ughs._]

It puts an end to the great question
Of how I shall dispose my wealth, Fitzwalter.
But "banished"?--No! that is beyond their power
While I have power to breathe, unless they banish
The kind old oaks of Sherwood. They may call it
"Outlawed," perhaps.

FITZWALTER

Who let the villain in
Thro' doors of mine?

CRIES

Out with him! Out with him!

[_The guests draw swords and the SHERIFF retreats thro' the doorway
with his men._]

ROBIN

Stop!
Put up your swords! He had his work to do.

[_WIDOW SCARLET falls sobbing at his feet._]

WIDOW SCARLET

O master, master, who will save my son,
My son?

ROBIN

[_Raising her._]

Why, mother, this is but a dream,
This poor fantastic strutting show of law!
And you shall wake with us in Sherwood Forest
And find Will Scarlet in your arms again.
Come, cheerly, cheerly, we shall overcome
All this. Hark!

[_A bugle sounds in the distance. There is a scuffle in the doorway
and LITTLE JOHN bursts in with his head bleeding._]

LITTLE JOHN

Master, master, come away!
They are setting a trap for thee, drawing their lines
All round the castle.

ROBIN

How now, Little John,
They have wounded thee! Art hurt?

LITTLE JOHN

No, no, that's nothing.
Only a bloody cockscomb. Come, be swift,
Or, if thou wert a fox, thou'dst never slip
Between 'em. Ah, hear that?

[_Another bugle sounds from another direction._]

That's number two.
Two sides cut off already. When the third
Sounds--they will have thee, sure as eggs is eggs.
Prince John is there, Fitzwalter cannot save 'ee.
They'll burn the castle down.

ROBIN

Prince John is there?

LITTLE JOHN

Ay, and my lord Fitzwalter had best look
Well to my mistress Marian, if these ears
Heard right as I came creeping thro' their lines.
Look well to her, my lord, look well to her.
Come, master, come, for God's sake, come away.

FITZWALTER

Robin, this is thy rashness. I warned thee, boy!
Prince John! Nay, that's too perilous a jest
For even a prince to play with me. Come, Robin,
You must awa