Part 47 (1/2)

The friar, after he had left the prison, ran all the way to Barnesdale, under the stars

CHAPTER xxxI

It was hardly dahen a strong guard of soldiers was drawn up without Nottinghaed forth from his cell

Monceux had wisely come to the conclusion that Sir Guy of Gisborne had also failed, and he saw no reason to delay Little John's execution

Early as was the hour, yet both the Sheriff and the Bishop of Hereford were present The space before the castle was thronged with people

Beside the prisoner walked the castle chaplain

The croayed and roared, and a sht of the Sheriff At once the soldiers hurried to quell it

As the prisoner neared the gallows, the crowd so bore upon the cart in which he stood upright that progress for a few minutes was out of all question

Another disturbance broke out in the rear of the procession Next instant the prisoner was seen to have free hands He stooped and sliced the cords about his feet, and, releasing hi out of the cart

Then was an uproar indeed The soldiers had strict orders that the episode of Stuteley's escape was not to be repeated But whilst they exerted themselves desperately a sudden hail of arrows fell upon them fro eportions under his very eyes

”Lock the gates of the city,” screamed Carfax, at this juncture ”We have them trapped at last”

Little John was free and had seized an axe Much and Middle had brought bags of meal with the the white meal into the eyes of the enemy

Robin had broken up his band into sed simultaneously

In less time than it takes to tell, the space without the castle was turned to pande theether, and slowly but surely his sh the croith their swords and axes So soon as they were together, with Little John safely in the middle of thest the Sheriff's men

Then they turned to retreat, and fell back so suddenly that they had ood start ere Monceux had divined their intent They sped towards the north gate, that one being nearest to Barnesdale

Crafty Carfax had forestalled theate was closed hard and fast, and the bridge drawn

The outlaws doubled on their track and charged at their pursuers with lowered pikes and waving axes The crowd before thee

”To the west gate, Robin, hasten,” cried a shrill voice ”'Tis e is down--someone hath smashed the winch”

Robin's heart leaped in his body--'twas the voice of Gilbert of Blois!