you."

"Well, well, gossip, let that be as it may. But ere we continue, tell
me your name and trade, at the least. I fain would know who 'tis who
hath beaten me so well."

"I am a tanner, gossip," replied Arthur, jovially now, "and by my soul,
if you will come to my pits I will tan your hide for naught."

"In sooth you have already done me that service," said Robin, ruefully.
"But, harkee, if you will leave your tanpots and come with me, as sure
as my name is Robin Hood, you shall not want gold or fee."

"If you be Robin Hood," said Arthur, "then I am Arthur-a-Bland; and I
have come to live with you and my cousin Little John, in the free woods
of Barnesdale. That is, if you will have me."

"I have already given you freedom of the woods, and you shall see what
welcome Little John can offer," answered Robin. "But tell me, friend,
are you not that archer who so nearly won the Sheriff's horse from me in
Nottingham town?"

The tanner acknowledged himself to be the man, and since Robin put it so
handsomely to him he forgot all his hard thoughts about the defeat. They
joined hands in friendship and went together to find Little John, who
seemed right glad to find his cousin ready to join the band.

The day was spent in the usual free and happy manner. And when time for
supper came round with the dusk Robin asked Little John for the name and
style of their guest at supper this night. "For," said Robin, "you must
have got me at least a bishop, a baron, or a knight, or some squire from
the north country, to meet our new comrade to-night."

"We have no guest, master," answered Little John, regretfully.

"Then have I no stomach for my supper," Robin cried. "Go you at once,
Little John, and you, Stuteley, and you also, Much, and find us such a
guest, worthy of our company, and well able to pay for the pleasure of
it."

"Where may they find so desirable a man?" asked the little ferret Midge,
eagerly.

"Go into Watling Street," Robin told them. "At this time o' th' year
there are many people passing that way."

"May Heaven send us a guest speedily," said Arthur-a-Bland, "for I am
growing wondrous hungry."

The three outlaws started off at once and in high spirits, the adventure
being one much to their liking. They had scarcely watched the great
highroad known to all as Watling Street (and which runs from Dover in
Kent to Chester town) for many minutes, when they espied a knight riding
by in a very forlorn and careless