as friar Clement saith, it is many a long league to Paradise; and he persuaded old Gaffer Gregory to eat well before he started, lest he should be too late for the feast."

"Hold thy cup, friend," said the outlaw, "and I will fill it to the brim, that thou mayest take it to the worthy Saxon."

"Alas! he hath been tried many times since moon-rise," replied the man, "but will scarce wet his lips. Nevertheless, I will drink it in all sincerity to him, and may he have an easy parting!" and he again drank deeply; then continued: "Death is a sorry sight. A day agone I turned up a scull in mine home-stead, and marvelled whose it had been. Thou hast no care now,' said I, holding it in mine hand; and yet thou hast eaten and drunken, stored stock-fish and bacons, partaken of fatted beeves, roared out thy Christmas-carols, made merry at harvest-feasts, sown and mown and reaped, been cold and wet, laboured in the hot

summer, muttered thy paternoster, ogled a bonny damsel, patted thy dog, and mayhap chased the brown buck, and smacked thy lips over a cup of good ale, and had thy load of troubles!' But it made no reply; its teeth were left, and I wondered how many times they had been closed together in eating of good things. But I drink to all," added he, empty"Death is a sorry sight."

ing the cup.

"An' I were to bear a cup to the Saxon," said Robin Hood," methinks I might prevail on him to drink. Many a tankard have we drained together, when we have been driving a bargain for the bark, ere we could settle for the loppings." "An' thou canst," said one of the rangers, we will hold it good service, for we would not part from him with unkind feeling; and he wotteth well that our duty must be done, or woe betide ourselves."

"I will do mine endeavour," said the outlaw, arising; and he approached the trap-door which

led to the donjon. Wat-of-the-Mill was one of the guards at that moment, and his post was to keep the descent to the prison. Rob-of-theraven's-roost had whispered to Wat the outlaw's secret; and he, nothing loath, gave him entrance. Near the doorway was laid several of the guards, who had fallen asleep through sheer drunkenness. As Rob-of-the-roost assisted in uplifting the door, he threw down a mantle which had covered one of the drunken sentinels.

Nay, shut me not in!" said the outlaw; "I will but be a short space with him; and, by my troth, the air of this cell smelleth somewhat cold."

To this the sentinel, after some demur, consented, keeping, however, a sharp eye on the entrance of the donjon.

Hereward was seated on a block of stone, and the bleak night-air streamed in through the barred window, by which he sat, until his teeth chattered with the cold. There was no light in

his cell, saving that which fell from heaven, for the cold moonbeams streamed full into the

prison, and revealed every object; and as the donjon was built so secure, the Saxon wore no fetters.

'Up," said the outlaw, seizing his hand and throwing the mantle over his shoulder, "drink off this cup of ale, it will cheer thee; then do something for thy liberty."

The Saxon knew his voice and cordially returned his grasp; but shook his head, as if in despair of regaining his freedom.

"I have force enough without to storm the place," said the outlaw, "and carry away roof and rafter. An' this plan fails, we can but try our strength; though, by the holy cross, I fear me it would cost much bloodshed. I will stand on the steps midway, and converse with thee a moment: when the faces of the guards are from me, I will put down mine hand thus; do thou then steal out gently, and throw thyself among

the drunken swine who are snoring on the dais. Shouldst thou be discovered, I will ring out such a blast on my bugle, as shall bring threescore brave men to our aid."

66 Come, Nick," shouted one of the rangers from above," an' thou tarriest longer we shall lock thee down with the Saxon."

"I come," answered Robin Hood, and stood with his body above the floor of the hall; then exclaimed before ascending, "I will bear thy wishes to thy daughter, and also see that she receives the sum thou hast named from the steward."

"Reach the bar," said Wat-of-the-Mill to the ranger, who stood beside the doorway. The man moved three paces, and Hereward stole behind Robin Hood unperceived, and crept beside one of the drunken guards. His feet, however, would have prevented the door from closing, had not Wat given them a hearty kick, as he exclaimed, "Further off, thou drunken brute, or