ttingham, and stood
as before looking up and down to see if the way was clear. Back at a
bend in the road he heard a rumbling and a lumbering, when up drove
a stout butcher, whistling gaily, and driving a mare that sped slowly
enough because of the weight of meat with which the cart was loaded.

"A good morrow to you, friend," hailed Robin. "Whence come you and where
go you with your load of meat?"

"A good morrow to you," returned the butcher, civilly enough. "No matter
where I dwell. I am but a simple butcher, and to Nottingham am I going,
my flesh to sell. 'Tis Fair week, and my beef and mutton should fetch a
fair penny," and he laughed loudly at his jest. "But whence come you?"

"A yeoman am I, from Lockesley town. Men call me Robin Hood."

"The saints forefend that you should treat me ill!" said the butcher in
terror. "Oft have I heard of you, and how you lighten the purses of the
fat priests and knights. But I am naught but a poor butcher, selling
this load of meat, perchance, for enough to pay my quarter's rent."

"Rest you, my friend, rest you," quoth Robin, "not so much as a silver
penny would I take from you, for I love an honest Saxon face and a fair
name with my neighbors. But I would strike a bargain with you."

Here he took from his girdle a well-filled purse, and continued, "I
would fain be a butcher, this day, and sell meat at Nottingham town.
Could you sell me your meat, your cart, your mare, and your good-will,
without loss, for five marks?"

"Heaven bless ye, good Robin," cried the butcher right joyfully, "that
can I!" And he leaped down forthwith from the cart, and handed Robin the
reins in exchange for the purse.

"One moment more," laughed Robin, "we must e'en change garments for the
nonce. Take mine and scurry home quickly lest the King's Foresters try
to put a hole through this Lincoln green."

So saying he donned the butcher's blouse and apron, and, climbing into
the cart, drove merrily down the road to the town.

When he came to Nottingham he greeted the scowling gate-keeper blithely
and proceeded to the market-place. Boldly he led his shuffling horse to
the place where the butchers had their stalls.

He had no notion of the price to ask for his meat, but put on a foolish
and simple air as he called aloud his wares:

"Hark ye, lasses and dames, hark ye,
Good meat come buy, come buy,
Three pen'orths go for one penny,
And a kiss is good, say I!"

Now when the f