Chapter-3
Robin as the leader of the outlaws was staying peacefully in the Sherwood Forest. But he was missing Maid Marian very much. He longed to meet her by any means. One of his men had informed him that she had been staying at Gamwell Hall for some days as the guest of his maternal uncle, Squire Gamwell.
One day, Little John came to Robin and said, “Mr Leader, Squire Gamwell is in danger of losing his life. He has been charged with shooting and killing one of the deer of the Sheriff. The Sheriff’s men are after him. But he has no intention of being caught and put behind bars.”
Saying these words Little John went away.
After a few days a great battle ensued between the Sheriff’s men and Squire Gamwell. The guests who were staying at the Hall also joined Squire Gamwell. Maid Marian’s father was among them.
During the battle, he was shot in the chest. He died there and then. Squire Gamwell felt very much sorry for the little Maid Marian. Her father had sacrificed his life for saving Squire Gamwell. He had to owe a debt of gratitude to Maid Marian. So, he requested her to stay at Gamwell Hall. Maid Marian happily agreed to it.
At the destined hour Robin along with Little John was on his way to Gamwell Hall to see his childhood friend. Squire Gamwell felt delighted very much when he saw Robin. Robin’s cousin Will Gamwell also felt pleased to see Robin. Then Robin met Maid Marian who too felt elated a lot.
In the meantime, Squire Gamwell grew worried and came up to Robin who along with Will, Little John and Maid Marian was laughing and joking.
He said to Robin, “Dear! The Sheriff’s men have reached outside and set up a camp. They are hiding behind trees and bushes. They have been informed of your arrival here. Now none will be spared.”
Hearing of the words of Squire Gamwell Robin drew the curtains and looked out of the window. The Sheriff’s men armed with bows and arrows had been stationed outside. They were bent upon killing Robin that day.
Little John laughed loudly and observed, “It is fun to live such a life. Life without any sort of adventure and struggle is useless.”
It was getting dark. Robin knew very well that the Sheriff’s men would fight only in the daylight. So, he chalked out a clever plan. He said to the persons present there, “Listen to me carefully. I have a plan in my mind. We shall swim across the moat and be on the safe side. Now tell me who will join me in this mission.”
After some minutes Little John raised his hand and nodded in the affirmative. Thereafter, Will Gamwell and his two servants followed suit. Thus the four people set out stealthily and reached the Sheriff’s camp.
It was stark dark. The Sheriff’s men were dumbfounded at the sudden onslaught. They were on the horns of dilemma. In utter confusion and chaos, they started hitting one another. Robin along with his friends ran back to the moat. The Sheriff’s men gave them a hot chase. In the process, they were able to capture a servant. All others reached Gamwell Hall safe and sound.
When Robin learnt about the capture he decided to go and save the servant. But Squire Gamwell advised him to wait till the next morning. He told Robin that they would not do anything bad to the servant. Robin thus changed his mind.
Next morning as the sun rose, Maid Marian was the first to get up from her sleep. “Let us see what they are doing to our servant,” said she to Robin. When they peeped out of the window, they saw that they were preparing to hang the servant. One of the Sheriff’s men with rope in his hand was climbing up a tree to tie the rope to a branch. Underneath the tree there stood the second man.
Robin grew worried a lot. He called Will Gamwell and said, “O dear, we have little time left. Take your bow and arrow and shoot that men. I shoot the one standing underneath.”
Will Gamwell took a perfect aim and shot the man dead. At the same time Robin shot dead the man standing underneath. Both men fell to the ground lifeless.
Now the servant was absolutely free. He had no men to control him. He ran towards the moat and swim across it. Soon he reached the other end. He was pulled out safely. He thanked Robin for his timely help.
As for the Sheriff’s men, they had grown tired. They had no alternative but to return to the Sheriff. So, they returned to their master with empty hands. When the Sheriff was narrated the entire episode, he flew into a rage. Mad in anger he roared loudly, “O cowards, it is none of your business. Robin has to be captured dead or alive. If you are not able to do this job, I myself shall go and complete the work. I shall leave no stone unturned in achieving my aim.”
Saying these words the Sheriff ran away. It was announced in the town of Nottingham that the Sheriff had vowed to capture Robin single-handedly. The news spread like wildfire. Soon it reached the ears of Robin who was still staying at Gamwell Hall.
He said to Squire Gamwell, “If he does so, I shall let it happen. He who runs away from a challenge thrown to him is called a coward. I can’t help accepting such an invitation.”
Squire Gamwell grew anxious having listened to the words of Robin. He observed, “Dear Robin! Is there any need to go into the jaws of death? Play safe and sound. Why are you interested in inviting trouble? Why are you showing red rag to a bull?”
But Robin did not pay any heed to what Squire Gamwell had said. He left the Hall the same day leaving Maid Marian under the custody of Little John.
Before his departure, he promised his childhood friend that he would return soon. Maid Marian bade Robin goodbye with the tears in her eyes. She prayed to God for his safety.
On his way, Robin met a butcher who was going to the market in Nottingham to sell his meat. Robin ordered him to stop. When the butcher stopped, Robin said to him, “O butcher! Your cart is loaded with fine meat. Where are you going to sell this meat?”
With both hands folded in reverence the butcher said, “To the market in Nottingham. I have no intention of going there. But I have to go there in order to sell the meat.”
“You can sell the meat to me. I shall buy your whole cart of meat. Moreover, sell me your horse and cart as well,” said Robin.
“But what price am I going to get for all this?” asked the butcher.
“As much as you like,” replied Robin, “or even more than that.”
The butcher felt very happy to hear of the words of Robin. He happily handed over all the meat, the horse and the cart to Robin who paid the butcher handsomely. Robin even bought the old and torn clothes of the butcher and put on those clothes. He gave his clothes to the butcher.
Now in the guise of the butcher Robin drove the cart to the market place of Nottingham. There were many butchers already sitting. They were selling their meat. Robin watched them for a few minutes to know the rate at which they were selling their meat.
Thereafter, seeing a prominent place he set up his own stall and started to sell the meat at very cheap rate. He called to the townsfolk thus, “Here is meat for you at very cheap rates. Big bits of pork! Bright pieces of mutton! Come and get them quickly!”
As he was selling the meat at very cheap rates, a huge crowd of people gathered around his stall. Seeing this the other butchers got mad in rage.
They said, “This new butcher is spoiling our business. He seems to have gone mad. That is why he is selling meat at such cheap rates.”
It so happened that the Sheriff of Nottingham was passing by. He learnt from the butchers that only one butcher was selling his meat at very cheap rates. He at once went over to Robin, who was in the guise of a butcher, and said, “O man! Who are you and where from have you come? Is it your profession to sell meat?”
Robin thought for a while and then answered, “Your Highness! I am a poor farmer. I live in a far-flung area. Here I have come to make an extra profit selling my meat at cheap rates.”
Now the Sheriff asked, “How many animals do you have?”
Robin replied, “I have never counted them. But I am more than sure that there will be over a hundred.”
The Sheriff laughed loudly and then observed, “Why don’t you make up your mind to sell your all animals to me? I am sure you will make still a bigger profit.”
Hearing of the words of the Sheriff Robin pretended to be very pleased and satisfied. He invited the Sheriff to his place.
On the way when Robin in the guise of the butcher talked about the bravery of Robin Hood the Sheriff said boastfully, “Who is afraid of Robin! He is a lowly person and I am not going to leave him alive.”
The poor farmer observed, “Your Highness! The very sight of you makes him scared. That is why he can’t come in front of you. You have pledged to capture him single-handedly.”
Hearing the words of the farmer the Sheriff was puffed with arrogance. He stated, “You are very much right. He dare not face me.”
When they reached in the middle of the dense forest, Robin Hood pointing to a herd of deer said, “Your Majesty! This is the herd of beasts I was talking about. Take these animals and pay me three hundred pounds.”
When the Sheriff looked the deer, he stood puzzled. He said, “O poor farmer! But these are King’s animals. How can you sell them to me?”
Robin took out his horn and blew it thrice. In a trice, there came a horde of Robin’s Merry Men. Robin observed, “O dear! Here I am, yours sworn enemy. Now tell what you have to do to me.”
Seeing Robin in front of his eyes the Sheriff turned pale with fear. He was sweating profusely. He muttered, “May I return to my castle? I am getting late.”
“Not before paying the amount for these beasts,” observed Robin.
“But these are King’s. How can be these yours?” Argued the Sheriff.
“As they live in the Sherwood Forest, they are mine. The entire Sherwood Forest belongs to me,” replied Robin.
Saying these words he ordered his men to search the Sheriff for three hundred pounds. The Sheriff had a bag which contained three hundred pounds in gold. Robin took the gold from him. Thereafter, he invited him to a feast which was being prepared by the outlaws. The Sheriff could not help taking the meal.
“Now you can go back to your castle,” said Robin.
“But you have tricked me, Robin. It is not fair. I won’t forgive you for this fraudulent practice of yours,” roared the Sheriff. But Robin did not hear a single word of the Sheriff. His men blindfolded the Sheriff and took him out of the forest. The Sheriff came back to his castle dejected and mad in rage.
The very next morning, Robin returned to Nottingham and met Maid Marian who had been staying at Gamwell Hall. She felt very pleased to see Robin. After meeting Maid Marian Robin along with Little John was on his way back to the Sherwood Forest.
When they reached the skirt of the Forest, they saw a young man. He was placing an arrow to his bow and taking an aim at a herd of deer forty yards away. The arrow did not miss its target. It once pierced through the body of a deer which fell to the ground lifeless.
Robin reached the young man and said clapping his hands, “Wow! You are a good marksman. I praise your archery.”
Hearing of the words of Robin, the young man flew into a rage. He yelled at Robin, “What do you have to do with my aim? Whether I hit my target or miss it, who are you to come here and talk to me?”
Robin was dumbfounded. He observed, “My dear friend! Why do you get so angry? What is the point in passing angry remarks? I am just paying you my compliment.”
“I care a fig for it. Damn it. Be off my way or I shall teach you a lesson. Actions speak louder than words. Pick up any weapon and fight against me,” said the young man.
“I too don’t believe in words. I am a man of action. Get ready to protect yourself from my attack.”
Saying these words Robin drew his sword out of the sheath and got ready to fight a sword duel. The young man too unsheathed his sword and brandished it in the air. Soon they got to fight with their swords. Fighting against the young man Robin realized that the young man was brave, but not so brave as he.
In a few minutes, the young man got tired and gave in. Before he could surrender himself to Robin, he fell to the ground unconscious. Robin had no intention of killing him.
When he regained consciousness Robin said to the young man, “I won’t harm you. Why don’t you join my band of Merry Men? We are in search of such brave men as you for the success of our mission.”
Hearing the words of Robin the young man felt very happy. In fact, he had come over there to be part of Robin’s bond. Now Robin himself had requested him to join his band of Merry Men.
The young man’s happiness knew no bounds. He was on cloud nine. The young man said to Robin, “I can’t believe my eyes that I am face to face with Robin, the leader of the outlaws in the Sherwood Forest. It is really very strange that we met in such a fashion. I am really sorry for that.”
Saying these words he fell to his knees and began to weep. Robin lifted him up and hugged him to his bosom. Then he said, “O dear! Why do you weep? Please be quiet. Now tell me why you want to join the band of outlaws. What happened to you? Why did your leave your house? Tell me the truth.”
The young man narrated thus, “O chief! I had a fight will one of my father’s servants some time ago. I nearly killed him. I don’t know whether he will survive or not.”
Robin observed, “O dear! If he dies, you will surely be hanged to death. None can save you from the jaws of death.”
“That is why I ran away from my house. Now I have sought refuge in you and I hope I shall be safe and sound here,” observed the young man.
Robin blew his horn three times. There came his band of Merry Men with the weapons in their hands.
“These are my men. They all are sincere and faithful,” replied Robin.
“I am glad to see all of you. From today onwards I too will become part of your band. Do you join my company?”
The men nodded their heads in the affirmative. Another man had added to the band of Robin Hood.
After the young man had eaten to his heart’s content, there came the time for his christening. Will-the-Wrestler asked Robin, “O chief! By what name should we call him?”
Little John said to the young man, “O dear, what is your real name?”
The man told, “My real name is William.”
“But we can’t rechristen him William as Will-the-Wrestler is often called by this very name.” Each of the outlaws suggested a name. But Robin liked none of the names.
At last, Robin said to his men, “Have a look at his stockings. I have never seen such bright scarlet stocking. Why shouldn’t we call him by the name Will Scarlet?”
Everybody appreciated this name. From that day onwards Will Scarlet became the new member of the band of Robin.
