y had told Master Monceux that when he went back to Nottingham
it must be to keep the Royal forest free of all evil-doers. Otherwise a
new Sheriff would be found for Nottingham, and that right soon.

Henry, the King, was near to his own end, and had become very irritable
in consequence of his illness. His sons tried his scanty patience sorely
with their waywardness and their ingratitude. So Monceux had none too
pleasant a reception at Court, and returned therefrom with a heavy
heart.

Simeon Carfax was therefore despatched into Sherwood to find the tinker,
so that Middle might be whipped and put into the stocks for having
failed; also Carfax was to secure Robin and the ringleaders at all
hazard. To this end Master Simeon was given command of the Sheriff's own
men-at-arms, and a great body of citizens from the town wards, each man
having the promise of a large reward and freedom thenceforth from all
taxes.

The news soon came to Robin, and he and his men retired at once into the
innermost parts of Barnesdale, and secured their caves by covering the
mouths of them with barricades artfully concealed behind green boughs
and the like.

So Carfax and his fellows searched without avail for near three weeks,
only occasionally having evidence of the greenwood men by finding the
feet and antlers of the King's deer lying here and there in the forest.
The Sheriff's men laid many traps for Robin, but all in vain.

Stuteley, being of venturesome mind, must needs attempt all manner of
tricks upon this motley company of soldiers. He would dig a pit with
Little John and Much, and hide it up with branches and earth, so that
Master Carfax might stray into it and haply break his neck.

At last Carfax bethought him of a good plot. He had nigh fallen into one
of Will Stuteley's pits, but suddenly stayed his men from demolishing
it. He planned instead to pretend to be trapped in the pit that very
night; and, having hidden his fellows all round about, he walked out
boldly at dusk with but three of them, and fell a-talking loudly of his
schemes for capturing Robin Hood.

He walked carelessly up to the hidden pit and with great outcry fell
into it, the others with him running off then as if in deadly alarm.
Then Master Carfax began a loud lament, and made such a noise that
Stuteley must hear it.

Young Will came bounding joyfully to the pit's edge, and, spying Carfax
therein, fell into an ecstasy of delight. He railed at Simeon very
pl