ened, imagined that
these eager enemies were but forerunners of a large reinforcement.
Hastily they disengaged themselves from the outlaws, and, gathering up
Master Carfax, rushed pell-mell with him backward to the woods on the
right.

Will o' th' Green's few men hurried them with their arrows; and soon as
Robin had come down to level ground he fell to streaming his shafts into
the rout. He was bruised, begrimed, and cut about his face by the thorns
and rocks; yet was so furious against Master Simeon and his myrmidons
that these things were not even felt by him. Shouting "Locksley!
Locksley!" more and more triumphantly, he ran alone in fierce pursuit.

The soldiers disappeared under the trees, and ran even then. Warrenton
and the outlaws came on in support of young Robin; and the defeat of
Carfax and his men was completed. They were chased through the woods of
Barnesdale, which these wild outlaws knew so well. Some were shot with
arrows mercifully; others fell under the cruel blows of the outlaws'
short axes. A few escaped with Master Carfax back to the Sheriff of
Nottingham--not one-third of those who had set out at his command. It
was the most desperate of affairs yet betwixt the greenwood men and
those representing law and order as conceived by the Sheriff. On either
side many were killed--the outlaw band was reduced in numbers, and its
leader, Will o' th' Green, was amongst those who were to plot and fight
no more in Sherwood.

When Robin and the rest of them returned from their long chase, tired
with an immense fatigue, they found sad work still before them. Robin
tended Will himself, and bound up his many wounds: and sought to
beguile him to live--if but to spite Monceux and his wretches. But Will
o' th' Green had been pierced too dreadfully by his enemies' darts: he
had only strength to drink a little water and say his last words to his
men.

In the dusk of this day he lay in Robin's arms, wizard no more; and
asked that someone should give the call he knew so well--the strange,
short signal upon the horn which ever had rallied these men. Then as
they, with dejected faces, drew nigh to him, he spoke to them
all--bidding them hate the laws and defy them so long as they were
unjust and harsh. He counselled them to choose amongst themselves a new
leader--one who would be impartial and honest; and the one who could
bend the best bow.

"Be not robbers to any who are poor and who are good fellows--having
only the