e you brought my money?" was all the Abbot said.

"Not a penny," answered the Knight, who wished to see how the Abbot
would treat him.

"Then what do you here without it?" cried the Abbot in angry tones.

"I have come to pray you for a longer day," answered the Knight meekly.

"The day was fixed and cannot be gainsaid," replied the Justiciar; but
the Knight only begged that he would stand his friend and help him in
his strait. "I am with the Abbot," was all the Justiciar would answer.

"Good Sir Abbot, be my friend," prayed the Knight again, "and give me
one chance more to get the money and free my lands. I will serve you
day and night till I have four hundred pounds to redeem them."

But the Abbot only vowed that the money must be paid that day or the
lands be forfeited.

The Knight stood up straight and tall: "It is well," said he, "to prove
one's friends against the hour of need," and he looked the Abbot full
in the face, and the Abbot felt uneasy, he did not know why, and hated
the Knight more than ever. "Out of my hall, false Knight!" cried he,
pretending to a courage which he did not feel. But the Knight stayed
where he was, and answered him, "You lie, Abbot. Never was I false,
and that I have shown in jousts and in tourneys."

"Give him two hundred pounds more," said the Justiciar to the Abbot,
"and keep the lands yourself."

"No, by Heaven!" answered the Knight, "not if you offered me a thousand
pounds would I do it! Neither Justiciar, Abbot, nor Monk shall be heir
of mine." Then he strode up to a table and emptied out four hundred
pounds. "Take your gold, Sir Abbot, which you lent to me a year agone.
Had you but received me civilly, I would have paid you something more.

[Illustration: The Knight repays the four hundred pounds]

"Sir Abbot, and ye men of law,
Now have I kept my day!
Now shall I have my land again,
For aught that you may say."

So he passed out of the hall singing merrily, leaving the Abbot staring
silently after him, and rode back to his house, where his wife met him
at the gate.

"Welcome, my lord," said his lady,
"Sir, lost is all your good."
"Be merry, dame," said the Knight,
"And pray for Robin Hood.

"But for his kindness, we had been beggars."

PART V.

After this the Knight dwelt at home, looking after his lands and saving
his money carefully, till the four hundred pounds lay ready for Robin
Hood. Then he bought a hundred bows and