as　though　he　would　smite　him　where　he　stood。
  〃Nay；〃　cried　the　host；　throwing　up　his　elbow；　for　he　feared　the　blow；　〃how　knew　I　that　thou　knewest　him　not？〃
  〃Well　and　truly　thankful　mayst　thou　be；〃　quoth　the　Tinker；　〃that　I　be　a　patient　man　and　so　do　spare　thy　bald　crown；　else　wouldst　thou　ne'er　cheat　customer　again。　　But　as　for　this　same　knave　Robin　Hood；　I　go　straightway　to　seek　him；　and　if　I　do　not　score　his　knave's　pate；　cut　my　staff　into　fagots　and　call　me　woman。〃　So　saying；　he　gathered　himself　together　to　depart。
  〃Nay；〃　quoth　the　landlord；　standing　in　front　of　him　and　holding　out　his　arms　like　a　gooseherd　driving　his　flock；　for　money　made　him　bold；　〃thou　goest　not　till　thou　hast　paid　me　my　score。〃
  〃But　did　not　he　pay　thee？〃
  〃Not　so　much　as　one　farthing；　and　ten　good　shillings'　worth　of　ale　have　ye　drunk　this　day。　　Nay；　I　say；　thou　goest　not　away　without　paying　me；　else　shall　our　good　Sheriff　know　of　it。〃
  〃But　nought　have　I　to　pay　thee　with；　good　fellow；〃　quoth　the　Tinker。
  〃　‘Good　fellow'　not　me；〃　said　the　landlord。　〃Good　fellow　am　I　not　when　it　cometh　to　lose　ten　shillings！　Pay　me　that　thou　owest　me　in　broad　money；　or　else　leave　thy　coat　and　bag　and　hammer；　yet；　I　wot　they　are　not　worth　ten　shillings；　and　I　shall　lose　thereby。　　Nay；　an　thou　stirrest；　I　have　a　great　dog　within　and　I　will　loose　him　upon　thee。　Maken；　open　thou　the　door　and　let　forth　Brian　if　this　fellow　stirs　one　step。〃
  〃Nay；〃　quoth　the　Tinkerfor；　by　roaming　the　country；　he　had　learned　what　dogs　were〃take　thou　what　thou　wilt　have；　and　let　me　depart　in　peace；　and　may　a　murrain　go　with　thee。　But　oh；　landlord！　　An　I　catch　yon　scurvy　varlet；　I　swear　he　shall　pay　full　with　usury　for　that　he　hath　had！〃
  So　saying；　he　strode　away　toward　the　forest；　talking　to　himself；　while　the　landlord　and　his　worthy　dame　and　Maken　stood　looking　after　him；　and　laughed　when　he　had　fairly　gone。
  〃Robin　and　I　stripped　yon　ass　of　his　pack　main　neatly；〃　quoth　the　landlord。
  Now　it　happened　about　this　time　that　Robin　Hood　was　going　through　the　forest　to　Fosse　Way；　to　see　what　was　to　be　seen　there；　for　the　moon　was　full　and　the　night　gave　promise　of　being　bright。　　In　his　hand　he　carried　his　stout　oaken　staff；　and　at　his　side　hung　his　bugle　horn。　　As　thus　he　walked　up　a　forest　path；　whistling；　down　another　path　came　the　Tinker；　muttering　to　himself　and　shaking　his　head　like　an　angry　bull；　and　so；　at　a　sudden　bend；　they　met　sharply　face　to　face。　Each　stood　still　for　a　time；　and　then　Robin　spoke：
  〃Halloa；　my　sweet　bird；〃　said　he；　laughing　merrily；　〃how　likest　thou　thine　ale？　　Wilt　not　sing　to　me　another　song？〃
  The　Tinker　said　nothing　at　first　but　stood　looking　at　Robin　with　a　grim　face。　〃Now；〃　quoth　he　at　last；　〃I　am　right　glad　I　have　met　thee；　and　if　I　do　not　rattle　thy　bones　within　thy　hide　this　day；　I　give　thee　leave　to　put　thy　foot　upon　my　neck。〃
  〃With　all　my　heart；〃　cried　merry　Robin。　　〃Rattle　my　bones；　an　thou　canst。〃　So　saying；　he　gripped　his　staff　and　threw　himself　upon　his　guard。　Then　the　Tinker　spat　upon　his　hands　and；　grasping　his　staff；　came　straight　at　the　other。　　He　struck　two　or　three　blows；　but　soon　found　that　he　had　met　his　match；　for　Robin　warded　and　parried　all　of　them；　and；　before　the　Tinker　thought；　he　gave　him　a　rap　upon　the　ribs　in　return。　　At　this　Robin　laughed　aloud；　and　the　Tinker　grew　more　angry　than　ever；　and　smote　again　with　all　his　might　and　main。　Again　Robin　warded　two　of　the　strokes；　but　at　the　third；　his　staff　broke　beneath　the　mighty　blows　of　the　Tinker。　　〃Now；　ill　betide　thee；　traitor　staff；〃　cried　Robin；　as　it　fell　from　his　hands；　〃a　foul　stick　art　thou　to　serve　me　thus　in　mine　hour　of　need。〃
  〃Now　yield　thee；〃　quoth　the　Tinker；　〃for　thou　art　my　captive；　and　if　thou　do　not；　I　will　beat　thy　pate　to　a　pudding。〃
  To　this　Robin　Hood　made　no　answer；　but；　clapping　his　horn　to　his　lips；　he　blew　three　blasts；　loud　and　clear。
  〃Ay；〃　quoth　the　Tinker；　〃blow　thou　mayest；　but　go　thou　must　with　me　to　Nottingham　Town；　for　the　Sheriff　would　fain　see　thee　there。　Now　wilt　thou　yield　thee；　or　shall　I　have　to　break　thy　pretty　head？〃
  〃An　I　must　drink　sour　ale；　I　must；〃　quoth　Robin；　〃but　never　have　I　yielded　me　to　man　before；　and　that　without　wound　or　mark　upon　my　body。　　Nor；　when　I　bethink　me；　will　I　yield　now。　Ho；　my　merry　men！　　Come　quickly！〃
  Then　from　out　the　forest　leaped　Little　John　and　six　stout　yeomen　clad　in　Lincoln　green。
  〃How　now；　good　master；〃　cried　Little　John；　〃what　need　hast　thou　that　thou　dost　wind　thy　horn　so　loudly？〃
  〃There　stands　a　tinker；〃　quoth　Robin；　〃that　would　fain　take　me　to　Nottingham；　there　to　hang　upon　the　gallows　tree。〃
  〃Then　shall　he　himself　hang　forthwith；〃　cried　Little　John；　and　he　and　the　others　made　at　the　Tinker；　to　seize　him。
  〃Nay；　touch　him　not；〃　said　Robin；　〃for　a　right　stout　man　is　he。　A　metal　man　he　is　by　trade；　and　a　mettled　man　by　nature；　moreover；　he　doth　sing　a　lovely　ballad。　　Say；　good　fellow；　wilt　thou　join　my　merry　men　all？　Three　suits　of　Lincoln　green　shalt　thou　have　a　year；　besides　forty　marks　in　fee；　thou　shalt　share　all　with　us　and　lead　a　right　merry　life　in　the　greenwood；　for　cares　have　we　not；　and　misfortune　cometh　not　upon　us　within　the　sweet　shades　of　Sherwood；　where　we　shoot　the　dun　deer　and　feed　upon　venison　and　sweet　oaten　cakes；　and　curds　and　honey。　Wilt　thou　come　with　me？〃
  〃Ay；　marry；　will　I　join　with　you　all；〃　quoth　the　Tinker；　〃for　I　love　a　merry　life；　and　I　love　thee；　good　master；　though　thou　didst　thwack　my　ribs　and　cheat　me　into　the　bargain。　Fain　am　I　to　own　thou　art　both　a　stouter　and　a　slyer　man　than　I；　so　I　will　obey　thee　and　be　thine　own　true　servant。〃
  So　all　turned　their　steps　to　the　forest　depths；　where　the　Tinker　was　to　live　henceforth。　　For　many　a　day　he　sang　ballads　to　the　band；　until　the　famous　Allan　a　Dale　joined　them；　before　whose　sweet　voice　all　others　seemed　as　harsh　as　a　raven's；　but　of　him　we　will　learn　hereafter。
  The　Shooting　Match　at　Nottingham　Town
  THEN　THE　SHERIFF　was　very　wroth　because　of　this　failure　to　take　jolly　Robin；　for　it　came　to　his　ears；　as　ill　news　always　does；　that　the　people　laughed　at　him　and　made　a　jest　of　his　thinking　to　serve　a　warrant　upon　such　a　one　as　the　bold　outlaw。　And　a　man　hates　nothing　so　much　as　being　made　a　jest　of；　so　he　said：　〃Our　gracious　lord　and　sovereign　King　himself　shall　know　of　this；　and　how　his　laws　are　perverted　and　despised　by　this　band　of　rebel　outlaws。　As　for　yon　traitor　Tinker；　him　will　I　hang；　if　I　catch　him；　upon　the　very　highest　gallows　tree　in　all　Nottinghamshire。〃
  Then　he　bade　all　his　servants　and　retainers　to　make　ready　to　go　to　London　Town；　to　see　and　speak　with　the　King。
  At　this　there　was　bustling　at　the　Sheriff's　castle；　and　men　ran　hither　and　thither　upon　this　business　and　upon　that；　while　the　forge　fires　of　Nottingham　glowed　red　far　into　the　night　like　twinkling　stars；　for　all　the　smiths　of　the　town　were　busy　making　or　mending　armor　for　the　Sheriff's　troop　of　escort。　For　two　days　this　labor　lasted；　then；　on　the　third；　all　was　ready　for　the　journey。　　So　forth　they　started　in　the　bright　sunlight；　from　Nottingham　Town　to　Fosse　Way　and　thence　to　Watling　Street；　and　so　they　journeyed　for　two　days；　until　they　saw　at　last　the　spires　and　towers　of　great　London　Town；　and　many　folks　stopped；　as　they　journeyed　along；　and　gazed　at　the　show　they　made　riding　along　the　highways　with　their　flashing　armor　and　gay　plumes　and　trappings。
  In　London　King　Henry　and　his　fair　Queen　Eleanor　held　their　court；　gay　with　ladies　in　silks　and　satins　and　velvets　and　cloth　of　gold；　and　also　brave　knights　and　gallant　courtiers。
  Thither　came　the　Sheriff　and　was　shown　into　the　King's　presence。
  〃A　boon；　a　boon；〃　quoth　he；　as　he　knelt　upon　the　ground。
  〃Now　what　wouldst　thou　have？〃　said　the　King。　　〃Let　us　hear　what　may　be　thy　desires。〃
  〃O　good　my　Lord　and　Sovereign；〃　spake　the　Sheriff；　〃in　Sherwood　Forest　in　our　own　good　shire　of　Nottingham；　liveth　a　bold　outlaw　whose　name　is　Robin　Hood。〃
  〃In　good　sooth；〃　said　the　King；　〃his　doings　have　reached　even　our　own　royal　ears。　　He　is　a　saucy；　rebellious　varlet；　yet；　I　am　fain　to　own；　a　right　merry　soul　withal。〃
  〃But　hearken；　O　my　most　gracious　Sovereign；〃　said　the　Sheriff。　　〃I　sent　a　warrant　to　him　with　thine　own　royal　seal　attached；　by　a　right　lusty　knave；　but　he　beat　the　messenger　and　stole　the　warrant。　And　he　killeth　thy　deer　and　robbeth　thine　own　liege　subjects　even　upon　the　great　highways。〃
  〃Why；　how　now；〃　quoth　the　King　wrathfully。　　〃What　wouldst　thou　have　me　do？　Comest　thou　not　to　me　with　a　great　array　of　men…at…arms　and　retainers；　and　yet　art　not　able　to　take　a　single　band　of　lusty　knaves　without　armor　on　breast；　in　thine　own　county！　　What　wouldst　thou　have　me　do？　　Art　thou　not　my　Sheriff？　　Are　not　my　laws　in　force　in　Nottinghamshire？　　Canst　thou　not　take　thine　own　course　against　those　that　break　the　laws　or　do　any　injury　to　thee　or　thine？　　Go；　get　thee　gone；　and　think　well；　devise　some　plan　of　thine　own；　but　trouble　me　no　further。　　But　look　well　to　it；　Master　Sheriff；　for　I　will　have　my　laws　obeyed　by　all　men　within　my　kingdom；　and　if　thou　art　not　able　to　enforce　them　thou　art　no　sheriff　for　me。　So　look　well　to　thyself；　I　say；　or　ill　may　befall　thee　as　well　as　all　the　thieving　knaves　in　Nottinghamshire。　　When　the　flood　cometh　it　swe