At　this　all　laughed　but　Little　John　and　Robin；　who　twisted　up　his　face。　〃I　can　speak　for　Midge；〃　said　he；　〃and　likewise　for　my　cousin　Scarlet。　This　very　blessed　morn　I　looked　at　my　ribs　and　found　them　as　many　colors　as　a　beggar's　cloak。〃
  So；　having　chosen　four　more　stout　fellows；　Will　Stutely　and　his　band　set　forth　to　Fosse　Way；　to　find　whether　they　might　not　come　across　some　rich　guest　to　feast　that　day　in　Sherwood　with　Robin　and　his　band。
  For　all　the　livelong　day　they　abided　near　this　highway。　Each　man　had　brought　with　him　a　good　store　of　cold　meat　and　a　bottle　of　stout　March　beer　to　stay　his　stomach　till　the　homecoming。　So　when　high　noontide　had　come　they　sat　them　down　upon　the　soft　grass；　beneath　a　green　and　wide…spreading　hawthorn　bush；　and　held　a　hearty　and　jovial　feast。　　After　this；　one　kept　watch　while　the　others　napped；　for　it　was　a　still　and　sultry　day。
  Thus　they　passed　the　time　pleasantly　enow；　but　no　guest　such　as　they　desired　showed　his　face　in　all　the　time　that　they　lay　hidden　there。　Many　passed　along　the　dusty　road　in　the　glare　of　the　sun：　now　it　was　a　bevy　of　chattering　damsels　merrily　tripping　along；　now　it　was　a　plodding　tinker；　now　a　merry　shepherd　lad；　now　a　sturdy　farmer；　all　gazing　ahead　along　the　road；　unconscious　of　the　seven　stout　fellows　that　lay　hidden　so　near　them。　Such　were　the　travelers　along　the　way；　but　fat　abbot；　rich　esquire；　or　money…laden　usurer　came　there　none。
  At　last　the　sun　began　to　sink　low　in　the　heavens；　the　light　grew　red　and　the　shadows　long。　　The　air　grew　full　of　silence；　the　birds　twittered　sleepily；　and　from　afar　came；　faint　and　clear；　the　musical　song　of　the　milkmaid　calling　the　kine　home　to　the　milking。
  Then　Stutely　arose　from　where　he　was　lying。　　〃A　plague　of　such　ill　luck！〃　quoth　he。　　〃Here　have　we　abided　all　day；　and　no　bird　worth　the　shooting；　so　to　speak；　hath　come　within　reach　of　our　bolt。　Had　I　gone　forth　on　an　innocent　errand；　I　had　met　a　dozen　stout　priests　or　a　score　of　pursy　money…lenders。　But　it　is　ever　thus：　the　dun　deer　are　never　so　scarce　as　when　one　has　a　gray　goose　feather　nipped　betwixt　the　fingers。　　Come；　lads；　let　us　pack　up　and　home　again；　say　I。〃
  Accordingly；　the　others　arose；　and；　coming　forth　from　out　the　thicket；　they　all　turned　their　toes　back　again　to　Sherwood。　　After　they　had　gone　some　distance；　Will　Stutely；　who　headed　the　party；　suddenly　stopped。　〃Hist！〃　quoth　he；　for　his　ears　were　as　sharp　as　those　of　a　five…year…old　fox。　〃Hark；　lads！　　Methinks　I　hear　a　sound。〃　　At　this　all　stopped　and　listened　with　bated　breath；　albeit　for　a　time　they　could　hear　nothing；　their　ears　being　duller　than　Stutely's。　At　length　they　heard　a　faint　and　melancholy　sound；　like　someone　in　lamentation。
  〃Ha！〃　quoth　Will　Scarlet；　〃this　must　be　looked　into。　There　is　someone　in　distress　nigh　to　us　here。〃
  〃I　know　not；〃　quoth　Will　Stutely；　shaking　his　head　doubtfully；　〃our　master　is　ever　rash　about　thrusting　his　finger　into　a　boiling　pot；　but；　for　my　part；　I　see　no　use　in　getting　ourselves　into　mischievous　coils。　Yon　is　a　man's　voice；　if　I　mistake　not；　and　a　man　should　be　always　ready　to　get　himself　out　from　his　own　pothers。〃
  Then　out　spake　Will　Scarlet　boldly。　　〃Now　out　upon　thee；　to　talk　in　that　manner；　Stutely！　　Stay；　if　thou　dost　list。　I　go　to　see　what　may　be　the　trouble　of　this　poor　creature。〃
  〃Nay；〃　quoth　Stutely；　〃thou　dost　leap　so　quickly；　thou'lt　tumble　into　the　ditch。　　Who　said　I　would　not　go？　　Come　along；　say　I。〃　Thus　saying；　he　led　the　way；　the　others　following；　till；　after　they　had　gone　a　short　distance；　they　came　to　a　little　opening　in　the　woodland；　whence　a　brook；　after　gurgling　out　from　under　the　tangle　of　overhanging　bushes；　spread　out　into　a　broad　and　glassy…pebbled　pool。　By　the　side　of　this　pool；　and　beneath　the　branches　of　a　willow；　lay　a　youth　upon　his　face；　weeping　aloud；　the　sound　of　which　had　first　caught　the　quick　ears　of　Stutely。　　His　golden　locks　were　tangled；　his　clothes　were　all　awry；　and　everything　about　him　betokened　sorrow　and　woe。　Over　his　head；　from　the　branches　of　the　osier；　hung　a　beautiful　harp　of　polished　wood　inlaid　with　gold　and　silver　in　fantastic　devices。　Beside　him　lay　a　stout　ashen　bow　and　half　a　score　of　fair；　smooth　arrows。
  〃Halloa！〃　shouted　Will　Stutely；　when　they　had　come　out　from　the　forest　into　the　little　open　spot。　　〃Who　art　thou；　fellow；　that　liest　there　killing　all　the　green　grass　with　salt　water？〃
  Hearing　the　voice；　the　stranger　sprang　to　his　feet　and；　snatching　up　his　bow　and　fitting　a　shaft；　held　himself　in　readiness　for　whatever　ill　might　befall　him。
  〃Truly；〃　said　one　of　the　yeomen；　when　they　had　seen　the　young　stranger's　face；　〃I　do　know　that　lad　right　well。　　He　is　a　certain　minstrel　that　I　have　seen　hereabouts　more　than　once。　　It　was　only　a　week　ago　I　saw　him　skipping　across　the　hill　like　a　yearling　doe。　A　fine　sight　he　was　then；　with　a　flower　at　his　ear　and　a　cock's　plume　stuck　in　his　cap；　but　now；　methinks；　our　cockerel　is　shorn　of　his　gay　feathers。〃
  〃Pah！〃　cried　Will　Stutely；　coming　up　to　the　stranger；　〃wipe　thine　eyes；　man！　　I　do　hate　to　see　a　tall；　stout　fellow　so　sniveling　like　a　girl　of　fourteen　over　a　dead　tomtit。　Put　down　thy　bow；　man！　　We　mean　thee　no　harm。〃
  But　Will　Scarlet；　seeing　how　the　stranger；　who　had　a　young　and　boyish　look；　was　stung　by　the　words　that　Stutely　had　spoken；　came　to　him　and　put　his　hand　upon　the　youth's　shoulder。　〃Nay；　thou　art　in　trouble；　poor　boy！〃　said　he　kindly。　〃Mind　not　what　these　fellows　have　said。　　They　are　rough；　but　they　mean　thee　well。　　Mayhap　they　do　not　understand　a　lad　like　thee。　Thou　shalt　come　with　us；　and　perchance　we　may　find　a　certain　one　that　can　aid　thee　in　thy　perplexities；　whatsoever　they　may　be。〃
  〃Yea；　truly；　come　along；〃　said　Will　Stutely　gruffly。　〃I　meant　thee　no　harm；　and　may　mean　thee　some　good。　Take　down　thy　singing　tool　from　off　this　fair　tree；　and　away　with　us。〃
  The　youth　did　as　he　was　bidden　and；　with　bowed　head　and　sorrowful　step；　accompanied　the　others；　walking　beside　Will　Scarlet。　　So　they　wended　their　way　through　the　forest。　　The　bright　light　faded　from　the　sky　and　a　glimmering　gray　fell　over　all　things。　From　the　deeper　recesses　of　the　forest　the　strange　whispering　sounds　of　night…time　came　to　the　ear；　all　else　was　silent；　saving　only　for　the　rattling　of　their　footsteps　amid　the　crisp；　dry　leaves　of　the　last　winter。　　At　last　a　ruddy　glow　shone　before　them　here　and　there　through　the　trees；　a　little　farther　and　they　came　to　the　open　glade；　now　bathed　in　the　pale　moonlight。　In　the　center　of　the　open　crackled　a　great　fire；　throwing　a　red　glow　on　all　around。　　At　the　fire　were　roasting　juicy　steaks　of　venison；　pheasants；　capons；　and　fresh　fish　from　the　river。　All　the　air　was　filled　with　the　sweet　smell　of　good　things　cooking。
  The　little　band　made　its　way　across　the　glade；　many　yeomen　turning　with　curious　looks　and　gazing　after　them；　but　none　speaking　or　questioning　them。　So；　with　Will　Scarlet　upon　one　side　and　Will　Stutely　upon　the　other；　the　stranger　came　to　where　Robin　Hood　sat　on　a　seat　of　moss　under　the　greenwood　tree；　with　Little　John　standing　beside　him。
  〃Good　even；　fair　friend；〃　said　Robin　Hood；　rising　as　the　other　drew　near。　〃And　hast　thou　come　to　feast　with　me　this　day？〃
  〃Alas！　　I　know　not；〃　said　the　lad；　looking　around　him　with　dazed　eyes；　for　he　was　bewildered　with　all　that　he　saw。　〃Truly；　I　know　not　whether　I　be　in　a　dream；〃　said　he　to　himself　in　a　low　voice。
  〃Nay；　marry；〃　quoth　Robin；　laughing；　〃thou　art　awake；　as　thou　wilt　presently　find；　for　a　fine　feast　is　a…cooking　for　thee。　Thou　art　our　honored　guest　this　day。〃
  Still　the　young　stranger　looked　about　him；　as　though　in　a　dream。　Presently　he　turned　to　Robin。　　〃Methinks；〃　said　he；　〃I　know　now　where　I　am　and　what　hath　befallen　me。　　Art　not　thou　the　great　Robin　Hood？〃
  〃Thou　hast　hit　the　bull's　eye；〃　quoth　Robin；　clapping　him　upon　the　shoulder。　〃Men　hereabouts　do　call　me　by　that　name。　　Sin'　thou　knowest　me；　thou　knowest　also　that　he　who　feasteth　with　me　must　pay　his　reckoning。　I　trust　thou　hast　a　full　purse　with　thee；　fair　stranger。〃
  〃Alas！〃　said　the　stranger；　〃I　have　no　purse　nor　no　money　either；　saving　only　the　half　of　a　sixpence；　the　other　half　of　which　mine　own　dear　love　doth　carry　in　her　bosom；　hung　about　her　neck　by　a　strand　of　silken　thread。〃
  At　this　speech　a　great　shout　of　laughter　went　up　from　those　around；　whereat　the　poor　boy　looked　as　he　would　die　of　shame；　but　Robin　Hood　turned　sharply　to　Will　Stutely。　　〃Why；　how　now；〃　quoth　he；　〃is　this　the　guest　that　thou　hast　brought　us　to　fill　our　purse？　Methinks　thou　hast　brought　but　a　lean　cock　to　the　market。〃
  〃Nay；　good　master；〃　answered　Will　Stutely；　grinning；　〃he　is　no　guest　of　mine；　it　was　Will　Scarlet　that　brought　him　thither。〃
  Then　up　spoke　Will　Scarlet；　and　told　how　they　had　found　the　lad　in　sorrow；　and　how　he　had　brought　him　to　Robin；　thinking　that　he　might　perchance　aid　him　in　his　trouble。　Then　Robin　Hood　turned　to　the　youth；　and；　placing　his　hand　upon　the　other's　shoulder；　held　him　off　at　arm's　length；　scanning　his　face　closely。
  〃A　young　face；〃　quoth　he　in　a　low　voice；　half　to　himself；　〃a　kind　face；　a　good　face。　　'Tis　like　a　maiden's　for　purity；　and；　withal；　the　fairest　that　e'er　mine　eyes　did　see；　but；　if　I　may　judge　fairly　by　thy　looks；　grief　cometh　to　young　as　well　a