ROBIN HOOD AND WILL SCARLET.
“The bold outlaws were afraid to show themselves for some time after this adventure, and for several weeks retired to a distant forest, where their haunts were not so well known as in Sherwood.
“Robin Hood was one morning rambling among the woods, when, through the branches of the trees, he caught sight of a gay young fellow walking carelessly along and whistling merrily. The stranger was clothed in a silken doublet of beautiful scarlet, his hose were likewise of the same bright colour, and his gay green cap was ornamented with a crimson feather. By his side hung a handsome broadsword, the hilt of which was studded with precious stones, and in his left hand he carried an elegantly carved bow; while a quiver of polished oak, inlaid with silver, was suspended by a silken baldric at his back.
“As he emerged from the thicket upon a little plain, on which the noon-day sun was permitted to shine unobscured by the deep foliage that on all sides surrounded him, the traveller’s heart leapt with joy at the sight of a herd of deer grazing quietly at the other end of the verdant glade.
“‘The fattest among ye,’ quoth he, loud enough for the outlaw to over-hear him, ‘shall serve my dinner to-day:’ and drawing an arrow from his quiver, he fixed it upon his bow, and discharged the weapon with such keen velocity that the noblest animal among the herd fell dead at the distance of forty yards.
“‘Well shot! well shot, my friend!’ cried Robin Hood, advancing from his concealment. ‘Would’st like to be a forester in this merry green-wood?’
“‘Where springest thou from?’ said the stranger, turning round sharply at the sound of a voice: ‘Go thou thine own way; I’ll go mine.’
“‘If thou’lt accept the place,’ returned the outlaw, unheeding this angry reply, ‘I’ll make thee a bold yeoman, and give thee livery of mine.’
“‘Livery!’ cried the other. ‘By St. George, an thou dost not take to thine heels, I’ll give thee such a buffet as shall make thine ears ring for many a mile.’
“Robin Hood drew back a step, and bent his ever-ready bow, and at the same time the stranger, quick as thought, drew another arrow from his quiver, and pointed it at the outlaw.
“‘Hold! hold!’ cried the latter. ‘This is cowards’ play. Take thy sword, man, and let’s fight it out under yonder tree.’
“‘With all my heart,’ replied the traveller; ‘and by my faith I will not leave thee till thou dost cry “‘a mercy.”’ Then laying aside their bows, each drew his sword, and stepping beneath the shade of a broad old oak, began the combat in right good earnest. The bold outlaw, seizing an unguarded moment, laid a blow upon the shoulder of his opponent that made him wince again; but, in retaliation, the stranger rushed furiously at Robin Hood, and struck him so violently upon the head that the blood ran trickling down from every hair.
“‘Mercy, good fellow—mercy,’ he cried, dropping his sword’s point to the earth, and leaning himself against the tree; ‘thou hast fairly beaten me. Tell me,—who art thou? and what seek’st thou here?’
“‘Ha! thou alterest thy tone now,’ answered the victor with a laugh; ‘but, if thou’rt a true man, thou may’st stand my friend. Know’st thou where dwells a yeoman they call Robin Hood?’
“‘Wherefore dost thou seek him?’ inquired the outlaw.
“‘I am his sister’s son,’ replied the youth. ‘I had the misfortune to slay my father’s steward in a quarrel, and am forced to flee from home.’
“‘Thy name?’ asked Robin Hood anxiously.
“‘Is Will Gamwell, of the town of Maxwell,’ replied the stranger.
“‘My brave boy, I am thine uncle,’ exclaimed the outlaw, clasping him in his arms with delight; ‘thou should’st have said this before we shed each other’s blood.’
“‘Forgive me—forgive me,’—cried the youth, bending on his knee; ‘and I’ll serve thee day and night.’
“‘Give me thy hand,’ replied Robin; ‘thou art a bold fellow, a true marksman, and a right valiant swordsman, as I know to my cost. Let us go seek my merry men.’ And with many a pleasant discourse the newly-found relations beguiled their path to the haunt of the outlaws. As they approached the spot, Robin Hood drew his bugle from his girdle, and sounded a few short notes. Before the music had ceased Little John stood at his side.
“‘Is danger at hand, good master?’ he said. ‘Where hast thou tarried so long? Whence this blood?’
“‘I met with this youth,’ replied Robin Hood, ‘and full sore has he beaten me.’
“‘Then I’ll have a bout with him,’ cried the tall forester, and see if he will beat me too;’ and with a staff in his hand he stepped before the stranger.
“‘Nay nay,’ said his captain, interfering, ‘that must not be; he is my own dear sister’s son, and next to thee shall be my chief yeoman.’
“‘Welcome, my friend, to merry Sherwood,’ exclaimed Little John, shaking the new comer by the hand. ‘We’ll have a rare feast for thee to-night. But by what name shall we call thee among our jovial comrades?’
“‘His name is Gamwell,’ replied Robin Hood; ‘but we had better re-christen him as we did thee; he has forsooth a fine scarlet doublet, and Will Scarlet shall be his name.’ Then again taking his bugle, he set it to his lips, and winded it till
“‘The warbling echoes wak’d from every dale and hill.’
“More than a hundred tall yeomen, clad in Lincoln green, soon attended this summons, bounding among the trees like so many playful deer.
“Will Scarlet, frightened at the sight of so many men, all armed with bows, cried to his uncle to fly from them, and was himself starting off at his full speed, when Robin Hood caught him by the arm, and laughing heartily at his terror, bade him behold his future companions.
“‘What want’st thou, good master?’ said Will Stutely, the leader of the band. ‘Thy bugle sounded so shrill we thought there had been work for us.’
“‘The danger’s over now,’ replied Robin Hood; ‘but welcome your new comrade; he is my own sister’s son, and has proved himself a gallant youth, for he has given me a famous beating.’
“The foresters set up a simultaneous shout, and each advancing in his turn took the hand of the delighted youth. The rest of the day was spent in feasting and sporting, till the departing rays of the sun warned them to their caves and bowers.”
Just as I had thus concluded, and my young companions were making their various remarks upon the merry life of the bold outlaws, the deep tone of our school-bell rang in our ears. Off we started, like a herd of deer frightened at the notes of Robin Hood’s bugle-horn.