finger upon a rat among the dust and broken things of a garret。
Nay； my gracious lord； if he doth once plant foot in the woodland；
he is lost to the law forever。〃
At these words the King tapped his fingertips upon the table beside
him with vexation。 〃What wouldst thou have me do； Bishop？〃 quoth he。
〃Didst thou not hear me pledge my word to the Queen？ Thy talk is
as barren as the wind from the bellows upon dead coals。〃
〃Far be it from me；〃 said the cunning Bishop； 〃to point the way
to one so clear…sighted as Your Majesty； but； were I the King
of England； I should look upon the matter in this wise：
I have promised my Queen； let us say； that for forty days
the cunningest rogue in all England shall have freedom
to come and go； but； lo！ I find this outlaw in my grasp；
shall I； then； foolishly cling to a promise so hastily given？
Suppose that I had promised to do Her Majesty's bidding；
whereupon she bade me to slay myself； should I； then； shut mine
eyes and run blindly upon my sword？ Thus would I argue
within myself。 Moreover； I would say unto myself； a woman knoweth
nought of the great things appertaining to state government；
and； likewise； I know a woman is ever prone to take up a fancy；
even as she would pluck a daisy from the roadside； and then throw
it away when the savor is gone； therefore； though she hath taken
a fancy to this outlaw； it will soon wane away and be forgotten。
As for me； I have the greatest villain in all England in my grasp；
shall I； then； open my hand and let him slip betwixt my fingers？
Thus； Your Majesty； would I say to myself； were I the King
of England。〃 So the Bishop talked； and the King lent his
ear to his evil counsel； until； after a while； he turned to
Sir Robert Lee and bade him send six of the yeomen of the guard
to take Robin Hood and his three men prisoners。
Now Sir Robert Lee was a gentle and noble knight； and he felt grieved to
the heart to see the King so break his promise； nevertheless； he said nothing；
for he saw how bitterly the King was set against Robin Hood； but he did not
send the yeomen of the guard at once； but went first to the Queen； and told
her all that had passed； and bade her send word to Robin of his danger。
This he did not for the well…being of Robin Hood； but because he would save
his lord's honor if he could。 Thus it came about that when； after a while；
the yeomen of the guard went to the archery field； they found not Robin
and the others； and so got no cakes at that fair。
The afternoon was already well…nigh gone when Robin Hood； Little John； Will；
and Allan set forth upon their homeward way； trudging along merrily
through the yellow slanting light； which speedily changed to rosy
red as the sun sank low in the heavens。 The shadows grew long；
and finally merged into the grayness of the mellow twilight。
The dusty highway lay all white betwixt the dark hedgerows； and along it
walked four fellows like four shadows； the pat of their feet sounding loud；
and their voices； as they talked； ringing clear upon the silence of the air。
The great round moon was floating breathlessly up in the eastern sky
when they saw before them the twinkling lights of Barnet Town； some ten
or twelve miles from London。 Down they walked through the stony streets
and past the cosy houses with overhanging gables； before the doors
of which sat the burghers and craftsmen in the mellow moonlight；
with their families about them； and so came at last； on the other side
of the hamlet； to a little inn； all shaded with roses and woodbines。
Before this inn Robin Hood stopped； for the spot pleased him well。
Quoth he； 〃Here will we take up our inn and rest for the night；
for we are well away from London Town and our King's wrath。
Moreover； if I mistake not； we will find sweet faring within。
What say ye； lads？〃
〃In sooth； good master；〃 quoth Little John； 〃thy bidding
and my doing ever fit together like cakes and ale。
Let us in； I say also。〃
Then up spake Will Scarlet： 〃I am ever ready to do what thou sayest； uncle；
yet I could wish that we were farther upon our way ere we rest for the night。
Nevertheless； if thou thinkest best； let us in for the night； say I also。〃
So in they went and called for the best that the place afforded。
Then a right good feast was set before them； with two stout bottles
of old sack to wash it down withal。 These things were served
by as plump and buxom a lass as you could find in all the land；
so that Little John； who always had an eye for a fair lass； even when
meat and drink were by； stuck his arms akimbo and fixed his eyes
upon her； winking sweetly whenever he saw her looking toward him。
Then you should have seen how the lass twittered with laughter；
and how she looked at Little John out of the corners of her eyes；
a dimple coming in either cheek； for the fellow had always a taking
way with the womenfolk。
So the feast passed merrily； and never had that inn seen
such lusty feeders as these four stout fellows； but at last
they were done their eating； though it seemed as though they
never would have ended； and sat loitering over the sack。
As they so sat； the landlord came in of a sudden； and said
that there was one at the door； a certain young esquire；
Richard Partington； of the Queen's household； who wished to see
the lad in blue； and speak with him； without loss of time。
So Robin arose quickly； and； bidding the landlord not to follow him；
left the others gazing at one another； and wondering what was
about to happen。
When Robin came out of the inn； he found young Richard Partington sitting
upon his horse in the white moonlight； awaiting his coming。
〃What news bearest thou； Sir Page？〃 said Robin。 〃I trust that it
is not of an ill nature。〃
〃Why；〃 said young Partington； 〃for the matter of that； it is ill enow。
The King hath been bitterly stirred up against thee by that vile
Bishop of Hereford。 He sent to arrest thee at the archery butts
at Finsbury Fields； but not finding thee there； he hath gathered
together his armed men； fiftyscore and more； and is sending them
in haste along this very road to Sherwood； either to take thee
on the way or to prevent thy getting back to the woodlands again。
He hath given the Bishop of Hereford command over all these men；
and thou knowest what thou hast to expect of the Bishop of Hereford
short shrift and a long rope。 Two bands of horsemen are already
upon the road； not far behind me； so thou hadst best get thee
gone from this place straightway； for； if thou tarriest longer；
thou art like to sleep this night in a cold dungeon。
This word the Queen hath bidden me bring to thee。〃
〃Now； Richard Partington；〃 quoth Robin； 〃this is the second time
that thou hast saved my life； and if the proper time ever cometh
I will show thee that Robin Hood never forgets these things。
As for that Bishop of Hereford； if I ever catch him nigh
to Sherwood again； things will be like to go ill with him。
Thou mayst tell the good Queen that I will leave this place without delay；
and will let the landlord think that we are going to Saint Albans；
but when we are upon the highroad again； I will go one way through
the country and will send my men the other； so that if one falleth
into the King's hands the others may haply escape。 We will go
by devious ways； and so； I hope； will reach Sherwood in safety。
And now； Sir Page； I wish thee farewell。〃
〃Farewell； thou bold yeoman；〃 said young Partington； 〃and mayst
thou reach thy hiding in safety。〃 So each shook the other's hand；
and the lad； turning his horse's head； rode back toward London；
while Robin entered the inn once more。
There he found his yeomen sitting in silence； waiting his coming；
likewise the landlord was there； for he was curious to know what
Master Partington had to do with the fellow in blue。 〃Up； my merry men！〃
quoth Robin； 〃this is no place for us； for those are after us with
whom we will stand but an ill chance an we fall into their hands。
So we will go forward once more； nor will we stop this night
till we reach Saint Albans。〃 Hereupon； taking out his purse；
he paid the landlord his score； and so they left the inn。
When they had come to the highroad without the town； Robin stopped
and told them all that had passed between young Partington and himself；
and how that the King's men were after them with hot heels。
Then he told them that here they should part company； they three going
to the eastward and he to the westward； and so； skirting the main highroads；
would come by devious paths to Sherwood。 〃So； be ye wily；〃
said Robin Hood； 〃and keep well away from the northward roads till
ye have gotten well to the eastward。 And thou； Will Scarlet；
take the lead of the others； for thou hast a cunning turn to thy wits。〃
Then Robin kissed the three upon the cheeks； and they kissed him；
and so they parted company。
Not long after this； a score or more of the King's men came clattering
up to the door of the inn at Barnet Town。 Here they leaped from
their horses and quickly surrounded the place； the leader of the band
and four others entering the room where the yeomen had been。
But they found that their birds had flown again； and that the King
had been balked a second time。
〃Methought that they were naughty fellows；〃 said the host； when he heard
whom the men…at…arms sought。 〃But I heard that blue…clad knave say that
they would go straight forward to Saint Albans； so； an ye hurry forward；
ye may； perchance； catch them on the highroad betwixt here and there。〃
For this news the leader of the band thanked mine host right heartily； and；
calling his men together； mounted and set forth again； galloping forward
to Saint Albans upon a wild goose chase。
After Little John and Will Scarlet and Allan a Dale had left
the highway near garnet； they traveled toward the eastward；
without stopping； as long as their legs could carry them； until they
came to Chelmsford； in Essex。 Thence they turned northward；
and came through Cambridge and Lincolnshire； to the good town
of Gainsborough。 Then； striking to the westward and the south；
they came at last to the northern borders of Sherwood Forest；
without in all that time having met so much as a single band
of the King's m