r,
but a side blow from its antlers stretched her upon the ground. The stag
stopped, turned, and lowered its head preparing to gore her to death.

Already its cruel horns were coming straight for her, while she, white
of face and bewildered by the sudden attack, was struggling to rise
and draw her sword. A moment more and the end would come. But the sharp
voice of Robin and already spoken.

"Down, Marian!" he cried, and the girl instinctively obeyed, just as
the shaft from Robin's bow went whizzing close above her head and struck
with terrific force full in the center of the stag's forehead.

The beast stumbled in its charge and fell dead, across the body of the
fainting maid.

Robin was quickly by her side, and dragged the beast from off the girl.

Picking her up in his strong arms, he bore her swiftly to the side of
one of the many brooks which watered the vale.

He dashed cool water upon her face, roughly almost, in his agony of fear
that the she was already dead, and he could have shed tears of joy to
see those poor, closed eyelids tremble. He redoubled his efforts; and
presently she gave a little gasp.

"Where am I? What is't?"

"You are in Sherwood, dear maid, tho', i' faith, we gave you a rude
reception!"

She opened her eyes and sat up. "Methinks you have rescued me from
sudden danger, sir," she said.

Then she recognized Robin for the first time, and a radiant smile came
over her face, together with the rare blush of returned vitality,
and her head sank upon his shoulder with a little tremble and sigh of
relief.

"Oh, Robin, it is you!" she murmured.

"Aye, 'tis I. Thank heaven, I was at hand to do you service!" Robin's
tones were deep and full of feeling. "I swear, dear Marian, that I will
not let you from my care henceforth."

Not another word was spoken for some moments, while her head still
rested confidingly upon his breast. Then recollecting, he suddenly
cried:

"Gramercy, I make but a poor nurse! I have not even asked if any of your
bones were broken."

"No, not any," she answered springing lightly to her feet to show him.

"That foolish dizziness o'ercame me for the nonce, but we can now
proceed on our way."

"Nay, I meant not that," he protested; "why should we haste? First tell
me of the news in London town, and of yourself."

So she told him how that the Prince had seized upon her father's lands,
and had promised to restore them to her if she would listen to his suit;
and how