



Produced by Juliet Sutherland and the Online Distributed
Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net









ROBIN HOOD

ILLUSTRATED BY N. C. WYETH

[Illustration]

DAVID MCKAY, PUBLISHER

PHILADELPHIA MCMXVII




ILLUSTRATIONS


                                                             Facing Page

  ROBIN AND HIS MOTHER GO TO NOTTINGHAM FAIR                          18
    The road wound in and about the forest, and at noon they
    came to a part where the trees nigh shut out the sky

  ROBIN WRESTLES WILL STUTELEY AT GAMEWELL                            53
    "Catch him by the middle," he shouted. "Now you have
    him, lording, fairly. Throw him prettily!" And sure enough
    Stuteley came down

  ROBIN MEETS MAID MARIAN                                            116
    But Robin, venturing all, drew nigh. He came to the edge of
    her box, and began to speak

  ROBIN HOOD AND HIS COMPANIONS LEND AID TO WILL O' TH' GREEN
  FROM AMBUSH                                                        156
    Their arrows flew together, marvellous shots, each finding
    its prey

  LITTLE JOHN FIGHTS WITH THE COOK IN THE SHERIFF'S HOUSE            197
    At last he made a dart upon Roger and the chase grew furious.
    Dishes, plates, covers, pots and pans--all that came in
    the way of them went flying

  ROBIN HOOD DEFEATS NAT OF NOTTINGHAM AT QUARTER-STAFF              257
    The beggar dealt his foe a back-thrust so neatly, so heartily,
    and so swiftly that Nat was swept off the stage into the crowd
    as a fly off a table

  LITTLE JOHN SINGS A SONG AT THE BANQUET                            327
    That evening, whilst Monceux raged and stormed without,
    they all sat to a great feast

  THE PASSING OF ROBIN HOOD                                          361
    Leaning heavily against Little John's sobbing breast, Robin
    Hood flew his last arrow out through the window, far away
    into the deep green of trees




ROBIN HOOD AND HIS ADVENTURES




CHAPTER I


"Well, Robin, on what folly do you employ yourself? Do you cut sticks
for our fire o' mornings?" Thus spoke Master Hugh Fitzooth, King's
Ranger of the Forest at Locksley, as he entered his house.

Robin flushed a little. "These are arrows, sir," he announced, holding
one up for inspection.

Dame Fitzooth smiled upon the boy as she rose to meet her lord. "What
fortune do you bring us to-day, father?" asked she, cheerily.

Fitzooth's face was a mask of discontent. "I bring myself, dame,"
answered he, "neither more nor less."

"Surely that is enough for Robin and me!" laughed his wife. "Come, cast
off your shoes, and give me your bow and quiver. I have news for you,
Hugh, even if you have none for us. George of Gamewell has sent his
messenger to-day, and bids me bring Robin to him for the Fair." She
hesitated to give the whole truth.

"That cannot be," began the Ranger, hastily; then checked himself. "What
wind is it that blows our Squire's friendship toward me, I wonder?" he
went on. "Do we owe him toll?"

"You are not fair to George Montfichet, Hugh--he is an open, honest
man, and he is my brother." The dame spoke with spirit, being vexed that
her husband should thus slight her item of news. "That Montfichet is of
Norman blood is sufficient to turn your thoughts of him as sour as old
milk----"

"I am as good as all the Montfichets and De Veres hereabout, dame, for
all I am but plain Saxon," returned Fitzooth, crossly, "and the day may
come when they shall know it. Athelstane the Saxon might make full as
good a King, when