“‘Willingly, an thou’lt pay me well,’ answered the forester boldly.
“‘Thou shalt have forty pounds a year, and three new suits of clothes, and shalt dine every day off the king’s venison,’ said the sheriff.
“The artful forester readily agreed, and on the same day took up his abode in his new master’s mansion, where he soon became on good terms with all the household, except the steward, who took a mortal aversion to him on account of his favour with their master. One day the sheriff went out hunting early in the morning, leaving Reynolde Grenelefe asleep in bed, where he lay until it was nearly noon; he then rose, and going to the kitchen, asked the steward for his dinner.
“‘Thou lazy villain,’ he replied, ‘dost think thou hast earned it. By my troth thou shalt have neither to eat nor drink till my lord hears of thine idleness.’
“The forester laughed, and gave a stride towards the pantry door, but the steward was too quick for him: he turned the key in the lock, pulled it out, and placed it in his pocket. Without a word the outlaw stepped up and struck him with his open palm upon the ear, and the poor steward, stunned with the shock, fell heavily down. Reynolde then spurned the door with his foot, bursting lock and bar asunder, and entering the pantry, he found a goodly venison pasty and a bottle of strong ale, upon which, without either grace or ceremony, he began a most furious attack. While he was thus busy the cook came in, and seeing the steward lying on the floor, and the new servant devouring the contents of the pantry, he soon guessed the true state of the matter. Arming himself with a huge rolling pin, he crept quietly towards the offender, and before he could protect himself, struck him upon the back of his head; the outlaw well nigh fell, but catching at a board, he sustained himself, and then drawing his sword, rushed at his cowardly antagonist. For full an hour did they thump and belabour each other till they could scarcely stand. ‘Give me thy hand,’ cried Reynolde, dropping his sword. ‘Thou art a valiant fellow, and ’twere pity to break thy bones. Come with me to the woods; I am one of Robin Hood’s men, and if thou’lt join us we’ll give thee a suit of Lincoln green, and teach thee the merry life of a forester.’
“The cook consented; and after breaking open their master’s treasury and seizing upon all the silver plate and money that it contained, the treacherous servants left the house, and mounting two of the finest horses in the sheriff’s stable, galloped off with their booty to Barnesdale forest.
“Welcome, my brave yeoman. Where hast thou tarried?’ exclaimed Robin Hood, as Little John presented himself and his companion before the gallant captain. ‘And who bringest thou to the green-wood?’
“‘Thou shalt hear all, good master,’ replied the tall forester. ‘Thy worthy friend, the sheriff of Nottingham, hath sent thee his cook, his silver chalices, and three hundred golden pounds:’ and he related the story of his adventures with the greatest glee, while Robin Hood, who owed the poor sheriff many a grudge, laughed till the tears ran down his cheeks, and he was obliged to throw himself upon the grass from sheer exhaustion.
“Just as Little John was concluding his narration, a huntsman’s bugle sounded in the distance. He stopped and listened for a moment. ’Tis my dear master’s horn,’ he exclaimed; ‘I must away to him;’ and darting through the woods, he ran over hill and dale until he reached the spot where the sheriff of Nottingham and his attendants were beating among the thickets in search of game.