It was at this precise juncture that his eye encountered me, and pausing only to recover his unfortunate headgear, he strode toward where I sat, "Do you know anything about this?" he inquired in a somewhat aggressive manner, holding up a length of black thread.
"A piece of ordinary pack-thread," I answered, affecting to examine it with a critical eye.
"Do you know anything about it?" he said again, evidently in a very bad temper.
"Sir," I answered, "I do not." "Because if I thought you did - ""Sir." I broke in, "you'll excuse me, but that seems a very remarkable hat of yours.
"I repeat if I thought you did - "
"Of course," I went on, "each to his taste, but personally I prefer one with less 'gymnastic' and more 'stay -at-home, qualities."The hunting-crop was raised threateningly.
"Mr. Selwyn?"I inquired in a conversational tone. The hunting-crop hesitated and was lowered.
"Well, sir?"
"Ah, I thought so," I said, bowing; "permit me to trespass upon your generosity to the extent of a match - or, say, a couple."Mr. Selwyn remained staring down at me for a moment, and I saw thepoints of his moustache positively curling with indignation. Then, without deigning a reply, he turned on his heel and strode away. He had not gone more than thirty or forty paces, however, when I heard him stop and swear savagely - I did not need to look to learn the reason - I admit I chuckled. But my merriment was short-lived, for a moment later came the feeble squeak of a horn followed by a shout and the Imp's voice upraised in dire distress.
"Little-John! Little-John! to the rescue!" it called.
I hesitated, for I will freely confess that when I had made that promise to the Imp it was with small expectation that I should be called upon to fulfil it. Still, a promise is a promise: so I sighed, and picking up the joint of my fishing rod, clambered up the bank. Glancing in the direction of the cries, I beheld Robin Hood struggling in the foe's indignant grasp.
Now, there were but two methods of procedure open to me as I could see - the serious or the frankly grotesque. Naturally I chose the latter, and quarter-staff on shoulder, I swaggered down the path with an air that Little-John himself might well have envied.
"Beshrew me!" I cried, confronting the amazed Mr. Selwyn, "who dares lay hands on bold Robin Hood? - away, base rogue, hie thee hence or I am like to fetch thee a dour ding on that pate o' thine!"Mr. Selwyn loosed the Imp and stared at me in speechless astonishment, as well he might.
"Look ye, master," I continued, entering into the spirit of the thing, "no man lays hand on Robin Hood whiles Little-John can twirl a staff or draw a bow-string - no, by St. Cuthbert!"The Imp, retired to a safe distance, stood hearkening in a transport till, bethinking him of his part, he fished out the tattered book and began surreptitiously turning over the pages; as for Mr. Selwyn, he only fumbled at his moustache and stared.
"Aye, but I know thee," I went on again, "by thy sly and crafty look, by thy scallopped cape and chain of office, I know thee for that same Sheriff of Nottingham that hath sworn to our undoing. Go to! didst' think to take Robin - in the greenwood?Out upon thee! Thy years should havetaught thee better wisdom. Out upon thee!""Now will I feed" - began the Imp, with the book carefully held behind him, "now will I feed fat mine vengeance - to thy knees for a scurvy rascal!""Aye, by St. Benedict!" I nodded, "twere well he should do penance on his marrow-bones from hither to Nottingham Town; but as thou art strong- be merciful, Robin."
Mr. Selwyn still curled the point of his moustache. "Are you mad," he inquired, "or only drunk?""As to that, good master Sheriff, it doth concern thee nothing - but mark you! 'tis an ill thing to venture within the greenwood whiles Robin Hood and Little-John he abroad."Mr. Selwyn shrugged his shoulders and turned to the Imp.
"I am on my way to see your Aunt Elizabeth, and shall make it my particular care to inform her of your conduct, and to see that you are properly punished. As for you, sir," he continued, addressing me, "I shall inform the police that there is a madman at large."At this double-barrelled threat the Imp was plainly much dismayed, and coming up beside me, slipped his hand into mine, and I promptly pocketed it.
"Sweet master Sheriff," I said, sweeping off my cap in true outlaw fashion, "the way is long and something lonely; methinks - we will therefore e'en accompany you, and may perchance lighten the tedium with quip and quirk and a merry stave or so."Seeing the angry rejoinder upon Mr. Selwyn's lips, I burst forth incontinent into the following ditty, the words extemporised to the tune of "Bonnie Dundee":
There lived a sheriff in Nottinghamshire, With a hey derry down and a down; He was fond of good beef, but was fonder of beer, With a hey derry down and a downBy the time we reached the Shrubbery gate the imp was in an ecstasy and Mr. Selwyn once more reduced to speechless indignation and astonishment. Here our ways diverged, Mr. Selwyn turning toward thehouse, while the Imp and I made our way to the orchard at the rear.
"Uncle ****," he said, halting suddenly, "do you think he will tell - really?""My dear Imp," I answered, "a man who wears points on his moustache is capable of anything.""Then I shall be sent to bed for it, I know I shall!""To run into a thread tied across the path must have been very annoying," I said, shaking my head thoughtfully, "especially with a brand- new hat!""They were only 'ambushes,' you know, Uncle ****.""To be sure," I nodded. "Now, observe, my Imp, here is a shilling; go and buy that spring-pistol you were speaking of, and take your time about it; I'll see what can be done in the meanwhile."The Imp was reduced to incoherent thanks.
