Hearing the voice, the stranger sprang to his feet and; snatching up his bow and fitting a shaft, held himself in readiness for whatever ill might befall him.

“Truly,” said one of the yeomen, when they had seen the young stranger’s face, “I do know that lad right well.  He is a certain minstrel that I have seen hereabouts more than once.  It was only a week ago I saw him skipping across the hill like a yearling doe.  A fine sight he was then, with a flower at his ear and a cock’s plume stuck in his cap; but now, methinks, our cockerel is shorn of his gay feathers.”

“Pah!” cried Will Stutely, coming up to the stranger, “wipe thine eyes, man!  I do hate to see a tall, stout fellow so sniveling like a girl of fourteen over a dead tomtit.  Put down thy bow, man!  We mean thee no harm.”

But Will Scarlet, seeing how the stranger, who had a young and boyish look, was stung by the words that Stutely had spoken, came to him and put his hand upon the youth’s shoulder.  “Nay, thou art in trouble, poor boy!” said he kindly.  “Mind not what these fellows have said.  They are rough, but they mean thee well.  Mayhap they do not understand a lad like thee.  Thou shalt come with us, and perchance we may find a certain one that can aid thee in thy perplexities, whatsoever they may be.”

“Yea, truly, come along,” said Will Stutely gruffly.  “I meant thee no harm, and may mean thee some good.  Take down thy singing tool from off this fair tree, and away with us.”

The youth did as he was bidden and, with bowed head and sorrowful step, accompanied the others, walking beside Will Scarlet.  So they wended their way through the forest.  The bright light faded from the sky and a glimmering gray fell over all things.  From the deeper recesses of the forest the strange whispering sounds of night-time came to the ear; all else was silent, saving only for the rattling of their footsteps amid the crisp, dry leaves of the last winter.  At last a ruddy glow shone before them here and there through the trees; a little farther and they came to the open glade, now bathed in the pale moonlight.  In the center of the open crackled a great fire, throwing a red glow on all around.  At the fire were roasting juicy steaks of venison, pheasants, capons, and fresh fish from the river.  All the air was filled with the sweet smell of good things cooking.

The little band made its way across the glade, many yeomen turning with curious looks and gazing after them, but none speaking or questioning them.  So, with Will Scarlet upon one side and Will Stutely upon the other, the stranger came to where Robin Hood sat on a seat of moss under the greenwood tree, with Little John standing beside him.

“Good even, fair friend,” said Robin Hood, rising as the other drew near.  “And hast thou come to feast with me this day?”

“Alas!  I know not,” said the lad, looking around him with dazed eyes, for he was bewildered with all that he saw.  “Truly, I know not whether I be in a dream,” said he to himself in a low voice.