iff again
proclaimed an archery contest, which Robin shunned. Little John,
however, put in an appearance, won all the prizes, and even accepted
the sheriff's offer to serve him. But, living on the fat of the land
in the sheriff's household, Little John grew fat and lazy, quarrelled
with the other servants, and finally departed with his master's cook
and his silver!

Robin, although delighted to acquire a new follower, hotly reviled his
companion for stealing the silver, whereupon Little John declared the
sheriff had given it to him and volunteered to produce him to confirm
his words. He therefore set out, and waylaid his late employer, who,
thinking himself under the protection of one of his own men,
innocently followed him to the outlaws' camp. When brought thus
suddenly face to face with Robin, the sheriff expected to be robbed or
killed, but, after ascertaining the silver was not a free gift, Robin
gave it back to him and let him go.

Angry because Robin often twitted him with his stoutness, Little John
once wandered off by himself in the forest, and meeting Arthur a
Bland challenged him to fight, little suspecting Robin was watching
them from a neighboring thicket. From this hiding-place the chief of
the outlaws witnessed Little John's defeat, and, popping out as soon
as the fight was over, invited Arthur a Bland to join his band. The
three men next continued their walk, until they met a "rose-leaf,
whipped-cream youth," of whose modish attire and effeminate manners
they made unmerciful fun. Boastfully informing his two companions he
was going to show them how a quarter-staff should be handled, Robin
challenged the stranger, who, suddenly dropping his affected manners,
snatched a stake from the hedge and proceeded to outfence Robin. In
his turn Little John had a chance to laugh at his leader's
discomfiture, and Robin, on learning his antagonist was his nephew
(who had taken refuge in the forest because he had accidentally killed
a man), invited him to join his merry men.

Soon after Little John was despatched for food, and the outlaws were
enjoying a jolly meal "under the greenwood tree," when a miller came
trudging along with a heavy bag of flour. Crowding around him the
outlaws demanded his money, and, when he exhibited an empty purse,
Robin suggested his money was probably hidden in the meal and sternly
ordered him to produce it without delay. Grumbling about his loss, the
miller opened his sack, began to fum