So they journeyed onward till they came within the verge of Sherwood Forest, when presently the Sheriff looked up and down and to the right and to the left of him, and then grew quiet and ceased his laughter.  “Now,” quoth he, “may Heaven and its saints preserve us this day from a rogue men call Robin Hood.”

Then Robin laughed aloud.  “Nay,” said he, “thou mayst set thy mind at rest, for well do I know Robin Hood and well do I know that thou art in no more danger from him this day than thou art from me.”

At this the Sheriff looked askance at Robin, saying to himself, “I like not that thou seemest so well acquainted with this bold outlaw, and I wish that I were well out of Sherwood Forest.”

But still they traveled deeper into the forest shades, and the deeper they went, the more quiet grew the Sheriff.  At last they came to where the road took a sudden bend, and before them a herd of dun deer went tripping across the path.  Then Robin Hood came close to the Sheriff and pointing his finger, he said, “These are my horned beasts, good Master Sheriff.  How dost thou like them?  Are they not fat and fair to see?”

At this the Sheriff drew rein quickly.  “Now fellow,” quoth he, “I would I were well out of this forest, for I like not thy company.  Go thou thine own path, good friend, and let me but go mine.”

But Robin only laughed and caught the Sheriff’s bridle rein.  “Nay,” cried he, “stay awhile, for I would thou shouldst see my brothers, who own these fair horned beasts with me.”  So saying, he clapped his bugle to his mouth and winded three merry notes, and presently up the path came leaping fivescore good stout yeomen with Little John at their head.

“What wouldst thou have, good master?” quoth Little John.

“Why,” answered Robin, “dost thou not see that I have brought goodly company to feast with us today?  Fye, for shame!  Do you not see our good and worshipful master, the Sheriff of Nottingham?  Take thou his bridle, Little John, for he has honored us today by coming to feast with us.”

Then all doffed their hats humbly, without smiling or seeming to be in jest, while Little John took the bridle rein and led the palfrey still deeper into the forest, all marching in order, with Robin Hood walking beside the Sheriff, hat in hand.

All this time the Sheriff said never a word but only looked about him like one suddenly awakened from sleep; but when he found himself going within the very depths of Sherwood his heart sank within him, for he thought, “Surely my three hundred pounds will be taken from me, even if they take not my life itself, for I have plotted against their lives more than once.”  But all seemed humble and meek and not a word was said of danger, either to life or money.

So at last they came to that part of Sherwood Forest where a noble oak spread its branches wide, and beneath it was a seat all made of moss, on which Robin sat down, placing the Sheriff at his right hand.  “Now busk ye, my merry men all,” quoth he, “and bring forth the best we have, both of meat and wine, for his worship the Sheriff hath feasted me in Nottingham Guild Hall today, and I would not have him go back empty.”