rds him. "What do _you_ know, old Patch-and-Rags,
of Robin Hood?" he sneered, angrily.

"I know too much of him," answered the beggar. "Once, like you, gossip,
I boasted of my skill with the bow--'twas in Sherwood, whilst I was
walking with a stranger who had met me very civilly upon the road. Says
he: 'If you can hit yon mark I'll know you a better archer than Robin
Hood.' So I flew my shaft arrogantly, and 'twas a tidy shot, near two
hundred paces. My arrow struck the mark fairly. 'What say you,
stranger?' says I. He made for reply such a bowshot as never I have seen
before; for, having stepped back a score of yards, he yet was able to
speed his arrow so cleverly as to split mine own from end to end. 'Thou
art Robin Hood,' I said then, and I had fear upon me."

"What then?" asked Arthur-a-Bland, composedly.

"For my boasting he gave me a drubbing," the beggar went on, "and for my
archery five silver crowns."

"Then thou canst bend the bow?" said Arthur. "Will you not attempt my
lord Sheriff's prize, old Patch-and-Rags?"

"Marry, I would most willingly," cried the beggar, "but for my lame leg
and blind eye."

"One does not need a leg to shoot arrows, nor yet two eyes. Take aim,
gossip, and show us how you played the sport in Sherwood on that day."

The archer's tone was mocking; but the beggar only replied that he had
already won a prize and was content.

Just then one of the Sheriff's guards approached him.

"My master would have speech with you, friend," said he.

"And so you have met bold Robin Hood?" asked Monceux, so soon as the
beggar stood before him.

"Well do I know it," the beggar answered, writhing his eye in fiery
glance about the Sheriff's tent. "My body is full sore yet from the
beating he gave me."

"Are you sure 'twas Robin Hood?"

"That am I. He is a slim, slight man with long hair, and small, fair
beard."

"If you could lead me to him, friend, I would reward you well," said the
Sheriff, in malicious tones.

"I will show the place where we met soon as you will, excellence,"
replied the beggar.

Monceux nodded, and made a sign of dismissal. "I will speak further with
you later, friend," he said.

The beggar went back to the archer and said that now he would take a
shot with him. "I may as well win two prizes as one," he continued,
affably, "for the horse will help me carry my pieces."

Arthur-a-Bland was greatly incensed at this speech, and took aim with
hands that trembled with