compliment.

"You are a droll fellow," he said calmly. "Your speech amuses me
mightily. Pray continue, if you have not done, for I am in no hurry this
morning."

"I have said all with my tongue that is needful," retorted Robin,
beginning to grow red under the collar. "Nathless, I have other
arguments which may not be so pleasing to your dainty skin. Prithee,
stand and deliver. I promise to deal fairly with the purse."

"Alack-a-day!" said the stranger with a little shrug of his shoulders;
"I am deeply sorrowful that I cannot show my purse to every rough lout
that asks to see it. But I really could not, as I have further need of
it myself and every farthing it contains. Wherefore, pray stand aside."

"Nay that will I not! and 'twill go the harder with you if you do not
yield at once."

"Good fellow," said the other gently, "have I not heard all your speech
with patience? Now that is all I promised to do. My conscience is salved
and I must go on my way. To-rol-o-rol-e-loo!" he caroled, making as
though to depart.

"Hold, I say!" quoth Robin hotly; for he knew how Little John must be
chuckling at this from behind the bushes. "Hold I say, else I shall have
to bloody those fair locks of yours!" And he swung his quarter-staff
threateningly.

"Alas!" moaned the stranger shaking his head. "The pity of it all! Now I
shall have to run this fellow through with my sword! And I hoped to be a
peaceable man henceforth!" And sighing deeply he drew his shining blade
and stood on guard.

"Put by your weapon," said Robin. "It is too pretty a piece of steel to
get cracked with common oak cudgel; and that is what would happen on
the first pass I made at you. Get you a stick like mine out of yon
undergrowth, and we will fight fairly, man to man."

The stranger thought a moment with his usual slowness, and eyed Robin
from head to foot. Then he unbuckled his scabbard, laid it and the sword
aside, and walked deliberately over to the oak thicket. Choosing from
among the shoots and saplings he found a stout little tree to his
liking, when he laid hold of it, without stopping to cut it, and gave a
tug. Up it came root and all, as though it were a stalk of corn, and the
stranger walked back trimming it as quietly as though pulling up trees
were the easiest thing in the world.

Little John from his hiding-place saw the feat, and could hardly
restrain a long whistle. "By our Lady!" he muttered to himself, "I would
not be in Master Robin'