e Sheriff, "and what did you say."

"I said that I had lived about these parts all my life and I never
heard that he did a poor man any harm. Then he laughed, and all his
people laughed too, and he said I was a merry fellow. 'Give him
plenty to eat and drink,' he said, 'for two or three days, and then
send him on his way.' Yes, Master Sheriff, that he did, and a fine
jolly time I had. Why, I almost felt as if I should like to stay
altogether."

And all this time the Sheriff was watching the man very keenly, and
suddenly he caught him by the arm.

[Illustration: The Sheriff was watching the man very keenly, and
suddenly caught him by the arm.]

"Speak out," he said; "you did not come to tell me only that. What
is it you are keeping back? Why don't you speak?"

"Because, master," said the man softly, "I was afraid you couldn't
bear it, for I was a father once and my son died, and though you
never knew me, I knew you, and was sorry when the news came that
your little boy was killed. Can you bear to hear good news as well
as bad?"

The Sheriff was silent for a few minutes, during which he closed
his eyes and his lips moved, and he looked so strange that Robin's
aunt crossed the room to where he sat, and took hold of his hand,
as she whispered loving words.

"Yes, yes," he said softly, "I can bear it now. Speak, pray speak,
and tell me all."

"But you will not be angry with me if I am wrong, Master Sheriff?"

"No, no," said Robin's father; "speak out at once."

"Well, Master Sheriff, no one would tell me when I asked questions,
but there's a little fellow there, dressed all in Lincoln green,
like one of Robin Hood's fighting men, with his sword and bugle,
and bow and arrows, and somehow I began to think, and then I began
to ask, whether he was Robin Hood's son; but those I asked only
shook their heads.

"That made me think all the more, and one day I managed to follow
him but among the trees to where I found him feeding one of the
wild deer, which followed him about like a dog."

"I waited a bit, and then stepped out to him, and what do you think
he did? He strung his bow, fitted an arrow to it before I knew
where I was, and drew it to the head as if he was going to shoot
me. 'Do you know where Nottingham is?' I said, and he lowered his
bow. 'Yes,' he said, 'of course. Do you know my father?' 'Do I
know the Sheriff?' I said; 'of course.' 'Are you going there
soon?' he cried, and I nodded. 'Then