〃Well；〃　said　the　baron；　〃give　me　a　roof　over　my　head；　be　it　never　so　humble。　Your　greenwood　canopy　is　pretty　and　pleasant　in　sunshine；　but　if　I　were　doomed　to　live　under　it；　I　should　wish　it　were　water…tight。〃
  〃But；〃　said　Robin；　〃we　have　tents　and　caves　for　foul　weather；　good　store　of　wine　and　venison；　and　fuel　in　abundance。〃
  〃Ay；　but；〃　said　the　baron；　〃I　like　to　pull　off　my　boots　of　a　night；　which　you　foresters　seldom　do；　and　to　ensconce　myself　thereafter　in　a　comfortable　bed。　Your　beech…root　is　over…hard　for　a　couch；　and　your　mossy　stump　is　somewhat　rough　for　a　bolster。〃
  〃Had　you　not　dry　leaves；〃　said　Robin；　〃with　a　bishop's　surplice　over　them？　What　would　you　have　softer？　　And　had　you　not　an　abbot's　travelling　cloak　for　a　coverlet？　　What　would　you　have　warmer？〃
  〃Very　true；〃　said　the　baron；　〃but　that　was　an　indulgence　to　a　guest；　and　I　dreamed　all　night　of　the　sheriff　of　Nottingham。　　I　like　to　feel　myself　safe；〃　he　added；　stretching　out　his　legs　to　the　fire；　and　throwing　himself　back　in　his　chair　with　the　air　of　a　man　determined　to　be　comfortable。　〃I　like　to　feel　myself　safe；〃　said　the　baron。
  At　that　moment　the　woman　caught　her　husband's　arm；　and　all　the　party　following　the　direction　of　her　eyes；　looked　simultaneously　to　the　window；　where　they　had　just　time　to　catch　a　glimpse　of　an　apparition　of　an　armed　head；　with　its　plumage　tossing　in　the　storm；　on　which　the　light　shone　from　within；　and　which　disappeared　immediately。
  CHAPTER　XV
  O　knight；　thou　lack'st　a　cup　of　canary。　　When　did　I　see　thee　so　put　down？Twelfth　Night。
  Several　knocks；　as　from　the　knuckles　of　an　iron　glove；　were　given　to　the　door　of　the　cottage；　and　a　voice　was　heard　entreating　shelter　from　the　storm　for　a　traveller　who　had　lost　his　way。　Robin　arose　and　went　to　the　door。
  〃What　are　you？〃　said　Robin。
  〃A　soldier；〃　replied　the　voice：　　〃an　unfortunate　adherent　of　Longchamp；　flying　the　vengeance　of　Prince　John。〃
  〃Are　you　alone？〃　said　Robin。
  〃Yes；〃　said　the　voice：　　〃it　is　a　dreadful　night。　　Hospitable　cottagers；　pray　give　me　admittance。　　I　would　not　have　asked　it　but　for　the　storm。　I　would　have　kept　my　watch　in　the　woods。〃
  〃That　I　believe；〃　said　Robin。　　〃You　did　not　reckon　on　the　storm　when　you　turned　into　this　pass。　　Do　you　know　there　are　rogues　this　way？〃
  〃I　do；〃　said　the　voice。
  〃So　do　I；〃　said　Robin。
  A　pause　ensued；　during　which　Robin　listening　attentively　caught　a　faint　sound　of　whispering。
  〃You　are　not　alone；〃　said　Robin。　　〃Who　are　your　companions？〃
  〃None　but　the　wind　and　the　water；〃　said　the　voice；　〃and　I　would　I　had　them　not。〃
  〃The　wind　and　the　water　have　many　voices；〃　said　Robin；　〃but　I　never　before　heard　them　say；　What　shall　we　do？〃
  Another　pause　ensued：　　after　which；
  〃Look　ye；　master　cottager；〃　said　the　voice；　in　an　altered　tone；　〃if　you　do　not　let　us　in　willingly；　we　will　break　down　the　door。〃
  〃Ho！　ho！〃　roared　the　baron；　〃you　are　become　plural　are　you；　rascals？　　How　many　are　there　of　you；　thieves？　　What；　I　warrant；　you　thought　to　rob　and　murder　a　poor　harmless　cottager　and　his　wife；　and　did　not　dream　of　a　garrison？　You　looked　for　no　weapon　of　opposition　but　spit；　poker；　and　basting　ladle；　wielded　by　unskilful　hands：　　but；　rascals；　here　is　short　sword　and　long　cudgel　in　hands　well　tried　in　war；　wherewith　you　shall　be　drilled　into　cullenders　and　beaten　into　mummy。〃
  No　reply　was　made；　but　furious　strokes　from　without　resounded　upon　the　door。　　Robin；　Marian；　and　the　baron　threw　by　their　pilgrim's　attire；　and　stood　in　arms　on　the　defensive。　They　were　provided　with　swords；　and　the　cottager　gave　them　bucklers　and　helmets；　for　all　Robin's　haunts　were　furnished　with　secret　armouries。　　But　they　kept　their　swords　sheathed；　and　the　baron　wielded　a　ponderous　spear；　which　he　pointed　towards　the　door　ready　to　run　through　the　first　that　should　enter；　and　Robin　and　Marian　each　held　a　bow　with　the　arrow　drawn　to　its　head　and　pointed　in　the　same　direction。　　The　cottager　flourished　a　strong　cudgel　（a　weapon　in　the　use　of　which　he　prided　himself　on　being　particularly　expert）；　and　the　wife　seized　the　spit　from　the　fireplace；　and　held　it　as　she　saw　the　baron　hold　his　spear。　The　storm　of　wind　and　rain　continued　to　beat　on　the　roof　and　the　casement；　and　the　storm　of　blows　to　resound　upon　the　door；　which　at　length　gave　way　with　a　violent　crash；　and　a　cluster　of　armed　men　appeared　without；　seemingly　not　less　than　twelve。　Behind　them　rolled　the　stream　now　changed　from　a　gentle　and　shallow　river　to　a　mighty　and　impetuous　torrent；　roaring　in　waves　of　yellow　foam；　partially　reddened　by　the　light　that　streamed　through　the　open　door；　and　turning　up　its　convulsed　surface　in　flashes　of　shifting　radiance　from　restless　masses　of　half…visible　shadow。　The　stepping…stones；　by　which　the　intruders　must　have　crossed；　were　buried　under　the　waters。　　On　the　opposite　bank　the　light　fell　on　the　stems　and　boughs　of　the　rock…rooted　oak　and　ash　tossing　and　swaying　in　the　blast；　and　sweeping　the　flashing　spray　with　their　leaves。
  The　instant　the　door　broke；　Robin　and　Marian　loosed　their　arrows。　Robin's　arrow　struck　one　of　the　assailants　in　the　juncture　of　the　shoulder；　and　disabled　his　right　arm：　　Marian's　struck　a　second　in　the　juncture　of　the　knee；　and　rendered　him　unserviceable；　for　the　night。　The　baron's　long　spear　struck　on　the　mailed　breastplate　of　a　third；　and　being　stretched　to　its　full　extent　by　the　long…armed　hero；　drove　him　to　the　edge　of　the　torrent；　and　plunged　him　into　its　eddies；　along　which　he　was　whirled　down　the　darkness　of　the　descending　stream；　calling　vainly　on　his　comrades　for　aid；　till　his　voice　was　lost　in　the　mingled　roar　of　the　waters　and　the　wind。　　A　fourth　springing　through　the　door　was　laid　prostrate　by　the　cottager's　cudgel：　but　the　wife　being　less　dexterous　than　her　company；　though　an　Amazon　in　strength；　missed　her　pass　at　a　fifth；　and　drove　the　point　of　the　spit　several　inches　into　the　right　hand　door…post　as　she　stood　close　to　the　left；　and　thus　made　a　new　barrier　which　the　invaders　could　not　pass　without　dipping　under　it　and　submitting　their　necks　to　the　sword：　but　one　of　the　assailants　seizing　it　with　gigantic　rage；　shook　it　at　once　from　the　grasp　of　its　holder　and　from　its　lodgment　in　the　post；　and　at　the　same　time　made　good　the　irruption　of　the　rest　of　his　party　into　the　cottage。
  Now　raged　an　unequal　combat；　for　the　assailants　fell　two　to　one　on　Robin；　Marian；　the　baron；　and　the　cottager；　while　the　wife；　being　deprived　of　her　spit；　converted　every　thing　that　was　at　hand　to　a　missile；　and　rained　pots；　pans；　and　pipkins　on　the　armed　heads　of　the　enemy。　　The　baron　raged　like　a　tiger；　and　the　cottager　laid　about　him　like　a　thresher。　　One　of　the　soldiers　struck　Robin's　sword　from　his　hand　and　brought　him　on　his　knee；　when　the　boy；　who　had　been　roused　by　the　tumult　and　had　been　peeping　through　the　inner　door；　leaped　forward　in　his　shirt；　picked　up　the　sword　and　replaced　it　in　Robin's　hand；　who　instantly　springing　up；　disarmed　and　wounded　one　of　his　antagonists；　while　the　other　was　laid　prostrate　under　the　dint　of　a　brass　cauldron　launched　by　the　Amazonian　dame。　　Robin　now　turned　to　the　aid　of　Marian；　who　was　parrying　most　dexterously　the　cuts　and　slashes　of　her　two　assailants；　of　whom　Robin　delivered　her　from　one；　while　a　well…applied　blow　of　her　sword　struck　off　the　helmet　of　the　other；　who　fell　on　his　knees　to　beg　a　boon；　and　she　recognised　Sir　Ralph　Montfaucon。　　The　men　who　were　engaged　with　the　baron　and　the　peasant；　seeing　their　leader　subdued；　immediately　laid　down　their　arms　and　cried　for　quarter。　The　wife　brought　some　strong　rope；　and　the　baron　tied　their　arms　behind　them。
  〃Now；　Sir　Ralph；〃　said　Marian；　〃once　more　you　are　at　my　mercy。〃
  〃That　I　always　am；　cruel　beauty；〃　said　the　discomfited　lover。
  〃Odso！　courteous　knight；〃　said　the　baron；　〃is　this　the　return　you　make　for　my　beef　and　canary；　when　you　kissed　my　daughter's　hand　in　token　of　contrition　for　your　intermeddling　at　her　wedding？　Heart；　I　am　glad　to　see　she　has　given　you　a　bloody　coxcomb。　Slice　him　down；　Mawd！　slice　him　down；　and　fling　him　into　the　river。〃
  〃Confess；〃　said　Marian；　〃what　brought　you　here；　and　how　did　you　trace　our　steps？〃
  〃I　will　confess　nothing；〃　said　the　knight。
  〃Then　confess　you；　rascal；〃　said　the　baron；　holding　his　sword　to　the　throat　of　the　captive　squire。
  〃Take　away　the　sword；〃　said　the　squire；　〃it　is　too　near　my　mouth；　and　my　voice　will　not　come　out　for　fear：　take　away　the　sword；　and　I　will　confess　all。〃　The　baron　dropped　his　sword；　and　the　squire　proceeded；　〃Sir　Ralph　met　you；　as　you　quitted　Lady　Falkland's　castle；　and　by　representing　to　her　who　you　were；　borrowed　from　her　such　a　number　of　her　retainers　as　he　deemed　must　ensure　your　capture；　seeing　that　your　familiar　the　friar　was　not　at　your　elbow。　We　set　forth　without　delay；　and　traced　you　first　by　means　of　a　peasant　who　saw　you　turn　into　this　valley；　and　afterwards　by　the　light　from　the　casement　of　this　solitary　dwelling。　Our　design　was　to　have　laid　an　ambush　for　you　in　the　morning；　but　the　storm　and　your　observation　of　my　unlucky　face　through　the　casement　made　us　change　our　purpose；　and　what　followed　you　can　tell　better　than　I　can；　being　indeed　masters　of　the　subject。〃
  〃You　are　a　merry　knave；〃　said　the　baron；　〃and　here　is　a　cup　of　wine　for　you