Chapter-2
Searching for Robin here, there and everywhere, the Sheriff’s guards reached the house of Squire Gamwell. Their chief said to Squire Gamwell, “Robin is at large. At the orders of His Majesty the king we have come over here to arrest Robin. Hand over him to us or you will have to incur the wrath of His Majesty.”
“But Robin left for home yesterday. He is not here. I am speaking the truth. His house is forty miles away, I assure you,” said Squire Gamwell.
The chief looked perplexed. He did not know what to do. But forty miles was not a big distance for them. Moreover, they dared not return to Nottingham without bringing back Robin. So, they decided to head for Robin’s home.
They rode their respective horses and hurriedly went to the cottage where Robin lived with his parents.
Reaching the cottage the chief met Robin’s father and observed, “We have come over here to arrest Robin. He has committed a serious crime. Hand over Robin to us in the name of His Majesty the king.”
Robin’s father replied, “Mr Chief, Robin is not at home. He has been living in the Sherwood Forest for past many days. You can go there and trace him. But be careful. The forest is home to many a ferocious person. They all are outlaws and go to any extent in saving themselves. I am sure you all will be killed by them if you go there. You had better return and save your lives.”
The chief did not believe in what Robin’s father said. He along with his men started searching the cottage and the surrounding area. But there were no signs of Robin.
After a thorough search the chief observed, “O men, let us proceed to the Forest. He is speaking the truth. We shall have to comb the Forest to trace Robin.”
Saying these words the chief at the head of his men rode to the skirt of the Sherwood Forest. Seeing the dense forest he did not dare enter it lest he along with his men should be killed by the outlaws in an ambush.
He said to his men, “It is safer to return to Nottingham. We may be mercilessly killed here for no rhyme or reason.”
Thus they all returned to Nottingham that very moment.
As for Robin, he had walked into the forest as the evening fell. He collected a heap of leaves and dry twigs. Then he lit a bonfire. He was quite lonely. He didn’t know what to do. In his loneliness he was thinking of none other than Maid Marian.
The smoke emitted by the bonfire was seen by the other outlaws who had been living in the Forest for a long time. They got terrified as to where the smoke was coming from. They rushed to the place whither the smoke was coming.
Reaching there they saw Robin wrapped in his cloak. After some moments, Robin fell asleep. Now the outlaws with daggers in their hands crept closer to Robin and crowded around him.
All of a sudden Robin opened his eyes and founded himself surrounded by some men. But he did not lose heart and kept his composure.
“Let me know who you are and where from you have come,” asked one of the men.
Then, another person said, “What are your doing here in this dense Forest? Tell quickly or you will be killed at once.”
Now Robin stood up and said, “O men, my name is Robin. The Sheriff’s men are after me. He wants to capture me dead or alive for no fault of mine. But I have resolved not to be caught hold of. That is why I have left home and started living here in this dense Forest.”
Hearing of the words of Robin the outlaws heaved a sigh of relief because they thought Robin to be some policeman who had come there to catch them. Now they made friends with Robin and offered him some food to eat. Robin too felt very happy in their company.
The law of the land at that time was not in favour of villagers who were treated cruelly and unjustly. But Robin had come to them as their leader. Wherever a villager was put to torture, he would go and join Robin in the Forest rather than go to the police station for justice.
In this way, more and more men became part of Robin’s camp. Now Robin had become their leader as he belonged to a well-to-do family and was highly skilled in the art of wielding the quarterstaff, the sword and the javelin. Moreover, he was a skilled marksman.
As their leader he started the training of his men in the use of different weapons. He ensured that good powerful weapons should be made.
One evening, he instructed his men thus, “The weapons to be made should be perfect in every respect; use only strong pliable yew (wood) for making the best of bows. No compromise with the quality of weapons. Arrows too should be straight and be green in colour. As it matches the colour of the grass and the leaves of the forest, we shall not be noticed easily. Thus it will be quite difficult for our enemy to attack us.”
Robin’s men put on torn shabby clothes at that time. So, they welcomed the idea suggested by Robin. In addition to this, Robin also taught them the use of using the horn for carrying messages.
He told his men, “Remember when there is a number of sharp blasts, it means someone is crying for help. When there is a sound of two sharp blasts, it means somebody is calling and if there are three sharp blasts, it means that I want to speak to my men.”
All the outlaws appreciated Robin for his wit and wisdom.
Days passed by. One evening, Robin said to his men, “O dear! We have grown in number. There are a hundred and forty members in our band. But outside this forest, a lot of bad men live. They practise bad ways and do evil deeds. It should be our first and foremost duty to change or reform them. Let us pledge today that we all shall do good and lend a helping hand to the poor and the needy. This should be the motto of our band.”
Everybody applauded the ideals of Robin and agreed to do so. Robin’s men were happy in the company of Robin.
One morning, Robin decided to set out in search of adventure as he was fed up of mundane existence. While his men were busy making arrows tightening bowstrings and repairing their weapons, Robin marched into deeper part of the Forest for seeking some sort of adventure.
There was a shady forest path. He preferred to tread over that path. There was a stream near by. Robin was walking along the stream. Then he reached a bridge which was roughly made. Robin had to cross over the bridge to go into the deep forest. So, he started to walk over the bridge.
Suddenly, he halted seeing, huge man, standing on the opposite end of the bridge. He too wanted to cross over the bridge. Now both Robin and the huge man started to cross the bridge at the same time.
When Robin reached the man, he didn’t say anything to him. Instead the huge man gave a hard stare to Robin. The bridge was so narrow that one man at a time could cross. The other man had to retreat.
Who would retreat? It was next to impossible for Robin, the chief of the outlaws living in the Sherwood Forest to do so. So, he said to the huge man, “O dear, please allow me to pass. Give me way.”
But the huge man did not budge an inch from his stand. Now Robin flew into a rage and roared loudly, “O mean fellow! Get off my way at once or get ready to face the consequence. Don’t you know who I am?”
The huge man still kept his composure and burst out laughing. Robin could not pocket this insult. He placed an arrow on his bow and got ready to release it at the huge man.
The huge man reacted angrily. Carrying a long quarterstaff in his hand he rushed towards Robin. He yelled at Robin, “O brave man! The moment you shoot an arrow, I shall knock you off the bridge. I mean it.”
Robin checked his move. He appreciated the spirit of the huge man in his heart of hearts. No doubt, the huge man was quite courageous. Robin Hood always respected the brave. That was why he did not shoot the arrow at the huge man. Robin growled at the strange man and said, “What nonsense you are talking! Don’t take a step forward or I will knock you down with a single shot of my arrow.”
The strange man replied, “Very well. As you have a bow and arrow, you are showing your strength. In my eyes, you are a coward. You are going to shot a person who has only a staff.”
Robin was a brave man. He could not tolerate the word coward, uttered for him. How could he live with the label of ‘coward’? So, he at once jumped off the bridge. He broke one of the branches of an oak tree and removed the leaves. Now he too had a quarterstaff. Then he leapt upon the bridge with the help of the quarterstaff. Now the two men met in the middle of the bridge.
In fact, neither of them was timid. Each of them wanted to overpower the other. The fight between them got under way. First of all, Robin hit the man on his shoulder. The man retaliated and hit Robin on his hand. Both were fighting ferociously. It was quite difficult to tell as to who would win. Each of them was well matched.
All of a sudden, Robin lost his footing and fell into the stream with a great splash.
“Hello my dear friend, how are you there?” laughed the strange man loudly.
Coming out of the water Robin observed, “No problem this time. You have won the battle. Your luck favoured you. Anyhow, tell me where you live and what you do?”
The strange man said, “Dear, I am John Little. But none likes me as I hate to do the work the way they want me to do. I have my own way to do things. None can force me into doing things against my will. Often, I indulge in fights on this very count. None likes to be my company. So, I wander from place to place. For two days, I haven’t eaten anything. I am awfully hungry.”
Robin took the strange man along with him to his camp. Reaching there, he said to his men, “O dear fellows! This is John Little. He is very brave. Today he has defeated me in the fight of the quarterstaff. He wishes to join our band. Do your agree to his joining our band?”
The men looked at one another. Then they all said in chorus, “We agree to what you say, dear Robin. You are our well-wisher. Being in the company of Robin’s men John Little felt extremely happy. He too put on green clothes as worn by the other members of the band.
Will-the-Wrestler suggested a new name to John Little. Now John Little was rechristened Little John. From that day onwards Little John never slept on an empty stomach. He got enough food to eat all the time. He became popular with the other outlaws. Robin had great trust in him. Whenever he went somewhere, he left him in charge of the band. The outlaws respected every instruction of Little John. They too were proud of having such a leader in their band.
One early morning, a traveller was passing through the Sherwood Forest. Some of Robin’s men sighted him and caught him. They tied his hands tightly behind his back and carried him to Robin.
Seeing the traveller in such a deplorable state Robin yelled at his men, “Who has dared to tie the traveller in such a fashion?”
None could dare to move forward and tell the name of Little John who had done so. Then Little John came forward and said, “Yes, I have done it. What do you want to say to me?”
Robin instructed his men to seize Little John and tie his both hands tightly behind his back.
All his efforts to set himself free proved an exercise in futility. The rope began to cut gravely into his skin.
Now Robin turned to Little John and said, “Mr! How do you feel now? What pains do your experience? Never handle a prisoner roughly. After all, he too is the creation of the same Almighty God who has given birth to us. If you do so in future, you will no more be the member of my band. I am in need of strong men having hearts of gold, not that of stone. I think you must have learnt your lesson. It was the need of the hour to teach you how to deal with a prisoner.”
When Robin cut open Little John’s ropes, Little John looked at his swollen wrists which were aching a lot. Now he realized his mistake. He approached the traveller and begged forgiveness of him. He observed, “Dear, I never realized that I had tied you so tightly, and roughly. Please pardon me for my fault.”
Then Robin turned to the traveller and said, “O dear, sit comfortably and tell me where you are taking your goods. Please speak the truth without any fear.”
The traveller with palms folded in reverence said, “Mr Robin, in the morning I set out on my horse from Nottingham to sell some coarse cloth to the labourers and their wives. In the transit, I was captured by your men. That is all.”
“I see. It means you don’t sell fine bright clothes to the squires and their wives,” observed Robin.
“Yes Sir. You are very much true,” said the traveller.
Robin ordered his men thus, “Open his bag and baggage. Let me see what is there inside. If he is found true to his word, we shall let him go and won’t trouble him further.”
The bag and baggage of the traveller was opened. It contained brown and grey cloth such as put on by the poor people. Robin felt very happy when he realized that the traveller had spoken the truth.
He ordered his men, “Free this traveller at once. We always respect the poor and we have no grudge against them. They indulge themselves earning an honest and sincere living. It is their right.”
Saying these words the traveller was set free. Before he departed he said to Robin, “Thank you, Mr. I shall bring some green cloth for all of you the next time I come over here. See you.”
Saying these words he resumed his journey and was on his way. No sooner did the traveller reach the next village than he told the villagers that Robin and his Merry Men were very polite and kind-hearted. He further remarked that they treated him very well and served him a good meal.
Listening to the words of the traveller the villager realized that Robin and his Merry Men were their friends and not foes.
Thus Robin’s respect in the villagers’ eyes grew more and more.
Days passed by. Once again, the traveller’s path lay through the Sherwood Forest. But this time, his horses were laden with bale of green cloth. He had carried them for the outlaws. The outlaws purchased all the cloth and paid him for it handsomely.
Soon the traveller was on his way. The very next day the traveller reached the band of Robin. He looked very pale and disappointed. Robin asked him, “O dear! What brings you here so soon? What is the matter?”
“The moment I left you yesterday, I was attacked and looted by a gang of robbers after I had lost my way. It was dark. I could not see the faces of the robbers as their faces were covered. They looted my money and my only horse.”
“Can you take me to the place where you lost your way?” asked Robin.
“Of course,” said the traveller with little hesitation.
Robin and his men along with the traveller reached the place where the traveller had been attacked and looted. Robin’s men fanned in all directions to find out any trace of a possible struggle. But no such signs were found.
Now Robin doubted the authenticity of the story as narrated by the traveller. He requested the traveller to be his guest for a day or two and ordered his men to go and search the traveller’s house. The traveller had no alternative but to stay.
Robin’s men reached the traveller’s house and ransacked it. In the backyard, they found his horse tethered safely inside the stable. As for money, they found it in the trunk.
The traveller’s relative reached the Sherwood Forest and paid a ransom equal to the amount Robin gave him against the purchase of green cloth. Only then Robin set the traveller free. Reaching home the traveller thanked his stars.
The outlaws appreciated the decision of Robin. Little John exclaimed, “Wow! You are very great. You paid back the traveller in the same coin. You killed two birds with one stone. Besides being courageous you are very witty and shrewd. We all bow to you.”
One of the outlaws observed, “Dear leader, we always respect your every decision. You are extraordinarily intelligent. That is why we have chosen you our leader. You have all the qualities that a leader must have. We are grateful to you for being our leader.”
Hearing of his praise from the lips of his men Robin took great pride in his leadership. With every passing day his popularity among his men grew stronger and stronger.
Robin had set an example from this episode. His men had well understood that Robin had no intention of harming even a rich knight who was straightforward and noble. If he found out that someone in spite of the fact that he was poor was robbing, cheating or lying, he was determined to punish that man that very moment without any mercy at all.
