"I cannot say," he replied; "I stretched myself upon my pallet when the castle bell tolled six, and I was awakened from my sleep by Maude, to come here; therefore I cannot tell." "That's unfortunate," muttered Robin. "I must have a light," said Allan. Taking a few dried leaves, Robin made a heap, and borrowing of Hal a knife-for every weapon had been taken from him at the castle-he cut a slip from a Heighbouring pine; with the boy's flint and steel he struck a spark upon the leaves; they soon kindled into a blaze, the pine wood was lighted, and Allan read as follows:: "Dearest Allan, when you persuaded me so earnestly, so eloquently, and so tenderly, to quit my father's roof for thine, I denied thee, for I truly and sincerely deemed my presence-being the only living creature who bore even a kindly feeling for him-was of some comfort to my father; I felt that I was his sole tie upon earth, and the belief that it was my duty to remain while I could be a solace to him, would { have induced me to have sacrificed my dearest happiness, nay, my life. But, dear Allan, judge of my dismay and broken-heartedness, when he, a short time since since your departure-informed me that he has determined upon my immediately wedding Sir { Tristram of Goldsborough, whose hideous form and manners are more than hateful to me. Since my father has resolved to part with me, since he no longer cares to keep me with him-as this unhappy fact provesI will with thee, dear Allan, with thee and Marian, if you will accept a hand and heart which were ever truly, solely thine. My father sends to the old knight to-morrow; save me, dear Allan, if you still love me ; save me, or my heart will break. Contrive some means to see Maude in the morning; she will communicate to thee how to act. "Thine in life or death, "CHRISTABEL. "Oh Allan, this paper has had such a narrow escape of being perused by my father, but through the address of Maude it was saved. The bearer, a faithful youth, will tell thee how to contrive a meeting with Maude. Farewell, God bless and protect thee.' "And I will save thee or perish in the attempt," ejaculated Allan, fervently. "Robin, I must return to Nottingham; this letter tells me the Lady Christabel is to be sacrificed in marriage to an old villain-it must be prevented by carrying off the lady. You can assist me; perhaps know a staunch friend that will join thee. Wilt thou meet me at Nottingham to morrow ?" "You had better return to-night to the cottageyour sister will be more satisfied at seeing you," returned Robin, "and in the morning, with a few friends, upon whom I or you can well rely, will back with you. Hark! the tramp of horses! Away to your covert-'tis the baron's retainers. Hal of the Keep, now you can show thyself worthy of thy pretty sister Maude." "You mean Grace May," said Hal. "Well, pretty Grace May, and all the kisses she may bestow on thee, by showing a readiness of wit. Remember you have not seen us, and insinuate to the retainers that the baron expects them back speedily: do not make it a positive command, or you may get yourself and the lady Christabel into trouble." “I understand,” replied the boy. "May the dear blue eye of sweet Grace never look kindly on me, but I'll do thy wish neatly! so, Maude, lass," and he leaped lightly in the saddle, galloping off in the contrary direction to the approaching horsemen. This was not exactly what Robin expected or wished, but it was too late to call-the approaching footsteps were too near; he therefore could only bid his friends lie down far in the thicket, while he threw himself beneath a short stunted hawthorn-bush growing by the highway. He glanced in the direction which Hal of the Keep had taken, and could not but admire the speed of his nag. He had already gained some distance, when Robin beheld him suddenly turn, and come back at a greatly slackened speed. In an instant he comprehended the manœuvre, and inwardly applauded it. Almost immediately the clattering of hoofs sounding louder, told him that the expected horsemen were close at hand; and looking round he beheld them turning the wind of the bighway at a moderate speed, which, however, on their catching sight of Hal on creased his speed, and the party met exactly opposite nag, was much accelerated. The boy also inthe spot upon which Robin was lying. his whom Robin quickly recognised as belonging to Baron "Who goes there?" shouted the leader of a troop, Fitz Alwine, from the fashion of their accoutrements. "Hal of the Keep, of Nottingham Castle," replied the lad. "Aha! How came you here at this couch time ?" turned Hal; "do you know the lord baron is sitting "And how came you here i' this hour ?" quickly rein his chamber expecting ye back an hour agone? By our Lady, I shouldn't care to stand with you in his presence, when you get back." "Was he in a vile humour when you quitted ?" "Oh ho! The errand upon which he dispatched thee ought not to have detained you half as long as you have taken." "And we have been nearly to Mansfeldwoodhaus. We have almost had a bootless journey, too; two of our prisoners have eluded us, but we have one safe." Aye," said Hal, "who is that ?" ce A youth called Robin Hood." Robin started on hearing this, and peered forward as much as he dared, to see whom they had gotten in his place; but the horsemen, of whom there were he was prevented. between twenty and thirty, made such a cluster, that 66 "Ha!" cried Hal, a little astonished, "I should like to see him; I know Robin Hood by sight, well." "Do you ?" said the leader. 'Bring the prisoner forward," he continued to one of the men. The man obeyed. Robin looked eagerly, and saw, bound firmly to a horse, his hands pinioned behind him, a youth dressed like himself, but whom the bright moonlight, shining upon his face, discovered to be Will Scarlet! "That's not Robin Hood," cried Hal, with a loud laugh. "No!" cried the soldier; "who then ?-it is surely the youth who escaped from the castle to-night." "No," returned Hal; "you're out there, my bold heart; 'tis not he." Will Scarlet muttered something inaudibly, and then said loudly to Hal "How know you I am not Robin Hood? Your eyes play you false, youngster; I am Robin Hood." "There," said the soldier, a trifle perplexed, "you hear that, Hal; he says he is Robin Hood. Now, none of your tricks, Hal; for the baron has set his mind on this youth's recapture, and unless you wish to be wofully punished, you will not mislead us on this point." "If he be Robin Hood, then there is two of the same name," returned the youth. "Where did you find him ?" "Returning from a cottage on the borders of the forest." "Who was with him ?" "He was alone." "But there ought to have been two others with him," urged Hal; "and besides, if he was returning from the cottage, how could he be the Robin Hood who escaped from the castle but a short time before you left it? He was not mounted, and you were. Therefore, if he used his best speed in walking, he couldn't have been much further than this in the time." The soldier was certainly perplexed; there, appeared much reason in Hal's argument. Humph!" muttered he; "pray how knew you there were three quitted the castle? When did your acquaintance with this same Robin Hood commence ? And what brings you here at this hour of the night?" Hal for a moment felt as if he had committed himself; and so, just to look about him and recover breath, he met these questions by a question— "Why, Lambie, when did you borrow the confessor's gown and office? three questions in a breath; by the Mass! Lambie, an' I were a damsel thou should'st not shrive me. Methinks thou would be more playful than pious." "Answer my questions," returned Lambie, with a frown. "I'm not i' the mood for jesting." "Well, good Lambie, I've heard my foster father say, 'short words make the best bargains,' and so in a breath, I'll answer thee all thou askest. You require to know how I learned that three persons had escaped, when my acquaintance commenced with Robin Hood, and why I am here at this hour. Listen to my replies: firstly, the warder; secondly, to-day; and thirdly, a commission for the Lady Christabel. Are you satisfied ?" "What is thy mission ?" "Ha!" exclaimed the leader of the troop, pouncing on him. "Now, youngster, are you Robin Hood? Say, Hal, is this Robin Hood?" he cried, addressing Hal of the Keep, but the boy was shrewd enough to guess from what had transpired, that there was a desire on the part of both the Lady Christabel, and his foster sister, Maude, this youth should not be retaken, and at the same time, he did not like to say that he was not; in case of its being ultimately discovered, he might have some disagreeable questions put to him, which might compromise his promise of secrecy, and the safety of the two ladies: he, therefore, affected jocularity, and replied— Why, Lambie, how long is't since you gave me credit for sagacity? do you take me for a hound that can distinguish by scent, or for a deer, who can tell kine from a hind by a glance. You are not wont to say, Hal, who is this? Hal, who is that?" "Cease your foolery, boy," roared Lambie; "you say you know Robin Hood by sight; if you do not tell me at once whether this be he, I'll beat thee to a jelly." “You must first catch me, Lambie; I'm on flying Maude's back, remember, and your heavy-heeled brute might as well chase a fleet buck as expect to catch Maude? Try it!" "Speak!" cried Lambie, foaming, "or it shall be worse for thee, Maude or no Maude.' "What if I say no?" "Tell me!" shouted Lambie. "Let him answer for himself," replied Hal. "I am Robin Hood," said our hero; "and this youth," pointing to Will, "is nought but a friend, whose kindness, in the hope to screen me, led him to declare himself to be me." "Yes," cried one of the retainers, the one who had identified Will as Robin; "that is he-I know his voice now, but the similarity of dress and height, age, and look, made me mistake one for the other; but I know the voice, it is him!" "I should like to be sure," muttered Lambie. "Did you not hear me addressed as Robin by him you have bound for me ?" "Ho! ho! ho!" laughed Hal, with an affectation of surprise ; as if I should tell thee. Beshrew me, Master Lambie, thou hast indeed borrowed the confessor's office, if thou expectest that I shall tell thee that; take care I don't acquaint my lady what you have dared to ask, and if I do, and she inform my lord the baron, he will recount it to you in a manner that will render it to you an unpleasant case of telling, Be satisfied, Lambie, with your present mistake; don't seek to get yourself further in the mire-you { have not got Robin Hood, and probably won't get him to-night; of course my lord will storm to no small extent, when he learns that you return empty-one in his place.” handed; but I'll speak a good word for you, perhaps then you will be saved from becoming crows' meatat least for a short time." "You? pish!" said Lambie, with an indignant laugh. “All I know is, I have been sent after Robin Hood and another, whom I cannot discover; this lad says he is Robin Hood, and one of the men with me identifies him; I shall, therefore, take him back with me; and as to the other, I must do the best I can to unkennel him." "Hurrah for Nottingham !" cried Will Scarlet." The word was given by the leader to advance, and they proceeded to put his order into execution, when Robin, laying his hand upon the arm of Allan, with a sudden grasp, said, in a low voice "As you value your life, and the love of Lady Christabel, lie close," and ere Allan could make a guess at his intention, he sprung out into the road, and cried to the departing troop to halt; the unexpected summons, as well as his sudden appearance, had the desired effect; the men instantly stopped, returned, and surrounded him. "What, Robin!" cried Will, recognising him at once, and thrown off his guard by his unlooked-for appearance. "So I did," exclaimed the leader, a new light breaking in upon him; "then you must be he. Unbind that fool," he cried to one of the men: "who had such a desire for a stretched windpipe, and put this Will was soon unbound. Robin sprung to his side and whispered something in his ear, to which Will replied, "Rely on me, back and edge, Robin," and darted into the covert which concealed Allan and Tuck. Two or three of the men prepared to dismount to follow him, but Lambie prevented them; Will Scarlet not being one whom they had any orders to take, there was no earthly reason why they should not let him go. This little movement enabled Robin to place his bow and arrows in the hands of Hal, requesting him to preserve them for him, which Hal promised to do. Robin was now bound and placed upon the horse which had as yet borne Will Gamwell, who, in returning with Little John from Gilbert's cottage after the old man had been restored to animation, had expressed his determination of following the route to Nottingham, with the hopes of meeting Robin Hood; the duty of Little John taking him to another part of the forest, and Will persisting in his determination, pursued his walk alone. Hearing the trampling of horses' feet after he had advanced some distance, and the winding of the roadway hiding the coming party from his sight, he immediately imagined it to be Robin Hood returning with his two friends to Mansfeldwoodhaus, he, therefore, at the top of his voice, chaunted Robin's song; he had barely reached the line "Yet leave them for me, my own dear Robin Hood," when he encountered the troop; he was at once surrounded, bound, and mounted, ere he had time to tell who or what he was, the retainer already spoker of declaring that he was the youth who had that evening escaped from the castle. Lambie, feeling satisfied that he had got one of the prisoners safe, then proceeded to the cottage, which a party searched, without discovering the object of whom they were in quest, and they then returned towards Nottingham, until stayed by the occurrences already related. When the operation of binding Robin was completed, Lambie turned to Hal, and said— 'Now, I'll trouble you for that bow and those arrows." "No trouble, I assure you," returned Hal, with a laugh; "for I don't mean to give them up; they are placed in my keeping, and keep them I will, until I restore them to the owner." "And if aught of evil haps to him, keep them for yourself," cried Robin. Many thanks," said Hal; "now I shall consider I have a double right to keep them." "You'll give them to me now, nevertheless," said Lambie, rather gruffly. Oh, no!" said Hal, with a quiet laugh; "but I'll give you a chance; if you can catch me you shall have them, and cudgel me into the bargain. So-ho, Maude; now, lass, to your mettle. Good bye, Lambie. So-ho!" Before Lambie was aware of his intention, he gave the nag a sharp switch, and galloped off at a flying speed for Nottingham. "The fiend seize him!" roared Lambie, "the dog, I'll break every bone in his skin for this. Away after him." Digging his spurs into his steed with such vigour that the poor brute reared with agony, he dashed off, followed by his men, in the same direction. They were scarce out of sight when the round head of Will bobbed out from beneath the hawthorn-bush, under which he had concealed himself; he looked carefully and cautiously round, and seeing the coast was clear, he stole from his hiding-place, followed by Allan and Tuck. "Tell me exactly what he said," exclaimed Allan. Why he said these words," returned Will. "There are two friends in the covert beneath the elm-tree to my left; get to them, keep them there, or they'll spoil all: but tell them to meet me in Robin's dell by sun-rise, and be thou there with friends to help in case of need, for there will be a gentle one to succour.' And I said I would, and so I will, with our Holy Mother's assistance. You had better, therefore, come on to Gamwell with me, and I will rouse some of my brothers, with Little John, to assist us. Hurrah! for a tussle." "No," remarked Allan, "I must first on to Hood's cottage, to set my sister Marian's mind at ease respecting my safety." Is the lady named Marian, who was staying at Hood's, your sister?" inquired Will, eagerly. "Yes," replied Allan. tr Oh, then, you may spare yourself the trouble of returning to Gilbert Hood, for she is at our house." "Your house!" exclaimed Allan in surprise. "How? impossible!" ww "One,” answered Will; "at least he said 'a gentle one,' therefore he could hardly mean 'a gentle two'ha! ha!" and he laughed heartily at what he believed to be a witty remark. It met with no encouragement, however, for nobody laughed but himself; they proceeded on their way, the friar muttering— "There was no message for me, there was for him there was a kiss for him, and none for me. Is this her love? pish! I'll be in the dell in the morning; if her lady comes, there is little doubt that she will be there, and then I'll tell her that I think her, a false, faithless flirt-a-a-woman!" CHAPTER XII. "She hurried at his words, beset with fears, R * * * JOHN KEATS. APIDLY and silently did the troop pursue their path, bearing Robin in the midst of them they urged their steeds, jaded by their recent exertions, to the best speed they could make, but they did not catch, during their journey, one glimpse of Hal: and when they reached the castle keep, the first question demanded by Lambie of the Warder was "Has Hal of the Keep returned ?" "I didn't know he was out," replied the man. "Didn't know he was out!" pettishly echoed Lambie; "why, man, I tell you I saw him two hours agone a fair ten miles from this." "Ah!" said the man, "then he is not returned, for I have been on guard nigh unto an hour, having relieved Herbert Lindsay, and during my guard I have seen none enter or depart; but ere I relieved Lindsay, a guard arrived, bearing some important message to my lord the baron, upon which he is at this moment engaged." "Well," said Lambie, "when Hal returns, detain him till you see me again." ** "The boy's as slippery as an eel when his inclination runs contrar' to one's wishes," replied the man. "Ay, but he's on his nag," rejoined Lambie; "seize the mare, and you seize him; he'd as soon trust himself in a halter when flung from the ramparts, as trust his nag in any one's care but his own." "You say right, good Lambie," cried a voice from an open window above the spot on which the conversation was being carried; "I always tend Maude myself. Aha! I got here an hour before you did, Lambie. I say, Lambie, you have not the bow nor I the beating, eh? Now, Lambie, take a friend's advice; when you go to the baron-and he's waiting for you in such a humour!-keep out of arm's way and you'll keep out of harm's way-ha! ha! ha! good night;" and Hal-for it was him-slammed the window as he retired. Muttering an oath, Lambie ordered his men to dismount; Robin was lifted from his saddle, his legs terribly stiff from having been lashed to the horse's side; he was placed between two men, and marched, attended by Lambie, to the private apartment of the baron. On entering, they perceived him busily engaged "My lord, I had him not in my custody at all,” said Lambie, rather gloomily. "I had the western wing to guard this afternoon, and was scarce relieved when I attended to your lordship's summons to the dungeon, from which the prisoner escaped. I did not see either of the prisoners, but I have one of them, and I know this was one that was here to day." "Indeed," sneered the baron; "bring him forward let me look upon him." Robin was thrust rudely forward, and confronted with the noble, who gave a grim smile as his eye { lighted upon his youthful prisoner. listening to his confessor, who was reading from some documents which lay before him; immediately he perceived them, he waved his hand to the friar to be silent, and advanced towards Lambie, with a look terribly portentous of evil-his lips worked as if he were about to utter a passionate denunciation, but he remained silent. Lambie, who judged from the moving lips, that his lord was about to give utterance to something, made an effort at good manners and held his tongue; this, although polite, was not politic, as the baron, being in a monstrous bad temper, was by no means prepared to stand like a fool, without giving or hearing a word; he waited a short time-a Ay, ay! this is the young cur that barked so lustily very short time-for something from the lips of to-day; this is the foul-mouthed imp of a base-born Lambie; nothing came, and then there ran through churl who wagged his filthy tongue in such rude insohis mind a rapid succession of associations, connect-lence at me erewhile. Now, boy, I have a few questions ing Lambie with asses, fools, idiots, and so forth-still nothing came: a worm will turn when trod upon; a gunpowder magazine will explode with a spark; the spark was communicated to the baron, and, raising his fist, with a full swing he dashed it into Lambie's face, striking him violently on the bridge of the nose, from which it drew no blood; it did not, however, fail to produce plenty of water from the eyes, and a gasping for breath. Marry, it is a hard thing to curb one's ire, when it is suddenly and viciously aroused; yet Lambie, who, in hastiness of temper, was a type of his lordly master, restrained the passion which rushed into his brain and knuckles, and tried to cool himself down by grinding his teeth with such vigour that whatever might have been between them would inevitably have been reduced to powder. "So please you," at length exclaimed the baron, in { a tone of unpleasant irony, "I am waxing somewhat weary of waiting until it suits you to inform me of the success of your errand. Trust me, gentle sir, I have somewhat of an account of your transactions at other hands, but would rather, if not too great a call on your good nature, hear from your own lips the detail of what has transpired." "I waited-" began Lambie. "So did I," interrupted the baron; "to your story, sir." "Yes, you, my lord! Did you not capture one first, who declared himself Robin Hood? and then did not a second come forth and declare himself to be Robin Hood also ?" "Yes, my-my lord," stammered Lambie, in confusion, for he had omitted that part of the story. to put to thee, which I am assured thou canst answer 'By getting out of the dungeon." "I could have guessed that, and not have been much puzzled either. By whose connivance, contrivance, and assistance ?" "By my own." "Who else ?" "A base lie-I know better; the door must have been unlocked; you could not have squeezed through the keyhole." "No, but I did through the bars, passed through an open doorway, down stairs, through sundry chambers, and so got out." “Humph! and your companion in flight, how did he escape ?" "I cannot tell." "It's false; you can and shall." "I do not know, and therefore cannot tell; we met after I had escaped, and passed from the castle together." "Indeed! where did you meet ?" "I know scarce anything of this castle, therefore cannot answer the question." "Where was the fellow when you were taken ?" "What has become of him? where is he ?" "Who, fool? who should I mean but Allan Clare ?" "I do not know." "Thou'rt yet a greater liar than idiot. I suppose you can guess where he is? "I do not indulge myself in guessing; it is not a pastime of mine." "But I'll make it a matter of moment to you," "Well, most wise and sagacious trooper, your shouted the baron, losing by rapid degrees his assumed wondrous wit informed you that both of them could calmness. Every question he demanded meeting with not be the one of whom you were in search-it did a quiet repulse, he came to the determination that did help thee to that conclusion; but it could not Robin's powers of fabrication exceeded by far all that suggest to thee that though both could not be Robin he had ever encountered-surpassing, as well as he Hood, yet that together they might be the two whom recollected, his own juvenile capacity in that art: I sent you to capture, thou king of dolts! thou im- there was something passionately gnawing and aggrameasureable blockhead! and therefore you quietly let vating to him in the position in which Robin stood him slip through thy fingers, thou ass of long stand-with regard to himself. He had done nothing which ing! Are thine eyes so sightless, thou beetle! thou bat! as not to remember the form of him thou hadst in thy custody this day?" could justify his death; he was but little more than a boy, too, although his manners, language, and actions bore strongly the impress of youthful manhood upon them, and therefore all his harsh conduct seemed like breaking a butterfly on the wheel. He was not a man accustomed to consider this; but in the present instance he did so, and when he had exhausted every question that bore upon the subject, he dismissed the men and consigned the custody of Robin to Lambie, with the strictest injunction to guard him closely and watchfully; observing that, if he escaped a second time, nothing could or should save him from a sudden and violent death. "If he escapes from me," said Lambie, hazardinga little fearfully-a slight laugh, "I will cheerfully abide by the conditions." "Most assuredly you shall," said the baron, "whether you do it cheerfully or not; and now, begone." Lambie obeyed, taking Robin with him. Accompanied by two retainers, one bearing a torch, they perambulated for some time the intricacies of the castle, gradually descending flight by flight, until at length the cold air which pervaded the places they were passing through told that they had reached a considerable depth; they stopped before a door situated in a gloomy passage. Unlocking it, with a grim smile, Lambie took a torch from him who bore it, and ushered Robin into a wretched cell: a bundle of straw was thrown into one corner, and Lambie held up the torch to enable Robin the No. 9. AUTHORS OWN EDITION. |