g swineherd, or encounter wild beasts; then, biggest reason
of all: I will not let you go."

Young Robin was silent for a moment or two, and then he said
quickly:

"You might tell Little John to take me home. My father would be so
glad to see him."

Robin Hood and the big fellow just named looked at one another and
laughed.

"Yes," said Robin Hood, patting the boy on the shoulder, "now
that's just it. Your father, the Sheriff, would be so glad to see
Little John that he would keep him altogether; and I can't spare
him."

"I don't think my father would be so unkind," said Robin.

"But I am sure he would, little man," said the outlaw. "He'd be so
glad to get him that he would spoil him. Eh, John? What do you
think?"

"Ay, that he would," said Little John, shaking his head. "He'd be
sure to spoil me. He'd cut me shorter, perhaps, or else hang me up
for an ornament. No, my little man, I couldn't take you home."

"There," said the outlaw, smiling; "you must wait, my boy. Try and
be contented as you are. Maid Marian's very kind to you, is she
not?"

"Oh! yes," cried the boy, with his face lighting up, "and that's
why I don't want to go."

"Hullo!" growled Little John. "Why, you said just now that you did
want to go!" "Did I?" said the boy thoughtfully.

"To be sure you did. What do you mean."

"I mean," said the boy, looking wistfully from one to the other,
"that I feel as if I ought to go home, but I think I should like to
stay."

"Hurrah!" cried Little John, taking off and waving his hat. "Hear
that, captain? You've got another to add to your merry men. Young
Robin and I make a capital pair. Come along, youngster, and let's
practise shooting at the mark, and then we'll make enough arrows to
fill your quiver."

Five minutes later young Robin was standing as he had been placed
by his big companion, who sat down and watched him while he
sturdily drew the notch of his arrow right to his ear, and then
loosed the whizzing shaft to go flying away through the woodland
shade, while Little John shouted as gleefully as some big boy.

"Hurrah! Well done, little one! There it is, sticking in yonder
tree."

CHAPTER V

"As far as you like, Robin," said the outlaw, "only you must be
wise. Don't go far enough to lose your way. Learn the forest by
degrees. Some day you will not be able to lose yourself."

"But suppose I did lose myself," said the boy; "what then?"

"I should have to tell