[Illustration:  Robin ran into the arms of a huge fellow, who caught him up as if he had been a baby.]

“Hullo, giant!” cried the big man, “who are you?” And the party of men with him, armed with long bows and arrows, began to laugh merrily.

“Let me go—­let me go!” cried the boy, struggling angrily.

“Steady, steady, my little Cock Robin,” said the man, in his big bluff way; “don’t fight, or you’ll ruffle your feathers.”

The boy ceased struggling directly.

“How did you know my name was Robin?” he said.

“Guessed it, little one.  There, I shan’t hurt you.  Where do you come from?”

“Ellton,” said the boy.

“But what are you doing here in the forest?”

“You came and fought David, and frightened him and the men away, and those are our mules and the cloth.”

Robin stopped short, for the big man broke out into a loud whistle, and then laughed.

“Oh, that’s it, is it?” he said; “and so your name’s Robin, is it?”

The little fellow nodded.  “Yes,” he said.  “What’s yours?”

“John,” said the great fellow, laughing heartily; “and they call me little because I’m so big.  What do you think of that?”

“I think it’s very stupid,” said the boy.  “I thought you must be Robin Hood.”

“Then you thought wrong.  But if you thought that this one was you would be right.  Here he comes.”  The boy looked in wonder at a tall man who looked short beside Little John, as he came up in coat of green with brown belt, a sword by his side, quiver of arrows hung on his back, and longbow in his hand.

“What woodland bird have you got here, John?” he said.  And the boy saw that he smiled pleasantly and did not look fierce or threatening.

“A young Robin,” said the big fellow; “part of yesterday’s plunder.”

“I want to find my way home,” said the boy.  “Will you please show me?”

“But you did not come here into the forest in shirt and hose, did you, my little man?” said the great outlaw.

“No; someone took my cap and doublet away, sir.”

Robin Hood frowned.

“Who was it?” he cried angrily.  “Find out, John, and he shall have a bowstring about his back.  Point out the man who stripped you, my little lad,” he continued, turning to the boy.

“It wasn’t a man,” said the little fellow, “but a boy who minds pigs.”

“What, a young swineherd!” cried the outlaw, laughing.  “Why did you let him?  Why didn’t you fight for your clothes like a man?”

“I did,” said young Robin stoutly; “but he was so big, he knocked me down and sat upon me.”

“Oh! that makes all the difference.  How big was he—­big as this man?”

Young Robin glanced at the giant who had caught him, and shook his head.

“No,” he said; “not half, so big as he is.  But he was stronger than I am.”

“So I suppose.  Well, bring him along.  Little John, and let’s see if the women can find him some clothes and a cap.  You would like something more to wear, wouldn’t you?”