Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 98 — page 9: what you’re looking at

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

Cae ee 2S. - rr 8 = ee -= ee v* —— ——o -- —_—_ -- Where the youth in scarlet head sprung from, seemed to John a mystery ; but, a moment later, six more tall fellows in green leaped out from behind the trunks of trees aud surrounded the prince, menacingly twirling their big staves in a suggestive manner. CHAPTER X. ST. HUBERT’S CHAPEL. “A BoLp fellow this, to roam Sherwood alone,” said the tallest man, none other than Little John. ‘‘How much money hast thou in thy purse?” he prince drew himself up_haughtily, and flashed out his sword, for he did not lack cour- age. byt oe Neg! "y ‘“ Avaunt, ye villain caitiffs,” he cried. ‘‘Do ye know that ’tis John of England ye have met? Down on your knees, and implore par- don.” But, to his surprise, none of the yeomen quail- ed before his fierce looks, and Scathelock actual- ly laughed @s he advanced on him. “Put up thy sword, fool,” said the red youth in a toneof scorn. ‘‘We know who thou art, and we care not. The captain wills that thou dance at his wedding to-day, and by the rood thou shalt, or we’ll know the reason why. Put up thy sword, I say.” But John, thoroughly exasperated, would not listen to reason, and made a blow at the young forester, which Scathelock repaid by a sounding whack of his staff, that sent the prince’s sword flying. Not till then did the regent see the fu- tility of impotent anger, and determine to pre- serve his dignity at least. He folded his arms, saying: ‘Murder me if you dare, traitors. seven toone, but it will berepaid ye all.” ‘fNot so, your highness,” responded Scathe- Ye are - lock, suddenly changing his tone and Gee | with a low obeisance. ‘*‘ We intend no harm to vou, but that you should accompany us to St, Hubert’s Chapel; where, we believe, your grace was going, when you started into the wood,” ‘** And suppose I willnot go?” asked the prince ngrily. **Then we shall be obliged to drive your high- ness with our staves,’’ said the scarlet one, cool- ly. ‘‘Respect we will show, as long as your highness behaves like a prince. When a man turns mule, he gets only blows.” All this time, the seeming page had stood quietly watching the discomfited prince witha smile, Now he cried out in a mocking tone: ‘Who would get a bride must win her, sir prince, Follow again.” Away went he or she as it might be; and John, more to hide his chagrin than because he had any heart in the race, ran after. As for Scathelock and the other yeomen, they content- ed themselves with following the pair ata re- spectly distance, and so the party traversed the woods till they came to the little swampy place where the train of the Bishop of Hereford, bayed by Friar Tuck’s huge hounds, were sorrowfully roosting in the trees and watching the dogs in eat dis. ust. The houndsrose to their feetand ‘fawned on Marian and the yeomen as they ad- vanced, to show that they were old friends; but growled in such an ominous manner round Prince John, that he was compelled, sorely against his will, to retire to the comp2sny of Scathelock for protection. ' They passed through the swamp without any serious misadventure, and arrived in front of the chapel of St. Hubert, to find the vicinity throng- ed with tall, stout fellows, In green forest-dress, all carrying their great bows and staves, while a round buckler and sword hung from each man’s belt. ; They seemed to be picked for size and strength. Not one was Jess than six feet high, and all were heavily built, healthy, active-look- ing fellows. The prince noticed, as he neared the chapel, thaf all scowled on him, and he re- co aod the features of more than one who had suffered the penalty of the Norman forest law, by losing an ear or a nose, for no crime but poaching in the forest. He began to realize that he was in a place of some peril, and to wish himself out of it. He was a Norman, whereas the yellow hair and beards of these rough yeomen showed that they were allof the subject Saxon race, embittered by long tyranny. No one offered to touch him, however, and the prince strode on proudly toward the chapel, thinkin to himself that his turn would soon come, if he were only patient enough, for the sheriff's posse must very soon be out upon them. Thus thinking, he doffed his plumed cap and CT - Robin Hood. ee ee - . entered the chapel, the pretended page having entered it a moment before. As the prince scanned tke room, however, he could see no age, and began to realize that there was more in the trick that had been played on him than met the eye. He was almost instantly, at his entrance, con- fronted by the beadle, an official clothed in a blue gown and bearing a long staff like that of a drum-major, to keep the younger part of the congregation in order, This individual advanced to Prince John with a bow of great ceremony, and ushered him into a place in front of the altar, where the prince calmly took his seat and looked around him. He was curious to see how all this was going to end, and by no means apprehensive for his own life. He realized that the outlaws would never dare to do violence to the person of the regent of all England, for fear of the vengeance that would surely overtake them; and he wondered exactly what was going to happen. He noticed that quite a little congregation of children was assembled, with several women, young and old, all of the rustic kind, in their red cloaks and bare feet. The country people, on their part, seemed to be no less interested in the person of the richly dressed cavalier before the altar, for they stared at him in a shamefaced way, drop- ping their eyes when they met his. The interior of the chapel was simple as the exterior, with its open wooden roof, the ends of the beams carved into grotesque figures, the floor of hard clay, beaten flat. Only the high altar gave some evidences of art, being decorated with a rude group in stone, representing the hunter Hubert of the legend, kneeling before the stag that bore the cross between its antlers, to re- mind him that he was violating the sanctity of Good Friday by hunting on that holy of all holy days. Prince John was of course familiar with the legend of the sudden conversion and final saintship of that ardent pacar St. Hubert, and paid no attention to the group, turning im- patiently to the side door as if expecting some one. He had not long to wait. There was the whistle of a pitchpipe in the rear of the church, and all the children stood up and began to sing an anthem, in the midst of which, out of the vestry came Friar Tuck in full canonicals, pre- ceding the Bishop of Hereford, and preceded himself by four beautiful altar-boys or acolytes, swinging their censers. Then the eyes of the »orince and the bishop met, and John saw that 1¢ had been tricked in some way. He threw himself back in his chair and frowned deeply, sitting there swinging his foot to and fro, and waiting for what was to come, The chanting went on, the priests took their stations by the altar, and then eyes began to turn to the door, as if more than one person ex- pected visitors. Presently the choir burst into a strain of ex- ultation, the doors opened wide, and into the little church swept a train of girls in white, headed by the Lady Marian Fitz, Walter herself, in the vail and robes of a bride, not a single man being seen in the train, With a glad bound the prince sprung to meet her, thinking that all before was only a jest. She allowed him to take her hand, the saucy smile which had overspread her features when disguised as the page having given way to a look of demure gravity, just as the raven wig had been replaced by her own golden hair. Without opposition they proceeded to the altar, John hardly daring to believe in his good for- tune, and instantly the Bishop. of Hereford be- gan to read the wedding service. He was not allowed to read far, however. Just as he was closing the preliminary exhorta- tion, there was a soft muffled trampling of feet on the floor, and the prince looked round to find himself beside the outlawed Earl of Huntington, Robin Hood himself, who stood looking at him, glittering in a magnificent dress of green velvet and aod. and followed by a crowd of yeomen who filled the aisle. ; Without saying a word, Robin Hood quietly moved the astounded prince back into the enpwd, took his place in front of him, squaring his broad shoulders, then fixed his eyes stern y on the bishop, as if daring him to stop the service he was reading. Whether John would have resisted, had he been less taken by surprise, is uncertain, but he had no chance as it was. The moment that Robin Hood shoved him back, he was seized from behind by both arms, and held firmly to witness the marriage ceremony, while Friar Tuck moved his burly frame up beside that of the bishop, and whispered audibly: ‘Go on, your reverence, or they may shoot.” Thus warned, the bishop hurried on the ser- ’ 9 vice at racing speed, while the prince, swelling with rage and mortification, was compelled to stand and watch the marriage of his rival with- out saying a word. He did indeed once try to ery out, but at the first word a handkerchief was thrownover his mouth from behind; and there he was, speechless and powerless, but sti gifted with eyes and ears that witnessed his impotence and anger. The ceremony proceeded without a word of interruption, till the bishop had pronounced the benediction ; and then, for the first time, Robin Hood spoke. ‘* At last we are one, my Marian, thou and I. John of England, we are quits. Set him free.” Instantly the stout yeomen who had been holding the prince released him and removed the handkerchief from his mouth. Before he could say a word, Robin Hood had embraced the bride and called out: ‘** Now, merry men, to the feast! The prince and the bishop will dine with us, and we shall have brave company to dance at our wedding, Come, my lords.” John was ready to choke with fury, and the bishop was not far from the same condition, as the outlawed earl swept from the chapel at the head of his train: while his two unwilling guests were compelled to follow him, Little John and Will Scarlet supported the prince on either side, ostensibly as attendants, but really as guards; while Friar Tuck performed the same kind office for the bishop. So they left the chapel, and found outside a huge table, set out under the trees, covered with venison pasties, and game of all kinds, fresh from the huge fires that blazedaway in the rear, while two great casks of wine on tap, and a goodly array of silver goblets on the table showed that the company was not likely to go thirsty. Bishop Gilbert gazed sorrowfully enough at the head of the table, as he was led to his place; for he recognized several of the cups as taken from his own baggage, which lay open and empty on the ground. “Two thousand marks gone!” he groaned in spirit, as he thought of the sum that he had car- ried away from the fair lands of Huntington, now reverting to their former owner, Robin Hood noticed the look and sigh, and cried, gayly: ‘No use crying for spilt milk, uncle mine. The church needs no riches, and I do—more’s the pity. Come, merry men, to the feast!” And to the feast went every one with a will, save only the prince and the bishop. Bven arr! thawed out somewhat, nnder the influen®e of the generous fare set before them: and Prince John had almost drowned his troubles when the outlawed earl rose to propose a toast, ‘* Merry men of the greenwood,” cried Hunt- ington, ‘* to-day we begin our wild free life, we outlaws of Sherwood. Not a man of us but has suffered from Norman law, not a man but holds his life on the point of his sword. From this day forth, we are all equal, and the Earl of Huntington is dead. From this day let none callme aught but Robin Hood, your chief and brother. Here by my side sits the maid I love, and here I swear that till King Richard be come again to his own, this lady remains in our midst, as pure a maidas any in England, All hail then, to Maid Marian, the Queen of Sher- wood!” ‘*Maid Marian! Maid Marian!” shouted the outlaws in chorus. ‘A dance! A dance!” Instantly the tables were deserted, and the outlaws began to choose their partners from among the buxom country lasses who had swarmed out of the chapel after the wedding, when a scene of great jollity commenced, Prince John, just drunk enough to enter into the frolic, gravely opened the dance with Maid Marian herself, who accepted his hand with a roguish smile. Friar Tuck, not to be behind, seized hold of the Bishop of Hereford, and com- pelled that dignified prelate to caper as nimbly as any in the ring; so that all was going on swimmingly, when shouts and the furious bark- ing of the hounds in the swamp showed that some peril was approaching. : é The dance was deserted in a moment, and the stout yeomen ran for their weapons, for they could see, coming down through the woods, a long line of horse and foot, glittering with steel, and evidently approaching with hostile in- tent. ‘‘My turn at last, traitor!” shouted the prince at this sight. ‘Here comes Sheriff! Warman and his posse. Who shall save thy Maid Marian, now?” As he spoke, he clutched the girl firmly round the waist with one arm, drew his sword, which had been restored to him, and shouted: ee ‘ coilm : \ | : eve) <Srerey ag