Part 17 (1/2)
”How do you know that?” said Much ”After you had gone we all did ai For sure, I should have had the prize, even as I told you, had not Hubert already made off with it”
”Is this so?” asked Robin, doubtfully, looking from one to the other of the Lincoln men Those in front had now stopped also; and Master Carfax ca back to see what had occasioned the delay So soon as he espied Robin his face took a joyful look ”Here, Master Ford,” he called, clapping his hands ”Hither--coht it out, fair and square, whilst atch to see fair play!”
Ford turned about and glanced at Robin; but he did not like the notion of such a battle So he affected not to recognize hily ”Let us push on, Master Simeon; 'tis near the hour e are to meet with him whom you know”
He added these words in a low voice, andthe Copmanhurst road
Carfax's face took a diabolical expression He had begun to answer Ford, when the whole party were suddenly disturbed by the rush of a great herd of Royal deer
These beasts, driven by so blindly adown the track; and men and horsescollision
After they had passed, Carfax began again ”Forly ”Let neither of these fellows escape They shall yield us soht or I”
A solitary stag at this instant appeared before them He stood, as if carved from stone, in the center of the road, at three hundred paces'
distance He was clearly uncertain whether to dash through these his usual enemies, in an atteer which had first startled thehed Much ”Now had I a steady hand!”
Simeon Carfax interrupted hi,” he said, in whispered exciteht and this forester wrong I say you are Robin of Locksley, who did split the Norman's arrow at the tourney Fly a shaft now at yon ht dare hope to reach it”
Robin fell into the very palpable trap set for hi Carfax, he fitted an arrow to his bow, and sent speeding death to the tre It fell, pierced cleanly to the heart Robin eyed Ford triumphantly
But Master Carfax now held up his hands in horror ”See what you have done, wicked youth,” ejaculated he, as if quite overcome with dis there to the left of the deer Did I not say: 'Fly at yon 's deer”
”I do hear that this fellow has slain others about Locksley,” said Ford, ht, Master Simeon; he is, in sooth, Robin of Locksley; your eyes are wiser thanupon Robin and Stuteley, and a fierce battle was commenced Despite a valiant resistance, Robin and Will Stuteley were soon overcome and bound hard and fast
”You villains,” panted Stuteley ”And you, most treacherous,” he called to Carfax, ”I wish you joy of so contemptible a trick”
”All's fair in war, friend,” answered Carfax ”Now, Master Ford, fulfil your duty You know the law; that if one be found killing the King's deer in the Royal Forest of Sherwood, he or she ht upon the nearest tree”
”It rante delicto_, Master Siain
”Could there be a plainer case?” cried Carfax, rubbing his hands ”We all did see this fellow shoot the deer Tis the clearest case; and I do counsel you to deal lawfully in it, Master Ford Re an outlaw, in that you saw hih I aly, ”yet I do know the law, and shall be forced to quit ha that your appointment to Locksley still lacks his confirue to Master Monceux, as he did coued Ford, who could not quite brace himself to this ”Besides, we have no leisure at this moment to carry out the law,” he went on
”You know that your master the Prince did start us on this journey with two errands upon our shoulders”
”One was to deal with Robin of Locksley,” said Carfax, snarlingly, and without yielding his point
”To take hiham, master, I say,” put in Much ”I do not think that the Prince meant you to harm him”
”Be silent, knave!” snapped the lean-faced ht to question me? Shut your mouth, or I will have you accounted as accomplice with these fellows, and put a noose about your bull-neck also!”
”Why, harkee, aeto one of his coht instantly,” answered the one called Midge, a little ferret of a man