eried Robin,
cheerfully. "A noble is not always known by his dress, but rather by his
manners and his deeds."

"Your insolence shall be well paid for," returned the other, putting by
his bow and drawing his sword. Without further argument he approached
Robin angrily, and struck at him with meaning.

Robin was too quick for him, however, and caught the blow upon the edge
of his own trusty blade. After a few passes Robin feinted, and, catching
the other unawares, dealt him a thwack with the flat of his blade. The
scarlet stranger reeled under the blow.

"I find you are not so mean a person as I had thought," observed he, in
a series of gasps. "Yet, even now, 'tis not amiss that you should have a
lesson."

With that the two engaged heartily, and fought for nigh an hour, without
either side gaining an advantage.

At length he succeeded in pricking Robin on the cheek.

"Hast enough, fellow?"

"A rest would be welcome," admitted Robin, with a laugh.

They called a truce and sat down side by side beneath a tree. The
stranger eyed Robin thoughtfully; and Robin glanced back at him, with
his suspicions slowly growing to certainty. Presently:

"You are he whom they call Robin Hood, I take it," said the stranger,
"although I do not know you by such a strange name."

"It is my own name," replied the outlaw, "and I am proud of it. Are you
not Geoffrey of Gamewell?"

"That _was_ my name, cousin, even as yours was once Robin Fitzooth, but
now I call myself Will Scarlett. 'Tis a whimsey; but since Geoffrey
Montfichet has a bigger price on his head than I can afford to pay, why,
I have buried him under a prettier name! But tell me why you are
dressed so plainly. On my life, I did not know you when first we met."

"A man should have clothes to suit his work, cousin," argued Robin. "And
'tis a wonder to me that you should have been able to kill yon stag with
such a wild color upon you. Howbeit, thy arrow was shrewd enough, and
I'll say no more than to tell how well pleased I am to have fallen in
with you again. Here's my hand in all true affection, cousin Scarlett."

"And mine, cousin Hood."

They carried the stag between them to Barnesdale; and Robin learned that
his cousin had a letter with him for Marian. When Robin heard who had
given it to Will Scarlett his suspicions were immediately awakened.

"However, let us give Marian the letter, and see what she may think upon
it," he observed. "There cannot be much harm in th