of having first killed it, and this quarrel came to the Sheriff's
ears. Master Carfax then affected to recognize them as being three
greenwood men; and they have been tried summarily and found guilty, and
will be hanged together with Will."

"I swear that this shall not be," cried Robin, in heat, "since no doubt
I am to blame for leaving the slain deer in their way."

"It was, I believe, the very stag that I did kill," said Marian, in a
troubled voice. "They have been in prison for near a month; and the
beast was found without part of the woods," said Marian. "Shall I not go
and give myself up in their place? Since I have had this dreadful
guilty thought in my mind I have known no moment's peace; but,
cowardlike, I do not dare to be honest with myself."

"Be of good courage, dear maid," said Robin. "We have killed many of the
King's deer since the day I first did meet with Master Gilbert of Blois.
For we are hungry every day, prithee, and the beasts are many. Also in
this season they are very wild and ferocious--'tis like this one was
killed in a battle royal between itself and another stag. But to make
all sure, we will rescue the widow's three sons with my Stuteley from
the Sheriff's foul clutches."

"Go not into danger, dear heart, for my sake," Marian pleaded, and she
held him close to her as though she never would let him depart again.

* * * * *

Robin went back to his men, and they made their plans. Little John was
given the second place of command, and it was agreed that upon the
morning on which Stuteley and the others were to be hanged the greenwood
men should risk all by marching into Nottingham to the rescue.

The dawn of this eventful morning broke bright and sunny. Robin was
clothed in a gay scarlet dress and his men wore their mantles of
Lincoln-green cloth. They were armed with broadswords, and each carried
a full quiver of new arrows, fashioned for them during the past winter
by the cunning hands of Warrenton.

They marched boldly towards Nottingham, leaving Allan-a-Dale with his
little dame and six of the outlaws to keep house for them, as it were.
When they were within a mile of Nottingham gates, Robin called a halt,
and said: "I hold it good, comrades, that we stay here in hiding, and
send forth someone to hear the news. There comes upon the road a
palmer--see you him near by the gates? Who will go forth and engage him
in talk?"

"I will," said Midge, at once