and put fifty back into the purse。 This he handed to the King。 〃Here； brother；〃 quoth he； 〃take this half of thy money； and thank Saint Martin； on whom thou didst call before； that thou hast fallen into the hands of such gentle rogues that they will not strip thee bare； as they might do。 But wilt thou not put back thy cowl？ For I would fain see thy face。〃
〃Nay；〃 said the King； drawing back； 〃I may not put back my cowl； for we seven have vowed that we will not show our faces for four and twenty hours。〃 ；
〃Then keep them covered in peace；〃 said Robin； 〃and far be it from me to make you break your vows。〃
So he called seven of his yeomen and bade them each one take a mule by the bridle； then； turning their faces toward the depths of the woodlands； they journeyed onward until they came to the open glade and the greenwood tree。
Little John； with threescore yeomen at his heels； had also gone forth that morning to wait along the roads and bring a rich guest to Sherwood glade； if such might be his luck； for many with fat purses must travel the roads at this time； when such great doings were going on in Nottinghamshire； but though Little John and so many others were gone； Friar Tuck and twoscore or more stout yeomen were seated or lying around beneath the great tree； and when Robin and the others came they leaped to their feet to meet him。
〃By my soul；〃 quoth merry King Richard； when he had gotten down from his mule and stood looking about him； 〃thou hast in very truth a fine lot of young men about thee； Robin。 Methinks King Richard himself would be glad of such a bodyguard。〃
〃These are not all of my fellows；〃 said Robin proudly； 〃for threescore more of them are away on business with my good right…hand man； Little John。 But； as for King Richard； I tell thee； brother； there is not a man of us all but would pour out our blood like water for him。 Ye churchmen cannot rightly understand our King； but we yeomen love him right loyally for the sake of his brave doings which are so like our own。〃
But now Friar Tuck came bustling up。 〃Gi' ye good den； brothers；〃 said he。 〃I am right glad to welcome some of my cloth in this naughty place。 Truly； methinks these rogues of outlaws would stand but an ill chance were it not for the prayers of Holy Tuck； who laboreth so hard for their well…being。〃 Here he winked one eye slyly and stuck his tongue into his cheek。
〃Who art thou； mad priest？〃 said the King in a serious voice； albeit he smiled beneath his cowl。
At this Friar Tuck looked all around with a slow gaze。 〃Look you now；〃 quoth he； 〃never let me hear you say again that I am no patient man。 Here is a knave of a friar calleth me a mad priest； and yet I smite him not。 My name is Friar Tuck； fellowthe holy Friar Tuck。〃
〃There； Tuck；〃 said Robin； 〃thou hast said enow。 Prythee； cease thy talk and bring some wine。 These reverend men are athirst； and sin' they have paid so richly for their score they must e'en have the best。〃
Friar Tuck bridled at being so checked in his speech； nevertheless he went straightway to do Robin's bidding； so presently a great crock was brought； and wine was poured out for all the guests and for Robin Hood。 Then Robin held his cup aloft。 〃Stay！〃 cried he。 〃Tarry in your drinking till I give you a pledge。 Here is to good King Richard of great renown； and may all enemies to him be confounded。〃
Then all drank the King's health； even the King himself。 〃Methinks； good fellow；〃 said he； 〃thou hast drunk to thine own confusion。〃
〃Never a whit；〃 quoth merry Robin； 〃for I tell thee that we of Sherwood are more loyal to our lord the King than those of thine order。 We would give up our lives for his benefiting； while ye are content to lie snug in your abbeys and priories let reign who will。〃
At this the King laughed。 Quoth he； 〃Perhaps King Richard's welfare is more to me than thou wottest of； fellow。 But enough of that matter。 We have paid well for our fare； so canst thou not show us some merry entertainment？ I have oft heard that ye are wondrous archers； wilt thou not show us somewhat of your skill？〃
〃With all my heart；〃 said Robin； 〃we are always pleased to show our guests all the sport that is to be seen。 As Gaffer Swanthold sayeth； ‘ 'Tis a hard heart that will not give a caged starling of the best'； and caged starlings ye are with us。 Ho； lads！ Set up a garland at the end of the glade。〃
Then； as the yeomen ran to do their master's bidding； Tuck turned to one of the mock friars。 〃Hearest thou our master？〃 quoth he； with a sly wink。 〃Whenever he cometh across some poor piece of wit he straightway layeth it on the shoulders of this Gaffer Swantholdwhoever he may be so that the poor goodman goeth traveling about with all the odds and ends and tags and rags of our master's brain packed on his back。〃 Thus spake Friar Tuck； but in a low voice so that Robin could not hear him； for he felt somewhat nettled at Robin's cutting his talk so short。
In the meantime the mark at which they were to shoot was set up at sixscore paces distance。 It was a garland of leaves and flowers two spans in width； which same was hung upon a stake in front of a broad tree trunk。 〃There；〃 quoth Robin； 〃yon is a fair mark； lads。 Each of you shoot three arrows thereat； and if any fellow misseth by so much as one arrow； he shall have a buffet of Will Scarlet's fist。〃
〃Hearken to him！〃 quoth Friar Tuck。 〃Why； master； thou dost bestow buffets from thy strapping nephew as though they were love taps from some bouncing lass。 I warrant thou art safe to hit the garland thyself； or thou wouldst not be so free of his cuffing。〃
First David of Doncaster shot； and lodged all three of his arrows within the garland。 〃Well done； David！〃 cried Robin； 〃thou hast saved thine ears from a warming this day。〃 Next Midge； the Miller； shot； and he； also； lodged his arrows in the garland。 Then followed Wat； the Tinker； but alas for him！ For one of his shafts missed the mark by the breadth of two fingers。
〃Come hither； fellow；〃 said Will Scarlet； in his soft； gentle voice； 〃I owe thee somewhat that I would pay forthwith。〃 Then Wat； the Tinker； came forward and stood in front of Will Scarlet； screwing up his face and shutting his eyes tightly； as though he already felt his ears ringing with the buffet。 Will Scarlet rolled up his sleeve； and； standing on tiptoe to give the greater swing to his arm； he struck with might and main。 〃WHOOF！〃 came his palm against the Tinker's head； and down went stout Wat to the grass； heels over head； as the wooden image at the fair goes down when the skillful player throws a cudgel at it。 Then； as the Tinker sat up upon the grass； rubbing his ear and winking and blinking at the bright stars that danced before his eyes； the yeomen roared with mirth till the forest rang。 As for King Richard； he laughed till the tears ran down his cheeks。 Thus the band shot； each in turn； some getting off scot free； and some winning a buffet that always sent them to the grass。 And now； last of all； Robin took his place； and all was hushed as he shot。 The first shaft he shot split a piece from the stake on which the garland was hung； the second lodged within an inch of the other。 〃By my halidom；〃 said King Richard to himself； 〃I would give a thousand pounds for this fellow to be one of my guard！〃 And now； for the third time Robin shot； but； alas for him！ The arrow was ill…feathered； and； wavering to one side； it smote an inch outside the garland。
At this a great roar went up； those of the yeomen who sat upon the grass rolling over and over and shouting with laughter； for never before had they seen their master so miss his mark； but Robin flung his bow upon the ground with vexation。 〃Now； out upon it！〃 cried he。 〃That shaft had an ill feather to it； for I felt it as it left my fingers。 Give me a clean arrow； and I will engage to split the wand with it。〃
At these words the yeomen laughed louder than ever。 〃Nay； good uncle；〃 said Will Scarlet in his soft； sweet voice； 〃thou hast had thy fair chance and hast missed thine aim out and out。 I swear the arrow was as good as any that hath been loosed this day。 Come hither； I owe thee somewhat； and would fain pay it。〃
〃Go； good master；〃 roared Friar Tuck； 〃and may my blessing go with thee。 Thou hast bestowed these love taps of Will Scarlet's with great freedom。 It were pity an thou gottest not thine own share。〃
〃It may not be；〃 said merry Robin。 〃I am king here； and no subject may raise hand against the king。 But even our great King Richard may yield to the holy Pope without shame； and even take a tap from him by way of penance； therefore I will yield myself to this holy friar； who seemeth to be one in authority； and will take my punishment from him。〃 Thus saying； he turned to the King； 〃I prythee； brother； wilt thou take my punishing into thy holy hands？〃
〃With all my heart；〃 quoth merry King Richard； rising from where he was sitting。 〃I owe thee somewhat for having lifted a heavy weight of fifty pounds from my purse。 So make room for him on the green； lads。〃
〃An thou makest me tumble；〃 quoth Robin； 〃I will freely give thee back thy fifty pounds； but I tell thee； brother； if thou makest me not feel grass all along my back； I will take every farthing thou hast for thy boastful speech。〃
〃So be it；〃 said the King； 〃I am willing to venture it。〃 Thereupon he rolled up his sleeve and showed an arm that made the yeomen stare。 But Robin； with his feet wide apart； stood firmly planted； waiting the other； smiling。 Then the King swung back his arm； and； balancing himself a moment； he delivered a buffet at Robin that fell like a thunderbolt。 Down went Robin headlong upon the grass； for the stroke would have felled a stone wall。 Then how the yeomen shouted with laughter till their sides ached； for never had they seen such a buffet given in all their lives。 As for Robin； he presently sat up and looked all around him； as though he had dropped from a cloud and had lit in a place he had never seen before。 After a while； still gazing about him at his laughing yeomen； he put his fingertips softly to his ear and felt all around it tenderly。 〃Will Scarlet；〃 said he； 〃count this fellow out his fifty pounds； I want nothing more either of his money or of him。 A murrain s