the throat. The warder had no chance
to utter the slightest sound, and soon lay bound and gagged upon the
floor; while Arthur-a-Bland slipped himself into his uniform and got
hold of his keys.

'Twas the work of but a few moments more to open the gates, let down the
bridge, and admit the rest of the band; and they lot inside the town so
quietly that none knew of their coming. Fortune also favored them in the
fact that just at this moment the prison doors had been opened for
the march of the condemned man, and every soldier and idle lout in the
market-lace had trooped thither to see him pass along.

Presently out came Will Stutely with firm step but dejected air. He
looked eagerly to the right hand and to the left, but saw none of the
band. And though more than one curious face betrayed friendship in it,
he knew there could be no aid from such source.

Will's hands were tied behind his back. He marched between rows of
soldiery, and the Sheriff and the Bishop brought up the rear on horses,
looking mightily puffed up and important over the whole proceeding. He
would show these sturdy rebels--would the Sheriff--whose word was law!
He knew that the gates were tightly fastened; and further he believed
that the outlaws would hardly venture again within the walls, even if
the gates were open. And as he looked around at the fivescore archers
and pikemen who lined the way to the gallows, he smiled with grim
satisfaction.

Seeing that no help was nigh, the prisoner paused at the foot of the
scaffold and spoke in a firm tone to the Sheriff.

"My lord Sheriff," quoth he, "since I must needs die, grant me one boon;
for my noble master ne'er yet had a man that was hanged on a tree:

Give me a sword all in my hand,
And let me be unbound,
And with thee and thy men will I fight
Till I lie dead on the ground."

But the Sheriff would by no means listen to his request; but swore
that he should be hanged a shameful death, and not die by the sword
valiantly.

"O no, no, no," the Sheriff said,
"Thou shalt on the gallows die,
Aye, and so shall they master too,
If ever it in me lie."

"O dastard coward!" Stutely cried,
"Faint-hearted peasant slave!
If ever my master do thee meet,
Thou shalt thy payment have!"

"My noble master thee doth scorn,
And all thy cowardly crew,
Such silly imps unable are
Bold Robin to subdue."

This brave speech was not