"I'll put that right, chaps," he said. "Give me two minutes while I answer the challenge."
He scribbled furiously for a time and then read out the following:
"We, the Merry Men, accept the challenge of the Foxenby Junior Games Club to play them at Chess, Draughts, and Dominoes on Friday evening next IF they will agree to play us at football on the following Wednesday afternoon.
"(Signed) Robin Hood."
"Good!" exclaimed David of Doncaster. "That's a facer for them, Robin."
"You've turned their flanks," commented Will Scarlet. "The mere thought of meeting us at footer will make them goggle-eyed."
"It'll wash out the Games Tournament, hurrah!" cried Little John, intensely relieved.
"Don't be too cocksure of that, fellows," said Robin, gloomily. "I hope it will, but we've got to be ready for anything."
He found a messenger to carry the answer to Osbody, whose face lengthened somewhat as he read it aloud to his cronies.
"There, you've let us in for it now!" cried Grain, angrily. "Didn't I warn you the boomerang would come back? Fancy having to play 'em at football! The bare idea gives me a stitch in my side."