Part 28 (1/2)

In due season the servants found that the Sheriff's new kitchen-hand was gone, and with hiold plate Then they reer was plucked out of his bed, with all his bruises and wounds upon hireat fuer perforusto, and so fixed the blame upon Little John that no one else was even suspected

Roger would have now spoken as to Barnesdale, and betrayed the secret caves to the Sheriff; but he had once before persuaded them to search the cave near Gah of these tales,” snarled the Sheriff; ”keep them for the Bishop's ears _I_ am concerned for my plate; and will recover it ere I put forth on any other enterprise”

He sent out his archers and men-at-arms, with such an incoherent description of Little John that near all the tall ate-keeper who had been so foolish as to open to Little John becaer that, when they questioned him, he vowed by all the saints that he had clapped eyes on no such fellow in his life

Monceux, getting ed, chanced at last upon the butchers He bade theather from any, least of all froreat man that all who had not believed him crazy before, were noell sure of it

He would persist in talking to the irate lord of his own affairs: how he had just inherited a farm with many head of cattle--such beasts! how he had sold soe haenerous

”I have full five hundred and ten horned beasts upon ure,” said Robin ”Ay, to hiht money will I sell the?”

Monceux, in the midst of his frenzy, suddenly quieted down This was the idiot butcher of who No use to bluster and threaten him

Five hundred and ten fat beasts for twenty pieces! Was ever such a fool?

”I'll buy your beasts of you, butcher,” said Monceux, ”and will give you twice the money you ask”

At this Robin was quite overco hi plate was forgotten

”Drive in your beasts, butcher,” said Monceux

”They are but at Gamewell, excellence,” said Robin; ”not more than a mile beyond it at most Will you not come and choose your own beasts?

The day is fine”

The Sheriff disht settle it quietly If he did not close upon this bargain straightway it would be lost to hio with you, butcher,” spoke Master Monceux After all, what had he to fear? Surely no man, be he ever so wicked and desperate an outlaould _dare_ to lay hands upon the Sheriff of Nottingha suspected the Bishop of Hereford's story There were no robbers in Sherwood now--the Bishop had invented the tale in order to cover up soraceful carousal, and had bribed his men It had been a plot by which my lord of Hereford had been able to foist hiain both free lodging in Nottingha in charity to the poor folk of the town

Thus Master Monceux argued swiftly within himself

”Get ready, butcher, for,” he said, briskly, ”I will join you in a few e upon the captain of his men-at-arms and upon those of his household to find hioods should be seized and sold if they failed hi in secret search hiether, Robin driving his sha horse and rickety cart beside the Sheriff's little fat brown pony

They passed through the gate, and Monceux left word there that his archers were to follow him to Ga for his plate

Robin was very gay, and kept the Sheriff aratulated hih to Garavel-pit wherein was one of the hidden passages to the Barnesdale caves Peering irresolute through the tree-trunks far off to their right, Robin spied a herd of deer

They stood and tre to stareenwood men all that day--that perchance Stuteley and the rest were near the beasts, in a in his lean horse, he turned in his cart to call to the Sheriff

”See, excellence, here areto welcoold”