was in it--a dastard's blow. So ended the life of Will o'
th' Green--or Will of Cloudesley: he of whom many stories have been told
in other books.

They took him up reverently and buried him in a secret place--so that
none to this day can say where he lies. And the outlaws swore an oath of
vengeance against him who had so foully slain their chief.

Robin guessed wisely that the mortal blow had been given by one of those
two traitors in Will's own camp. Had they not been riding with Carfax in
the early morn--not as prisoners-of-war--but as informers and spies?

* * * * *

The next day was passed in burying the dead of both sides. The outlaws
accepted Robin without question as one full welcome amongst them; and
Warrenton, Stuteley, and John Berry were also given the freedom of the
woods and taught the signs and freemasonry of them.

The bodies of the soldiers and mercenaries were stripped and heaped
together into a pit, and roughly covered with earth and leaves. Then the
outlaws betook themselves to their caves to settle who should be chief
of the band in Will's place.

Whilst they were employed in this difficult business, the Sheriff sent
out another and larger body of armed men--obeying the insolent command
of his Prince. Fear sat upon the soul of Monceux then: for he did not
doubt that another such disaster as that which had chanced to his other
men would mean disgrace and the end of his lord-shrievalty.

This second company who were captained by Hubert the Archer, with
bandaged Carfax second in command, had an easy conquest, however, of
Sherwood and Barnesdale--for none challenged them, nor questioned their
proceedings in any respect. Nor was there sign left in the woods of
Robin or the outlaws--they were vanished so utterly that Carfax
conceived them all to have either died of their wounds or fled
disconsolate from the neighborhood.

In either event this was most excellent news; and, having patrolled the
forest and searched it indifferently well, the men-at-arms of Nottingham
agreed that peace-loving folk had no more to fear from the wild spirits
of Sherwood. They were gone, banished--and the King's forest was now
safe of passage to all.

Carfax, poking here and there, found the fresh grave of his own fellows,
and disturbed it mightily. He bade Hubert disinter them all; and
pretended to recognize each one. Here was the arch-rebel Will of
Cloudesley--this one was the second man