CHAPTER XIV.

HOW THE SHERIFF OF NOTTINGHAM WAS TAKEN IN.

HE castle of Falconhurst took its name, not because of its elevated position, for the spot on which it stood was but slightly raised above the level of the surrounding country, but on account of its four lofty towers, which had displaced a grove of tall trees, in the tops of which falcons were supposed once to have built their nests. Hurst was the Saxon word for a wood; and hence Falconhurst signifies a lofty wood. The watchmen stationed on the tower tops, who could command a view of the country around, reported all quiet, not a man nor a beast stirring. Not long after this, however, they announced that two men, in the guise of humble palmers, were, with slow and tottering steps, approaching the castle.

In those days, when candles and lamps, from the imperfect manner in which they were made, afforded but a poor and far from pleasant light, people of all ranks went to bed soon after the sun descended below the horizon, and got up even before he once more arose. Sir Guy Bellanger and the other inmates of the castle had reason also to be early afoot. He purposed trying the prisoner taken the evening before, and supposed to be one of the band of daring outlaws who had so long been a terror to the neighbourhood, and especially to himself-or, it should be said, that he purposed going though the form of a trial, for he had already resolved to hang the prisoner on the gallows which stood permanently outside the castle walls, as a gentle hint to evildoers what they might expect if captured.

The sheriff, when the palmers appeared at the gate, directed that they might be admitted. When they were brought into the great hall, where he was seated, he inquired whence they came and whither they were going. They replied that they had been wandering about the forest all the early part of the night, that only towards the morning had they found their way out of itthat they were on their way to the fair city of Nottingham. They were, they said, hungry and thirsty, and they craved a sup of ale and a piece of bread.... and bacon on which to break their fast.

"That you shall have, honest men," said the sheriff, who was in good humour with the prospect of hanging one of his enemies; "but tell me how was it you escaped falling into the hands of the arch rogue, Robin Hood?"

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"We did, most noble Knight, encounter some of his followers," answered one of the palmers, "but they told us to proceed on our way, as they make war only on the robber lords of Normandy, and the rich abbots and priors, and other lazy monks and churchmen, who grow fat on the spoils out of which they cheat, by their impostures, the hapless Saxon serfs."

The speaker fixed his eyes on a person seated near the sheriff, who, by his dress, was evidently an ecclesiastic of rank.

"You speak language, palmer, which smacks strongly of daring and impertinence," exclaimed the sheriff, in an angry tone.

"So I opine, and so I thought when the robbers made the remarks I have repeated," said the palmer. "They expressed an opinion, moreover, that the Sheriff of Nottingham is a rogue unhung, and that the Abbot of St. Hilda and Prior of St. Barnabas are more fitted to feed swine than look after the welfare of men's souls; and that as for the Sheriff

"You need not go on repeating what the villains said of us," thundered out the sheriff, in a furious rage, 66 we shall see whether the fellow who is to dance in the air this morning will express the same opinions."

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Pardon me, noble sirs, but I was merely remarking that the outlaws look upon the monks as the grubs and caterpillars and snails and slugs which eat up the fat of the land," said the palmer, in a meek and gentle tone.

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Our ears would rather not hear any more of the opinions of the villains,” observed the dignified priest, who was no other than the Prior of St. Barnabas himself.

"Once more I must crave your pardon, reverend father," persisted the palmer; "but the outlaws remarked that if every bishop, abbot, prior, and every monk and friar were swept out of the kingdom, there wouldn't be an honest man the less in it; and if every Norman baron and knight were sent after them, there would be so many robbers the less."

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Silence! or, by our Lady, I'll have your saucy tongue torn by the roots from your mouth," shouted the sheriff. Aye, in spite of your palmer's gown and staff!"

"Oh, I fear greatly that I have again unwittingly offended, most noble Sheriff," said the palmer, in the same gentle calm tone in which he had before spoken; we will accept with gratitude your generous hospitality, and then go on our way, as we desire to be in fair Nottingham town before noon."

"Certes, you shall go; and moreover you shall bear an account of the proposed hanging of the robber. Maybe some of them will like to come out and witness the pleasant sight."

"We will willingly bear any message with which you may honour us," answered the palmer, meekly crossing his hands on his bosom, "but methought you had said, noble Sheriff, that the supposed robber was to be tried. In the days of the Saxon rule, persons were not condemned till they were proved to be guilty. Do the Normans act otherwise ?"

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Prating palmer, hold thy peace!" shouted out the sheriff. and keep silence till the trial is over."

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"Stand aside,

"An' we had something to put in our mouths, we might the better keep silence," observed the imperturbable palmer. 'However, it strikes me that the trial of the knave will not be a long business."

The sheriff made no answer to this remark, and soon after the prisoner was brought in by a guard of four men, two with drawn swords and two with daggers; for so strong was the opinion formed of the boldness and hardihood of Robin and his companions, that it was believed the prisoner might attempt to make his escape even from among the midst of his enemies. The outlaw as he was brought in cast a look of defiance at the sheriff and knights, the menat-arms and others before whom he stood; then he glanced carelessly round the hall, so it seemed, but in that glance he ascertained every one who was present. He noted the two aged palmers, who were standing aloof from the rest of the people assembled, and it is probable that though he was totally unacquainted with their appearance, from knowing the numberless resources of his chief's fertile brain, he might have entertained hopes that they were there for the purpose in some way of aiding him. Still, neither by look nor gesture did he show this.

The trial, or rather the form of a trial, now commenced. The prisoner was taken in arms, engaged in committing a robbery-and not a common robbery, but a sacrilegious robbery, inasmuch as that the articles stolen belonged to the holy Abbot of St. Hilda. He was likewise found opposing, sword in hand, the lawful authority of the Sheriff of Nottingham.

Poor Will's guilt indeed was so evident that he had nothing to say in his defence; still he determined to meet his fate bravely.

"It seems as clear as noonday, Master Sheriff, that you purpose to put me out of the way, but I must let you understand that there are fifty stout menor five hundred indeed-who are ready to do the things I have done, and many more besides; so that by killing me you will not cure the evil of which you

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complain. However, do as you wish; the only favour I ask is the loan of a good sword, and let me stand up in fair fight against twenty of your men, and let them do their best to slay me- -so that I may do my utmost to save my life." The sheriff and his attendants laughed heartily at this proposal. No, no, knave," he answered, "that were the death of an honest man. Hanging you deserve, and hanged you shall be, as sure as I am Sheriff of Nottingham, before noon of this same day-the gallows is ready and the rope is twisted. The only favour I'll grant is, to invite some guests to see the hanging. It may warn some of them, I warrant, from joining thy master, and following thy example. Ho! palmers, you hear what I say! As soon as you have broken your fasts, haste away to Nottingham, and invite the people to come and see stout Will Stutly dancing in air. Bid them hurry, or they will be too late for the play."

The palmers signified their comprehension of the sheriff's orders, and having received the food offered them, hurriedly ate part of it, and taking the bread and meat in their hands, left the castle, and were seen to be bending their way towards Nottingham.

Meantime the prisoner was led back to the dungeon, to spend the last few hours of his existence in darkness. He would there have had no food had not one of the warders, more charitable than his master, brought him some of his own mess and a jug of ale, observing, as he put it down, "A man cannot even die pleasantly on an empty stomach, so, friend, I have brought wherewith to fill thee. Keep up a good heart-all of us must die, you know, and the how and the when matters little in the long run."

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Thanks, friend! thanks! you're the first honest man I have met inside these castle walls, who does to his neighbours as he would be done by," answered Will, sitting down on a stone with the viands between his legs, and falling on to them, for his appetite was keen, as he had eaten nothing for several hours. "I only wish thee a more honest calling than serving so great a rogue as the Sheriff of Nottingham."

"Ha! ha! it is a good joke for a thief taken in the act to say that," said the warder, closing the door of the cell.

The fatal hour of noon was approaching, and Will was roused up by the entrance of a body of armed men, who came to conduct him to the gallows. A priest, who had only just then been found, they said, accompanied them, and offered to hear the prisoner confess his sins, and to shrive him if he wished. The priest drew near, while the men-at-arms stood apart for a few minutes, but what Will said to the priest, and what the priest said in return, no one heard.

The castle gates were now thrown wide open, and Will was led forth towards the gallows, accompanied by the sheriff and his men-at-arms- -the priest, in virtue of his office, keeping close to his side. "Ho! ho!" exclaimed the sheriff, those old palmers have been slow in executing my orders, for I see none of the people from Nottingham coming to witness the death of this knave. Ah, yes, there comes one! a tall varlet, who hurries on, as if he was eager to see the sport. There will be others anon, I doubt not."

While the sheriff was speaking, besides the tall yeoman who at first had attracted his attention, several other persons, in company with the old palmers, appeared coming from the direction of Nottingham. The tall yeoman, however, was the first to draw near. He had a good sword by his side, but no other arms. In spite of the orders of the men-at-arms to keep at a distance, he came close up to where Will was standing under the gallows. "Ho, Sir Sheriff!" he exclaimed, in a loud voice, "if this is the man to be hung, I have a favour to ask-that I may do the hanging!"

“Why, knave! why have you that fancy ?" asked the sheriff.

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'Supposing a man had slain your father and two brothers, with an uncle and cousin to boot, would you not be greedy of such a chance of vengeance ?" asked the tall yeoman.

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Aye, surely, that I would," answered the sheriff. "Varlet, your wish is granted. Make short work of the knave! I see that the people are collecting; we shall have witnesses enough to publish it abroad how the Sheriff of Nottingham punishes the rogues he catches belonging to Robin Hood's band." Come, Master Stutly, you hear what the good Sheriff says, so prepare for your fate," said the tall yeoman, taking hold of the prisoner. "You and I have met before, and now we meet not to part till death does separate us, or you are free."

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With these words he whipped out a sharp knife, with which he cut the bands which bound stout Will Stutly's limbs, and the next instant knocking down a man-at-arms, whose sword he seized, he handed it to Will, and the two, placing themselves back to back (for the tall yeoman was no other than Little John), they so rapidly plied their weapons that they kept their assailants at bay. At the same moment the well-known sound of Robin Hood's horn greeted their ears, and numerous fresh actors appeared on the scene.

(To be continued.)

THE APPROACH TO CANTON.

As you approach Canton, the river, which is nearly half a mile in width, becomes so crowded with boats of all sizes and classes, crossing and recrossing each other, that a novice might be in despair of forcing a passage, or making his way through them. On either side of the river are moored boats, in which whole families are domiciled, and the fronts of some of these aquatic dwellings are very handsomely carved, and gaily painted in arabesque ; whilst on the decks or flat roofs are constructed gardens, where they sit and smoke amidst flowering shrubs, planted in painted porcelain flower-pots, fantastically grouped around. The most gaily decorated of all are boats which have carved fronts painted in arabesque, and silken lanterns suspended from their roofs, whilst looking-glasses, pictures, and verses inscribed on particoloured paper, decorate their sides. Of all the extraordinary scenes which can be witnessed, nothing can be more surprising or astounding to a European than the appearance of the Canton river; for, let him have travelled “far and wide," nought can give him an idea of the scene but ocular demonstration. Myriads of boats float on the waters, of all descriptions; retailers of edibles, cooked and uncooked; boats laden with chests of tea, piled one upon the other, tier above tier, until the side of the boat is level with the water's edge; mandarin boats forcing their way authoritatively through the crowd; warjunks at anchor; whilst here and there a European boat, manned by our sailors, who give vent to their excited feelings by uttering sundry and divers ejaculations, not particularly complimentary to the good seamanship of the natives, or expressive of kindly feelings towards them. Flower-boats, and others belonging to artisans and vendors of food, are wedged together, as far as the eye can reach, in one solid mass, apparently impenetrable; whilst the air is filled and the ears stunned with the deafening sounds of gongs and wind instruments, discoursing most unearthly music, accompanied by the yelling, screeching, gabbling, and clamour of hundreds of thousands of human tongues. As there is no part of the world so densely populated as China, so there is no part of China so thickly populated as Canton, the population of the city of Canton and its suburbs being estimated at above one million; and the denizens of the river, who habitually reside in their boats, are said to exceed two hundred thousand.-China and the Chinese.