y bowman, and experienced."

CHAPTER XI

Profiting by a lesson learned from Will o' th' Green, Robin stained his
face and bade Stuteley do the same ere starting to the Royal tourney.

The morning was overcast and doubtful when the two lads set forth. They
had put on foresters' clothes of green cloth, with long tunics and green
trunk hose. Their hands and faces were brown as walnut juice could make
them; and whilst Robin carried only his best longbow and a good quiver
of arrows, young Will had loaded himself with quarter-staff, axe, and
pike, all very difficult to carry.

Robin bade him leave one or the other of these weapons, and reluctantly
the pike was returned to Warrenton. Then merrily they started away
through the forest, and came at noon to that glade where Robin had first
met Will o' th' Green. Even while Robin wondered whether Will or his men
might again demand toll of him, Master Will himself suddenly appeared,
and without a word placed his bow across their path.

"Greetings to you, Will," said Robin, blithely. "Is it toll of us that
you desire?"

"Are you dumb, friend?" added Stuteley, impudently, as the outlaw made
no immediate reply.

Will smiled then. "So old Warrenton has persuaded you to seek the
Prince's gold, youngling?" said he, at last. Without waiting an answer,
he stepped back and withdrew his bow. "Pass, then, Locksley, and good
fortune attend you," he went on. "We may meet again ere the day be
done; but it is not sure----"

"You will not try for the purse, Will?" cried Robin, as if surprised.

"I have no use for it," answered Will, with some egotism, "Nay, fear
not, our third trial is yet to come. I did but stay you to speak of your
cousin--" He paused, and glanced towards Stuteley.

"I am deaf and dumb as you were, friend, a minute agone," spoke the
little esquire.

"Your cousin, Geoffrey of Montfichet, has gone to France," continued
Will, speaking freely so soon as Robin had nodded in confirmation of
Stuteley's discretion. "Like as not, Master Geoffrey has not talked with
you as to his business with us in this greenwood?"

"I know nothing beyond that we did bind my cousin's armor about with red
ribbon," replied Robin, uneasily. He remembered the clerk's warning, and
a presentiment of coming evil pricked him. "But I am right glad that
Geoffrey has encountered no danger, and has given up his schemes with
you."

"I did not say that he had done that, Locksley," spoke Will, in