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it off with a jest. ‘Nay, good master,’ quoth he, ‘if thou think-
est the Sheriff gave us not the plate, I will fetch him, that he
may tell us with his own lips he giveth it all to us.’ So say-
ing he leaped to his feet, and was gone before Robin could
call him back.
Little John ran for full five miles till he came to where
the Sheriff of Nottingham and a gay company were hunt-
ing near the forest. When Little John came to the Sheriff
he doffed his cap and bent his knee. ‘God save thee, good
master,’ quoth he.
‘Why, Reynold Greenleaf!’ cried the Sheriff, ‘whence
comest thou and where hast thou been?’
‘I have been in the forest,’ answered Little John, speaking
amazedly, ‘and there I saw a sight such as ne’er before man’s
eyes beheld! Yonder I saw a young hart all in green from
top to toe, and about him was a herd of threescore deer, and
they, too, were all of green from head to foot. Yet I dared not
shoot, good master, for fear lest they should slay me.’
‘Why, how now, Reynold Greenleaf,’ cried the Sheriff, ‘art
thou dreaming or art thou mad, that thou dost bring me
such, a tale?’
‘Nay, I am not dreaming nor am I mad,’ said Little John,
‘and if thou wilt come with me, I will show thee this fair
sight, for I have seen it with mine own eyes. But thou must
come alone, good master, lest the others frighten them and
they get away.’
So the party all rode forward, and Little John led them
downward into the forest.
‘Now, good master,’ quoth he at last, ‘we are nigh where

10 The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood