Robin Hood and Little John walked down a forest path where all around the leaves danced and twinkled as the breeze trembled through them and the sunlight came flickering down.  Quoth Robin Hood, “I make my vow, Little John, my blood tickles my veins as it flows through them this gay morn.  What sayst thou to our seeking adventures, each one upon his own account?”

“With all my heart,” said Little John.  “We have had more than one pleasant doing in that way, good master.  Here are two paths; take thou the one to the right hand, and I will take the one to the left, and then let us each walk straight ahead till he tumble into some merry doing or other.”

“I like thy plan,” quoth Robin, “therefore we will part here.  But look thee, Little John, keep thyself out of mischief, for I would not have ill befall thee for all the world.”

“Marry, come up,” quoth Little John, “how thou talkest!  Methinks thou art wont to get thyself into tighter coils than I am like to do.”

At this Robin Hood laughed.  “Why, in sooth, Little John,” said he, “thou hast a blundering hard-headed way that seemeth to bring thee right side uppermost in all thy troubles; but let us see who cometh out best this day.”  So saying, he clapped his palm to Little John’s and each departed upon his way, the trees quickly shutting the one from the other’s sight.

Robin Hood strolled onward till he came to where a broad woodland road stretched before him.  Overhead the branches of the trees laced together in flickering foliage, all golden where it grew thin to the sunlight; beneath his feet the ground was soft and moist from the sheltering shade.  Here in this pleasant spot the sharpest adventure that ever befell Robin Hood came upon him; for, as he walked down the woodland path thinking of nought but the songs of the birds, he came of a sudden to where a man was seated upon the mossy roots beneath the shade of a broad-spreading oak tree.  Robin Hood saw that the stranger had not caught sight of him, so he stopped and stood quite still, looking at the other a long time before he came forward.  And the stranger, I wot, was well worth looking at, for never had Robin seen a figure like that sitting beneath the tree.  From his head to his feet he was clad in a horse’s hide, dressed with the hair upon it.  Upon his head was a cowl that hid his face from sight, and which was made of the horse’s skin, the ears whereof stuck up like those of a rabbit.  His body was clad in a jacket made of the hide, and his legs were covered with the hairy skin likewise.  By his side was a heavy broadsword and a sharp, double-edged dagger.  A quiver of smooth round arrows hung across his shoulders, and his stout bow of yew leaned against the tree beside him.

“Halloa, friend,” cried Robin, coming forward at last, “who art thou that sittest there?  And what is that that thou hast upon thy body?  I make my vow I ha’ never seen such a sight in all my life before.  Had I done an evil thing, or did my conscience trouble me, I would be afraid of thee, thinking that thou wast someone from down below bringing a message bidding me come straightway to King Nicholas.”