Robin Hood Turns Butcher

           Nowafterallthesethingshadhappened,anditbecameknowntoRobinHoodhowtheSheriffhadtriedthreetimestomakehimcaptive,hesaidtohimself,"IfIhavethechance,IwillmakeourworshipfulSheriffpayrightwellforthatwhichhehathdonetome.MaybeImaybringhimsometimeintoSherwoodForestandhavehimtoarightmerryfeastwithus."ForwhenRobinHoodcaughtabaronorasquire,orafatabbotorbishop,hebroughtthemtothegreenwoodtreeandfeastedthembeforehelightenedtheirpurses.

           ButinthemeantimeRobinHoodandhisbandlivedquietlyinSherwoodForest,withoutshowingtheirfacesabroad,forRobinknewthatitwouldnotbewiseforhimtobeseenintheneighborhoodofNottingham,thoseinauthoritybeingverywrothwithhim.Butthoughtheydidnotgoabroad,theylivedamerrylifewithinthewoodlands,spendingthedaysinshootingatgarlandshunguponawillowwandattheendoftheglade,theleafyaislesringingwithmerryjestsandlaughter:forwhoevermissedthegarlandwasgivenasoundbuffet,which,ifdeliveredbyLittleJohn,neverfailedtotoppleovertheunfortunateyeoman.Thentheyhadboutsofwrestlingandofcudgelplay,sothateverydaytheygainedinskillandstrength.

           Thustheydwelledfornearlyayear,andinthattimeRobinHoodoftenturnedoverinhismindmanymeansofmakinganevenscorewiththeSheriff.