and left her cousin；
locking the door behind her。 All that livelong day the blood ran from
Robin Hood's arm； nor could he check it； though he strove in every way
to do so。 Again and again he called for help； but no help came； for his
cousin had betrayed him； and Little John was too far away to hear his voice。
So he bled and bled until he felt his strength slipping away from him。
Then he arose； tottering； and bearing himself up by the palms
of his hands against the wall； he reached his bugle horn at last。
Thrice he sounded it； but weakly and faintly； for his breath was fluttering
through sickness and loss of strength； nevertheless； Little John heard
it where he lay in the glade； and； with a heart all sick with dread；
he came running and leaping toward the nunnery。 Loudly he knocked
at the door； and in a loud voice shouted for them to let him in；
but the door was of massive oak； strongly barred； and studded with spikes；
so they felt safe； and bade Little John begone。
Then Little John's heart was mad with grief and fear for his master's life。
Wildly he looked about him； and his sight fell upon a heavy stone mortar；
such as three men could not lift nowadays。 Little John took three
steps forward； and； bending his back； heaved the stone mortar up
from where it stood deeply rooted。 Staggering under its weight；
he came forward and hurled it crashing against the door。 In burst
the door； and away fled the frightened nuns； shrieking； at his coming。
Then Little John strode in； and never a word said he； but up the winding
stone steps he ran till he reached the room wherein his master was。
Here he found the door locked also； but； putting his shoulder against it；
he burst the locks as though they were made of brittle ice。
There he saw his own dear master leaning against the gray