The skin of the horse's head made a helmet for the man; and the tail gave him the three-legged appearance.
"Good morrow, gossip," said Robin, cheerily; "by my bow and by my arrows, I could believe you to be a good archer—you have the shape of one."
The man took no offence at this greeting, but told Robin that he had lost his way and was anxious to find it again.
"By my faith, I could have believed that you had lost your wits," thought Robin, laughing quietly to himself. "What is your business, friend?" he asked, aloud; "you are dressed in strange clothes and yet seem by your speech to be of gentle blood."
"And who are you, forester, to ask me who I am?"
"I am one of the King's rangers," replied Robin; "and 'tis my part to look after the King's deer and save them from the wicked arrows of Robin Hood."
"Do you know Robin Hood?" asked the man, shrewdly eyeing him.
"That do I; and last night I heard that he would be coming alone in a certain part of this wood to meet a maid."
"Is that so indeed?" cried the man, eagerly.
"'Tis very truth," answered Robin. "And I, knowing this, am going to take him, and carry off both the girl and the reward upon his head."