"But I'm afraid that my father will be very cross if I don't try to
go home."

"Then try and make yourself happy, my boy," said Robin Hood, "for
you have tried hard to go home, and you cannot go."

"Why?" said young Robin.

"For a dozen reasons," said the outlaw, smiling. "Here are some:
you could not find your way; you would starve to death in the
forest; you might meet people who would behave worse to you than
the young swineherd, or encounter wild beasts; then, biggest reason
of all: I will not let you go."

Young Robin was silent for a moment or two, and then he said
quickly:

"You might tell Little John to take me home. My father would be so
glad to see him."

Robin Hood and the big fellow just named looked at one another and
laughed.

"Yes," said Robin Hood, patting the boy on the shoulder, "now
that's just it. Your father, the Sheriff, would be so glad to see
Little John that he would keep him altogether; and I can't spare
him."

"I don't think my father would be so unkind," said Robin.