behind him, "now will I feed fat mine vengeance - to thy knees for
a scurvy rascal!"

"Aye, by St. Benedict!" I nodded, "twere well he should do penance
on his marrow-bones from hither to Nottingham Town; but as thou art
strong - be merciful, Robin."

Mr. Selwyn still curled the point of his moustache.

"Are you mad," he inquired, "or only drunk?"

"As to that, good master Sheriff, it doth concern thee nothing
- but mark you! 'tis an ill thing to venture within the greenwood
whiles Robin Hood and Little-John he abroad."

Mr. Selwyn shrugged his shoulders and turned to the Imp.

"I am on my way to see your Aunt Elizabeth, and shall make it my
particular care to inform her of your conduct, and to see that you
are properly punished. As for you, sir," he continued, addressing
me, "I shall inform the police that there is a madman at large."

At this double-barrelled threat the Imp was plainly much dismayed,
and coming up beside me, slipped his hand into mine, and I promptly
pocketed it.

"Sweet master Sheriff," I said, sweeping off my cap in true outlaw
fashion, "the way is long and something lonely; methinks - we will
therefore e'en accompany you, and may perchance lighten the tedium
with quip and quirk and a merry stave or so."