ought there would be small harm in holding it upon one of the King's
deer, since there are so many."

"You are saucy fellows, in sooth," cried the Bishop, "and the King shall
know of your doings. Quit your roast, and come with me, for I will
bring you to the Sheriff of Nottingham forthwith! Seize this knave, men,
and bind his hands."

"Your pardon, excellence----"

"No pardon shall you have of me, rascal!" snapped the stout Bishop.
"Seize him, my men!"

Robin blew upon his horn a shrill, short note, and at once his freemen
sprang out from behind the thorn-bushes and flung themselves on the
bishop's guard. The good Bishop found himself a prisoner, and began to
crave indulgence of the men he had been so ready to upbraid.

"Nay, we will grant you no pardon, by my beard!" said Little John,
fiercely. "Lend me that sword, friend," he added, turning to Stuteley,
who had taken the weapon from one of the Bishop's guards. "Right
skilfully will I make this church to be without a head."

"There shall be no shedding of blood," cried Robin, interposing, "where
I can stay it. Come, friends, send these fellows unto Nottingham with
their legs tied under their horses' bellies. But my lord the Bishop of
Hereford shall come with us unto Barnesdale!"

The unwilling prelate was dragged away cheek by jowl with the
half-cooked venison on the back of his own horse, and Robin and the band
brought their guest to Barnesdale.

As soon as dusk had passed they lighted a great fire in the center of a
little hill-bordered glade, and fell to roasting the deer afresh.
Another and fatter beast was set to frizzle upon the other side of the
fire; and, as the night was chill, the men gathered close about their
savory dinner.

The Bishop sniffed the odorous air from his place of captivity; and was
nothing loth when they offered to conduct him to this fine repast. Robin
bade him take the best place.

"For you must know, excellence, that we freemen are all equal in each
other's sight in this free land. Therefore we have no one whom we can
specially appoint to do the honors such as your station warrants. Take,
then, the seat at the head of our feast and give us grace before meat,
as the occasion justifies."

The Bishop pronounced grace in the Latin tongue hastily; and then
settled himself to make the best of his lot. Red wines and ales were
produced and poured out, each man having a horn tankard from which to
drink.

Laughter bubbled among the di