But the Sheriff of Nottingham clapped his hands for joy.  “Now, Guy of Gisbourne,” cried he, “if what thou tellest me is true, it will be the best day’s doings for thee that ever thou hast done in all thy life.”

“What I have told thee is sooth, and I lie not,” said Robin, still in Guy of Gisbourne’s voice.  “Look, is not this Robin Hood’s sword, and is not this his good bow of yew, and is not this his bugle horn?  Thinkest thou he would have given them to Guy of Gisbourne of his own free will?”

Then the Sheriff laughed aloud for joy.  “This is a good day!” cried he.  “The great outlaw dead and his right-hand man in my hands!  Ask what thou wilt of me, Guy of Gisbourne, and it is thine!”

“Then this I ask of thee,” said Robin.  “As I have slain the master I would now kill the man.  Give this fellow’s life into my hands, Sir Sheriff.”

“Now thou art a fool!” cried the Sheriff.  “Thou mightst have had money enough for a knight’s ransom if thou hadst asked for it.  I like ill to let this fellow pass from my hands, but as I have promised, thou shalt have him.”

“I thank thee right heartily for thy gift,” cried Robin.  “Take the rogue down from the horse, men, and lean him against yonder tree, while I show you how we stick a porker whence I come!”

At these words some of the Sheriff’s men shook their heads; for, though they cared not a whit whether Little John were hanged or not, they hated to see him butchered in cold blood.  But the Sheriff called to them in a loud voice, ordering them to take the yeoman down from the horse and lean him against the tree, as the other bade.

While they were doing this Robin Hood strung both his bow and that of Guy of Gisbourne, albeit none of them took notice of his doing so.  Then, when Little John stood against the tree, he drew Guy of Gisbourne’s sharp, double-edged dagger.  “Fall back! fall back!” cried he.  “Would ye crowd so on my pleasure, ye unmannerly knaves?  Back, I say!  Farther yet!” So they crowded back, as he ordered, many of them turning their faces away, that they might not see what was about to happen.

“Come!” cried Little John.  “Here is my breast.  It is meet that the same hand that slew my dear master should butcher me also!  I know thee, Guy of Gisbourne!”

“Peace, Little John!” said Robin in a low voice.  “Twice thou hast said thou knowest me, and yet thou knowest me not at all.  Couldst thou not tell me beneath this wild beast’s hide?  Yonder, just in front of thee, lie my bow and arrows, likewise my broadsword.  Take them when I cut thy bonds.  Now!  Get them quickly!” So saying, he cut the bonds, and Little John, quick as a wink, leaped forward and caught up the bow and arrows and the broadsword.  At the same time Robin Hood threw back the cowl of horse’s hide from his face and bent Guy of Gisbourne’s bow, with a keen, barbed arrow fitted to the string.  “Stand back!” cried he sternly.  “The first man that toucheth finger to bowstring dieth!  I have slain thy man, Sheriff; take heed that it is not thy turn next.”  Then, seeing that Little John had armed himself, he clapped his bugle horn to his lips and blew three blasts both loud and shrill.