Page 102 - the-merry-adventures-of-robin-hood

ing about, and took as much silver as they could lay hands
upon, clapping it into a bag, and when they had filled the
sack they set forth to Sherwood Forest.
Plunging into the woods, they came at last to the green-
wood tree, where they found Robin Hood and threescore
of his merry men lying upon the fresh green grass. When
Robin and his men saw who it was that came, they leaped
to their feet. ‘Now welcome!’ cried Robin Hood. ‘Now wel-
come, Little John! For long hath it been since we have heard
from thee, though we all knew that thou hadst joined the
Sheriff’s service. And how hast thou fared all these long
days?’
‘Right merrily have I lived at the Lord Sheriff’s,’ answered
Little John, ‘and I have come straight thence. See, good
master! I have brought thee his cook, and even his silver
plate.’ Thereupon he told Robin Hood and his merry men
that were there, all that had befallen him since he had left
them to go to the Fair at Nottingham Town. Then all shout-
ed with laughter, except Robin Hood; but he looked grave.
‘Nay, Little John,’ said he, ‘thou art a brave blade and a
trusty fellow. I am glad thou hast brought thyself back to us,
and with such a good companion as the Cook, whom we all
welcome to Sherwood. But I like not so well that thou hast
stolen the Sheriff’s plate like some paltry thief. The Sher-
iff hath been punished by us, and hath lost three hundred
pounds, even as he sought to despoil another; but he hath
done nought that we should steal his household plate from
him.
Though Little John was vexed with this, he strove to pass

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