me's Robin, is it?"

The little fellow nodded. "Yes," he said. "What's yours?"

"John," said the great fellow, laughing heartily; "and they call me
little because I'm so big. What do you think of that?"

"I think it's very stupid," said the boy. "I thought you must be
Robin Hood."

"Then you thought wrong. But if you thought that this one was you
would be right. Here he comes." The boy looked in wonder at a
tall man who looked short beside Little John, as he came up in coat
of green with brown belt, a sword by his side, quiver of arrows
hung on his back, and longbow in his hand.

"What woodland bird have you got here, John?" he said. And the boy
saw that he smiled pleasantly and did not look fierce or
threatening.

"A young Robin," said the big fellow; "part of yesterday's plunder."

"I want to find my way home," said the boy. "Will you please show
me?"

"But you did not come here into the forest in shirt and hose, did
you, my little man?" said the great outlaw.

"No; someone took my cap and doublet away, sir."

Robin Hood frowned.

"Who was it?" he cried angrily. "Find out, John, and he shall have
a bowstring about his back. Point out the man who stripped you, my
little lad," he continued, turning to the boy.

"It wasn't a man," said the little fellow, "but a boy who minds
pigs."

"What, a young swineherd!" cried the outlaw, laughing. "Why did
you let him? Why didn't you fight for your clothes like a man?"

"I did," said young Robin stoutly; "but he was so big, he knocked
me down and sat upon me."

"Oh! that makes all the difference. How big was he--big as this
man?"

Young Robin glanced at the giant who had caught him, and shook his
head.

"No," he said; "not half, so big as he is. But he was stronger
than I am."

"So I suppose. Well, bring him along. Little John, and let's see if
the women can find him some clothes and a cap. You would like
something more to wear, wouldn't you?"

"I should like something to eat,"' said the boy sadly. "I have not
had anything since breakfast."

"That's not so very long," said Robin Hood. "We have not had
anything since breakfast."

"But I mean since breakfast yesterday," said young Robin piteously.

"What!" cried Little John. "Why, the poor boy's starved. But we
can soon mend that. Come here!"

Young Robin's first movement was to shrink from the big fellow, but
he smiled down in such a bluff, amiable way, that the boy gave him
his ha