As for these women"-- here he ground his teeth--"it will be an ill day for them!" But Robin Hood took Little John's rough, brown fist in his white hands, and chid him softly in his low, weak voice, asking him since what time Little John had thought of doing harm to women, even in vengeance.

Thus he talked till, at last, the other promised, in a choking voice, that no ill should fall upon the place, no matter what happened.

Then a silence fell, and Little John sat with Robin Hood's hand in his, gazing out of the open window, ever and anon swallowing a great lump that came in his throat.

Meantime the sun dropped slowly to the west, till all the sky was ablaze with a red glory.

Then Robin Hood, in a weak, faltering voice, bade Little John raise him that he might look out once more upon the woodlands; so the yeoman lifted him in his arms, as he bade, and Robin Hood's head lay on his friend's shoulder.