that he had been quaffing。 So； of a sudden； without any warning；
he sprang to his feet； and seized upon his bow and fitted it to a shaft。
〃Ay；〃 cried he； 〃and I'll hurry thee anon。〃 And he sent the arrow
whistling after Robin。
It was well for Robin Hood that that same forester's head was
spinning with ale； or else he would never have taken another step。
As it was； the arrow whistled within three inches of his head。
Then he turned around and quickly drew his own bow； and sent
an arrow back in return。
〃Ye said I was no archer；〃 cried he aloud； 〃but say so now again！〃
The shaft flew straight； the archer fell forward with a cry；
and lay on his face upon the ground； his arrows rattling about
him from out of his quiver； the gray goose shaft wet with his；
heart's blood。 Then； before the others could gather their wits
about them； Robin Hood was gone into the depths of the greenwood。
Some started after him； but not with much heart； for each feared
to suffer the death of his fellow； so presently they all came
and lifted the dead man up and bore him away to Nottingham Town。
Meanwhile Robin Hood ran through the greenwood。 Gone was all the joy
and brightness from everything； for his heart was sick within him；
and it was borne in upon his soul that he had slain a man。
〃Alas！〃 cried he； 〃thou hast found me an archer that will make
thy wife to wring！ I would that thou hadst ne'er said one word
to me； or that I had never passed thy way； or e'en that my right
forefinger had been stricken off ere that this had happened！
In haste I smote； but grieve I sore at leisure！〃 And then；
even in his trouble； he remembered the old saw that 〃What is done
is done； and the egg cracked cannot be cured。〃
And so he came to dwell in the greenwood that was to be his home
for many a year to come； never again to see the happy days with
the lads and lasses of sweet Locksley Town； for he was outlawed；
not only because he had killed a man； but also because he had poached
upon the King's deer； and two hundred pounds were set upon his head；
as a reward for whoever would bring him to the court of the King。
Now the Sheriff of Nottingham swore that he himself would
bring this knave Robin Hood to justice； and for two reasons：
first； because he wanted the two hundred pounds； and next；
because the forester that Robin Hood had killed was of kin to him。
But Robin Hood lay hidden in Sherwood Forest for one year；
and in that time there gathered around him many others like himself；
cast out from other folk for this cause and for that。
Some had shot deer in hungry wintertime； when they could get
no other food； and had been seen in the act by the foresters；
but had escaped； thus saving their ears； some had been turned
out of their inheritance； that their farms might be added
to the King's lands in Sherwood Forest； some had been despoiled
by a great baron or a rich abbot or a powerful esquire
all； for one cause or another； had come to Sherwood to escape
wrong and oppression。
So； in all that year； fivescore or more good stout yeomen gathered
about Robin Hood； and chose him to be their leader and chief。
Then they vowed that even as they themselves had been despoiled they
would despoil their oppressors； whether baron； abbot； knight； or squire；
and that from each they would take that which had been wrung from
the poor by unjust taxes； or land rents； or in wrongful fines。
But to the poor folk they would give a helping hand in need and trouble；
and would return to them that which had been unjustly taken from them。
Besides this； they swore never to harm a child nor to wrong a woman；
be she maid； wife； or widow； so that； after a while； when the people
began to find that no harm was meant to them； but that money or food
came in time of want to many a poor family； they came to praise Robin
and his merry men； and to tell many tales of him and of his doings
in Sherwood Forest； for they felt him to be one of themselves。
Up rose Robin Hood one merry morn when all the birds were singing blithely
among the leaves； and up rose all his merry men； each fellow washing his head
and hands in the cold brown brook that leaped laughing from stone to stone。
Then said Robin； 〃For fourteen days have we seen no sport； so now I
will go abroad to seek adventures forthwith。 But tarry ye； my merry
men all； here in the greenwood； only see that ye mind well my call。
Three blasts upon the bugle horn I will blow in my hour of need；
then come quickly； for I shall want your aid。〃
So saying； he strode away through the leafy forest glades until he had
come to the verge of Sherwood。 There he wandered for a long time；
through highway and byway； through dingly dell and forest skirts。
Now he met a fair buxom lass in a shady lane； and each gave the other
a merry word and passed their way； now he saw a fair lady upon an
ambling pad； to whom he doffed his cap； and who bowed sedately in return
to the fair youth； now he saw a fat monk on a pannier…laden ass；
now a gallant knight； with spear and shield and armor that flashed
brightly in the sunlight； now a page clad in crimson； and now a stout
burgher from good Nottingham Town； pacing along with serious footsteps；
all these sights he saw； but adventure found he none。 At last he took
a road by the forest skirts； a bypath that dipped toward a broad；
pebbly stream spanned by a narrow bridge made of a log of wood。 As he drew
nigh this bridge he saw a tall stranger coming from the other side。
Thereupon Robin quickened his pace； as did the stranger likewise；
each thinking to cross first。
〃Now stand thou back；〃 quoth Robin； 〃and let the better man cross first。〃
〃Nay；〃 answered the stranger； 〃then stand back shine own self；
for the better man； I wet； am I。〃
〃That will we presently see；〃 quoth Robin； 〃and meanwhile stand thou
where thou art； or else； by the bright brow of Saint AElfrida； I will show
thee right good Nottingham play with a clothyard shaft betwixt thy ribs。〃
〃Now；〃 quoth the stranger； 〃I will tan thy hide till it be as many colors
as a beggar's cloak； if thou darest so much as touch a string of that same bow
that thou holdest in thy hands。〃
〃Thou pratest like an ass；〃 said Robin； 〃for I could send this
shaft clean through thy proud heart before a curtal friar could
say grace over a roast goose at Michaelmastide。〃
〃And thou pratest like a coward；〃 answered the stranger；
〃for thou standest there with a good yew bow to shoot at my heart；
while I have nought in my hand but a plain blackthorn staff
wherewith to meet thee。〃
〃Now；〃 quoth Robin； 〃by the faith of my heart； never have I had a coward's
name in all my life before。 I will lay by my trusty bow and eke my arrows；
and if thou darest abide my coming； I will go and cut a cudgel to test
thy manhood withal。〃
〃Ay； marry； that will I abide thy coming； and joyously； too；〃
quoth the stranger； whereupon he leaned sturdily upon his staff
to await Robin。
Then Robin Hood stepped quickly to the coverside and cut a good
staff of ground oak； straight； without new； and six feet in length；
and came back trimming away the tender stems from it； while the stranger
waited for him； leaning upon his staff； and whistling as he gazed
round about。 Robin observed him furtively as he trimmed his staff；
measuring him from top to toe from out the corner of his eye；
and thought that he had never seen a lustier or a stouter man。
Tall was Robin； but taller was the stranger by a head and a neck；
for he was seven feet in height。 Broad was Robin across the shoulders；
but broader was the stranger by twice the breadth of a palm；
while he measured at least an ell around the waist。
〃Nevertheless；〃 said Robin to himself； 〃I will baste thy hide right merrily；
my good fellow〃； then； aloud； 〃Lo； here is my good staff； lusty and tough。
Now wait my coming； an thou darest； and meet me an thou fearest not。
Then we will fight until one or the other of us tumble into the stream
by dint of blows。〃
〃Marry； that meeteth my whole heart！〃 cried the stranger；
twirling his staff above his head； betwixt his fingers and thumb；
until it whistled again。
Never did the Knights of Arthur's Round Table meet in a stouter
fight than did these two。 In a moment Robin stepped quickly
upon the bridge where the stranger stood； first he made a feint；
and then delivered a blow at the stranger's head that； had it
met its mark； would have tumbled him speedily into the water。
But the stranger turned the blow right deftly and in return gave
one as stout； which Robin also turned as the stranger had done。
So they stood； each in his place； neither moving a finger's…breadth back；
for one good hour； and many blows were given and received by each in
that time； till here and there were sore bones and bumps； yet neither
thought of crying 〃Enough；〃 nor seemed likely to fall from off the bridge。
Now and then they stopped to rest； and each thought that he never
had seen in all his life before such a hand at quarterstaff。
At last Robin gave the stranger a blow upon the ribs that made his jacket
smoke like a damp straw thatch in the sun。 So shrewd was the stroke
that the stranger came within a hair's…breadth of falling off the bridge；
but he regained himself right quickly and； by a dexterous blow；
gave Robin a crack on the crown that caused the blood to flow。
Then Robin grew mad with anger and smote with all his might at the other。
But the stranger warded the blow and once again thwacked Robin；
and this time so fairly that he fell heels over head into the water；
as the queen pin falls in a game of bowls。
〃And where art thou now； my good lad？〃 shouted the stranger；
roaring with laughter。
〃Oh； in the flood and floating adown with the tide；〃 cried Robin；
nor could he forbear laughing himself at his sorry plight。
Then； gaining his feet； he waded to the bank； the little fish
speeding hither and thither； all frightened at his splashing。
〃Give me thy hand；〃 cried he； when he had reached the bank。
〃I must needs own thou art a brave and a sturdy soul and； withal；
a good stout stroke with the cudgels。 By this and by that；
my head hummeth like to a hive of bees on a hot June day。〃
Then he clapped his horn to his lips