and prayed, and then he
asked the brothers to feel and see if the good St. Dunstan hadn't sent
them something. Time after time this performance was repeated, and
still they said they had nothing. Finally Little John himself felt in
their pouches and found,--oh, heaps of money! He left the brothers ten
shillings each, and carried away the rest, saying he was sure that the
good St. Dunstan had meant it for him! Oh, I think I like Little John
best of all,--almost better even than Robin Hood! He always did such
cute things!"

By this time, they were nearing some of the big palaces which gave
this section of the country the name of "The Dukeries," from the fact
that so many noblemen have lived there. Earl Manvers, the Duke of
Newcastle, and the Duke of Portland, all have tremendous estates
between the towns of Worksop and Edwinstowe. Some of the stately
houses were pointed out in the distance behind the trees, but neither
Barbara nor Betty, Philip nor John, paid the slightest heed to them.
Their minds were fixed on Robin Hood, and they saw only the Sherwood
Forest which he knew. When Betty looked at Clumber House, across a
pretty little lake, she only said:

"Perhaps near that lake was where Robin found Alan-a-Dale, the dear
minstrel."

"Oh, no, Betty; it was by a fountain that he found Alan-a-Dale,"
Barbara politely corrected.

"Yes, that's so, Barbara," Betty replied, in all seriousness. "I
forgot."

There was one thing upon the estate of the Duke of Portland which did
greatly interest the party, however; that is, an old gnarled oak which
is called "Robin Hood's Larder."

"Ye see, 'e came 'ere to store 'is venison, and to 'ang it up to dry.
'E was a clever chap, 'e was. 'E 'id it inside the trunk." The driver
grinned from ear to ear, as he gave this valuable information.

Getting out to explore, the children found that the huge tree is
hollow, and propped up to postpone the sad day when it will surely
collapse altogether. Many old tree-trunks, all over Sherwood Forest,
are like this, and in some of them John could stretch his full length
upon the ground. Near "Robin Hood's Larder" is the spot where,
according to Scott, the outlaw met with King Richard of the Lion
Heart,--or, at least, so say the local guidebooks.

"Yes," said Mrs. Pitt, understanding at once; "don't you remember that
in Scott's 'Ivanhoe'? Another version of this famous meeting is in
Howard Pyle's book. King Richard was at Nottingham Town, you k