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is not of an ill nature."
"Why," said young Partington, "for the matter of that, it is ill enow.
The King hath been bitterly stirred up against thee by that vile
Bishop of Hereford. He sent to arrest thee at the archery butts
at Finsbury Fields, but not finding thee there, he hath gathered
together his armed men, fiftyscore and more, and is sending them
in haste along this very road to Sherwood, either to take thee
on the way or to prevent thy getting back to the woodlands again.
He hath given the Bishop of Hereford command over all these men,
and thou knowest what thou hast to expect of the Bishop of Hereford--
short shrift and a long rope. Two bands of horsemen are already
upon the road, not far behind me, so thou hadst best get thee
gone from this place straightway, for, if thou tarriest longer,
thou art like to sleep this night in a cold dungeon.
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This word the Queen hath bidden me bring to thee."
"Now, Richard Partington," quoth Robin, "this is the second time
that thou hast saved my life, and if the proper time ever cometh
I will show thee that Robin Hood never forgets these things.
As for that Bishop of Hereford, if I ever catch him nigh
to Sherwood again, things will be like to go ill with him.
Thou mayst tell the good Queen that I will leave this place without delay,
and will let the landlord think that we are going to Saint Albans;
but when we are upon the highroad again, I will go one way through
the country and will send my men the other, so that if one falleth
into the King's hands the others may haply escape. We will go
by devious ways, and so, I hope, will reach Sherwood in safety.
And now, Sir Page, I wish thee farewell."
"Farewell, thou bold yeoman," said young Partington, "and mayst
thou reach thy hiding in safety." So each shook the other's hand,
and the lad, turning his horse's head, rode back toward London,
while Robin entered the inn once more.
There he found his yeomen sitting in silence, waiting his coming;
likewise the landlord was there, for he was curious to know what
Master Partington had to do with the fellow in blue. "Up, my merry men!"
quoth Robin, "this is no place for us, for those are after us with
whom we will stand but an ill chance an we fall into their hands.
So we will go forward once more, nor will we stop this night
till we reach Saint Albans." Hereupon, taking out his purse,
he paid the landlord his score, and so they left the inn.
When they had come to the highroad without the town, Robin stopped
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and told them all that had passed between young Partington and himself,
and how that the King's men were after them with hot heels.
Then he told them that here they should part company; they three going
to the eastward and he to the westward, and so, skirting the main highroads,
would come by devious paths to Sherwood. "So, be ye wily,"
said Robin Hood, "and keep well away from the northward roads till
ye have gotten well to the eastward. And thou, Will Scarlet,
take the lead of the others, for thou hast a cunning turn to thy wits."
Then Robin kissed the three upon the cheeks, and they kissed him,
and so they parted company.
Not long after this, a score or more of the King's men came clattering
up to the door of the inn at Barnet Town. Here they leaped from
their horses and quickly surrounded the place, the leader of the band
and four others entering the room where the yeomen had been.
But they found that their birds had flown again, and that the King
had been balked a second time.
"Methought that they were naughty fellows," said the host, when he heard
whom the men-at-arms sought. "But I heard that blue-clad knave say that
they would go straight forward to Saint Albans; so, an ye hurry forward,
ye may, perchance, catch them on the highroad betwixt here and there."
For this news the leader of the band thanked mine host right heartily, and,
calling his men together, mounted and set forth again, galloping forward
to Saint Albans upon a wild goose chase.
After Little John and Will Scarlet and Allan a Dale had left
the highway near garnet, they traveled toward the eastward,
without stopping, as long as their legs could carry them, until they
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