the strange man in.

It was no beaten and wounded ruffian, but a hale and hearty fellow,
who looked bright and happy, and before he could speak and tell his
news the Sheriff began to question him.

"You have come from the outlaws' camp?" he said with his voice
trembling.

"Yes, Master Sheriff."

"They took you prisoner, and beat and robbed you?"

"Oh! no, Master Sheriff; they took me before Robin Hood, and he
asked me what I was doing there, and whether I was not afraid to
cross his forest, and I up and told him plainly that I wasn't.
Then he said how was that when I must have heard what a terrible
robber he was."

"Yes, yes," cried the Sheriff, "and what did you say."

"I said that I had lived about these parts all my life and I never
heard that he did a poor man any harm. Then he laughed, and all his
people laughed too, and he said I was a merry fellow. 'Give him
plenty to eat and drink,' he said, 'for two or three days, and then
send him on his way.' Yes, Master Sheriff, that he did, and a fine
jolly time I had. Why, I almost felt as if I should like to stay
altogether."

And all this time the Sheriff was watching the man very keenly, and