But his old enemy held fast, and after a sharp struggle Robin stood panting, face to face with the young swineherd, who had him tightly by the doublet with both hands.

“You let go,” cried young Robin fiercely.  “You’ll tear my coat.”

“I means to tear it right off dreckly,” said the boy, grinning.  “I want a noo un again, and it’ll just do.  I’m a-going to have them bow and arrows too, and the knife and cap, I’ll let you see!  Going and hiding away all this time, when I told yer to come back!”

“You let me go,” panted Robin, looking vainly round for help.

“Nay, there aren’t no one a-nigh, and I’ve got yer fast.  Why didn’t yer come back as I told you?”

“I didn’t want to,” said Robin angrily.  “You let me go.  I’ll call Little John to you.”

“Call him, and I’ll knock his ugly old eye out,” cried the boy.  “I don’t care for no Little Johns.  I’ve got you now, and I’m going to pay you for not coming back before.  And I know,” he snarled, “you’re a thief; that’s what you are.”

“I’m not,” cried Robin fiercely, and he made a desperate struggle to get away to where his little quarter-staff lay half hidden amongst the bracken.  “You let me go.”  But his efforts to get free were vain.

“Yes, I’ll let you go, p’raps, when I’ve done with you and got all I wants,” said the boy, in a husky, satisfied tone, as he seemed to gloat over his victim.  “No, I won’t; you’re a thief, and a deer-stealer, and I shall just take yer to one of the King’s keepers.”

Young Robin set his teeth and made another struggle, but quite in vain, for he was no match in strength for his adversary.

“What!  Hold still!  Wo ho, kicker!  Quiet, will yer!” snarled the boy.  “If yer don’t leave off I’ll drag yer through all the worst brambles and pitch yer to my tigs.  D’yer hear?” he shouted.

Robin paused breathlessly, and stood gazing wildly at his enemy.

“Yer thought I was giving yer up, did yer, but I wasn’t.  I’ve been watching for yer ever since yer run away.  I knowed I should ketch yer some day.  Errrr! yer young thief!”

He tightened his grip of Robin’s shoulders, grinned at him like an angry dog, and gave him a fierce shake, while his victim breathed hard as he pressed his teeth together, and there was the look in his eyes as if he were some newly captured wild creature seeking a way to escape.

“Kerm along,” snarled the young swineherd.  “I dropped my staff just back here, and as soon as I gets it, I’m going to stand over yer while yer strips off all them things; and if yer tries to get away I’ll break yer legs, and yer can’t run then.”

Robin drew a breath which sounded like a deep sigh, and ceased his struggling, letting his enemy force him to walk backward among the bracken and nearly fall again and again, till all at once the savage young lout shouted: 

“Ah, here it is’” and loosening one hand, he was in the act of stooping to pick up the staff he had dropped in leaping upon his victim, who now made a bound which sent the boy face downward on to his staff, while Robin dashed off to where his own quarter-staff lay among the bracken—­a spot he had glanced at again and again.