of his band. Here was young
Robin Fitzooth, as dead as mutton--and here was his fellow Stuteley. So
Master Simeon went on, to his own satisfaction and to Hubert's, who
foresaw large rewards to be paid for these poor dishonored bodies.

They brought three of them back, with every circumstance of importance.
They were shown to the Prince as being the last remains of Will
Cloudesley, Robin Fitzooth, and Hall the Outlaw--a well-known marauder
in Will's company.

Prince John forthwith praised the pikemen and archers, and bade Monceux
give them great rewards--a thing which vexed the mean Sheriff much. Then
they all rode about and through the forest in a great hunt of the Royal
deer, graciously attended by the Prince himself.

Monceux was forgiven; and Simeon, having quite recovered all his old
self-esteem, was duly betrothed to the demoiselle Marie. A new Ranger
was appointed at Locksley; and another house was found for him. No one
said him nay.

A proclamation against all outlaws and freebooters having been issued
and signed with many flourishes by John, he betook his Royal person to
York, carrying lean-faced, smiling Carfax with him. Mistress Monceux hid
her sorrow and devoted her energies forthwith towards the undoing of the
maid Fitzwalter, against whom she yet nursed much spite.

The Prince stayed at Gamewell on his way, and patronized indulgently old
George Montfichet, although the latter's dislike of his Royal guest was
only too thinly veiled. Then John took farewell of Nottingham and
Sherwood, making an easy business of it. Monceux had ridden out on this
morning to make dutiful obeisance and escort the Prince through Locksley
to the borders.

Outside the gates of Gamewell John delivered himself to the men-at-arms,
retainers, burgesses, and citizens of Nottingham, who had inquisitively
followed the Sheriff.

"We will not forget your hospitality, friends all," said he, in his
slightly swaggering and yet withal effeminate way; "and see, in some
measure of return for it, we leave you our Sherwood free from pestilent
robbers and evil defiers of the law. When we came to Nottingham there
were these and others; but now they are all driven out of our Royal
forest--many slain with the arrows of my Hubert, or beaten with the
staves of your own fellows. This surely is some sort of gift--see to it
that you keep well that which we have secured for you."

Then he rode forth amid the cheerings of the crowd, Hubert and his