like to need it."

"Gramercy!" replied the other smiling. "And now lead on to your
greenwood hostelry."

So Robin went on the one side of the knight's steed, and Friar Tuck on
the other, and the men went before and behind till they came to the open
glade before the caves of Barnesdale. Then Robin drew forth his bugle
and winded the three signal blasts of the band. Soon there came a
company of yeomen with its leader, and another, and a third, and a
fourth, till there were sevenscore yeomen in sight. All were dressed
in new livery of Lincoln green, and carried new bows in their hands and
bright short swords at their belts. And every man bent his knee to Robin
Hood ere taking his place before the board, which was already set.

A handsome dark-haired page stood at Robin's right hand to pour his wine
and that of the knightly guest; while the knight marveled much at all he
saw, and said within himself:

"These men of Robin Hood's give him more obedience than my fellows give
to me."

At the signal from Robin the dinner began. There was venison and fowl
and fish and wheaten cake and ale and red wine in great plenty, and
'twas a goodly sight to see the smiles upon the hungry yeomen's faces.

First they listened to an unctuous grace from Friar Tuck, and then Robin
lifted high a tankard of ale.

"Come, let us now begin," quoth he, "and every man shall have his can.
In honor of our guest who comes with royal word, here's a health unto
the King!"

The guest responded heartily to this toast, and round about the board it
went, the men cheering noisily for King Richard!

After the feast was over, Robin turned to his guest and said, "Now you
shall see what life we lead, so that you may report faithfully, for good
or bad, unto the King."

So at a signal from him, the men rose up and smartly bent their bows for
practice, while the knight was greatly astonished at the smallness of
the their targets. A wand was set up, far down the glade, and thereon
was balanced a garland of roses. Whosoever failed to speed his shaft
through the garland, without knocking it off the wand, was to submit to
a buffet from the hand of Friar Tuck.

"Ho, ho!" cried the knight, as his late traveling companion rose up and
bared his brawny arm ready for service; "so you, my friend, are Friar
Tuck!"

"I have not gainsaid it," replied Tuck growling at having betrayed
himself. "But chastisement is a rule of the church, and I am seeking the
good of these