fellow, at times rap his knuckles, and ultimately so to confuse him, that when the other delivered a blow at him with his axe, he avoided it, sprang upon him, twisted it from him, hurled it away, and seizing the man by his throat and belt, hurled him over his head, as if he had been a mere bundle; the unfortunate trooper pitched heavily on his skull, fractured it, dislocated his neck, and lay extended a corse. Little John now got to Robin, and getting four of the foresters together, bade them raise Gilbert Hood, retreat with him, and they would cover them; and so, raising his voice, he cried-"To the woods, lads-to cover-quick!" The men obeyed, and the troopers shouted, "Victory! pursue the Saxon churls-hunt 'em down." But that "hunting 'em down" was easier counselled than executed, for most of the men had bows and arrows, which they had not yet used, and now brought them into play with frightful execution; they were all good bowmen, and the short distance from, and the size of their foes, rendered their aim a matter of certainty. In the eagerness of pursuit, a dozen men flew after them, to meet a sudden and certain death. Robin discharged no shaft from his bow which did not bury itself in the breast of an advancing pursuer; the extraordinary accuracy of his aim, even under such terrible excitement, drew shouts of approbation from the foresters, and yells of rage from the baffled pursuers, who were met with such a steady and deadly discharge of arrows, each bearing death or desperate wounds, that after two or three miles, the chance was given up, and the survivors returned to their companions to relate their ill

success.

the axe having penetrated his brain; and as recovery therefore was out of the question, preparations were made at once to lay him by the side of his wife Margaret. Two days subsequent to his death, Tuck, having performed the rites the church demanded, the body was ready for interment; ere it was borne to its last home, Robin requested to be left with it alone for a short time. His request was complied with; and when he found that none were there to look upon him, he flung himself upon the body, and burst into a passion of tears, the first he had shed since the death of his foster-father. For some time he wept in silence, and then he knelt, offered up a prayer, most ardently, for the future welfare of him who lay before him, in the sleep of death; then he kissed the cold hand and marble forehead rigid with death, and, in a voice low and broken, with emotion he said

"Farewell for ever, my dearly loved parent! parent, not in blood but in act. Farewell to thee, my more than father! for thou-not having the need to do much for me, not being thy child-did more for me than if I had been thrice so. From my earliest infancy thou didst bestow upon me thy tenderest care- -thy fondest attention. No little act, thought, frolic, or whim of mine, but thou didst greet kindly, and give way to affectionately, making me love thee beyond all things else in this world, and ere I can repay thee for all thy tenderness, thy goodness, thou art snatched from me. Oh, God! never to look upon thee again! never! never!-but here in the inmost recesses of my heart shalt thou live bright and unsullied, while the breath of life animates me; thy memory Upon gathering their party together, Little John loved, honoured, and revered; and no circumstance, discovered that six of the party were missing, three nor time, nor change, shall dim the brightness with severely wounded, and Gilbert Hood slain. Among which it now shines, and shall continue to burn there. those missing was Will Scarlet, and directly Robin Farewell! never again to meet on earth! But as we became acquainted with that, he determined to go are taught to believe that the spirit of the good and back in search of him. He left him, he said, fighting virtuous, after the earthly life hath ceased, may watch against odds, and he was fearful he was slain or over the actions of tho e it loved in life-if it is perwounded; in either case it was a duty to recover the mitted to thy shade to hover round me, do thou, oh body of one who had several times that night ex- my dear father, spread the influence of thy kindliness posed his life for him, and back he would go. They over me, leading me and guiding my actions to the offered all sorts of opposition to him, but in vain; and path thou wouldst have most approved, hadst thou begging of them to take all care of his poor father's been living to direct me, tempering my will to my body, he departed on his friendly errand. He had judgment, and in the wandering life which it will be hardly turned his back, when Little John gave directions my fate to lead-for now thou art gone, all prospect to the Gamwells to make a litter and proceed with the of wealth or hopes of independence are wrecked, and body to Gamwell Hall; he would soon be with them, I must trust to my right arm to cut me out a scanty he said, and followed Robin on the same task. He pittance-thou wilt keep me in the path of honour, felt it to be quite as much his duty as it could possi- not shaming the name which I will bear and keep, bly be Robin's, for Will was always with him every- I hope, unsullied and untarnished by thought or where, was always entrusted to his care, was his pupil, deed, mean or disgraceful. Hear me swear this, dear and therefore he felt that if it was any one's duty it shade of my father, humbled in spirit, in anguish, was his; so determining, he followed Robin's foot- agony most bitter at thy loss, in utter wretchedness, steps, but not to overtake him until he had reached abject and broken-spirited, hear me swear that while the late scene of strife, and then he saw him alone; I bear the name of ROBIN HOOD, whatever acts not a vestige of the fight was to be seen; all was cleared necessity may compel me to perform, they shall be away. The bodies were removed, and even the broken tempered with thy honour, thy kindliness, and thy and scattered weapons had been collected together and justice; with my right hand on thy breast, and my borne off; thus there was no clue to the fate either of left to my God, I swear this, so come weal or woe as Will Scarlet or the five foresters. The prospect of I keep this oath; and as I have sworn this in the success in following and endeavouring to effect the direst misery grief can inflict, so will I in my brightest, escape of their unfortunate friends was utterly hope-happiest, and proudest moments hereafter observe less, and, therefore, such project, although advanced it!" by Robin, was instantly abandoned; they agreed to return to their friends, and see what was to be done on the morrow. Ere those bearing Gilbert's body had reached Gamwell, they were overtaken by Little John and Robin, and all arrived at the Hall just at daybreak, to relate the melancholy issue of their adventure.

Poor Gilbert Hood had been killed on the instant,

For a few moments he bowed his head, and sobbed as though he had lost all on earth which could make life welcome. When the paroxysm had passed, he raised himself, and his eyes were dry, but his spirit was relieved. He gathered his friends together; the bearers of the body took the bier upon their shoulders, and, preceded by Friar Tuck, bore it away to the narrow home assigned to it. Robin followed; after

him came old Lance, who had recovered from his wound, to be now almost slain by old age, and then Lincoln, the serving-man, who had nursed him when an infant, who had fought with him in the last fray, and now followed him to his grave; he had no tears to shed, nature had given him a temperament to which was denied such a consoling, soothing weak-evening of the day upon which his foster-father was ness; but his aspect, his manner, told his feelings, and he slowly followed, for the last time, a highly prized and loved master, a heart-broken man. The six Gamwells, headed by Little John, came next, and then a band of vassals and foresters, who had served under Gilbert Hood while forest-keeper, an office taken from him by King Henry to bestow on Cockle, the miller of Mansfeld.

Having reached the grave, the body was lowered into it, and Tuck, in a clear and solemn voice, repeated the prayers for the dead; when he had concluded, and the weapons of Gilbert were about to be placed upon his body and buried with him, Lance, the old hound, suddenly, to the surprise of many, leaped into the grave; he uttered a long, whining howl, and then stretched himself out on the body, and those who had looked over as they saw him leap in, knew that his breath was passed away, ere Lincoln said, in tones husky, even to hoarseness, with his deep emotion

"The hound is dead; the good old dog!" he worked his hands and his teeth convulsively, when he had uttered it, and then he quitted his mournful companions to wander away alone.

The weapons were laid upon the bodies, and then the mould was heaped over them, and so the void was filled up, and the mass of sad friends prepared to leave, except Robin, who stood with his hands clasped before him in the most intense abstraction, apparently as if watching the process of filling the grave, but really unconscious of aught around him; he was roused from this state by a light hand laid upon his shoulder. He turned mechanically, and beheld the sweet face of Maude bathed in tears, looking earnestly up in his face. She pointed to the grave, and in a low voice said

necessity for action; he could see that, although Will's name was little mentioned, yet his loss was deeply felt. It was in an expedition for the benefit of Gilbert Hood that he was taken, and Robin would rather have died than he should not make every effort to restore him to his friends; therefore, on the laid in the earth, he communicated to Marian his intention of going to Nottingham at daybreak the following morning, and trying every method to discover whither he had been carried, and what possibility there was of effecting his escape. To Little John also did he make known his determination, and Little John, as he expected, resolved to accompany him. Accordingly, when the sun rose, it saw them upon their way to "fair Nottingham."

"It shall not want for flowers to grow over it while I am here, and have the power to plant them." "God bless thee, Maude, for that kind thought,' said Robin, scarce able to articulate a word; he squeezed her hand, and then he turned away, and joining the mournful cavalcade. returned to Gamwell-actions; their conversation was of a desultory nature, hall.

It was affecting to see how kindly he was treated by every one there, as each and all endeavoured, to the extent of their power, to make him feel his loss less; everything which could tend to soothe and relieve his mind from its sadness was done. In sadness the heart naturally turns to those we love for a portion of their sympathy-it is not perhaps that we wish them to experience the same grief that we ourselves feel, yet we do not like to see them cheerful; when we are sad we expect them to be serious, because we are so; we want their sympathy, and the best consolation we can receive is to witness the actions and thoughts of those we love tinctured with the sadness which oppresses us; the desire to restore them to cheerfulness, makes us exert ourselves to shake off our grief, and it is rare that in such efforts we find ourselves prove unsuccessful. It may be readily imagined that Robin turned to Marian more than to any for sympathy, nor had he any reason to lament a want of it; it was exhibited in so sweet and delicate a manner, as to make it come with tenfold charm to him, and deeply did he appreciate it. But Robin Hood was not of a nature to remain inert, however oppressed by a calamity, when there was a

ITHIN four hours of their departure from Gamwell-hall, Robin Hood and Little John entered a small hostelry in Nottingham. They seated themselves close to a party of men who were drinking, and were rather noisy in their de meanour; they were soldiers, and their garb bespoke them to be retainers belonging to Nottingham Castle; they were talking loudly, and were clamorous in their principally relating to feats of arms. As the subject was roughly handled, there being more talkers than listeners, neither Robin nor Little John paid any attention to it; they drank their ale, and conversed apart in a low tone; they were nearly ready to depart, when one of the drinking party made an observation which attracted their attention, and induced their stay, with the hope of gathering some intelligence that might have a favourable influence upon the purpose for which they came.

"It is not known," said the retainer, "why they were attacked, whether it was by thieving outlaws or Derbyshire men-for as they passed through that country they played some desperate tricks-or whether they were vassals belonging to a neighbouring estate, paying off some grudge perhaps their master may owe our lord the baron. In that case the Crusaders must have been mistaken for us; however, they have got some prisoners, and I dare swear the whole truth will soon out."

"When did this take place, Geoffrey ?" asked one of the listeners.

"Two or three nights since. Was not you in the castle when the Crusaders arrived ?"

"No. I arrived here yesterday with the baron; I

went with the party to meet him as he came from London, and was therefore away when they came here."

to Nottingham. However, they abandoned their inintention, and buried them in the forest, a few miles from here; but they brought all the weapons "Well, they they could gather, as evidence of the fray, and to are off to Lon-afford some cl ue to their owners." don to-morrow, and I believe they take the prisoners with them." "Was it a sharp tussle ?" "Rather.The troop brought about twenty of their comrades, desperately wound

"One of the crusaders. He said something about the fray commencing through a fellow, in the habit of a monk, knocking down one of his comrades; and, upon attempting to capture him, he called his followers from their lurking place, with the cry of 'Hood to the rescue!""

"Hood to the rescue?" echoed another voice, interrogatively. "Why, I remember, about six years ago, being in pursuit of a youth named Hood, who ran away with the Lady Christabel. We got the lady back, and the boy was knocked on the head." "A boy ?" asked Geoffrey.

Aye," returned his comrade, "a mere boy; but he was desperately expert with his bow, and not afraid

Drawn by W. H. Thwaites.]

[Engraved by J. Wall.

He knew every

ed, with them, and they carried for some distance to use it, when opportunity offered. the bodies of those slain, intending to bring them inch of the forest, and you would not believe how he

No. 15.

AUTHOR'S OWN EDITION.

kept us at bay, and eluded us, until at last, having stolen a horse from the troop, he was riding away with the lady as comfortable as may be, when he suddenly plumped into the arms of a party despatched to intercept him. They succeeded in getting the lady, cracking his crown, and leaving him dead upon the road way."

"That is very strange," remarked Geoffrey, thoughtfully; "for the crusader spoke to me of a youth in the affair the other night, who made fearful havoc among the men with his arrows, never missing any one he aimed at. Altogether, killed and wounded, there was a dozen out of twenty-five he might claim as his share."

"Twelve?" echoed two or three voices. "Twelve!" muttered Robin between his teeth. "Father, you are avenged!"

Aye, twelve," returned Geoffrey. "It seems incredible, but it is nevertheless true. They ascertained it by the shafts being of a different make to any other."

"I should not wonder," observed he who had mentioned the matter of Robin and Christabel-" I should not wonder if this youth you speak of is not the same boy we chased; if so, I should know him again, for I saw him two or three times on the night we were after him, six years ago, and there was something so remarkable in his appearance I am sure I should never forget him."

to Little John.

"But thou dost not ask me if I agree," remarked Little John, quietly.

"Thou cans't not refuse such a chance of rare sport," exclaimed his patron; "such an opposer may not cross thee again! Besides, thine honour will be compromised; for have I not wagered on thy head, and thou wilt not lose me the prospect of winning three flagons of ale, man, of which, if thou gain them for me-and beshrew me thy lusty sinews tell something in favour of it-thou shalt drink the largest portion? Thou wilt agree, I see, friend!"

"I would give my challenger a piece of honest advice ere I consent," said Little John, in the same quiet tone. "I would not wish to be thought boastful, but every man knows what nature has done for him, and what application he can make of her bounties. Now, she has given me a stout frame and a good heart; and, if I am expert at any two things more than others, it is in giving a fall, or a broken head with a good quarter-staff. I would, therefore, in all good fellowship, persuade him not to try a bout with me in either, or I mistake my man!"

"Thou dost mistake thy man!" said Geoffrey, "and for one who does not wish to be thought boastful, art as great a braggart as I e'er came in contact with. Marry, thy heart may be good, but it seems a marvellously fearful one, or I am no judge. Come, if thou wouldst not be thought as great a coward as thou art high, consent at once!"

"We have heard enough," said Robin in a whisper "Let us go." ""Twill be as well," answered he. Besides, if that fellow rolls his eye this way, he may endeavour "I freely consent, and am in no way loath to have to prevent us, by making a discovery in no way to be a bout, were it only for the pleasure of it; I did but desired just now. Be wary as you quít, Robin, and forewarn thee that I was practised in these things, let him see nought but your back." that thou might not be deceived with the quality of The men, in the course of their drinking and rois-him thou hadst to cope with. I will but speak a tering, had extended their circle, and got so spread word to my youthful companion, and then will reas to make it impossible to approach the door without turn to win the flagons of ale, if I can." passing through the midst of them. Under the circumstances, this was an unpleasant fact which Robin gladly would have dispensed with; for, in the event of his being recognised, it would go a very long way to prevent his being able to assist Will Scarlet. When he rose, therefore, he proceeded towards the door with as indifferent an air as he could assume, at the same time as quickly, without exciting suspicious notice; Little John kept by his side, partly to shield him from the gaze of the man who professed to be able to recog-something particularly important in its nature which nise him, and partly to get out as close together as possible. As they passed through the circle, Geoffrey { looked up at Little John, and exclaimed,

"By the Holy Paul, friend, thy pate hath an affection for the ceiling! By the mass, if the mother who bore thee reached thy shoulder, she was tall enough for a crusader!"

"Does my height offend thee, Sir Soldier ?" said Little John, turning suddenly round to Geoffrey, with the hope of attracting attention to himself, and thus enable Robin to escape unnoticed—a ruse which our hero understood and availed himself of.

"If thou canst!" roared Geoffrey, who, primed with ale, was quite elated at the idea of showing off before his companions. He was of a stalwart frame and exceedingly tall; expert at the use of his weapons, but his size prevented him from putting his powers into play in a friendly manner, because he seldom met with one who was big enough, or cared to oppose him; the present opportunity was therefore hailed with vast delight by him, and it would have been

would have prevented him foregoing the expected pleasure. "Thou wilt not leave us in the lurch if. thou goest away, man, eh ?" he cried, as Little John was leaving the room. This was uttered in a sneering tone, and a laugh from his companions followed the remark. Stung by the observation, Little John turned sharply back, and walking up to Geoffrey he said in a tone of excitement―

"Were I a Norman, as thou art, I might commit an act as despicable; but being a Saxon-churl it may be—such a thought never crossed my mind; if I was reluctant to meet thee before, it was because I did not seek thy hurt; but since thou hast made a sneering jest of my good will, thou hast absolved me from all consideration of thy bones; therefore, good swaggering Norman, call the host and get plaster for thy broken skin prepared, and pay for thy ale, for so true as that ugly lump sits upon thy neck, so sure will you have need to do it. It is as well to be prepared for all things, but as a guarantee of my good faith to

him who has not questioned it, and wagered upon me, I leave my weapons as a pledge of my speedy

return."

"Nay," replied his backer, "there is no need on't. Speed, good forester, on thine errand; beshrew me, thy return will be looked impatiently for. I long for the sport."

“And I,” said Geoffrey, chafing considerably. "And I!" echoed several voices.

tion of the head, and seeking out his antagonist he advanced towards him. When he stood in front of him, he said quietly

"Art thou prepared, sir Norman ?"

"Ever ready, at any and all times, when an antagonist calls," replied Geoffrey, springing from his

seat.

"Ere we begin," said Little John, "I should wish to peril something of mine own in this bout, besides my head and limbs, if it be only that my good friend here, who has thought fit to hazard his coin on my ability, may not be the only one who loses a stake, should I be unfortunate enough to be beaten; therefore, Norman, I will hold thee five marks I give thee the first throw, and draw the first blood from thy crown, the winner to expend it in liquor upon those { around us."

Little John disappeared with a quick step, and a short distance from the spot found Robin waiting for him. He related what had just transpired, explaining that there was no possibility of escaping from it, and said they must appoint somewhere to meet, for as there was every prospect of being recognised, he must not get near the place where the retainers were likely to look upon him with too scrutinising an eye. Much as our hero wished to be at the quarter-staff play, and would have run all hazard to accomplish it, yet as Will Scarlet's chance of escape would be com promised by his risk of being discovered, he reluctantly consented to keep away, and meet by the castle at three o'clock in the afternoon. He knew the residence of Grace May's parents, and hoping to meet with Halbert Clare, the foster-son of Herbert, fa- This point having been decided, they commenced miliarly called Hal of the Keep, he took his wayfulfilling the conditions of the wager. They both thither, while Little John returned to play the divested their feet from all covering, and then match. Geoffrey stood with his back to the wall, while a fellow mounted on a stool, placed a flat piece of wood upon his head, and from thence in a direct line to the wall, where it was held by one of the guests. Little John came and placed himself beneath it, and when he raised himself to his proper height, and stood quite upright, he raised the measure a good three inches; it seemed to astonish everyone, Geoffrey, not being the least-so much so did it, that he was asked again to stand to the wall; he complied, the measure was applied, and it was found to be true.

"Agreed," cried Geoffrey, laughing boisterously; "and, my stout yeoman, if thou givest me the first back fall or crack my crown, ere I have made the { blood trickle down thy pate, I will double the sum." "Hurrah!" cried the guests, who had all to gain and nothing to lose. "A gallant soul! A noble heart!"

There was a general movement among the guests when Little John again entered the hostelry; the number had been considerably augmented, and the news of Geoffrey Gurthfeld the Stalwart, being about to play a match with the quarter-staff with a stranger, was noised about from one to another, and several who had been sitting when the match was made, had run and fetched two or three friends to see it. Little John was surprised, undoubtedly not agreeably, at seeing such a quantity of visitors added to those he had left there, and he began to have slight misgivings himself, that out of the motley crew around him, there might be some officious knave who could recognise in him one that had been one of the stur, diest foes in the late fray. It was but for a moment that this passed through his mind, and he resolved to let it have no influence upon him, further than inducing him to make use of every circumstance which might further the object with which he had come.

"I am fairly beaten," said Geoffrey, with rather a mortified air; "I acknowledge it; yet I could have sworn I was at least as tall, and I am measured as six feet six inches, and you top me by three inches."

"I call myself six feet six inches," said Little John.

"You mean a short seven feet," said his backer. "That part of the wager is settled, at all events, and there is one of my flagons won; now, I will wager it to half one that our yeoman wins the fall." "Taken!" cried two or three voices.

"I do not take you all, but I will wager it twice." This was accepted; and then he turned round to the people with the purport of making a short speech, while Little John and Geoffrey restored their feet to their covered state.

He was placed, however, in no enviable situation, and many a man, boasting and possessing a good stock of courage, would have gladly excused himself from such a situation. Little John was not, however, one of this description-to say that he did not know what danger meant, would be false; but the sense of it affected him differently to what it would have done others. It was but a difficult strait in his idea, was My good friends," he began, "almost all here are viewed and treated as such, and almost inevitable known to each other, and the honest yeoman who has death staring him in the face, would not have moved just won the first part of my wager is a stranger him from coolly weighing and examining circumstances among us. Now, I know you all to be lovers of fair which would be likely to afford a loophole for escape. play, and therefore I am sure you will treat him with There was no hurry or indecision in his conduct, ex- that courtesy a stranger has a right to expect from us, cepting upon those points upon which he was per-seeing that no advantage is taken because we know fectly unacquainted, and then he would readily give himself up to the guidance of those who did know them and could apply them, at the same time always reserving for himself a clause to act for himself when they brauched into paths with which he was acquainted.

He glanced around the assembled people with a penetrating scrutiny, but with the air of apathy and indifference which the Indians are so famed for assuming. He was greeted by the assembly with something like respect, a favour for which he had to thank his person; he returned the salute by a slight inclina

him not, and giving him the benefit of any little favour his situation may demand, courtesy require, and our own honour dictate."

"And he who acts contrary in this, showing foul play, may expect the full weight of my rage," said Geoffrey; "for my honour, too, is concerned in the stranger having fair play, and woe to him who seeks to prevent it."

"Well said, gallant heart! A Geoffrey !" cried the guests.

"I thank you, good folks, for your kind intentions and your courtesy, and I will not abuse it, and will