Stuteley and old Warrenton each flew their arrows
truly through the garlands, as did many of the rest. Poor Midge and
Arthur-a-Bland were not so fortunate, for though both came near to doing
it, the garlands unkindly fell off an instant after their shafts had
flown through them.

"Where is the friar?" cried Robin, affecting to peer into the distance,
already blue-grey with twilight. "Surely he is late to-night."

Then Tuck could bear it no longer, but stood up in his place. "Come near
to me, thou villainous archers," he roared, "and I will buffet you right
well."

"Ah, brother, what are you saying?" cried the knight, anxiously. "Surely
you forget our vows and our cloth."

"I forget neither the one nor the other," returned Tuck. "But I would be
no true man did I submit to watch quietly such bungling as these fellows
have done. Come hither, Midge."

"You know them--you are of this company?" continued the knight, as if in
alarm.

"I am very proud to be of it, brother," said the friar.

"I crave a boon," the knight then said, turning to Robin. "This is a
little man who will receive the buffets; and though I seem a priest, yet
am I willing to take the blow instead."

"If you would care to have a buffet from me," the friar cried, "you are
most welcome. For though my arm is sore still from our play of this
morn, I warrant me there is still some strength left in it;" and he
rolled up his sleeve.

"Take, then, the first blow," said the knight, "and I promise you I will
return it you with interest."

A smile lit up the face of the jolly friar. He turned up the sleeve of
his cassock still further, and smote the false abbot such a blow as
would have felled an ox.

"Thou hittest well, brother," the knight remarked, coolly.

The friar was amazed to see him withstand such a blow, and so was Robin.
"Now, 'tis my turn," the knight said; and, baring his arm, he dealt Tuck
such a blow as to send him flat upon his back.

There was a general laugh at this; but the exertion had caused the
abbot's cowl to slip away from his head. The strong face and light beard
of the Black Knight showed plainly to them all. "Alas, your majesty,"
cried Sir Richard of the Lee, springing up; "you have betrayed
yourself."

"It is the King!" cried Scarlett, in sheer surprise; and reverently he
knelt before the Black Knight. Robin glanced questioningly towards the
greenwood men; then knelt himself beside Scarlett. At once the whole
company fell