Meanwhile the High Sheriff of Nottingham proclaimed a great
shooting-match in a broad open space, and Little John was minded to
try his skill with the rest. He rode through the forest, whistling
gaily to himself, for well he knew that not one of Robin Hood's men
could send an arrow as straight as he, and he felt little fear of
anyone else. When he reached the trysting place he found a large
company assembled, the Sheriff with them, and the rules of the match
were read out: where they were to stand, how far the mark was to be,
and how that three tries should be given to every man.
Some of the shooters shot near the mark, some of them even touched it,
but none but Little John split the slender wand of willow with every
arrow that flew from his bow. And at this sight the Sheriff of
Nottingham swore a great oath that Little John was the best archer
that ever he had seen, and asked him who he was and where he was born,
and vowed that if he would enter his service he would give twenty
marks a year to so good a bowman.
Little John, who did not wish to confess that he was one of Robin
Hood's men and an outlaw, said his name was Reynold Greenleaf, and
that he was in the service of a Knight, whose leave he must get before
he became the servant of any man. This was given heartily by the
Knight, and Little John bound himself to the Sheriff for the space of
twelve months, and was given a good white horse to ride on whenever he
went abroad. But for all that he did not like his bargain, and made
up his mind to do the Sheriff, who was hated of the outlaws, all the
mischief he could.
His chance came on a Wednesday when the Sheriff always went hunting
and Little John lay in bed till noon, when he grew hungry. Then he got
up, and told the steward that he wanted some dinner. The steward
answered he should have nothing till the Sheriff came home, so Little
John grumbled and left him, and sought out the butler. Here he was no
more successful than before; the butler just went to the buttery door
and locked it, and told Little John that he would have to make himself
happy till his lord returned.
Rude words mattered nothing to Little John, who was not accustomed to
be baulked by trifles, so he gave a mighty kick which burst open the
door, and then ate and drank as much as he would, and when he had
finished all there was in the buttery, he went down into the kitchen.
Now the Sheriff's cook was a strong man and a bold one, and had no
mind to let another man play the king in his kitchen; so he gave
Little John three smart blows, which were returned heartily. 'Thou art
a brave man and hardy,' said Little John, 'and a good fighter withal.
I have a sword, take you another, and let us see which is the better
man of us twain.'
The cook did as he was bid, and for two hours they fought, neither of
them harming the other. 'Fellow,' said Little John at last, 'you are
one of the best swordsmen that I ever saw--and if you could shoot as
well with the bow I would take you back to the merry greenwood, and
Robin Hood would give you twenty marks a year and two changes of
clothing.'
'Put up your sword,' said the cook, 'and I will go with you. But first
we will have some food in my kitchen, and carry off a little of the
gold that is in the Sheriff's treasure house.'
They ate and drank till they wanted no more, then they broke the locks
of the treasure house, and took of the silver as much as they could
carry, three hundred pounds and more, and departed unseen by anyone to
Robin in the forest.
'Welcome! Welcome!' cried Robin when he saw them, 'welcome, too, to
the fair yeoman you bring with you. What tidings from Nottingham,
Little John?'
'The proud Sheriff greets you, and sends you by my hand his cook and
his silver vessels, and three hundred pounds and three also.'
Robin shook his head, for he knew better than to believe Little John's
tale. 'It was never by his good will that you brought such treasure to
me,' he answered, and Little John, fearing that he might be ordered to
take it back again, slipped away into the forest to carry out a plan
that had just come into his head.
He ran straight on for five miles, till he came up with the Sheriff,
who was still hunting, and flung himself on his knees before him.
'Reynold Greenleaf,' cried the Sheriff, 'what are you doing here, and
where have you been?'
'I have been in the forest, where I saw a fair hart of a green colour,
and sevenscore deer feeding hard by.'
'That sight would I see too,' said the Sheriff.
'Then follow me,' answered Little John, and he ran back the way he
came, the Sheriff following on horseback, till they turned a corner of
the forest, and found themselves in Robin Hood's presence. 'Sir, here
is the master-hart,' said Little John.
Still stood the proud Sheriff,
A sorry man was he,
'Woe be to you, Reynold Greenleaf,
Thou hast betrayed me!'
'It was not my fault,' answered Little John, 'but the fault of your
servants, master. For they would not give me my dinner,' and he went
away to see to the supper.
It was spread under the greenwood tree, and they sat down to it,
hungry men all. But when the Sheriff saw himself served from his own
vessels, his appetite went from him.
'Take heart, man,' said Robin Hood, 'and think not we will poison you.
For charity's sake, and for the love of Little John, your life shall
be granted you. Only for twelve months you shall dwell with me, and
learn what it is to be an outlaw.'
To the Sheriff this punishment was worse to bear than the loss of gold
or silver dishes, and earnestly he begged Robin Hood to set him free,
vowing he would prove himself the best friend that ever the foresters
had.
Neither Robin nor any of his men believed him, but he took a great
oath that he would never seek to do them harm, and that if he found
any of them in evil plight he would deliver them out of it. With that
Robin let him go.