Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 98 — page 15: what you’re looking at

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

if ‘?) mh '] * ~_— end = ee - a and travel-worn, rode into their camp and greeted Robin with the glad news: ‘King Richard will be back in England in three days. I found him in prison and 4)ueen Eleanor has ransomed her son for twenty thousand marks.” CHAPTER XVIII. TH BISHOP’S BUFFET. IT was on a warm, pleasant day, late in June, when the birds were singing their sweetest songs and all Sherwood Forest was a paraclise of green, that Robin Hood lay on his back under & spreading beech-tree near the Nottingham road. and listened to the woodland chorus. The outlaw chief had a deep frown on his brow, and seemed as if out of tune with the harmonies of nature; for three long weeks had passed since the return of Allan-a-dale, and still they had no news from the king. Robin Hood had counted confidently on the boyish friendship that had once existed between himself and Richard, and on the injustice done him by John, to operate in his favor and secure his pardon from the king, so as to insure his return to the society of his fellows. When the days passed on, and still no news of the king, save that he had landed and resumed his crown, the outlawed earl grew hard and bitter in his heart. He had long been weary of the wild life he was leading, with the hand of every man against him; and this feeling had increased in intensity ever since he found that his gentle Marian, till then so cheerful, shared his own discontent and unhap- piness. Now, as he lay watching the road, he muttered bitterly: ‘‘Robber and outlaw they call me; but who made me so? Hisbrother. And now, forsooth, justice and old friendship must give way, be- cause John is the king’s brother and I am noth- ing but the dupo of a crafty priest, my mother’s brother, who has robbed his own flesh and blood ta fill—forsooth —the treasury of the church. Out on these ravenous bishops and abbots, wolves in sheep’s clothing who rob the helpless! Let me but see one of them come down this road to-day, and by St. Hubert I will strip him clean to pay for the name he and his fat friends have fastened on me!” Even while he spoke he heard the distant tinkle of mule-bells on the road, and started to his feet, full of delight. “TT Comes into. the trap like a fool, whoever he be,” cried Robin Hood with fierce joy. ‘‘ Let us see if he will go out from Sherwood as easily as he came in.” He drew back behind a tree to watch, and peered eagerly out on the ro:d. As he had ex- pected from the mule-bells, it was the train of an ecclesiastic, a tall man of imposing figure and venerable white beard, followed by a train of nearly forty monks riding two and two. The yurple robes of the dignified leacer announced him as a bishop, and the long train of sumpter- mules behind gave promise of a goodly booty to the outlaw’s band. Robin Hood waited till the train of monks was wellin front of him, when he set his bugle to his lips and blew the summons that he knew would bring his men to his aid. As he did so, he noticed that the strange bishop drew rein in the road to listen, while all the train halted. — ‘Marry, this fellow must be a stranger In- deed,” muttered the chief. “I am almost ashamed to take him so easily. A Nottingham abbot, now, would have given us a smart run for our pains. Here they come! A hasty rustle in the brushwood was followed by the appearance of the outlaws, troopmg In from every side, and then Robin sprung into the road, seized the bridle of the strange bishop and cried: ‘‘ Halt, sir bishop, for Iam Robin Hood.” The tall prelate looked down at him with a | face of grave composure not unmixed with sternness, but entirely devoid of fear, as he said: “T am halted already, my son. What wouldst thou?” ** First, your reverence’s trunks, gold, silver, jewels and fine clothes, all but what you wear. Second, the honor of your reverence’s company to dinner under the greenwood tree of merry Sherwood.” The bishop laughed. “Truly, my son, the second invitation is bet- ter than the first. Iwill dine with thee first, and thou shalt take thy pay afterward. Wil] that please thee?” Robin Hood’s countenance cleared up, for he loved a brave man; and it was evident that the bishop was no coward. - starec Robin Hood. — ee be molested, save as becomes the customs of Sherwood.” So saying, he led the bishop into the woods, away from the road, followed by all the out- laws, over hills and down dales, till they ar- rived at the celebrated. silvan fortress to which the outlaws were wont to retreat whenever pur- suit was hot, surrounded by impenetrable bogs, with but one narrow path of entrance. Once inside the circuit of quagmire the spot was charming, beingwa sort of island of several hun- dred acres in extent, covered with the noblest trees in Sherwood and abounding in game. As they approached, the smoke of huge fires under the trees and the savory smell of roasting game announced that the dinner hour was approach- ing, tvyhen the domestic economy of the outlaws could be studied at leisure. The strange bishop dismounted from his mule, an exaniple followed by his monks, and survey- ed the scene with much interest. “So this is thy home and thou art Robin Hood?’ he said-in a tone of inquiry. where is the Lady Marian Fitzwalter, stolen from her father by thee, thou lawless one?” ‘The Lady Marian Fitz Walter is no more,” answered a sweet voice by his side. ‘‘ Maid Marian, the outlaw’s bride, is here, a lawful wife by the rules of your own church.” The white-bearded bishop started as he turn- ed, and his hand went up to his cap as he bow- ed, in a manner suggestive of the court rather than the church, Then his face flushed as he said, confusedly: _“Tforgot— Bless thee, my child—my bless- ing—I wasa soldier once, and I forget the priest in the soldier now and again. Bless thee, bless thee for a pretty little dove!” As the girl sunk on her knees, he placed his hands on each side of her face and lifted her up with a sounding kiss that smacked more of the camp than the convent. Then he turned abruptly on Robin Hood and said sternly: ‘* How comes it, ribald and robber, that I find thee here, plundering the church and keeping the realm in confusion with thy bad deeds? Art thou not ahamed of thyself?” “No!” thundered Robin Hood fiercely. What has this church of which you prate done to me but rob me of my mother’s heritage through my own flesh and blood? Ask the fat Bishop of Hereford and Prince John of England, whose treachery drove me to the woods. I tell thee, priest, | care not what I do now. I thought I had a friend in Richard of England, but even he has turned against me now—” “Tow know’st thou that?’ demanded’ the stranger, sharply. ‘*I sent him a letter telling my woes, and he has now been three weeks in England and ig not here.” ‘**And so thou thinkest in thy wisdom that Richard has naught else to do but attend to thy wants, thou most noted robber in the kingdom,” cried the priest, angrily. ‘* Hark thee, sirrah, if thy mother’s brother defrauded thee, is that any reason thou shouldst make war on all priests? If my mule kick me, is that a reason I should kill every mule in the kingdom? Go to, sinner, and repent thee of thy sins, or thou wilt repent too late.” ‘he outlaw chief turned white with rage to be thus rated before his. men, and he ground out between his teeth: ‘‘Hark ye, sir priest, thou art my guest till after dinner, but beware thy tongue, or thou must stand a buffet from me ere grace is said.” “Strike, then,” said the bishop coolly, coming close tohim. ‘I'll stand it now.” With all the strength of concentrated anger, Robin struck the other a tremendous blow on the side of the head with his open palm, and the next moment received such a stunning return on his own head from the palm of the stalwart a that he rolled over on the grass and ; stupidly up at the sky, almost senseless. ‘Now, my son,” quoth the ecclesiastic calmly, looking down at him, ‘tan thou wishest to keep a whole skin in my presence, treat the ohare with civility,” Robin Hood rose slowly to his feet and stared at the ewe: for several moments in silence. Then he shook his head and muttered: “T thought but one man in England could do that, but it seemeth there are two.” Then he resumed his ordinary demeanor, bowed low to the bishop and observed: ‘Your reverence has taught mea lesson I deserved for striking my guest. Will’t please you sit to dinner?” ‘Right willingly,” replied the strong bishop, resuming his wonted gravity and good-humon “Agreed, father, Your reverence shall not | ‘‘ Who is thy cool: here in the greenwood?” } | thee, ere now.’ ‘* And | 15 -_-—_—— —_- —- —— — ee “Marry, that am J, sir,” answered the voice of Friar Tuck, who, girt with a huge apron, was serving one of the long tables under the trees. **°'Tis a thankless task, your reverence, to tame these wild spirits, and f often despair.” ‘Then why not return to thy convent?” asked the bishop gravely. ‘Marry, sir, for the best of reasons, none would have me save as a cellarer, and they say : drink too much wine if they give me the ‘Then quit wine-bibbing and live soberly, thou graceless varlet,” quoth the bishop sternly. UP fired ‘Tuck in a moment and cried: ‘*Lam no varlet of thine, priest. The cap- tain shoots well with the long bow, but he is no hand ata buffet. I have laid out as big’ men as As he spoke, the brawny friar tucked up his sleeve and strode straight toward the bishop. Nothing loth, the stranger rose from his seat and met the friar half-way. In the old game of buffets there was no guarding or dodging, \It wasa mere trial of main strength and endur- ance, each man giving the other a swinging box on the ear at the same moment, The game between bishop and friar was short, The bishop seemed to have an unlimited suppl of strength, for he sent the friar flying, heels over head, on the grass, and then observed, as coolly as ever: “Go to, thou naughty varlet. Back to thy convent or to a hermitage, ere thy hair grow gray and it be too late,” At this second exhibition of the other’s strength, Robin Hood suddenly started up, and advanced excitedly to the bishop, demanding in tones of eagerness: ‘*'Tell me in God’s name, who are you?” The strange bishop turned round and survey- ed the scene about him with a proud smile, All the cutlaws had formed a ring and were gazing ati him with open eyes. ‘* Wouldst thou know indeed who Iam, Rob- in?” he asked, in a meaning tone of voice. Ags he spoke, he cast at his feet the white beard and wig he had worn, flung cif his violet robes, and stood revealed, a grand-looking knight, in com- plete armor. ‘‘Task no more,” cried Robin Hood, rushing forward. ‘* Merry men all, shout aloud, Long live King Richard the Lion Heart.” Such a shout as went up then made the arches of Sherwood ring again, as Robin fell on his knees at the feet of the king, while Maid Marian bedewed his hands with her tears and kisses. “Oh Richard, oh, my king! At last! at last!” cried Robin ina choking voice.» “ Pardon the outlaw who never would have gone astray had the king himself been here. 1 yield me, rescue or no rescue.” The king looked tenderly down at the lovers, “Thou hast been foully treated, Robin, but thou hast done amiss to turn common robber and bring this tender bird here into the wild woods. Nay, I know thy dire temptations: and had I been in thy place I might have done the same, for Richard Plantagenet is but a man. Rise up, Robin, Earl of Huntington, and claim thy bride before God and man henceforth. As for the rest of thy men, ‘tis pity such stout fel- lows should go a-begging or stealing for bread, when the king needs good archers so badly. Henceforth, they shall wear the leopards of England on their livery, and be known as the archers of the guard to Richard of England.” ‘*And must I truly go back to my convent?” moaned a dolorous voice, as Friar Tuck stood by, rubbing his sore ear, The kin aughed, ‘** Nay, that were asin for a cook like thee. 4 Thou shalt be father confessorand chief cook to the band, and have twenty marks a year.” The friar retired, with his face on a broad grin, and the king continued: f “Take back thy bride to Loxley Castle at once, Robin. Thine uncle Gilbert is dead, and on his death-bed has restored thee all thy lands, For the future, remember one thing: live within thy money or thou wilt find thy money go from thee, like water from a leaky cask. Once thine improvidence has turned the Earl of Hunting- ton into a beggarly robber and outlaw. See that henceforth thou livest so as to cast no re- proach on thine sncient name,” Robin kissed the king’s hand and then turned to Marian. “Sweet wife,” he ah ge Siar ‘now thow art no more an Outlaw, but the proud wife of ‘* ROBIN Hoop.” THE END, Gomilichboo (E (E(@)