I, with Giles and Walkyn and the young knight Sir Jocelyn brought down the outlaws upon Thornaby Mill.

But when we found thee not, we burned it, and thereafter the outlaws vanished all within the wild-wood; Sir Jocelyn rode away a-singing mighty doleful, and we three came to Thrasfordham according to thy word.

Here be caves and caverns enow to hide an army, and rocky passage-ways, narrow and winding i' the dark, where we four might hold all Black Ivo's powers at bay from now till Gabriel's trumpan we had food enow!" Quoth Beltane: "'Tis a fair thought that, and I've heard there be many outlaws in the woods hereabouts?" "Yea, forsooth.

Good men and true are we all, but see you not, lord, these outlaws be lewd fellowsbase-born" "See you not, Giles, these outlaws be men, even as we, who, like us, can laugh and weep, can bleed and diewho can use their lives to purpose good or evil, even as we.

Good men and true are we all, but see you not, lord, these outlaws be lewd fellowsbase-born" "See you not, Giles, these outlaws be men, even as we, who, like us, can laugh and weep, can bleed and diewho can use their lives to purpose good or evil, even as we.

Quoth Beltane at last: "We will seek out and talk with these outlaws to-night, Giles!"

Could we fire another gibbet now" "Know you where the outlaws lie hid, Giles?" "Nay, lord, none save themselves and Walkyn know that.

But alas! 'tis a mighty place and strong, and we but four" "There be outlaws in the wild-wood!"

"Ha!the outlaws!" cried Giles, and clapped hand to thigh.

"Aye," nodded Beltane, "bring me to the outlaws.

But the walls be mighty and strong and the outlaws scattered.

So, come now, Walkynbring me to the outlaws.

Then would I have joined the outlaws again.

Thus, see you, though I am free of the wild, power with these outlaws have I none.

So, Walkyn, bring me to the outlaws!" Then stood Walkyn and looked upon Beltane 'neath heavy brows, nothing speaking, and turned him of a sudden and, striding forth of the cave, came back bearing another great axe.

Then the outlaws surged closer, a dark, menacing ring where steel flickered; but lo! to Roger's right hand sprang Walkyn, gripping his axe, and upon his left came Giles, his long-bow poised, a shaft upon the string; so stood the three alert and watchful, eager for fight, what time the struggle waxed ever more fierce and deadly.

Then turned he to the outlaws, and catching up his axe therewith pointed downwards to that stilly pool whose placid waters seemed to hold nought but a glory of floating stars.

and speaking, he leapt at Beltane with levelled spear, but quick as he leapt, so leapt Walkyn, his long arms rose and fell, and thereafter, setting his foot upon Perkyn's body, he shook his bloody axe in the scowling faces of the outlaws.

Hear him, ye fools, hear him!" Hereupon the outlaws stared upon Beltane and upon each other, and fumbled with their weapons as men that knew not their own minds, while Beltane, wiping sweat from him, leaned upon his axe and panted, with the three at his elbow alert and watchful, eager for fight; but Perkyn lay where he had fallen, very still and with his face hidden in the grass.

Then follow me!" Now at this the outlaws began to murmur among themselves, wagging their heads one to another and voicing their grievances thus: "They cut off mine ears for resisting my lord's taxes, and for this I would have justice!"

Each one of us hath suffered wrong, great or little, so live we outlaws in the green, lawless men in lawless times, seeking ever vengeance for our wrongs.

From henceforth outlaws are ye none.

For even this day, toward evening, when the sun falleth low, he shall be hanged, fourscore rods from the great town gate of Nottingham, where three roads meet; for there the Sheriff sweareth he shall die as a warning to all outlaws in Nottinghamshire.

For, though Robin Hood and his band may be outlaws, yet he taketh only from the rich and the strong and the dishonest man, while there is not a poor widow nor a peasant with many children, nigh to Sherwood, but has barley flour enough all the year long through him.

You may guess what a stir there was in the good town when all these famous outlaws came marching into the streets.