pate and fell in
like a chicken with the pip going for its dinner. Yonder came hobbling
a man with a lame ankle, or another with his shins torn by the briars or
another with his jacket all muddy from the marsh. So in truth it was
a tatterdemalion crew that limped and straggled and wandered back into
Barnesdale that day. Yet all were merry, for the Sheriff had promised
them flagons of wine, and moreover they were to hang speedily the
boldest outlaw in England, next to Robin Hood himself.

The gallows was quickly put up and a new rope provided.

"Now up with you!" commanded the Sheriff, "and let us see if your
greenwood tricks will avail you to-morrow."

"I would that I had bold Robin's horn," muttered poor John; "methinks
'tis all up with me even as the Sheriff hath spoken."

In good sooth the time was dire and pressing. The rope was placed around
the prisoner's neck and the men prepared to haul away.

"Are you ready?" called the Sheriff. "One--two--"

But before the "three" left his lips the faint sound of a silver bugle
came floating over the hill.

"By my troth, that is Sir Guy of Gisborne's horn," quoth the Sheriff;
"and he bade me not to delay answering its summons. He has caught Robin
Hood."

"Pardon, Excellency," said one of his men; "but if he has caught Robin
Hood, this is a merry day indeed. And let us save this fellow and build
another gallows and hang them both together."

"That's a brave thought!" said the Sheriff slapping his knee. "Take the
rascal down and bind him fast to the gallows-tree against our return."

So Little John was made fast to the gallows-tree, while the Sheriff and
all his men who could march or hobble went out to get Robin Hood and
bring him in for the double hanging.

Let us leave talking of Little John and the Sheriff, and see what has
become of Robin Hood.

In the first place, he and Little John had come near having a quarrel
that self-same morning because both had seen a curious looking yeoman,
and each wanted to challenge him singly. But Robin would not give way to
his lieutenant, and that is why John, in a huff, had gone with Will to
Barnesdale.

Meanwhile Robin approached the curious looking stranger. He seemed to be
a three-legged creature at first sight, but on coming nearer you would
have seen that 'twas really naught but a poorly clad man, who for a
freak had covered up his rags with a capul-hide, nothing more nor less
than the sun-dried skin of a horse, complet