was to bring me back a lot to
eat?"

Young Robin waited for no more, but in his agony of spirit he gave
himself a wrench sidewise, dislodging his rider, and made an effort
to struggle up again.

But his old enemy held fast, and after a sharp struggle Robin stood
panting, face to face with the young swineherd, who had him tightly
by the doublet with both hands.

"You let go," cried young Robin fiercely. "You'll tear my coat."

"I means to tear it right off dreckly," said the boy, grinning. "I
want a noo un again, and it'll just do. I'm a-going to have them
bow and arrows too, and the knife and cap, I'll let you see! Going
and hiding away all this time, when I told yer to come back!"

"You let me go," panted Robin, looking vainly round for help.

"Nay, there aren't no one a-nigh, and I've got yer fast. Why
didn't yer come back as I told you?"

"I didn't want to," said Robin angrily. "You let me go. I'll call
Little John to you."

"Call him, and I'll knock his ugly old eye out," cried the boy. "I
don't care for no Little Johns. I've got you now, and I'm going to
pay you for not coming back before. And I know," he snarled,
"you're a thief; that's what you are."

"I'm not," cried Robin fiercely, and he made a desperate struggle
to get away to where his little quarter-staff lay half hidden
amongst the bracken. "You let me go." But his efforts to get free
were vain.

"Yes, I'll let you go, p'raps, when I've done with you and got all
I wants," said the boy, in a husky, satisfied tone, as he seemed to
gloat over his victim. "No, I won't; you're a thief, and a
deer-stealer, and I shall just take yer to one of the King's
keepers."

Young Robin set his teeth and made another struggle, but quite in
vain, for he was no match in strength for his adversary.

"What! Hold still! Wo ho, kicker! Quiet, will yer!" snarled the
boy. "If yer don't leave off I'll drag yer through all the worst
brambles and pitch yer to my tigs. D'yer hear?" he shouted.

Robin paused breathlessly, and stood gazing wildly at his enemy.

"Yer thought I was giving yer up, did yer, but I wasn't. I've been
watching for yer ever since yer run away. I knowed I should ketch
yer some day. Errrr! yer young thief!"

He tightened his grip of Robin's shoulders, grinned at him like an
angry dog, and gave him a fierce shake, while his victim breathed
hard as he pressed his teeth together, and there was the look in
his eyes as if he wer