news, what news, good woman?" said Robin hastily but courteously;
for he liked her well.

"God save ye, Master Robin!" said the dame wildly. "God keep ye from the
fate that has met my three sons! The Sheriff has laid hands on them and
they are condemned to die."

"Now, by our Lady! That cuts me to the heart! Stout Will, and Lester,
and merry John! The earliest friends I had in the band, and still among
the bravest! It must not be! When is this hanging set?"

"Middle the tinker tells me that it is for tomorrow noon," replied the
dame.

"By the truth o' my body," quoth Robin, "you could not tell me in better
time. The memory of the old days when you freely bade me sup and dine
would spur me on, even if three of the bravest lads in all the shire
were not imperiled. Trust to me, good woman!"

The old widow threw herself on the ground and embraced his knees.

"'Tis dire danger I am asking ye to face," she said weeping; "and yet I
knew your brave true heart would answer me. Heaven help ye, good Master
Robin, to answer a poor widow's prayers!"

Then Robin Hood sped straightway to the forest-camp, where he heard the
details of the skirmish--how that his men had been out-numbered five to
one, but got off safely, as they thought, until a count of their members
had shown the loss of the widow's three sons.

"We must rescue them, my men!" quoth Robin, "even from out the shadow of
the rope itself!"

Whereupon the band set to work to devise ways and means.

Robin walked apart a little way with his head leaned thoughtfully upon
his breast--for he was sore troubled--when whom should he meet but an
old begging palmer, one of a devout order which made pilgrimages and
wandered from place to place, supported by charity.

This old fellow walked boldly up to Robin and asked alms of him; since
Robin had been wont to aid members of his order.

"What news, what news, thou foolish old man?" said Robin, "what news, I
do thee pray?"

"Three squires in Nottingham town," quoth the palmer, "are condemned
to die. Belike that is greater news than the shire has had in some
Sundays."

Then Robin's long-sought idea came to him like a flash.

"Come, change thine apparel with me, old man," he said, "and I'll give
thee forty shillings in good silver to spend in beer or wine."

"O, thine apparel is good," the palmer protested, "and mine is ragged
and torn. The holy church teaches that thou should'st ne'er laugh an old
man to scorn."

"I