8 Robin Hood Befriends Allan a Dale

CHAPTER 8 Robin Hood Befriends Allan a Dale Two days after Will Scarlet and Arthur a Bland donned the Lincoln green, Robin took Will Stutely aside. "Will, lead these new lads to the highway. Teach them how Robin Hood and his men find paying guests for their merry feasts." Will Stutely grinned. "I will be happy to take these fellows out on such a hunt." The party gathered and set forth. Finding a

comfortable grassy place by the highway, the men sat down and waited. Fair damsels and stout shepherds strolled past. A tinker clattered down the road with his wares. Women taking eggs to market bustled along, but the men saw no one worth robbing. As the sun began to set, the shadows grew long. "What bad luck," grumbled Will Stutely. "If I had gone on an innocent errand, I would have seen fat rich men and spoiled priests by the dozen. Now we are here to take such a guest back to the Greenwood Tree, and we see no one. Come, good fellows, let us return to the forest." They had walked for a while when Will Stutely put up his hand. "Hold, lads, I hear something." They all stopped. "We must look into this," said Will Scarlet. "Someone is in trouble." "I'm not so sure about that," said Will

Stutely. "That is a man's voice. I say a man should take care of his own troubles." "That's a terrible way to think," said Will Scarlet. "Stay here if you like, but I'm going to see what's wrong."

"I did not say that I wouldn't go. I merely recommended caution," Will Stutely retorted. He began to walk toward the sound, and the others followed. The woods opened onto a pool of water, fed by a chattering brook. A young man sat at the edge of the pool, crying softly. On the tree above him hung a fine harp of polished wood. By his side lay a bow and a quiver of arrows. "Hello!" shouted Will Stutely. "Who weeps there, killing the green grass with his flow of salt tears?" The young stranger sprang to his feet, grabbed his bow, and fitted an arrow against the string. "Hold, fellow," Will Stutely warned, "we are not going to harm you. Put down that bow and wipe your eyes. I hate to see a big strong fellow sniveling like a little girl over a

dead kitten." "I know that young man," Arthur a Bland said. "He is a famous minstrel in these parts. I saw him but a week ago. He sang like a bird and skipped like a yearling doe." "Pay no attention to these fellows," urged Will Scarlet. "They are rough, but they mean well. Come with us. Perhaps we can help solve your problems, whatever they are." The young stranger took his harp down from the tree and walked sadly alongside the men. He kept his head low and said nothing. As the moon rose above the treetops, they came to the glade where the Greenwood Tree stood. A great feast was being readied for some lucky guest. Thick steaks of venison sizzled over the fire, and a mouthwatering smell drifted through the forest. Robin greeted the young stranger. "Good evening, fair friend. Have you come to feast

with me today?" The young man looked around with wide eyes. "I think I know where I am. Are you the great Robin Hood?" Robin laughed. "Bull's-eye! Because you know me, you also know that you must pay for this evening's feast. I trust you have a full purse, fair stranger." "I have nothing but a sixpence, broken in half," the young stranger confessed. "My one true love has the other half of the coin. She wears it on a silken thread around her neck." Robin Hood spoke sharply to Will Stutely. "Is this the kind of guest you think will fill our purse?" "No, good master," Will answered. "Will Scarlet brought him along. Nevertheless, I think this boy may offer us an opportunity to do some good." Will Scarlet told Robin how they had