were to take you home your father would not let me come back again;
and besides, the captain would not let me go for fear that I should
be killed."

"Killed?" said the boy, staring at his big companion.

"Why, who would kill you?"

"Your father, perhaps."

"What, for being kind to me?"

"I can't explain all these things to you, mite. Here's someone
coming. Let's ask him. Hi! Captain! Young squire wants me to
take him home."

Robin Hood, who had just caught sight of the pair and come up,
smiled and shook his head.

"Not yet, little one," he said. "I can't spare big Little John.
Why, aren't you happy here in the merry greenwood under the trees?
I thought you liked us."

"So I do," said young Robin, "and I should like to stay ever so
long and watch the deer and the birds, and learn to shoot with my
bow and arrows."

"That's right. Well said, little one," cried Robin Hood, patting
the boy on the head.