ooth was to come to Gamewell, where for the
rest of her days she would always find a home. For Robin he could do
nothing: already the Sheriff had drawn up a proclamation of outlawry
against him, setting the price of a hundred crowns upon him, living or
dead.

CHAPTER XV

Mistress Fitzooth never saw Gamewell or her brother again. Her disorder
took a sudden and fatal turn; and within a week Robin found himself
doubly an orphan--without home, money, or hope. Only two good friends
had he--little Stuteley and staunch Warrenton.

The Squire had refused to see the latter and had sent him the reply to
Robin's note by one of the servants. Montfichet was angered with
Warrenton because he had been deceived by him.

Robin laid his mother to rest beside his father. That was as long as he
might dare stay in Locksley. Every day he feared to be seized by Master
Monceux's myrmidons. Stuteley kept watch on the road through Sherwood by
day and Warrenton by night.

The morning of the interment brought news of danger. One of the few
faithful foresters of Locksley was at his post--the rest, having no
master, had disported themselves upon their own various errands--and he
heard from a shepherd that a body of soldiers were journeying to
Locksley. Full two score and ten of them there were; one, the leader,
carrying a warrant for Robin's arrest. The forester hastened to save his
young master.

The time was short. Robin had scarcely pause to perform the last sad
offices above his mother's grave ere he must be flying for his life.
His only chance was to take to the woods and hide in them.

Warrenton urged him to seek shelter in the thicker forest about
Barnesdale, at the north-western end of Sherwood. Whispers gave a story
that the higher parts were honeycombed with strange caves; and all the
countryside knew that away in Barnesdale were the headquarters and camps
of Will o' th' Green. It was the place of all others for shelter; and
Stuteley became joyful in the thought of the adventures that must chance
to them therein.

Warrenton was sober, however, over it. He had a presentiment that the
days would be hard and the food scanty and plain. Still 'twas a man's
life, after all.

They nearly plunged themselves into the hands of the enemy by mistaking
their road.

So it chanced that Robin spied his old enemy Simeon Carfax and narrowly
missed being seen also by him. The three fugitives hid themselves high
up in the branches of a t