“How delightful are the woods upon a summer’s morn. The bright foliage
of the trees now shines in its deepest verdure; the lawns and glades
are clothed with luxuriant grass and sweet wild flowers, upon which the
dew-drops glisten in the rising sun. The merry birds sitting upon the
tender branches pour forth their morning lays; and yon lark, now soaring
high towards the blue expanse of heaven, makes hill and dale re-echo
with her melodious carol;—all telling of the goodness of their Creator,
and praising him for his wondrous works. Thus thought Robin Hood as, on
a bright morning in the pleasant month of June, he wandered amid the
trees of Barnesdale. He had been awakened earlier than usual from his
slumbers by the loud and incessant singing of a golden thrush: he arose,
and rambled forth, enjoying the freshness of the morning breeze, and the
sweet music that was borne upon it. Many a hart darted across his path,
and many a young fawn skipped playfully at his side, and then bounded
into the recesses of the forest. At another time the outlaw’s keen arrow
would have followed them, but now he smiled at their merry gambols, and
charmed with the loveliness of the scene, he rested upon his bow, and
contemplated with heart-felt pleasure the tranquil beauty of the morn.
He continued thus, absorbed in meditation, when suddenly a distant sound
broke upon the stillness of the air.
“The outlaw listened for a moment. ‘’Tis the tramp of horses,’ he
whispered to himself; and stepping to a tree, quick as thought he
climbed amid its branches. Thence he could plainly distinguish the
glitter of spear-heads and bright helmets, and scarce had he secured
himself from observation, when several horsemen, followed by a troop of
soldiers, passed within a few yards of his hiding-place. In the leader,
Robin Hood at once recognised his old friend, the sheriff of Nottingham,
who he had no doubt was now come with his men to seek for the traitorous
butcher of Sherwood.
“It was not till some time after this little band had gone by that the
outlaw ventured to descend the tree; and then, striking into a narrow
path, he endeavoured to retrace his steps to the spot where his men were
dwelling. On his way he was obliged to cross the high road, where a
stranger arrested his steps.
“‘Hast thou seen the sheriff of Nottingham in the forest?’ he inquired.
“‘Aye, my good fellow, and with a fine band at his tail,’ replied Robin
Hood. ‘Art thou seeking him?’
“‘Not him,’ returned the stranger, who was a bold yeoman, dressed in a
coat of the untanned skin of some wild beast, and who carried a bow in
his hand, and a sword and dagger at his side. ‘I seek not the sheriff,
but him whom he seeks.’
“‘And who may that be?’ said the forester, at the same time forming a
pretty shrewd guess.
“‘A man they call Robin Hood,’ answered the stranger. ‘If thou canst show
me where he is, this purse shall be thine;’ and taking a well-filled
leathern bag from his girdle, he rattled the contents together.
“‘Come with me, my friend, and thou shalt soon see Robin Hood,’ returned
the outlaw. ‘But thou hast a brave bow; wilt thou not try thy skill
with me in archery?’ The stranger at once consented. Robin Hood with
his dagger cut down the branch of a tree, and fixing it in the earth,
suspended upon the top a little garland, which he entwined with the long
grass. The archers took their station at the distance of three hundred
yards, and the stranger drew the first bow. His arrow flew past the mark
far too high. The outlaw next bent his weapon, and shot within an inch
or two of the stick. Again the yeoman essayed; and this time his shaft
flew straight and passed through the garland; but Robin Hood stepped
up boldly, and drawing his arrow to the very head, shot it with such
vehemence that it clave the branch into two pieces, and still flew
onwards for some yards.
“‘Give me thy hand,’ cried the stranger,—‘thou’rt the bravest bowman
I’ve seen for many a day, an thy heart be as true as thy aim, thou art a
better man than Robin Hood. What name bearest thou?’
“‘Nay—first tell me thine,’ replied Robin, ‘and then by my faith I will
answer thee.’
“‘They call me Guy of Gisborne,’ rejoined the yeoman. ‘I’m one of the
king’s rangers; and am sworn to take that outlawed traitor, Robin Hood.’
“‘He’s no traitor, sirrah,’ returned the forester angrily; ‘and cares as
much for thee as for the beast whose skin thou wearest. I am that outlaw
whom thou seek’st,—I am Robin Hood:’ and in a moment his drawn sword was
in his hand.
“‘That’s for thee then,’ cried the yeoman, striking fiercely. ‘Five
hundred pounds are set upon thine head, and if I get it not I’ll lose
mine own.’
[Illustration: ROBIN HOOD & GUY OF GISBORNE