The sheriff—­who was present—­blandly inquired of the butcher whether he had any cattle for sale, and arranged to meet him in the forest and pay 300 crowns in cash for 500 horned heads.  But, when the gullible sheriff reached the trysting-spot, he was borne captive to Robin’s camp, where the chief, mockingly pointing out the king’s deer, bade him take possession of five hundred horned heads!  Then he invited the sheriff to witness games exhibiting the outlaws’ strength and skill, and, after relieving him of his money, allowed him to depart unharmed.

More determined than ever to obtain revenge, the sheriff again proclaimed an archery contest, which Robin shunned.  Little John, however, put in an appearance, won all the prizes, and even accepted the sheriff’s offer to serve him.  But, living on the fat of the land in the sheriff’s household, Little John grew fat and lazy, quarrelled with the other servants, and finally departed with his master’s cook and his silver!

Robin, although delighted to acquire a new follower, hotly reviled his companion for stealing the silver, whereupon Little John declared the sheriff had given it to him and volunteered to produce him to confirm his words.  He therefore set out, and waylaid his late employer, who, thinking himself under the protection of one of his own men, innocently followed him to the outlaws’ camp.  When brought thus suddenly face to face with Robin, the sheriff expected to be robbed or killed, but, after ascertaining the silver was not a free gift, Robin gave it back to him and let him go.

Angry because Robin often twitted him with his stoutness, Little John once wandered off by himself in the forest, and meeting Arthur a Bland challenged him to fight, little suspecting Robin was watching them from a neighboring thicket.  From this hiding-place the chief of the outlaws witnessed Little John’s defeat, and, popping out as soon as the fight was over, invited Arthur a Bland to join his band.  The three men next continued their walk, until they met a “rose-leaf, whipped-cream youth,” of whose modish attire and effeminate manners they made unmerciful fun.  Boastfully informing his two companions he was going to show them how a quarter-staff should be handled, Robin challenged the stranger, who, suddenly dropping his affected manners, snatched a stake from the hedge and proceeded to outfence Robin.  In his turn Little John had a chance to laugh at his leader’s discomfiture, and Robin, on learning his antagonist was his nephew (who had taken refuge in the forest because he had accidentally killed a man), invited him to join his merry men.