“With all my heart,” quoth merry King Richard, rising from where he was sitting.  “I owe thee somewhat for having lifted a heavy weight of fifty pounds from my purse.  So make room for him on the green, lads.”

“An thou makest me tumble,” quoth Robin, “I will freely give thee back thy fifty pounds; but I tell thee, brother, if thou makest me not feel grass all along my back, I will take every farthing thou hast for thy boastful speech.”

“So be it,” said the King, “I am willing to venture it.”  Thereupon he rolled up his sleeve and showed an arm that made the yeomen stare.  But Robin, with his feet wide apart, stood firmly planted, waiting the other, smiling.  Then the King swung back his arm, and, balancing himself a moment, he delivered a buffet at Robin that fell like a thunderbolt.  Down went Robin headlong upon the grass, for the stroke would have felled a stone wall.  Then how the yeomen shouted with laughter till their sides ached, for never had they seen such a buffet given in all their lives.  As for Robin, he presently sat up and looked all around him, as though he had dropped from a cloud and had lit in a place he had never seen before.  After a while, still gazing about him at his laughing yeomen, he put his fingertips softly to his ear and felt all around it tenderly.  “Will Scarlet,” said he, “count this fellow out his fifty pounds; I want nothing more either of his money or of him.  A murrain seize him and his buffeting!  I would that I had taken my dues from thee, for I verily believe he hath deafened mine ear from ever hearing again.”

Then, while gusts of laughter still broke from the band, Will Scarlet counted out the fifty pounds, and the King dropped it back into his purse again.  “I give thee thanks, fellow,” said he, “and if ever thou shouldst wish for another box of the ear to match the one thou hast, come to me and I will fit thee with it for nought.”

So spake the merry King; but, even as he ended, there came suddenly the sound of many voices, and out from the covert burst Little John and threescore men, with Sir Richard of the Lea in the midst.  Across the glade they came running, and, as they came, Sir Richard shouted to Robin:  “Make haste, dear friend, gather thy band together and come with me!  King Richard left Nottingham Town this very morning, and cometh to seek thee in the woodlands.  I know not how he cometh, for it was but a rumor of this that reached me; nevertheless, I know that it is the truth.  Therefore hasten with all thy men, and come to Castle Lea, for there thou mayst lie hidden till thy present danger passeth.  Who are these strangers that thou hast with thee?”

“Why,” quoth merry Robin, rising from the grass, “these are certain gentle guests that came with us from the highroad over by Newstead Abbey.  I know not their names, but I have become right well acquaint with this lusty rogue’s palm this morning.  Marry, the pleasure of this acquaintance hath dost me a deaf ear and fifty pounds to boot!”