s no sooner started across than he saw a tall
stranger coming from the other side. Thereupon Robin quickened his pace,
and the stranger did likewise, each thinking to cross first. Midway they
met, and neither would yield an inch.

"Give way, fellow!" roared Robin, whose leadership of a band, I am
afraid, had not tended to mend his manners.

The stranger smiled. He was almost a head taller than the other.

"Nay," he retorted, "fair and softly! I give way only to a better man
than myself."

"Give way, I say", repeated Robin, "or I shall have to show you a better
man."

His opponent budged not an inch, but laughed loudly. "Now by my
halidom!" he said good-naturedly, "I would not move after hearing that
speech, even if minded to it before; for this better man I have sought
my life long. Therefore show him to me, an it please you."

"That will I right soon," quoth Robin. "Stay you here a little while,
till I cut me a cudgel like unto that you have been twiddling in your
fingers." So saying he sought his own bank again with a leap, laid aside
his long bow and arrows, and cut him a stout staff of oak, straight,
knotless, and a good six feet in length. But still it was a full foot
shorter than his opponent's. Then back came he boldly.

"I mind not telling you, fellow," said he, "that a bout with archery
would have been an easier way with me. But there are other tunes in
England besides that the arrow sings." Here he whirred the staff about
his head by way of practice. "So make you ready for the tune I am about
to play upon your ribs. Have at you! One, two--"

"Three!" roared the giant smiting at him instantly.

Well was it for Robin that he was quick and nimble of foot; for the blow
that grazed a hair's breadth from his shoulder would have felled an ox.
Nevertheless while swerving to avoid this stroke, Robin was poising for
his own, and back came he forthwith--whack!

Whack! parried the other.

Whack! whack! whack! whack!

The fight waxed fast and furious. It was strength pitted against
subtlety, and the match was a merry one. The mighty blows of the
stranger went whistling around Robin's ducking head, while his own swift
undercuts were fain to give the other an attack of indigestion. Yet each
stood firmly in his place not moving backward or forward a foot for a
good half hour, nor thinking of crying "Enough!" though some chance blow
seemed likely to knock one or the other off the narrow foot-bridge. The
giant's