19 - Robin Hood by J. Walker McSpadden: Chapter 19

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Episode Transcript

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Chapter nineteen of robin Hood by J. Walker mc spaden. This LibriVox recording
is in the public domain. Howthe Sheriff held another shooting match to tell
the truth, I'm well informed,yon match it is awhile the Sheriff,
I know, devises this us archersto beguile. Now the Sheriff was so

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greatly troubled in heart over the growingpower of robin Hood that he did a
very foolish thing. He went toLondon Town to lay his troubles before the
King and get another force of troopsto cope with the outlaws. King Richard
was not yet returned from the HolyLand, but Prince John heard him with
scorn. Pooh said he, shrugginghis shoulders. What have I to do

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with all this art? Thou not, Sheriff for me? The law is
in force to take thy course ofthem, that injure thee go, get
thee gone, and by thyself devisesome tricking game to trap these rebels,
and never let me see thy faceat court again until thou hast a better
tale to tell. So away wentthe Sheriff in sorrier past than ever,

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and cudgeled his brain on the wayhome for some plan of action. His
daughter met him on his return andsaw at once that he had been on
a poor mission. She was mindedto upbraid him when she learned what he
had told the Prince, But thewords of the latter started her to thinking
afresh, I have it, sheexclaimed at length, Why should we not

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hold another shooting match? Tis fairyear, as you know, and another
tourney will be expected. Now wewill proclaim a general amnesty, as did
King Harry himself, and say thatthe field is open and unmolested to all
comers. Belike Robin Hood's men willbe tempted to twang the bow. And
then and then said the sheriff,jumping up with alacrity, we shall see

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on which side of the gate theystop overnight. So the sheriff lost no
time in proclaiming a tourney to beheld that same fall at the fair.
It was open to all comers,said the proclamation, and none should be
molested in their going and coming.Furthermore, an arrow with a golden head
and shaft of silver white should begiven to the winner, who would be

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heralded abroad as the finest archer inall the north country. Also, many
rich prizes were to be given toother clever archers. These tidings came in
due course to Robin hood under thegreenwood tree, and fired his impetuous spirit.
Come prepare ye, my merry men, all, quoth he, and

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will go to the fair and takesome part in this sport. With that
step forth the merry cobbler David ofDoncaster, Master quoth he be ruled by
me, and stir not from thegreenwood to tell the truth. I'm well
informed yon match is not but atrap. I know the sheriff has devised
it to beguile us archers into sometreachery. That word savors of the coward,

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replied Robin, and pleases me not. Let come what will I'll try
my skill at that same archery.Then up spoke little John and said,
come listen to me, how itshall be that we will not be discovered.
Our mantles all of Lincoln green behindus. We will leave, will
dress us all so several they shallnot us perceive. One shall wear white,

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another red, one yellow, anotherblue. Thus, in disguise to
the exercise, will go whatever ensue. This advice met with general favor from
the adventurous fellows and they lost notime in putting it into practice. Maid
Marian and Mistress Dale, assisted byFriar Tuck, prepared some very colored costumes,

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and gainst the fair day, hadfitted out the seven score men till
you would never have taken them forother than Villager's deck. For the holiday
and fourth wind, they from theGreenwood, with hearts all firm and stout,
resolved to meet the sharrows men andhave a merry bout. Along the
highway. They fell in with manyother bold fellows from the countryside, going
with their ruddy cheeked glasses toward thewide open gates of Nottingham. So in

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through the gates trooped the whole gaycompany Robin's men, behaving as awkwardly and
laughing and talking as noisily as therest, while the sheriffs, scowling men
at arms, stood round about andsought to find one who looked like a
forester, but without avail. TheHerald now set forth the terms of the
contest as on former occasions, andthe shooting presently began. Robin had chosen

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five of his men to shoot withhim, and the rest were to mingle
with the crowd, and also watchedthe gates. These five were Little John,
will Scarlett, Will Stuteley Mutch andAlan Adle. The other competitors made
a brave showing on the first round, especially Gilbert of the White Hand,
who was present and never shot better. The contests later narrowed down between Gilbert

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and Robin. But at the firstlead, when the butts were struck so
truly by various well known archers,the sheriff was in doubt whether to feel
glad or sorry. He was gladto see such skill, but sorry that
the outlaws were not in it.Some said, if Robin Hood were here
and all his men to boot,sure none of them could pass these men,

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So bravely do they shoot? Iquoth the sheriff, and scratched his
head. I thought he would behere. I thought he would, But
though he's bold, he durst notnow appear. This word was privately brought
to Robin by David of Doncaster,and the saying vexed him sorely. But
he bit his lip in silence.Ere long he thought to himself, we

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shall see whether Robin Hood be hereor not. Meantime, the shooting had
been going forward, and Robin's menhad done so well that the air was
filled with shouts. One cried bluejacket, another cried brown, and a
third cried brave yellow. But thefourth man said, yan man in red
in this place has no fellow.For that was Robin Hood himself, for

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he was clothed in red at everyshot the prize he got, for he
was both sure and dead. Thuswent the second round of the shooting,
and thus the third and last,till even Gilbert of the White Hand was
fairly beaten. During all this shooting, Robin exchanged no word with his men,
each treating the other as a perfectstranger, natheless. Such great shooting

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could not pass without revealing the archers. The sheriff thought he discovered in the
winner of the golden arrow the personof Robin Hood without peer adventure, so
he sent word privately for his menat arms to close round the group.
But Robin's men also got wind ofthe plan. To keep up appearances,
the sheriff summoned the crowd to formin a circle, and after as much

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delay as possible, the arrow waspresented. The delay gave time enough for
the soldiers to close in. AsRobin received his prize, bowed awkwardly and
turned away. The sheriff, lettinghis zeal get the better of his discretion,
grasped him about the neck and calledupon his men to arrest the traitor.
But the moment the sheriff touched Robin, he received such a buffet on

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the side of his head that helet go instantly and fell back several paces.
Turning to see who had struck him, he recognized little John Ah Rascal
Greenleaf. I have you now,he exclaimed, springing at him. Just
then, however, he met anew check. This is from another of
your devoted servants, said a voicewhich he knew to be that of much

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the Miller's son, and thwack whenhis open palm upon the Sheriff's cheek,
sending that worthy rolling over and overupon the ground. By this time the
conflict had become general, but theSheriff's men suffered the disadvantage of being hampered
by the crowd of innocent onlookers,whom they could not tell from the outlaws,

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and so dared not attack, whilethe other outlaws in the rear fell
upon them and put them in confusedfor a moment a fierce reign of blows
ensued. Then the clear bugle notefor Robin ordered a retreat. The two
warders at the nearest gate tried toclose it, but were shot dead in
their tracks. David of Doncaster threwa third soldier into the moat, and

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out through the gate went the forestersin good order, keeping a respectful distance
between themselves and the advancing soldiery bymeans of their well directed shafts. But
the fight was not to go easilythis day, for the soldiery, smarting
from their recent discomfiture at the widow'scottage, and knowing that the eyes of
the whole shire were upon them,fought well and pressed closely after the retreating

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outlaws. More than one ugly woundwas given and received. No less than
five of the Sheriff's men were killedoutright, and a dozen others injured,
while four of Robin's men were bleedingfrom severe flesh cuts. Then little John,
who had fought by the side ofhis chief, suddenly fell forward with
a slight moan. An arrow hadpierced his knee. Robin seized the big

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fellow with almost superhuman strength. UpHe took him on his back and bare
him well a mile. Many atime he laid him down and shot another,
while meanwhile Little John grew weaker andclosed his eyes. At last he
sank to the ground and feebly motionedRobin to let him lie. Master Robin
said, he have I not servedyou well ever since we met upon the

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bridge. Truer servant never a manhad answered Robin. Then, if ever
you loved me, and for thesake of that service, draw your bright
brown sword and strike off my head. Never let me fall alive into the
hand of the Sheriff of Nottingham.Not for all the gold in England would
I do either of the things yousuggest. God forbid, cried Arthur a

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Bland, hurrying to the rescue andpacking his wounded kinsmen upon his broad shoulders,
he soon brought him within the shelterof the forest. Once there,
the sheriff's men did not follow,and Robin caused litters of boughs to be
made for Little John and the otherfour wounded men. Quickly were they carried
through the wood until the hermitage ofFriar Tuck was reached, where their wounds

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were dressed. Little John's hurt waspronounced to be the most serious of any,
but he was assured that in twoor three weeks time he could get
about again. Whereat the active giantgroaned mightily. That evening, consternation came
upon the hearts of the band.A careful roll call was taken to see
if all the oomen had escaped.When it was found that Will Stuteley was

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missing, and made Marian also wasnowhere to be found, Robin was seized
with dread. He knew that Marianhad gone to the fair, but felt
that she would hardly come to grief. Her absence, however, portended some
danger, and he feared that itwas connected with Will Stuteley. The sheriff
would hang him speedily and without mercyif he were captured. The rest of

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the band shared their leader's uneasiness.Though they said no word, they knew
that if Will were captured, thebattle must be fought over again the next
day, and Will must be savedat any cost. But no man flinched
from the prospect. That evening,while the sheriff and his wife and daughter
sat at meat in the mansion house, the sheriff boasted of how he would

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make an example of the captured outlaw, for Stuteley had indeed fallen into his
hands. He shall be strung high, he said, in a loud voice,
and none shall dare lift a finger. I now have Robin Hood's men
on the run, and we shallsoon see who is master in this shire.
I am only sorry that we letthem have the golden arrow. As

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he spoke, a missive sped througha window and fell clattering upon his plate,
causing him to spring back in alarm. It was the golden arrow,
and on its feathered shaft was seweda little note which read this from one
who will take no gifts from liars, and who henceforth will show no mercy.
Look well to yourself. R H. Chapter nineteen