days envious thoughts for the outlaws in their free
life. Anything was better, to his mind, than oak-bark and ditch-water
and the smell of half-tanned hides. Also he was ambitious to beat Robin
at his own game. By dint of perseverance Arthur had once come very nigh
to emulating that masterly feat of archery by which Robin had wrested
the purse of gold and the Arab horse from him. Vastly elated at this
promise of success, the tanner had flung down his trade and had marched
off towards Barnesdale, armed with his bow and a long pike-staff. He
strode across the close turf, browning now under an August sun, and was
soon far away from the highroad and the small protection it afforded. He
espied a herd of deer, and prepared himself to shoot one of them. Just
as his bow was bent Robin came out of the bushes on his left hand; and,
not noticing the tanner, the young outlaw began to move stealthily round
to the windward side of the beasts in order that they might make a
fairer mark for his arrows.

"What makes you here so like a thief, gossip?" enquired Arthur-a-Bland,
arrogantly. "I am a keeper in this forest, and it is my duty to stay
you."

"Have you any assistants, friend?" Robin asked, scarcely glancing
towards him. "For it is not one man alone who will stop me."

"Truly, gossip," cried Arthur, "I have no better assistant than this
good oak-graff; but he will do all that I want. For your sword and your
arrows I care not one straw--if I can get but a knock at your poll you
will ask me no further question."

Robin unbuckled his belt at this; and, flinging his bow upon the ground,
tore down a young sapling that was growing near by. With his dagger he
quickly lopped it into shape; and then strode up to the tanner.

"Eight foot and a half, and 'twill knock down a calf," sang Arthur,
flourishing his staff still more, "and I hope it will knock down you."

Robin sparred with him for a little, and then, making a sudden feint,
bestowed such a blow on Master Bland that the blood ran down his cheek
from his broken pate.

But the tanner did not accept this favor without making some return, and
soon was giving Robin as good as he gave. The wood rang with the noise
of their blows, and the tanner laid on his strokes as if he were beating
hides.

"Hold your hand," cried Robin, at last. "You have done enough, and I
will make you free of these woods."

"Why, God-a-mercy," said Arthur, "I may thank my staff for that, good
fellow; not