and confidence, before turning to the two men, for all his troubles
seemed over now.

"Thank you for bringing me here," he said; "but are you bold Robin
Hood and Little John, of whom I've heard my father talk?"

"I daresay we are the men he has talked about," said the outlaw
smiling; "but who is your father, and what did he say?"

"My father is the Sheriff of Nottingham," said the boy, "and he
said that he was going to catch you and your men some day, for you
were very wicked and bad. But he did not know how good and kind
you are, and I shall tell him when you send me home."

The two men exchanged glances with Maid Marian.

"We shall see," said the outlaw; "but you are nearly starved,
aren't you?"

"Yes, very, very hungry," said the boy, looking piteously at his
new protector, whose hand he held.

"Hungry?" she cried.

"Yes, he has had nothing since yesterday morning; but you can cure
that."

"Oh, my dear, my dear!" cried the woman. And she hurried young
Robin beneath the shelter, and in a very short time he was smiling
up in her face in his thankfulness, for she had placed before him a