after an effort, succeeds. He hurls himself
against the doorway, and finds it hopeless. He
turns to the window, peers through it for a moment, then
suddenly unwinds a scarf from his neck, ties it to one
of the bars and stands to one side._]

ROBIN
Too high a shot for most of my good bowmen!
What's that? A miss?

[_He looks thro' the window._]

Good lad, he'll try again!

[_He stands at the side once more and an arrow comes thro' the
window._]

Why, that's like magic!

[_He pulls up the thread attached to it._]

Softly, or 'twill break!--
Ah, now 'tis sturdy cord.
--I'll make it fast.
But, how to break these bars!
St. Nicholas,
There's someone climbing. He must have a head
Of iron, and the lightness of a cat!
Downward is bad enough, but up is more
Than mortal! Who the devil can it be?
Thank God, it's growing dark. But what a risk!
None of my merry men could e'en attempt it.
I'm very sure it can't be Little John.
What, Shadow-of-a-Leaf!

[_SHADOW-OF-A-LEAF appears at the window._]

'Fore God, dear faithful fool,
I am glad to see you.

SHADOW-OF-A-LEAF

Softly, gossip, softly,
Pull up the rope a little until we break
This bar away--or some kind friend may see
The dangling end below. Now here's a toothpick,
Six inches of grey steel, for you to work with,
And here's another for me. Pick out the mortar!

[_They work to loosen the bars._]

Wait! Here's a rose I brought you in my cap
And here's a spray of fern! Old Nature's keys
Open all prisons, I'll throw them in for luck,

[_He throws them into the cell and begins working feverishly again._]

So that the princes of the world may know
The forest let you out. Down there on earth,
If any sees me, they will only think
The creepers are in leaf. Pick out the mortar!
That's how the greenwood works. You know, 'twill thrust
Its tendrils through these big grey stones one day
And pull them down. I noticed in the courtyard
The grass is creeping though the crevices
Already, and yellow dandelions crouch
In all the crumbling corners. Pick it out!
This is a very righteous work indeed
For men in Lincoln green; for