d　about　eight　hundred　paces　distant　from　the　one　he　had　left。　Here　he　stood　for　a　moment；　listening　to　the　distant　shouts　of　the　seven　men　as　they　beat　up　and　down　in　the　thickets　like　hounds　that　had　lost　the　scent　of　the　quarry。　　Then；　buckling　his　belt　more　tightly　around　his　waist；　he　ran　fleetly　down　the　road　toward　the　eastward　and　Sherwood。
  But　Robin　had　not　gone　more　than　three　furlongs　in　that　direction　when　he　came　suddenly　to　the　brow　of　a　hill；　and　saw　beneath　him　another　band　of　the　King's　men　seated　in　the　shade　along　the　roadside　in　the　valley　beneath。　　Then　he　paused　not　a　moment；　but；　seeing　that　they　had　not　caught　sight　of　him；　he　turned　and　ran　back　whence　he　had　come；　knowing　that　it　was　better　to　run　the　chance　of　escaping　those　fellows　that　were　yet　in　the　thickets　than　to　rush　into　the　arms　of　those　in　the　valley。　So　back　he　ran　with　all　speed；　and　had　gotten　safely　past　the　thickets；　when　the　seven　men　came　forth　into　the　open　road。　They　raised　a　great　shout　when　they　saw　him；　such　as　the　hunter　gives　when　the　deer　breaks　cover；　but　Robin　was　then　a　quarter　of　a　mile　and　more　away　from　them；　coursing　over　the　ground　like　a　greyhound。　He　never　slackened　his　pace；　but　ran　along；　mile　after　mile；　till　he　had　come
  nigh　to　Mackworth；　over　beyond　the　Derwent　River；　nigh　to　Derby　Town。　　Here；　seeing　that　he　was　out　of　present　danger；　he　slackened　in　his　running；　and　at　last　sat　him　down　beneath　a　hedge　where　the　grass　was　the　longest　and　the　shade　the　coolest；　there　to　rest　and　catch　his　wind。　　〃By　my　soul；　Robin；〃　quoth　he　to　himself；　〃that　was　the　narrowest　miss　that　e'er　thou　hadst　in　all　thy　life。　I　do　say　most　solemnly　that　the　feather　of　that　wicked　shaft　tickled　mine　ear　as　it　whizzed　past。　　This　same　running　hath　given　me　a　most　craving　appetite　for　victuals　and　drink。　Now　I　pray　Saint　Dunstan　that　he　send　me　speedily　some　meat　and　beer。〃
  It　seemed　as　though　Saint　Dunstan　was　like　to　answer　his　prayer；　for　along　the　road　came　plodding　a　certain　cobbler；　one　Quince；　of　Derby；　who　had　been　to　take　a　pair　of　shoes　to　a　farmer　nigh　Kirk　Langly；　and　was　now　coming　back　home　again；　with　a　fair　boiled　capon　in　his　pouch　and　a　stout　pottle　of　beer　by　his　side；　which　same　the　farmer　had　given　him　for　joy　of　such　a　stout　pair　of　shoon。　Good　Quince　was　an　honest　fellow；　but　his　wits　were　somewhat　of　the　heavy　sort；　like　unbaked　dough；　so　that　the　only　thing　that　was　in　his　mind　was；　〃Three　shillings　sixpence　ha'penny　for　thy　shoon；　good　Quincethree　shillings　sixpence　ha'penny　for　thy　shoon；〃　and　this　traveled　round　and　round　inside　of　his　head；　without　another　thought　getting　into　his　noddle；　as　a　pea　rolls　round　and　round　inside　an　empty　quart　pot。
  〃Halloa；　good　friend；〃　quoth　Robin；　from　beneath　the　hedge；　when　the　other　had　gotten　nigh　enough；　〃whither　away　so　merrily　this　bright　day？〃
  Hearing　himself　so　called　upon；　the　Cobbler　stopped；　and；　seeing　a　well…clad　stranger　in　blue；　he　spoke　to　him　in　seemly　wise。　〃Give　ye　good　den；　fair　sir；　and　I　would　say　that　I　come　from　Kirk　Langly；　where　I　ha'　sold　my　shoon　and　got　three　shillings　sixpence　ha'penny　for　them　in　as　sweet　money　as　ever　thou　sawest；　and　honestly　earned　too；　I　would　ha'　thee　know。　But　an　I　may　be　so　bold；　thou　pretty　fellow；　what　dost　thou　there　beneath　the　hedge？〃
  〃Marry；〃　quoth　merry　Robin；　〃I　sit　beneath　the　hedge　here　to　drop　salt　on　the　tails　of　golden　birds；　but　in　sooth　thou　art　the　first　chick　of　any　worth　I　ha'　seen　this　blessed　day。〃
  At　these　words　the　Cobbler's　eyes　opened　big　and　wide；　and　his　mouth　grew　round　with　wonder；　like　a　knothole　in　a　board　fence。　〃slack…a…day；〃　quoth　he；　〃look　ye；　now！　　I　ha'　never　seen　those　same　golden　birds。　　And　dost　thou　in　sooth　find　them　in　these　hedges；　good　fellow？　　Prythee；　tell　me；　are　there　many　of　them？　I　would　fain　find　them　mine　own　self。〃
  〃Ay；　truly；〃　quoth　Robin；　〃they　are　as　thick　here　as　fresh　herring　in　Cannock　Chase。〃
  〃Look　ye；　now！〃　said　the　Cobbler；　all　drowned　in　wonder。　〃And　dost　thou　in　sooth　catch　them　by　dropping　salt　on　their　pretty　tails？〃
  〃Yea；〃　quoth　Robin；　〃but　this　salt　is　of　an　odd　kind；　let　me　tell　thee；　for　it　can　only　be　gotten　by　boiling　down　a　quart　of　moonbeams　in　a　wooden　platter；　and　then　one　hath　but　a　pinch。　But　tell　me；　now；　thou　witty　man；　what　hast　thou　gotten　there　in　that　pouch　by　thy　side　and　in　that　pottle？〃
  At　these　words　the　Cobbler　looked　down　at　those　things　of　which　merry　Robin　spoke；　for　the　thoughts　of　the　golden　bird　had　driven　them　from　his　mind；　and　it　took　him　some　time　to　scrape　the　memory　of　them　back　again。　　〃Why；〃　said　he　at　last；　〃in　the　one　is　good　March　beer；　and　in　the　other　is　a　fat　capon。　　Truly；　Quince　the　Cobbler　will　ha'　a　fine　feast　this　day　an　I　mistake　not。〃
  〃But　tell　me；　good　Quince；〃　said　Robin；　〃hast　thou　a　mind　to　sell　those　things　to　me？　　For　the　hearing　of　them　sounds　sweet　in　mine　ears。　　I　will　give　thee　these　gay　clothes　of　blue　that　I　have　upon　my　body　and　ten　shillings　to　boot　for　thy　clothes　and　thy　leather　apron　and　thy　beer　and　thy　capon。　What　sayst　thou；　bully　boy？〃
  〃Nay；　thou　dost　jest　with　me；〃　said　the　Cobbler；　〃for　my　clothes　are　coarse　and　patched；　and　thine　are　of　fine　stuff　and　very　pretty。〃
  〃Never　a　jest　do　I　speak；〃　quoth　Robin。　　〃Come；　strip　thy　jacket　off　and　I　will　show　thee；　for　I　tell　thee　I　like　thy　clothes　well。　Moreover；　I　will　be　kind　to　thee；　for　I　will　feast　straightway　upon　the　good　things　thou　hast　with　thee；　and　thou　shalt　be　bidden　to　the　eating。〃　　At　these　words　he　began　slipping　off　his　doublet；　and　the　Cobbler；　seeing　him　so　in　earnest；　began　pulling　off　his　clothes　also；　for　Robin　Hood's　garb　tickled　his　eye。　So　each　put　on　the　other　fellow's　clothes；　and　Robin　gave　the　honest　Cobbler　ten　bright　new　shillings。　　Quoth　merry　Robin；　〃I　ha'　been　a　many　things　in　my　life　before；　but　never　have　I　been　an　honest　cobbler。　　Come；　friend；　let　us　fall　to　and　eat；　for　something　within　me　cackles　aloud　for　that　good　fat　capon。〃　So　both　sat　down　and　began　to　feast　right　lustily；　so　that　when　they　were　done　the　bones　of　the　capon　were　picked　as　bare　as　charity。
  Then　Robin　stretched　his　legs　out　with　a　sweet　feeling　of　comfort　within　him。　Quoth　he；　〃By　the　turn　of　thy　voice；　good　Quince；　I　know　that　thou　hast　a　fair　song　or　two　running　loose　in　thy　head　like　colts　in　a　meadow。　I　prythee；　turn　one　of　them　out　for　me。〃
  〃A　song　or　two　I　ha'；〃　quoth　the　Cobbler；　〃poor　things；　poor　things；　but　such　as　they　are　thou　art　welcome　to　one　of　them。〃　So；　moistening　his　throat　with　a　swallow　of　beer；　he　sang：
  〃_Of　all　the　joys；　the　best　I　love；　　　　　　Sing　hey　my　frisking　Nan；　O；　　And　that　which　most　my　soul　doth　move；　　　　　　It　is　the　clinking　can；　O。
  〃All　other　bliss　I'd　throw　away；　　　　　　Sing　hey　my　frisking　Nan；　O；　　But　this_〃
  The　stout　Cobbler　got　no　further　in　his　song；　for　of　a　sudden　six　horsemen　burst　upon　them　where　they　sat；　and　seized　roughly　upon　the　honest　craftsman；　hauling　him　to　his　feet；　and　nearly　plucking　the　clothes　from　him　as　they　did　so。　〃Ha！〃　roared　the　leader　of　the　band　in　a　great　big　voice　of　joy；　〃have　we　then　caught　thee　at　last；　thou　blue…clad　knave？　Now；　blessed　be　the　name　of　Saint　Hubert；　for　we　are　fourscore　pounds　richer　this　minute　than　we　were　before；　for　the　good　Bishop　of　Hereford　hath　promised　that　much　to　the　band　that　shall　bring　thee　to　him。　　Oho！　thou　cunning　rascal！　thou　wouldst　look　so　innocent；　forsooth！　　We　know　thee；　thou　old　fox。　But　off　thou　goest　with　us　to　have　thy　brush　clipped　forthwith。〃　At　these　words　the　poor　Cobbler　gazed　all　around　him　with　his　great　blue　eyes　as　round　as　those　of　a　dead　fish；　while　his　mouth　gaped　as　though　he　had　swallowed　all　his　words　and　so　lost　his　speech。
  Robin　also　gaped　and　stared　in　a　wondering　way；　just　as　the　Cobbler　would　have　done　in　his　place。　　〃Alack…a…daisy；　me；〃　quoth　he。　〃I　know　not　whether　I　be　sitting　here　or　in　No…man's…land！　What　meaneth　all　this　stir　i'　th'　pot；　dear　good　gentlemen？　Surely　this　is　a　sweet；　honest　fellow。〃
  〃　‘Honest　fellow；'　sayst　thou；　clown？〃　quoth　one　of　the　men　〃Why；　I　tell　thee　that　this　is　that　same　rogue　that　men　call　Robin　Hood。〃
  At　this　speech　the　Cobbler　stared　and　gaped　more　than　ever；　for　there　was　such　a　threshing　of　thoughts　going　on
  within　his　poor　head　that　his　wits　were　all　befogged　with　the　dust　and　chaff　thereof。　　Moreover；　as　he　looked　at　Robin　Hood；　and　saw　the　yeoman　look　so　like　what　he　knew　himself　to　be；　he　began　to　doubt　and　to　think　that　mayhap　he　was　the　great　outlaw　in　real　sooth。　Said　he　in　a　slow；　wondering　voice；　〃Am　I　in　very　truth　that　fellow？　Now　I　had　thoughtbut　nay；　Quince；　thou　art　mistookyetam　I？Nay；　I　must　indeed　be　Robin　Hood！　　Yet；　truly；　I　had　never　thought　to　pass　from　an　honest　craftsman　to　such　a　great　yeoman。〃
  〃Alas！〃　quoth　Robin　Hood；　〃look　ye　there；　now！　　See　how　your　ill…treatment　hath　curdled　the　wits　of　this　poor　lad　and　turned　them　all　sour！　I；　myself；　am　Quince；　the　Cobbler　of　Derby　Town。〃
  〃Is　it　so？〃　said　Quince。　　〃Then；　indeed；　I　am　somebody　else；　and　can　be　none　other　than　Robin　Hood。　　Take　me；　fellows；　but　let　me　tell　you　that　ye　ha'　laid　hand　upon　the　stoutest　yeoman　that　ever　trod　the　woodlands。〃
  〃Thou　wilt　play　madman；　wilt　thou？〃　said　the　leader　of　the　band。　〃Here；