nto the
adytum through the medium of the high priestess Bacbuc.

Many moons had waxed and waned, when on the afternoon of a lovely
summer day a lusty broad-boned knight was riding through the forest
of Sherwood. The sun shone brilliantly on the full green foliage, and
afforded the knight a fine opportunity of observing picturesque effects,
of which it is to be feared he did not avail himself. But he had not
proceeded far, before he had an opportunity of observing something
much more interesting, namely, a fine young outlaw leaning, in the true
Sherwood fashion, with his back against a tree. The knight was preparing
to ask the stranger a question, the answer to which, if correctly given,
would have relieved him from a doubt that pressed heavily on his mind,
as to whether he was in the right road or the wrong, when the youth
prevented the inquiry by saying: "In God's name, sir knight, you are
late to your meals. My master has tarried dinner for you these three
hours."

"I doubt," said the knight, "I am not he you wot of. I am no where
bidden to day and I know none in this vicinage."

"We feared," said the youth, "your memory would be treacherous:
therefore am I stationed here to refresh it."

"Who is your master?" said the knight; "and where does he abide?"

"My master," said the youth, "is called Robin Hood, and he abides hard
by."

"And what knows he of me?" said the knight.

"He knows you," answered the youth "as he does every way-faring knight
and friar, by instinct."

"Gramercy," said the knight; "then I understand his bidding: but how if
I say I will not come?"

"I am enjoined to bring you," said the youth. "If persuasion avail not,
I must use other argument."

"Say'st thou so?" said the knight; "I doubt if thy stripling rhetoric
would convince me."

"That," said the young forester, "we will see."

"We are not equally matched, boy," said the knight. "I should get less
honour by thy conquest, than grief by thy injury."

"Perhaps," said the youth, "my strength is more than my seeming, and my
cunning more than my strength. Therefore let it please your knighthood
to dismount."

"It shall please my knighthood to chastise thy presumption," said the
knight, springing from his saddle.

Hereupon, which in those days was usually the result of a meeting
between any two persons anywhere, they proceeded to fight.

The knight had in an uncommon degree both strength and skill: the
forester had less strength