tting," replied Robin stubbornly.

"'Tis my lord Bishop of Hereford, fellow!" interposed one of the guards
fiercely. "See that you keep a civil tongue in your head."

"If 'tis a churchman," retorted Will Scarlet, "he would do better to
mind his own flocks rather than concern himself with ours."

"Ye are saucy fellows, in sooth," cried the Bishop, "and we will see if
your heads will pay for your manners. Come! quit your stolen roast and
march along with me, for you shall be brought before the Sheriff of
Nottingham forthwith."

"Pardon, excellence!" said Robin, dropping on his knees. "Pardon, I pray
you. It becomes not your lordship's coat to take so many lives away."

"Faith, I'll pardon you!" said the Bishop. "I'll pardon you, when I see
you hanged! Seize upon them, my men!"

But Robin had already sprung away with his back against a tree. And
from underneath his ragged cloak he drew his trusty horn and winded the
piercing notes which were wont to summon the band.

The Bishop no sooner saw this action than he knew his man, and that
there was a trap set; and being an arrant coward, he wheeled his horse
sharply and would have made off down the road; but his own men, spurred
on the charge, blocked his way. At almost the same instant the bushes
round about seemed literally to become alive with outlaws. Little John's
men came from one side and Will Stutely's from the other. In less time
than it takes to tell it, the worthy Bishop found himself a prisoner,
and began to crave mercy from the men he had so lately been ready to
sentence.

"O pardon, O pardon," said the Bishop,
"O pardon, I you pray.
For if I had known it had been you,
I'd have gone some other way."

"I owe you no pardon," retorted Robin, "but I will e'en treat you better
than you would have treated me. Come, make haste, and go along with me.
I have already planned that you shall dine with me this day."

So the unwilling prelate was dragged away, cheek by jowl, with the
half-cooked venison upon the back of his own horse; and Robin and his
band took charge of the whole company and led them through the forest
glades till they came to an open space near Barnesdale.

Here they rested, and Robin gave the Bishop a seat full courteously.
Much the miller's son fell to roasting the deer afresh, while another
and fatter beast was set to frizzle on the other side of the fire.
Presently the appetizing odor of the cooking reached the Bishop's
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