suddenly he caught him by the arm.

[Illustration: The Sheriff was watching the man very keenly, and
suddenly caught him by the arm.]

"Speak out," he said; "you did not come to tell me only that. What
is it you are keeping back? Why don't you speak?"

"Because, master," said the man softly, "I was afraid you couldn't
bear it, for I was a father once and my son died, and though you
never knew me, I knew you, and was sorry when the news came that
your little boy was killed. Can you bear to hear good news as well
as bad?"

The Sheriff was silent for a few minutes, during which he closed
his eyes and his lips moved, and he looked so strange that Robin's
aunt crossed the room to where he sat, and took hold of his hand,
as she whispered loving words.

"Yes, yes," he said softly, "I can bear it now. Speak, pray speak,
and tell me all."

"But you will not be angry with me if I am wrong, Master Sheriff?"

"No, no," said Robin's father; "speak out at once."

"Well, Master Sheriff, no one would tell me when I asked questions,
but there's a little fellow there, dressed all in Lincoln green,
like one of Robin Hood's fighting men, with his sword and bugle,
and bow and arrows, and somehow I began to think, and then I began