Part 28 (2/2)

Monceux saw then that he had been duped, and flew into a terrible passion Robin cut his reproaches very short, however; and, taking off his butcher's snal

The Sheriff turned to fly, but had not travelled a hundred yards ere, hearing an unco sound, ht it better to stop Robin had hidden his bow and quiver in the straw at the bottom of the butcher's cart He now stood up and sped his shafts all round and about the poor Sheriff

Then Monceux reined up his fat pony and surrendered hiive you o, butcher?” said he, whiningly ”Did I not treat you well last night, giving you a fair supper and e of you, butcher”

Suddenly he saw hireenwood, headed by Stuteley Robin nodded, and in a ravel-pit, and his pony was set galloping in the direction of Nottinghaht their captive through the dangerous passage, having first blindfolded hihae, unknown part of Sherwood, seated ast two score and ten wild fellows, to a wilder meal of venison, brown bread, and wine

With a shock of surprise he saw that the hot, juicy portion of the King's beast handed to hiolden plate He glanced around from the merry faces of the lawlessAll were of gold and very fa eye encountered that of Little John's, coolly helping hiue!” spluttered Monceux

”You scum of the kitchens! Where is my plate? You shall be shred into little pieces for this trick, and you also, false butcher”

”Nay, excellence,” said a gentle voice near to him, ”this is no butcher; but rather Master Robin o' th' Hood, a good yeoht Saxon Sooblet, excellence, for you have spilled all the wine”

Monceux glared at the speaker, a handsoe's costuhtened hed and tossed his head in a queerly fascinating way The Sheriff, relaxing, held out his goblet, and se

”Well done, Master Gilbert of Blois!” cried Robin, who sat at the Sheriff's left hand ”Now tell me how you discovered me, and I will love you----”

The lad blushed furiously ”I knew you from the first, Robin o' th'

Hood,” he answered, defiantly

”In truth?” questioned Robin, slily, and with his own suspicions growing No wonder he had seen nothing of Marian in Nottinghae ”Let me fill your tankard, friend But very soon I did discover you Is this the stag that you killed, Robin o' th' Hood?” he added, innocently

Robin nodded; and the Sheriff flashed another look of anger upon him

”Sit you beside me, Gilbert,” Robin ordered; ”I am very fain to have speech with you”

Marian, with her woman's intuition, knew from his tone that she also was discovered Yet she braved it out ”I will fill all the cups, Robin o'

th' Hood,” she said, firmly, with an adorable little shake of her black curls; ”then will hear your adventures as a Nottingha to tell to us”

The page skipped lightly frohed loud and long ”He calls you Robin o' th' Hood,like a bull For sohtily He kept repeating it in all kinds of tones, and those about hih also

”'Tis a very excellent name,” said Robin, a little vexed ”A merry name, a man's name, and a name to my heart! I do adopt it from this day; for is not Robin Fitzooth of Locksley dead? My lord the Sheriff can tell you that he is, for he has burned hie ”

Little John, Stuteley, and Much rose to their feet together in their hurry to be first The others were not slow in following them