rince John, who acted as Regent, had never been
fond of Robin. He received him with a sarcastic smile.

"Go forth into the greenwood," said he, coldly, "and kill some more of
the King's deer. Belike, then, the King will make you Prime Minister, at
the very least, upon his return."

The taunt fired Robin's blood. He had been in a morose mood, ever since
his dear wife's death. He answered Prince John hotly, and the Prince
bade his guards seize him and cast him into the Tower.

After lying there for a few weeks, he was released by the faithful
Stutely and the remnant of the Royal Archers, and all together they fled
the city and made their way to the greenwood. There Robin blew the old
familiar call, which all had known and loved so well. Up came running
the remainder of the band, who had been Royal Foresters, and when they
saw their old master they embraced his knees and kissed his hands, and
fairly cried for joy that he had come again to them. And one and all
forswore fealty to Prince John, and lived quietly with Robin in the
greenwood, doing harm to none and only awaiting the time when King
Richard should come again.

But King Richard came not again, and would never need his Royal Guard
more. Tidings presently reached them, of how he had met his death in a
foreign land, and how John reigned as King in his stead. The proof of
these events followed soon after, when there came striding through the
glade the big, familiar form of Little John.

"Art come to arrest us?" called out Robin, as he ran forward and
embraced his old comrade.

"Nay, I am not come as the Sheriff of Nottingham, thanks be," answered
Little John. "The new King has deposed me, and 'tis greatly to
my liking, for I have long desired to join you here again in the
greenwood."

Then were the rest of the band right glad at this news, and toasted
Little John royally.

The new King waged fierce war upon the outlaws, soon after this, and
sent so many scouting parties into Sherwood and Barnesdale that Robin
and his men left these woods for a time and went into Derbyshire, near
Haddon Hall. A curious pile of stone is shown to this day as the ruins
of Robin's Castle, where the bold outlaw is believed to have defied his
enemies for a year or more. At any rate King John found so many troubles
of his own, after a time, that he ceased troubling the outlaws.

But in one of the last sorties Robin was wounded. The cut did not seem
serious, and healed over the top;