pair.

"Dear master, I speak but as I feel," continued Stuteley, half shutting
his eyes. "But the rascal has not gone far from us; and were some of you
to hasten, doubtless he would be brought to book, and I might see him
punished ere I die. Go you, old Warrenton, you are a stubborn fighter;
and take John Berry and two of the rest."

"I'll e'en fetch him to you myself, malapert," said Warrenton.

"He is more deadly than your Lady in Yellow, I promise you," said
Stuteley. "Be wary, and let at least six of you surround him."

"That would be wasting the time of five of us," answered old Warrenton,
in an off-hand way; "I will go alone."

"Let someone then prepare bandages for our Warrenton, and take my shirt
for them. He will need such service."

Warrenton and Berry, with another, ran off at this. Robin saw that
Stuteley was not so near his end as he affected to imagine; and made him
more comfortable beneath a tree, covered him with a cloak, gave him some
drink, and ministered to him considerately.

The old man-at-arms fully intended to capture their quarry alone;
feeling to be on his mettle, as it were. So he ran as fast as he could
before the other two; but not so fast as to catch up with the man he
sought.

Presently he espied him far down the road; and, knowing a shorter path
to Lincoln, whither he judged the man was bound, Warrenton called to the
others and they struck away from the road.

They made their plans as they walked, and at length cut off the enemy.
He did not look so formidable as Stuteley had painted him; and as he
drew near they felt this was an easy business. Two of them sprang out
upon him, and one, seizing his twisted stick, dragged it violently out
of his hands. Warrenton flashed a dagger at his breast, saying
sinisterly: "Friend, if you utter any alarm I will be your confessor and
hangman. Come back with us forthwith and you may end your fight properly
with our companion. He waits greedily for you."

"Give me the chance," answered the fellow, valiantly, "and I will fight
with you all."

Berry and the other outlaw instantly gave him the frog's march backward
along the road; but the villain struggled so fiercely that they
presently began to tire.

"Now grant me my life," said their prisoner, "and I will give you good
money to the sum of one hundred pieces. It is all my savings, which I
promised to give into the hands of a wicked usurer in Lincoln."

"Well," said Berry, pausing, "this is