Part 14 (2/2)
Will smiled then ”So old Warrenton has persuaded you to seek the Prince's gold, youngling?” said he, at last Without waiting an answer, he stepped back and withdrew his bow ”Pass, then, Locksley, and good fortune attend you,” he went on ”We ain ere the day be done; but it is not sure----”
”You will not try for the purse, Will?” cried Robin, as if surprised
”I have no use for it,” answered Will, with sootism, ”Nay, fear not, our third trial is yet to come I did but stay you to speak of your cousin--” He paused, and glanced towards Stuteley
”I aone,” spoke the little esquire
”Your cousin, Geoffrey of Montfichet, has gone to France,” continued Will, speaking freely so soon as Robin had nodded in confirmation of Stuteley's discretion ”Like as not, Master Geoffrey has not talked with you as to his business with us in this greenwood?”
”I know nothing beyond that we did bind my cousin's armor about with red ribbon,” replied Robin, uneasily He re evil pricked hier, and has given up his schemes with you”
”I did not say that he had done that, Locksley,” spoke Will, in his gruff way ”Nor do I see why you should fear danger for him when he is in my company”
”I meant not that, Will, believe st your band who have little love for my cousin, and are jealous also of you----” And he told him of his adventure in the early part of the day when they last had ed you, youngling, and yet for all that you won the Sheriff's arrow? Give me now some token whereby I may knohich of my men are traitors”
”I should only know their voices, Will,” said Robin, regretfully
The outlaw shrugged ”Itto leave them ”Go your ways, Locksley, and win the purse”
”Is there no toll?” enquired Robin, sain, ”Am I truly free of Sherwood, Will?”
”'Twould seem so, Locksley,” said the outlaw, briefly Then, without further ado, he strode away from him
They watched his lithe forood,” sighed Robin, pondering upon the ready way in which the outlaw had recognized hied ast the trees The two youths crept into the hollow of one of the larger oaks to shelter the there they heard the noise of an approaching cavalcade It was a body of archers coold
They cantered past the tree wherein Robin and Stuteley lay hidden, and took no heed of the drenching rain All were st them would surely win the prize The only question was, Which one?
”These Nottingham clods!” cried one, scornfully; ”I'll dare swear that many of thehaainst Lincoln--'tis possible that they may stand to us for a round
But after that!”
”We will spend thebow A piece I'll toss to the heralds, and another to you, Staveley, for you are a covetous worh the one addressed turning violently upon hi hiht at this, and for a moment startled the rest of this worshi+pful company
Robin, rather vexed at his esquire's want of caution, came with him from out of the hollow of the tree The Lincolnshi+re men halted, and Robin asked for a lift to the field where already the tourney was being co to the Sherwood tourney, and with a bow?” asked one of the archers, loftily ”What will you shoot there, gipsy boy? There are no targets such as your shaftsof the gao”