od, "in ready gold
or fee, to help you to your true love again, and deliver her back unto
you?"

"I have no money, save only five shillings," quoth Allan; "but--are you
not Robin Hood?"

Robin nodded.

"Then you, if any one, can aid me!" said Allan-a-Dale eagerly. "And if
you give me back my love, I swear upon the Book that I will be your true
servant forever after."

"Where is this wedding to take place, and when?" asked Robin.

"At Plympton Church, scarce five miles from here; and at three o' the
afternoon."

"Then to Plympton we will go!" cried Robin suddenly springing into
action; and he gave out orders like a general: "Will Stutely, do you
have four-and-twenty good men over against Plympton Church 'gainst three
o' the afternoon. Much, good fellow, do you cook up some porridge for
this youth, for he must have a good round stomach--aye, and a better
gear! Will Scarlet, you will see to decking him out bravely for the
nonce. And Friar Tuck, hold yourself in readiness, good book in hand, at
the church. Mayhap you had best go ahead of us all."

The fat Bishop of Hereford was full of pomp and importance that day at
Plympton Church. He was to celebrate the marriage of an old knight--a
returned Crusader--and a landed young woman; and all the gentry
thereabout were to grace the occasion with their presence. The church
itself was gaily festooned with flowers for the ceremony, while out
in the church-yard at one side brown ale flowed freely for all the
servitors.

Already were the guests beginning to assemble, when the Bishop, back in
the vestry, saw a minstrel clad in green walk up boldly to the door and
peer within. It was Robin Hood, who had borrowed Allan's be-ribboned
harp for the time.

"Now who are you, fellow?" quoth the Bishop, "and what do you here at
the church-door with you harp and saucy air?"

"May it please your Reverence," returned Robin bowing very humbly, "I
am but a strolling harper, yet likened the best in the whole North
Countree. And I had hope that my thrumming might add zest to the wedding
to-day."

"What tune can you harp?" demanded the Bishop.

"I can harp a tune so merry that a forlorn lover will forget he is
jilted," said Robin. "I can harp another tune that will make a bride
forsake her lord at the altar. I can harp another tune that will bring
loving souls together though they were up hill and down dale five good
miles away from each other."

"Then welcome, good minstrel," said