e Sheriff, with Master Ford, coming to seize our home. By
watching them unseen we may find a way to bring their schemes to naught.
Keep near to me, Will; and scarcely breathe."

It was indeed a body of men from Nottingham; and, although the Sheriff
was not with them, Master Carfax and a few of the Lincoln bowmen were
amongst the company. So also was Ford, the forester.

In all, there were about two score of men, and most of them were
Sherwood foresters. Robin espied Much the Miller in the tail of the
procession, looking very dejected and ill, and decided to risk exposing
himself. Standing up in the bracken, he called out boldly: "Hold there,
Master Much. Here am I, ready to take your money."

"What sprite are you?" answered Much, reining in his steed sharply.
"Why! 'tis the gipsy lad, as I live; with his face nicely washed...!"
He had recognized Robin by his clothes. "Money, forsooth! Do you know
that I have not so much as a groat in my pouch?"

"Then must one of the others lend it to you," replied Robin. "Pay me,
friends, forthwith. A short reckoning is an easy reckoning. My arrow
flew nearer the target than did any of yours."

"How do you know that?" said Much. "After you had gone we all did aim
again, and very marvellous was my shooting. For sure, I should have had
the prize, even as I told you, had not Hubert already made off with it."

"Is this so?" asked Robin, doubtfully, looking from one to the other of
the Lincoln men. Those in front had now stopped also; and Master Carfax
came ambling back to see what had occasioned the delay. So soon as he
espied Robin his face took a joyful look. "Here, Master Ford," he
called, clapping his hands. "Hither--come hither! Here is your quarry
found for you. Now you can fight it out, fair and square, whilst we
watch to see fair play!"

Ford turned about and glanced at Robin; but he did not like the notion
of such a battle. So he affected not to recognize him. "Nay, this is but
some vagrant fellow," said he, hesitatingly. "Let us push on, Master
Simeon; 'tis near the hour when we are to meet with him whom you know."
He added these words in a low voice, and made a gesture indicating the
Copmanhurst road.

Carfax's face took a diabolical expression. He had begun to answer Ford,
when the whole party were suddenly disturbed by the rush of a great herd
of Royal deer.

These beasts, driven by someone from out of their pastures, came
scattering blindly adown the track; and men