Chapter-7
Soon the Sheriff reached home safe and sound. He thanked the Almighty God for his safe return to his house. Seeing her husband back home the Sheriff’s wife was filled with jubilation. Sheriff’s wife had heard that her husband had been entrapped by Robin’s Merry Men and was at the mercy of Robin. Now he was back.
She asked him, “How did it all happen? Tell me everything in detail? How did you manage to escape from there?”
The Sheriff kept mum for some time and then narrated everything to her in detail. He also told her about the promise he had made to Robin.
Hearing the words of her husband she flew into a rage and spoke thus, “How dare you give in front of an outlaw who is wanted by the police? Don’t you know you are far more superior to him in power and pelf?
The Sheriff replied, “Dear, circumstances were such that I had to obey his every condition. Now I am bound by my promise.”
The Sheriff’s wife was very cunning. She said to her husband, “Dear, I know a way by which you can go back upon your word. But you will have to make a lot of efforts for this. If it so happens that you set Robin Hood free in the same fashion as he did to you, I am more than sure that you will be relieved of the promise you made to him. What do you say in this connection?”
Hearing the words of his wife the Sheriff was filled with joy. But the question was how Robin could be set free in the same way. The Sheriff looked puzzled. He was out of his wits.
The Sheriff’s wife thus told him about the plan, “Dear, listen to me carefully. Needless to say, Robin is a skilled archer. He can’t stop himself from taking part in a shooting competition. Why don’t you arrange a shooting competition in Nottingham? Make an announcement in and around Nottingham that anybody who assumes himself to be highly skilled in archery can take part in it. I am more than sure that Robin will definitely come over here to participate in the contest. Undoubtedly, he is sure to win the contest. As soon as he comes to receive his prize, tell him that you have recognized him. In the meantime, stealthily signal to your men to arrest him. When your men get ready to catch hold of him, arrange for his escape before your men reach to arrest him. In this way, you are supposed to give him a new lease of life as he did to you. Pay him back in the same coin. Tit for tat. That is all what I want to say to you.”
Hearing the plan of his wife the Sheriff who was shrewd by nature was on cloud nine. His happiness knew no bounds. Once again, the fire of revenge was lit in him.
He said to his wife, “How! Excellent! What a cunning plan you have made! To kill two brids with one stone. Once I am relieved of my promise, I shall be able to capture that rascal.”
That night the Sheriff slept peacefully, eagerly waiting for the next morning. As the sun rose the next morning, the Sheriff called his men and ordered, “I am going to hold a shooting contest in Nottingham. If is free for all. Paste the notices of the contest in and around Nottingham. As regards the prize, the winner of the contest will be given a silver arrow.”
As instructed by the Sheriff, his men pasted the notices of the contest in every nook and corner of Nottingham. The announcement reached the ears of Robin who used to live in the Sherwood Forest.
He said to his men, “It will be a good shooting match. I will go there and try my luck.”
But Robin’s Merry Men interrupted saying, “O chief! You need not go there. You may be entrapped and put behind bars by the Sheriff’s men. Don’t you know that the Sheriff is a bad man? None can tell how low he can go in achieving his aim. He is your sworn enemy. So, you had better not go there at all.”
But Robin was bent upon participating in the shooting contest. He didn’t pay attention to what his Merry Men advised him to do.
Before his departure he said to his men, “Sheriff has made me promise that he would become a better human being. I don’t think he will break his promise. Anyhow, in order to be safe and sound there, I shall go there in disguise.”
Some men accompanied Robin. Each of them had a bow and arrow in his hands.
On the stipulated day Robin and his men, all in disguise, reached Nottingham. A big grassy meadow was the site of the shooting contest. A large number of people from far and wide had come to witness the contest. All in all, eight hundred archers were taking part in the contest which was going to be a grand contest.
A rod made of willow was kept at the end of the meadow. It was the target which was to be hit by each and every shooter. Each arches came forward and tried his luck. But none succeeded in hitting the target.
In the end, only five archers were left in the match. All the five were the members of Robin’s band. Each came forward to try his luck. As luck would have it, each of them except for Robin failed to hit the target.
Robin was adjudged the winner of the contest. Now he was to receive the prize from the Sheriff. He was in all jubilation. No sooner did he ascend the steps of the podium to receive the prize than he was recognized by the Sheriff. As already stated, the Sheriff knew that none except for Robin would be the winner of the shooting contest.
As he received the silver arrow from the hands of the Sheriff and turned away, the Sheriff signalled to his men to arrest him. One of the Sheriff’s men yelled, “Arrest that man. He is Robin Hood, the outlaw. Let us move forward to arrest him. Don’t let this golden opportunity slip out of your hands.”
The Sheriff’s men rushed at Robin who was at his wits end. All of a sudden, the Sheriff patted the back of Robin and said, “Dear, go this way. You will be safe and sound. I have kept my word. Now I am relieved of my promise.”
Hearing the words of the Sheriff Robin saw through the Sheriff’s trick. He made up his mind to teach him a bitter lesson. He drew out his horn and blew it. At once Robin’s men reached there and had a fight with the Sheriff’s men who were no match for them.
Soon some of the Sheriff’s men were defeated and killed. Robin thought it wise to run into the forest.
Before his departure he stared hard at the Sheriff and said, “We shall meet again. In the Sherwood Forest, the punishment for treachery is capital punishment. I won’t spare you for your impudence.”
Saying these words he ordered his men to escape into the forest. As Little John turned his back, a soldier of the Sheriff shot an arrow in his knee. The arrow pierced Little John’s knee. Little John gave out a loud shriek.
Hearing the shriek Robin at once stopped.
Seeing Robin Little John remarked, “O chief! Little time is left. Go ahead and leave me here at the mercy of the Sheriff. Or kill me instantly so that I may not be caught by the Sheriff’s men. Do something quickly or we shall all be in peril.”
Robin was not the man who would leave his man in the lurch. He said to Little John, “Don’t worry, my dear. The Sheriff’s men can do nothing to you. We shall all be safe and sound.”
Saying these words he along with Much-the-Miller’s son lifted the wounded Little John onto a horse. The three then rode on quickly. But the Sheriff’s men were not so far. They were following them like their shadows.
Robin said to his men, “Listen to me carefully. We can take shelter in the castle of Sir Richard. It is not far away from there. We shall be safe and sound here. Let us move our horses towards his castle.”
Saying these words Robin and his men rode on quickly and soon reached the castle of Sir Richard who welcomed them with open arms. Robin narrated the entire incident to him.
Hearing the words of Robin he was filled with fury. He was lenient towards Robin and his men. But for the Sheriff, he nursed ill-will. He ordered his soldiers to pull up the drawbridge at once so that the Sheriff’s men might not enter his castle.
When the Sheriff’s men reached on the other end of the drawbridge, they stood perplexed. The drawbridge had been pulled up. How could they reach the castle of Sir Richard? So they returned to Nottingham sad and disappointed.
When they reached the Sheriff to tell that they had not succeeded in capturing Robin and his men, the Sheriff could not help fuming with anger. He had to lick dust once again. Robin had once again outwitted him.
After staying for a day or two at the palace of Sir Richard Robin took the permission of Sir Richard and left for the Sherwood Forest.
He met Maid Marian who had been eagerly waiting for him. Robin presented the silver arrow to her. Maid Marian felt very happy at the success of Robin. She put the silver arrow in an old trunk as a reminder of his husband’s adventure. She never allowed it to part with her.
Robin was up to one adventure or the other. In fact, he was a man of heroic deeds. It was in his nature to do impossible acts. He lived by the motto—winners do not do different things, they do them differently.
One Sunday morning he decided to go to the church. This time he made up his mind not to disguise himself. But the Merry Men of Robin were not satisfied with the decision of Robin. They advised him not to go there.
Little John in particular never saw eye to eye with Robin in this regard. He said to Robin, “O chief, why are you putting your life in danger? We have just saved ourselves from the jaws of near death. Be judicious and discard the plan of going there without disguise. You will surely be recognized and put behind bars.”
But Robin was not a coward. He said to Little John, “Dear, this is part and parcel of my life. More pains, more gains. I don’t fear the Sheriff’s men.”
However hard Little John tried to bring Robin round his viewpoint, all went in futile. Robin did not listen to any plea of Little John. He rode on his horse and soon was on his way to Nottingham.
Reaching there he tethered his horse to a pole and entered the church. As luck would have it, one of the priests performing religious rites and rituals there at once recognized Robin. He ordered his subordinate to go to the Sheriff and tell him that Robin had entered Nottingham church. Hearing the message of the priest the Sheriff stood up from his seat and ordered his men to go to the church and arrest Robin.
He said to his men, “Be careful this time. If you return empty-handed, you will be lashed a thousand times.”
The Sheriff’s men quickly marched towards the church. Robin at that time was saying his prayers. All of a sudden, Robin heard some noises outside the church. He peeped out of the window and saw the Sheriff’s men.
Before he could do anything, he was surrounded from all sides. He fought bravely enough to drive them back. But in the end, one of the Sheriff’s men hit him on the head from behind. Robin lost his consciousness. Then the Sheriff’s man captured him quickly and tightly tied his hands behind his back. Without wasting a moment they carried him in front of the Sheriff.
But the Sheriff had no guts to face him. So, he ordered his men to put him in a dark underground cell. Now the Sheriff’s men took Robin to an isolated place and threw him in a dark underground cell located there. Robin had no alternative but to stay there cursing his lot.
The Sheriff thought, ‘I should inform the king of the arrest of Robin. I must send a messenger to London at once.’
Without wasting a moment he sent one of his faithful men to London at that very moment. On the other hand, the priest who had recognized Robin Hood, the outlaw, was also willing to inform the king of the capture of Robin. In the hope of getting a reward and citation from the King he too set out alone on the journey the very same day.
When Robin did not return to the greenwood camp even in the evening, all his Merry Men began to feel uneasy. They suspected of some foul play.
Little John said, “I have a doubt that he may be captured in Nottingham, otherwise he must be here by now.”
“You are perfectly right,” said Much-the-Miller’s son, “Our chief is in peril. We should do something before it is too late.”
It was decided that both Little John and Much-the-Miller’s son would go to Nottingham and find out themselves what was wrong with Robin Hood.
That very same day, the two set out for Nottingham. On their way, they rested at the cottage of one of their friends. He said to them, “Dear friends, here is a bad news for you. Robin Hood, the outlaw, has been captured by the Sheriff’s men. They have taken him to an isolated place and locked him in a dungeon.”
Hearing of the capture of their master the two outlaws flew into a rage. They pledged there and then to have Robin released. While they were talking to each other, they saw a priest who was coming towards them.
Stopping him Little John remarked, “O holy Sir! How are you? Do you have any news about Robin Hood?”
The priest giving himself airs exclaimed, “Oh yes! I have a breaking news as regards him. On Sunday morning, that rascal came to the church. I recognized him at once and sent word to the Sheriff. Soon the Sheriff’s men reached there and arrested him. He had no alternative but to admit defeat. Now all the people of Nottingham are much safe. They have heaved a sigh of relief. Now I am going to the king of London to break this happy news to him. He will surely reward me handsomely for this brave act of mine.”
Hearing the words of the priest Little John was in all fury. He wanted to hit the priest there and then. But Much-the-Miller’s son stopped him from doing so. It was not the opporture time to do so as they were in Nottingham.
Concealing his fury Little John appreciated the efforts of the priest end exclaimed, “Excellent! Well done! You have done a job which is admirable. We want to offer you a reward for this. Come along with us, for this forest is full of Robin’s outlaws. Who knows you will be captured and killed by his men.”
Hearing the words of Little John the priest was filled with fear. He at once followed Little John and his accomplice on the road that led through the Sherwood Forest. He was grateful to them as he did not want to meet any of Robin’s men.
When they reached the lonely and deserted part of the road, Little John at once pulled the priest off his horse. Then Much-the-Miller’s son rained blow after blow on him. When the priest became half dead Little John kicked him hard several times.
After this was done, they blindfolded him and took him to the greenwood camp. There he was kept prisoner. Robin’s men kept a close watch on the priest, day in, day out.
A week passed by. Little John hit upon a plan. He and Much-the-Miller’s son disguised themselves as monks. Riding on their horses they marched towards the Sheriff’s castle. When they reached the Sheriff’s castle, they said to the Sheriff, “Your Highness! We are messengers from London. We have brought a letter for you. The letter had been sent by the king of London.”
Both Little John, and Much-the-Miller’s son were very polite in their approach. So the Sheriff could not recognize them. Neither he could see through their trick.
After thinking for a while the Sheriff asked them, “Can you tell me where the priest is who carried a letter to the king a week ago? It is almost a week since he left to meet the king of England. Do you have any news about him?”
Little John said most politely, “Your Highness! You are very much true. The priest did reach there. But the king of England likes him so much that he keeps him there in his palace. Now the priest is under his service. On behalf of the priest we have been sent here to deliver you this letter. This is most urgent. Please accept it.”
Thus Little John handed the letter across the Sheriff who opened the envelope. The letter stated thus:
Dear Sheriff,
I king of England order you to release Robin at once. There should not be any delay in carrying out my order. As regards the priest he has entered my service as I like him for his integrity and frankness.
Yours
King of England
Reading out the letter the Sheriff at once believed in what the two monks uttered. The Sheriff ordered his men to serve royal dishes to the monks. While he himself discussed with their men the ways and means to carry the dreaded prisoner to London.
Hardly had Little John and Much-the-Miller’s son finished their meals when they entered the Sheriff’s room stealthily. The Sheriff was alone there.
They said to the Sheriff, “What have you thought, Your Highness? Where have you kept that dangerous prisoner? Let us know a little bit.”
The Sheriff was taken in by the oily tongue of Little John. He told them about the place where Robin had been kept prisoner.
Now Little John gagged the Sheriff’s mouth so that he might not be able to give out a loud cry. Much-the-Miller’s son tightly tied his hands at the back and tethered him to a chair.
Leaving him there the two slipped out of the castle under the cover of darkness. Not a single man of the Sheriff was able to know about this.
The two ran on and on, through one street after another. At last, they reached an isolated and deserted place. There was no human settlement. They rushed to a cave. Only two men at a time could enter through that narrow cave in.
Both Little John and Much-the-Miller’s son to penetrate through this hurdle. But the two had guts to face any eventuality.
There was a guard at the entrance to the dungeon. Little John whistled to distract his attention. It did the trick. The guard moved away to look out for the sound of the whistle. As he came round the corner of the cave, Little John gave him a hard blow on the temple. The sentry was killed there and then. Little John took his sword and moved ahead.
Both the outlaws were bent upon saving their master and running from there.
Hearing the sound of the blow two guards came rushing towards Little John and Much-the-Miller’s son. Little John was caught unawares.
One of the guards shouted, “Stop short or I shall shoot you this very moment.”
Little John raised his arms. In the meantime, Murch-the-Miller’s son attacked the guard with a heavy blow of his sword. The guard died there and then. After killing the other sentry in the same fashion the two outlaw ran inside the dungeon and reached an iron door.
The door was locked. Both Little John and Much-the-Miller’s son used all their might to push the door hard. After much effort they were able to break the lock of the door. They entered the door and ascended a flight of stairs.
When they reached the last stair, they came face to face with a sentry. Much-the-Miller’s son without wasting much time slashed the sentry’s throat with one stroke of his sword. The sentry gave out a loud cry.
Hearing the cry the other guards ran into that direction. Heavy footsteps could be heard at some distance. When Much-the-Miller’s son saw the guards coming towards them he at once shouted, “Hey guards! Robin Hood has escaped. He has broken the lock of his cell.”
Hearing the words of Much-the-Miller’s son the chief of the guards asked, “Can you tell us where he went?”
“Yes, that way,” told Much-the-Miller’s son.
Thus the guards ran down the steps and along the passage that led out of the cave. As Little John along with Much-the-Miller’s son and Robin moved out of the cell, they came across some of the Sheriff’s men who mistook them for some townsmen who had been called there to help find Robin.
