r me!" thought the Sheriff's daughter to
herself; and she forthwith summoned him to the Mansion House and
commissioned him to seek out Robin Hood.

The warrant was quite to Arthur's liking, for he was happiest when out
in the forest taking a sly peep at the King's deer; and now he reckoned
that he could look at them boldly, instead of by the rays of the moon.
He could say to any King's Forester who made bold to stop him: "I am
here on the King's business!"

"Gramercy! No more oak-bark and ditch-water and the smell of half-tanned
hides to-day!" quoth he, gaily. "I shall e'en see what the free air of
heaven tastes like, when it sweeps through the open wood."

So the tanner departed joyfully upon his errand, but much more
interested in the dun deer of the forest than in any two-legged rovers
therein. This interest had, in fact, caused the Foresters to keep a
shrewd eye upon him in the past, for his tannery was apt to have plenty
of meat in it that was more like venison than the law allowed. As for
the outlaws, Arthur bore them no ill-will; indeed he had felt a secret
envy in his heart at their free life; but he was not afraid to meet any
two men who might come against him. Nathless, the Sheriff's daughter did
not choose a very good messenger, as you shall presently see.

Away sped the tanner, a piece of bread and some wine in his wallet,
a good longbow and arrows slung across his shoulder, his stout
quarter-staff in his hand, and on his head a cap of trebled raw-hide so
tough that it would turn the edge of a broadsword. He lost no time in
getting out of the hot sun and into the welcome shade of the forest,
where he stalked cautiously about seeking some sign of the dun deer.

Now it so chanced that upon that very morning Robin Hood had sent Little
John to a neighboring village to buy some cloth of Lincoln green for new
suits for all the band. Some of the money recently won of the King
was being spent in this fashion, 'gainst the approach of winter. Will
Scarlet had been sent on a similar errand to Barnesdale some time
before, if you remember, only to be chased up the hill without his
purchase. So to-day Little John was chosen, and for sweet company's
sake Robin went with him a part of the way until they came to the "Seven
Does," the inn where Robin had recently played his prank upon Middle the
tinker. Here they drank a glass of ale to refresh themselves withal,
and for good luck; and Robin tarried a bit while Little Joh