contemptuously. "Get you gone after your quarry."

Middle thought this to be good advice, and he strode forth from the
"Falcon" in a black mood.

Ere he had gone half a mile upon the road he perceived Robin demurely
walking under the trees a little in front of him. "Ho there! you
villain!" shouted Middle. "Stay your steps. I am most desperately in
need of you this day!"

Robin turned about with a surprised face. "Well met again, tinker,"
cried he. "Have you found Robin Hood?"

"Marry, that have I!" roared Middle, plunging at him.

Robin had his sword at his side and tried to draw it; but the tinker
was too speedy for him. Middle laid on his blows with so much vigor that
for a while he had Robin at his mercy.

The greenwood rang with the noise of the fight, for now Robin had
plucked out his sword. 'Twas steel against oak; brute force matched
against skill. Indignation gave Middle the advantage, and he fought with
such fury that Robin's sides began to ache.

"Hold your hand, tinker," called Robin, at last. "I cry a boon of you."

"I would rather hang you upon this tree ere granting it to you," said
Middle, commencing afresh.

But Robin had had time to blow his horn in urgent summons of Stuteley
and Little John.

In a brief space they appeared, with most of the greenwood men at their
heels, and Master Middle was seized and disarmed rudely enough.

"This rascal tinker had made my bones quite sore," said Robin, ruefully.

"Is that your trouble?" said Little John. "Let me discover now if I may
not do the like for him."

"Not so, Little John," Robin said then. "This was my own quarrel, and I
deserved all that this rogue has bestowed on me. He had a warrant for my
arrest, which I have stolen from him."

"With twelve silver pennies, a crust of bread, and six little keys,"
remarked Middle, with emphasis.

"Here are the keys and the crust, gossip," answered Robin, smilingly.
"And here the pennies, turned by me into gold. Here also, if you will,
is my hand."

"I take it heartily, with the pence!" cried Middle, seizing the slim,
frank hand of the outlaw. "By my leathern coat, by my pots and pans, I
swear I like you, friend Hood, and will serve you and your men honestly!
Do you want a tinker? Nay; but I'll swear you do--who else can mend and
grind your swords and patch your pannikins? Will you take me, little
man, who can fight so well, and who knows how to play a bold game?"

"Marry, I will take you, tinker--if