Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 98 — page 10: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

10 ‘To the rescue! To the rescue! John of England is bayed by treason! Rescue!” There was an answering shout, as five hundred men-at-arms came trampling through the woods, bearing down on the eighty armed yeo- men, The oddsof numbers were at least two to one, CHAPTER XI, BOWS AND BILLS, WELL was it then for Robin Hood and his merry men that they were ail picked for size strength and courage; for ordinary men would have succumbed at once to the odds against them. As it was, the stout outlaws showed no dismay at the surprise, but prepared to resist as coolly as if the fight were a mere game of arch- me ‘The women ran hurriedly into the chapel, whither Bishop Gilbert, in mortal terror of the flying arrows, followed them betimes; but Ma- rian, instead of seeking refuge there, hurried away to her little horse, which stood beneath a tree, and Prince John had the mortification of seeing her snatched from his arms by main force, while the companion of her flight was the oung minstrel, Allan-a-dale, who had been bin Hood’s herald at the tournament. A moment later, the outlaws had gathered Into a long, irregular semicircle, facing their foes on every hand, and began to shoot. John, helpless to aid his friends, seemed to be an ob- tia of perfect indifference to the archers, for hey allowed him to remain in their midst with- out noticing him, even Robin Hood not giving him a look. The first volley of those terrible arrows, each a yard long, sent with the force of the best men of the country-side, produced a serious effect on the assailants. Men and horses dropped in several places, and others could be seen, with the arrows still stick- ing in them, haltingin doubt. Then the outlaws raised a shout of taunting defiance which seemed to sting their enemies into new life, for their trumpets sounded, and on they came, driving in the eas who had been ba ing them, the ani- mals becoming demoralized by the rush of the horsemen. A moment later, one might see the sword-and-buckler-men of the Bishop of Here- ford, coming down out of their roosts in the swamp to join a great mob of footmen that was rushing on behind and around the horse- men, Despite all the showers of arrows the outlaws could send, they could not repulse their foes en- tirely. ‘he steel bucklers of the footmen, and the triangular shield of the men-at-arms warded off many a shaft, and the great numbers of the sheriff’s posse enabled them to extend their line and curl round the outlaws, like a snake closing its folds. As they came closer and closer,a few cross-bowmen, who seemed to have been ressed into their ranks, began to shoot, and it beeabae plain that Robin Hood and his men must flee. During the whole fight Prince John had re- mained a passive spectator, after his first out- burst; but when he saw the outlaws beginning to give back he renewed his shouts to his own men tocome to the rescue, He was rewarded by witnessing a grand charge, in the midst of which Robin Hood seta bugle to his lips; and in a trice, at the sound of that bugle, the whole body of yeomen fled in apparent dismay, scat- tering in the woods and seeking the thickest coverts. John shouted to encourage his men, and soon found himself almost alone, outlaws, posse and all being engaged in the woods, receding further and further every moment, Presently up rode Sir Roger Warman, cry- ing: a Praise to St. Hubert, your grace is safe!” ‘* Never mind me, Warman,” said the prince, hastily. ‘‘ After those caitiffs, and kill me every man, but bring back Marian for me.” The new sheriff bowed and galloped away so that the sound of the conflict rapidly faded into the distant woods, and John was once more left alone to listen. After awhile he heard the shouts and bugle- calls no more, and a silence ensued, which was at last broken by the rustle of brushwood, as the men of the sheriff’s posse came straggling back, led by Warman himself, and bearing in their dst-two of the redoubtable outlaws, as prison- ers ‘What have ye done with the rest?’ angrily inquired the prince of Warman. ‘‘ Have ye not slain the caitiff earl? Where is the lady Ma- rian?” “ My liege,” stammered Warman, confusedly, s¢.we chased them into the fens atthe edge of the forest, where the horses could go no further for the mire and water; and there the villains gave us the slip. But we have taken two of them, an’t please your grace.” ‘*Tt pleases not my grace,” said John, angri- ly; ‘but since they have fooled you again, let us see who these prisoners are. ah!” he cried with a tone of angry triumph, as his eyes fell on Little John and Will Scarlet in bonds; ‘‘it is ye, my brave fellows, is it? Will ye lay hands again on John of England? It is well, Warman. Ihave here two as big knaves as any in the realm. Putthem in irons, carry them to Not- tingham, and an thou lose them there, thy head be the forfeit. Ho! my horse!” He mounted the nearest horse, brought to him by an obsequious courtier, who dismounted for the purpose, and rode off toward Nottingham, biting his lips with rage and mortification at the various tricks to which he had been subjected that day. As for the new sheriff of Nottingham, we may be sure that he obeyed strictly his orders to guard the two yeomen carefully. He had seen too much of their strength and agility to de- spise them, and they had only been taken alive after a desperate struggle and in consequence of an accident, while lagging behind the rest to cover the retreat. Little John had caught his foot over a rootin running, and sprained his ankle enough to disa- ble him for several minutes, while Scathelock had been taken in trying to rescue his friend. They stood now, sullen and defiant, in the midst of their guards, their wrists bound tightly behind them with strong cords, while a spear- man walked behind each to prick him up to his work, and two more in front prevented a wer A of escape. ‘ ‘So, ye villains!” said the sheriff, triumph- antly. ‘At last your time has come! Hale them along, and we will have, ere to-morrow’s sun be set, as fine a hanging in Nottingham, as ever the town saw, when these rascals shall be dancing on nothing under the gallows tree.” Little John looked at him and grinned con- temptuously. ‘*'The rope to hang me is not spun yet, master sheriff,” he obgerved. ‘‘’Tis an old adage, hatch your chicks ere ye count them.” “And Pll wager a gold angel we are in the merry greenwood ere the week’s out,” quoth Seathelock. Then without further banter, the procession started toward Nottingham. CHAPTER XII. WHERE IS THE KING? Out in the midst of the dark forest of Barnes- dale, which ran into Sherwood at the other side of the fen, sat Robin Hood anda group of his men, that night, discussing the fate of the cap- tives. Maid Marian, once more in the page’s dress in which she had fled to the greenwood, sat near them and listened to the conversation, while Friar Tuck, at a little distance off, sat at the foot of a tree, gloomily eying the ground. As for the harp of Allan-a-dale, it lay idly on the turf beside its master. ‘7 see not what is to be done, captain,” quoth Much the Miller, scratching his head. *’Tis plain we cannot storm Nottingham, and they are safe inside the castle walls long ere this.” ‘‘ But still I say that my brave men must be saved, if I have to do it myself,” answered Robin Hood, firmly. ‘‘ Which of you_ will volunteer to carry a letter from me to King Richard?’ . ‘To King Richard, quotha!” echoed George-a- Green. ‘‘ Why, captain, none know where the good King Richard isnow. We know that he was in Palestine, warring with Saladin, a twelvemonth past, but none have heard of him since the day when he put to sea from Jaffa, save that his ship sailed into the port of Venice, and that he was not on board.” “Nevertheless,” responded Robin Hood, ‘‘I would find a messenger, to take from me a let- ter to King Richard, in whatever land he be. Who will go?” “That will I, master,” suddenly spoke out Allan-a-dale, a slender, fair-haired young man, who looked out of place among the rough out- laws, but who was famous for his skill on the harp, and for the readiness with which he made verses as a minstrel. Robin Hood turned doubtfully toward him. ‘‘Thou!” he said, in a tone of hesitation. “Thou art not a strong man, Allan, and_the king issaid to be in prisoninfar countries. How wilt thou get to him?’ ‘‘ A minstrel travels where he will, captain,” replied Allan; confidently. ( your brawny men of might to travel in far ‘It needs none of | —_——_-— oe CS Ce SC ESS on 7 countries, but one that can make himself wel- come in bower and hall. I will take thy letter; and, what is more, I will find the king and bring him back to England, But all this will not help Little John or Will Scarlet.” ‘** As for them, ’tis but a small job to get them out,” observed Robin Hood, indil/erently; ‘* but after they are out, we are still the same outlaws as ever, unless King Richard be back to remove the unjust sentence of John. Bethink thee, Allan, we were all boys together once, and played on the same green. Richard and Geoffrey loved me, but John was ever envious, because I could throw him any time at a wrestle. If I could but see King Richard back once more, I should know that we were safe, and our foes confound- ed.” ‘‘Then J will take the letter, master,” quoth Allan-a-dale, simply. ‘¢ And J will save our comrades,” quoth Maid Marian, just as quietly and simply. All the men stared at the slender girl, in her boy’s dress, as she made this remark in the most matter-of-fact way in the world, and Robin Hood said, half laughing: “Why, lady mine, what could thy lily fingers do against the men of Nottingham, and the bars and bolts of Roger Warman, the sher- iff? | ‘* These hands can draw bolts from the inside, as Loxley Castle knew, yestreen,” replied Ma- rian, quietly. ‘‘I have escaped from one cas- tle. Methinks I can enter another.” Here Friar Tuck, who had been quite silent during the discussion, suddenly looked up and observed: ‘The po hae do it, an she says she will.” ** Remember, friar, that we bave no ladies in the greenwood,” responded the girl. ‘‘ Maid Marian I am, and by no other name am I known till Robin Hood’s outlawry be re- versed.” ‘* Well then, Isay thatif Maid Marian tries to enter Nottingham Castle, she will do it,” re- iterated the stout friar; ‘‘and what is more I will stand by her an she will, and obey orders. She gave us the bishop and prince to-day, and we but followed her advice, instead of braving the sheriff’s posse with our feast, Little John and our bold Scathelock might be here now.’ * Enough of this,” answered Robin Hood wav- ing his hand. ‘tit boots not to find fault. Henceforth let us follow Maid Marian’s advice, ' forshe hath a wise head. Propound thy plan, sweetheart.” ‘‘My plan is simple,” said Marian, quietly. ‘Our friends will be taken out to-morrow, about an hour before sunset, to be hung. We must be there and rescue them. The people are our friends and will help hide us. In the early morning let us be away, Friar Tuck and I, to the prison, to confess these penitents and tell them that help is coming.” ‘* But how shall we enter the town without the people knowing who we are?” objected Much the Miller, aman of more brawn than wit. ‘‘Never trouble thy head on that score,” an- swered Robin Hood withasmile. ‘* Let wiser heads do the planning, Miller. Be thine to obey orders.” ‘And surely that’s easy enough,” quoth George-a-Green, sententiously. ‘Thou trun- dlest a pretty staff, Miller, but thou and I were cat meant for scholars. Leave that to Allan-a- ale. The minstrel smiled as he said: ‘‘Fear not, brave hearts. What would be all our craft and wit, if we had not your strong arms to back us in our work? Let the captain or his clerk get ready his letter to the king. I will see that it is taken safely after we have res- cued our comrades. In the meantime I bid all here good-night.” So saying, Allan-a-dale picked up his cloak, wrapped himself up and lay down with his feet to the fire, an. example not slow to be followed by the others in turn. Only the outlawed ear], Robin Hood himself, remained till late into the night brooding over his schemes by the embers of the fire, while Maid Marian slept as quietly on the green turf at his feet, wrapped in cloaks, as if she had never known the luxury of a castle chamber. Long before sunrise next day, a tall burl monk and a little lay brother, who seemed, from what one could see of his face under the cowl, to be only a mere child, walked out of Sherwood Forest on the road to Nottingham, while a large body of yeomen left the forest on the other side and advanced close to the gate of Fountain Abbey, where the Bishop of Hereford had slept that night, on the eve of his departure for his bishopric, and to recover from the fright com a : JOOKS EeonT™