Robin,
And all thy company!"

Now you must know that some months passed by. The winter dragged its
weary length through Sherwood Forest, and Robin Hood and his merry men
found what cheer they could in the big crackling fires before their
woodland cave. Friar Tuck had built him a little hermitage not far away,
where he lived comfortably with his numerous dogs.

The winter, I say, reached an end at last, and the blessed spring came
and went. Another summer passed on apace, and still neither King nor
Sheriff nor Bishop could catch the outlaws, who, meanwhile, thrived and
prospered mightily in their outlawry. The band had been increased
from time to time by picked men such as Arthur-a-Bland and David of
Doncaster--he who was the jolliest cobbler for miles around--until it
now numbered a full sevenscore of men; seven companies each with its
stout lieutenant serving under Robin Hood. And still they relieved the
purses of the rich, and aided the poor, and feasted upon King's deer
until the lank Sheriff of Nottingham was well-nigh distracted.

Indeed, that official would probable have lost his office entirely, had
it not been for the fact of the King's death. Henry passed away, as all
Kings will, in common with ordinary men, and Richard of the Lion Heart
was proclaimed as his successor.

Then Robin and his men, after earnest debate, resolved to throw
themselves upon the mercy of the new King, swear allegiance, and ask to
be organized into Royal Foresters. So Will Scarlet and Will Stutely and
Little John were sent to London with this message, which they were first
to entrust privately to Maid Marian. But they soon returned with bad
tidings. The new King had formerly set forth upon a crusade to the Holy
Land, and Prince John, his brother, was impossible to deal with--being
crafty, cruel and treacherous. He was laying his hands upon all the
property which could easily be seized; among other estates, that of
the Earl of Huntingdon, Robin's old enemy and Marian's father, who had
lately died.

Marian herself was in sore straits. Not only had her estates been taken
away, and the maid been deprived of the former protection of the Queen,
but the evil Prince John had persecuted her with his attentions. He
thought that since the maid was defenseless he could carry her away to
one of his castles and none could gainsay him.

No word of this peril reached Robin's ears, although his men brought
him word of the seizure of the Hunt