but it left a lurking fever. Daily his
strength ebbed away from him, until he was in sore distress.

One day as he rode along on horseback, near Kirklees Abbey, he was
seized with so violent a rush of blood to the head that he reeled and
came near falling from his saddle. He dismounted weakly and knocked at
the Abbey gate. A woman shrouded in black peered forth.

"Who are you that knock here? For we allow no man within these walls,"
she said.

"Open, for the love of Heaven!" he begged. "I am Robin Hood, ill of a
fever and in sore straits."

At the name of Robin Hood the woman started back, and then, as though
bethinking herself, unbarred the door and admitted him. Assisting his
fainting frame up a flight of stairs and into a front room, she loosed
his collar and bathed his face until he was revived. Then she spoke
hurriedly in a low voice:

"Your fever will sink, if you are bled. See, I have provided a lancet
and will open your veins, while you lie quiet."

So she bled him, and he fell into a stupor which lasted nearly all that
day, so that he awoke weak and exhausted from loss of blood.

Now there is a dispute as to this abbess who bled him. Some say that
she did it in all kindness of heart; while others aver that she was none
other than the former Sheriff's daughter, and found her revenge at last
in this cruel deed.

Be that as it may, Robin's eyes swam from very weakness when he awoke.

He called wearily for help, but there was no response. He looked
longingly through the window at the green of the forest; but he was too
weak to make the leap that would be needed to reach the ground.

He then bethought him of his horn,
Which hung down at his knee;
He set his horn unto his mouth,
And blew out weak blasts three.

Little John was out in the forest near by, or the blasts would never
have been heard. At their sound he sprang to his feet.

"Woe! woe!" he cried, "I fear my master is near dead, he blows so
wearily!"

So he made haste and came running up to the door of the abbey, and
knocked loudly for admittance. Failing to get reply, he burst in the
door with frenzied blows of his mighty fist, and soon came running up
to the room where Robin lay, white and faint. "Alas, dear master!" cried
Little John in great distress; "I fear you have met with treachery! If
that be so, grant me one last boon, I pray."

"What is it?" asked Robin.

"Let me burn Kirklees-Hall with fire, and all its nu