thee　this　day。〃
  At　this　Robin　laughed　again；　and；　turning　to　the　Tanner；　he　said；　〃Wilt　thou　join　my　band；　good　Arthur？　　For　I　make　my　vow　thou　art　one　of　the　stoutest　men　that　ever　mine　eyes　beheld。〃
  〃Will　I　join　thy　band？〃　cried　the　Tanner　joyfully。　〃Ay；　marry；　will　I！　　Hey　for　a　merry　life！〃　cried　he；　leaping　aloft　and　snapping　his　fingers；　〃and　hey　for　the　life　I　love！　Away　with　tanbark　and　filthy　vats　and　foul　cowhides！　I　will　follow　thee　to　the　ends　of　the　earth；　good　master；　and　not　a　herd　of　dun　deer　in　all　the　forest　but　shall　know　the　sound　of　the　twang　of　my　bowstring。〃
  〃As　for　thee；　Little　John；〃　said　Robin；　turning　to　him　and　laughing；　〃thou　wilt　start　once　more　for　Ancaster；　and　we　will　go　part　way　with　thee；　for　I　will　not　have　thee　turn　again　to　either　the　right　hand　or　the　left　till　thou　hast　fairly　gotten　away　from　Sherwood。　　There　are　other　inns　that　thou　knowest　yet；　hereabouts。〃　　Thereupon；　leaving　the　thickets；　they　took　once　more　to　the　highway　and　departed　upon　their　business。
  Robin　Hood　and　Will　Scarlet
  THUS　THEY　traveled　along　the　sunny　road；　three　stout　fellows　such　as　you　could　hardly　match　anywhere　else　in　all　merry　England。　　Many　stopped　to　gaze　after　them　as　they　strode　along；　so　broad　were　their　shoulders　and　so　sturdy　their　gait。
  Quoth　Robin　Hood　to　Little　John；　〃Why　didst　thou　not　go　straight　to　Ancaster；　yesterday；　as　I　told　thee？　　Thou　hadst　not　gotten　thyself　into　such　a　coil　hadst　thou　done　as　I　ordered。〃
  〃I　feared　the　rain　that　threatened；〃　said　Little　John　in　a　sullen　tone；　for　he　was　vexed　at　being　so　chaffed　by　Robin　with　what　had　happened　to　him。
  〃The　rain！〃　cried　Robin；　stopping　of　a　sudden　in　the　middle　of　the　road；　and　looking　at　Little　John　in　wonder。　　〃Why；　thou　great　oaf！　not　a　drop　of　rain　has　fallen　these　three　days；　neither　has　any　threatened；　nor　hath　there　been　a　sign　of　foul　weather　in　earth　or　sky　or　water。〃
  〃Nevertheless；〃　growled　Little　John；　〃the　holy　Saint　Swithin　holdeth　the　waters　of　the　heavens　in　his　pewter　pot；　and　he　could　have　poured　them　out；　had　he　chosen；　even　from　a　clear　sky；　and　wouldst　thou　have　had　me　wet　to　the　skin？〃
  At　this　Robin　Hood　burst　into　a　roar　of　laughter。　　〃O　Little　John！〃　said　he；　〃what　butter　wits　hast　thou　in　that　head　of　thine！　Who　could　hold　anger　against　such　a　one　as　thou　art？〃
  So　saying；　they　all　stepped　out　once　more；　with　the　right　foot　foremost；　as　the　saying　is。
  After　they　had　traveled　some　distance；　the　day　being　warm　and　the　road　dusty；　Robin　Hood　waxed　thirsty；　so；　there　being　a　fountain　of　water　as　cold　as　ice；　just　behind　the　hedgerow；　they　crossed　the　stile　and　came　to　where　the　water　bubbled　up　from　beneath　a　mossy　stone。　　Here；　kneeling　and　making　cups　of　the　palms　of　their　hands；　they　drank　their　fill；　and　then；　the　spot　being　cool　and　shady；　they　stretched　their　limbs　and　rested　them　for　a　space。
  In　front　of　them；　over　beyond　the　hedge；　the　dusty　road　stretched　away　across　the　plain；　behind　them　the　meadow　lands　and　bright　green　fields　of　tender　young　corn　lay　broadly　in　the　sun；　and　overhead　spread　the　shade　of　the　cool；　rustling　leaves　of　the　beechen　tree。　Pleasantly　to　their　nostrils　came　the　tender　fragrance　of　the　purple　violets　and　wild　thyme　that　grew　within　the　dewy　moisture　of　the　edge　of　the　little　fountain；　and　pleasantly　came　the　soft　gurgle　of　the　water。　All　was　so　pleasant　and　so　full　of　the　gentle　joy　of　the　bright　Maytime；　that　for　a　long　time　no　one　of　the　three　cared　to　speak；　but　each　lay　on　his　back；　gazing　up　through　the　trembling　leaves　of　the　trees　to　the　bright　sky　overhead。　　At　last；　Robin；　whose　thoughts　were　not　quite　so　busy　wool…gathering　as　those　of　the　others；　and　who　had　been　gazing　around　him　now　and　then；　broke　the　silence。
  〃Heyday！〃　quoth　he；　〃yon　is　a　gaily　feathered　bird；　I　take　my　vow。〃
  The　others　looked　and　saw　a　young　man　walking　slowly　down　the　highway。　Gay　was　he；　indeed；　as　Robin　had　said；　and　a　fine　figure　he　cut；　for　his　doublet　was　of　scarlet　silk　and　his　stockings　also；　a　handsome　sword　hung　by　his　side；　the　embossed　leathern　scabbard　being　picked　out　with　fine　threads　of　gold；　his　cap　was　of　scarlet　velvet；　and　a　broad　feather　hung　down　behind　and　back　of　one　ear。　His　hair　was　long　and　yellow　and　curled　upon　his　shoulders；　and　in　his　hand　he　bore　an　early　rose；　which　he　smelled　at　daintily　now　and　then。
  〃By　my　life！〃　quoth　Robin　Hood；　laughing；　〃saw　ye　e'er　such　a　pretty；　mincing　fellow？〃
  〃Truly；　his　clothes　have　overmuch　prettiness　for　my　taste；〃　quoth　Arthur　a　Bland；　〃but；　ne'ertheless；　his　shoulders　are　broad　and　his　loins　are　narrow；　and　seest　thou；　good　master；　how　that　his　arms　hang　from　his　body？　They　dangle　not　down　like　spindles；　but　hang　stiff　and　bend　at　the　elbow。　I　take　my　vow；　there　be　no　bread　and　milk　limbs　in　those　fine　clothes；　but　stiff　joints　and　tough　thews。〃
  〃Methinks　thou　art　right；　friend　Arthur；〃　said　Little　John。　　〃I　do　verily　think　that　yon　is　no　such　roseleaf　and　whipped…cream　gallant　as　he　would　have　one　take　him　to　be。〃
  〃Pah！〃　quoth　Robin　Hood；　〃the　sight　of　such　a　fellow　doth　put　a　nasty　taste　into　my　mouth！　　Look　how　he　doth　hold　that　fair　flower　betwixt　his　thumb　and　finger；　as　he　would　say；　‘Good　rose；　I　like　thee　not　so　ill　but　I　can　bear　thy　odor　for　a　little　while。'　I　take　it　ye　are　both　wrong；　and　verily　believe　that　were　a　furious　mouse　to　run　across　his　path；　he　would　cry；　‘La！'　or　‘Alack…a…day！'　and　fall　straightway　into　a　swoon。　I　wonder　who　he　may　be。〃
  〃Some　great　baron's　son；　I　doubt　not；〃　answered　Little　John；　〃with　good　and　true　men's　money　lining　his　purse。〃
  〃Ay；　marry；　that　is　true；　I　make　no　doubt；〃　quoth　Robin。　　〃What　a　pity　that　such　men　as　he；　that　have　no　thought　but　to　go　abroad　in　gay　clothes；　should　have　good　fellows；　whose　shoes　they　are　not　fit　to　tie；　dancing　at　their　bidding。　　By　Saint　Dunstan；　Saint　Alfred；　Saint　Withold；　and　all　the　good　men　in　the　Saxon　calendar；　it　doth　make　me　mad　to　see　such　gay　lordlings　from　over　the　sea　go　stepping　on　the　necks　of　good　Saxons　who　owned　this　land　before　ever　their　great…grandsires　chewed　rind　of　brawn！　By　the　bright　bow　of　Heaven；　I　will　have　their　ill…gotten　gains　from　them；　even　though　I　hang　for　it　as　high　as　e'er　a　forest　tree　in　Sherwood！〃
  〃Why；　how　now；　master；〃　quoth　Little　John；　〃what　heat　is　this？　Thou　dost　set　thy　pot　a…boiling；　and　mayhap　no　bacon　to　cook！　Methinks　yon　fellow's　hair　is　overlight　for　Norman　locks。　He　may　be　a　good　man　and　true　for　aught　thou　knowest。〃
  〃Nay；〃　said　Robin；　〃my　head　against　a　leaden　farthing；　he　is　what　I　say。　So；　lie　ye　both　here；　I　say；　till　I　show　you　how　I　drub　this　fellow。〃　So　saying；　Robin　Hood　stepped　forth　from　the　shade　of　the　beech　tree；　crossed　the　stile；　and　stood　in　the　middle　of　the　road；　with　his　hands　on　his　hips；　in　the　stranger's　path。
  Meantime　the　stranger；　who　had　been　walking　so　slowly　that　all　this　talk　was　held　before　he　came　opposite　the　place　where　they　were；　neither　quickened　his　pace　nor　seemed　to　see　that　such　a　man　as　Robin　Hood　was　in　the　world。　So　Robin　stood　in　the　middle　of　the　road；　waiting　while　the　other　walked　slowly　forward；　smelling　his　rose；　and　looking　this　way　and　that；　and　everywhere　except　at　Robin。
  〃Hold！〃　cried　Robin；　when　at　last　the　other　had　come　close　to　him。　　〃Hold！　　Stand　where　thou　art！〃
  〃Wherefore　should　I　hold；　good　fellow？〃　said　the　stranger　in　soft　and　gentle　voice。　　〃And　wherefore　should　I　stand　where　I　am？　Ne'ertheless；　as　thou　dost　desire　that　I　should　stay；　I　will　abide　for　a　short　time；　that　I　may　hear　what　thou　mayst　have　to　say　to　me。〃
  〃Then；〃　quoth　Robin；　〃as　thou　dost　so　fairly　do　as　I　tell　thee；　and　dost　give　me　such　soft　speech；　I　will　also　treat　thee　with　all　due　courtesy。　I　would　have　thee　know；　fair　friend；　that　I　am；　as　it　were；　a　votary　at　the　shrine　of　Saint　Wilfred　who；　thou　mayst　know；　took；　willy…nilly；　all　their　gold　from　the　heathen；　and　melted　it　up　into　candlesticks。　Wherefore；　upon　such　as　come　hereabouts；　I　levy　a　certain　toll；　which　I　use　for　a　better　purpose；　I　hope；　than　to　make　candlesticks　withal。　Therefore；　sweet　chuck；　I　would　have　thee　deliver　to　me　thy　purse；　that　I　may　look　into　it；　and　judge；　to　the　best　of　my　poor　powers；　whether　thou　hast　more　wealth　about　thee　than　our　law　allows。　For；　as　our　good　Gaffer　Swanthold　sayeth；　‘He　who　is　fat　from　overliving　must　needs　lose　blood。'　　〃
  All　this　time　the　youth　had　been　sniffing　at　the　rose　that　he　held　betwixt　his　thumb　and　finger。　　〃Nay；〃　said　he　with　a　gentle　smile；　when　Robin　Hood　had　done；　〃I　do　love　to　hear　thee　talk；　thou　pretty　fellow；　and　if；　haply；　thou　art　not　yet　done；　finish；　I　beseech　thee。　I　have　yet　some　little　time　to　stay。〃
  〃I　have　said　all；〃　quoth　Robin；　〃and　now；　if　thou　wilt　give　me　thy　purse；　I　will　let　thee　go　thy　way　without　let　or　hindrance　so　soon　as　I　shall　see　what　it　may　hold。　　I　will　take　none　from　thee　if　thou　hast　but　little。〃
  〃Alas！　　It　doth　grieve　me　much；〃　said　the　other；　〃that　I　cannot　do　as　thou　dost　wish。　　I　have　nothing　to　give　thee。　　Let　me　go　my　way；　I　prythee。　I　have　done　thee　no　harm。〃
  〃Nay；　thou　goest　not；〃　quoth　Robin；　〃till　thou　hast　shown　me　thy　purse。〃
  〃Good　friend；〃　said　the　other　gently；　〃I　have　business　elsewhere。　I　have　given　thee　much　time　and　have　heard　the