he came running and leaping toward the nunnery。 Loudly he knocked
at the door； and in a loud voice shouted for them to let him in；
but the door was of massive oak； strongly barred； and studded with spikes；
so they felt safe； and bade Little John begone。
Then Little John's heart was mad with grief and fear for his master's life。
Wildly he looked about him； and his sight fell upon a heavy stone mortar；
such as three men could not lift nowadays。 Little John took three
steps forward； and； bending his back； heaved the stone mortar up
from where it stood deeply rooted。 Staggering under its weight；
he came forward and hurled it crashing against the door。 In burst
the door； and away fled the frightened nuns； shrieking； at his coming。
Then Little John strode in； and never a word said he； but up the winding
stone steps he ran till he reached the room wherein his master was。
Here he found the door locked also； but； putting his shoulder against it；
he burst the locks as though they were made of brittle ice。
There he saw his own dear master leaning against the gray stone wall；
his face all white and drawn； and his head swaying to and fro
with weakness。 Then； with a great； wild cry of love and grief and pity；
Little John leaped forward and caught Robin Hood in his arms。
Up he lifted him as a mother lifts her child； and carrying him to the bed；
laid him tenderly thereon。
And now the Prioress came in hastily； for she was frightened at what she
had done； and dreaded the vengeance of Little John and the others of the band；
then she stanched the blood by cunning bandages； so that it flowed no more。
All the while Little John stood grimly by； and after she had done
he sternly bade her to begone； and she obeyed； pale and trembling。
Then； after she had departed； Little John spake cheering words；
laughing loudly； and saying that all this was a child's fright；
and that no stout yeoman would die at the loss of a few drops of blood。
〃Why；〃 quoth he； 〃give thee a se'ennight and thou wilt be roaming
the woodlands as boldly as ever。〃
But Robin shook his head and smiled faintly where he lay。
〃Mine own dear Little John；〃 whispered he； 〃Heaven bless
thy kind； rough heart。 But； dear friend； we will never roam
the woodlands together again。〃
〃Ay； but we will！〃 quoth Little John loudly。 〃I say again； ayout upon it
who dares say that any more harm shall come upon thee？ Am I not by？ Let me
see who dares touch〃Here he stopped of a sudden； for his words choked him。
At last he said； in a deep； husky voice； 〃Now； if aught of harm befalls thee
because of this day's doings； I swear by Saint George that the red cock shall
crow over the rooftree of this house； for the hot flames shall lick every
crack and cranny thereof。 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。 Long he gazed； with a wide；
lingering look； while the other sat with bowed head； the hot
tears rolling one after another from his eyes； and dripping upon
his bosom； for he felt that the time of parting was near at hand。
Then； presently； Robin Hood bade him string his stout bow for him；
and choose a smooth fair arrow from his quiver。 This Little John did；
though without disturbing his master or rising from where he sat。
Robin Hood's fingers wrapped lovingly around his good bow； and he smiled
faintly when he felt it in his grasp； then he nocked the arrow on
that part of the string that the tips of his fingers knew so well。
〃Little John；〃 said he； 〃Little John； mine own dear friend；
and him I love better than all others in the world； mark； I prythee；
where this arrow lodges； and there let my grave be digged。
Lay me with my face toward the East； Little John； and see that my
resting place be kept green； and that my weary bones be not disturbed。〃
As he finished speaking； he raised himself of a sudden and sat upright。
His old strength seemed to come back to him； and； drawing the bowstring
to his ear； he sped the arrow out of the open casement。 As the shaft flew；
his hand sank slowly with the bow till it lay across his knees；
and his body likewise sank back again into Little John's loving arms；
but something had sped from that body； even as the winged arrow sped
from the bow。
For some minutes Little John sat motionless； but presently he laid
that which he held gently down； then； folding the hands upon the breast
and covering up the face； he turned upon his heel and left the room
without a word or a sound。
Upon the steep stairway he met the Prioress and some of the chief
among the sisters。 To them he spoke in a deep； quivering voice；
and said he； 〃An ye go within a score of feet of yonder room； I will
tear down your rookery over your heads so that not one stone shall
be left upon another。 Bear my words well in mind； for I mean them。〃
So saying； he turned and left them； and they presently saw him
running rapidly across the open； through the falling of the dusk；
until he was swallowed up by the forest。
The early gray of the coming morn was just beginning to lighten
the black sky toward the eastward when Little John and six more
of the band came rapidly across the open toward the nunnery。
They saw no one； for the sisters were all hidden away
from sight； having been frightened by Little John's words。
Up the stone stair they ran； and a great sound of weeping
was presently heard。 After a while this ceased； and then
came the scuffling and shuffling of men's feet as they
carried a heavy weight down the steep and winding stairs。
So they went forth from the nunnery； and； as they passed through
the doors thereof； a great； loud sound of wailing arose from
the glade that lay all dark in the dawning； as though many men；
hidden in the shadows； had lifted up their voices in sorrow。
Thus died Robin Hood； at Kirklees Nunnery； in fair Yorkshire；
with mercy in his heart toward those that had been his undoing；
for thus he showed mercy for the erring and pity for the weak
through all the time of his living
His yeomen were scattered henceforth； but no great ill befell them thereafter；
for a more merciful sheriff and one who knew them not so well succeeding
the one that had gone； and they being separated here and there throughout
the countryside； they abided in peace and quietness； so that many lived
to hand down these tales to their children and their children's children。
A certain one sayeth that upon a stone at Kirklees is an old inscription。
This I give in the ancient English in which it was written； and thus it runs：
HEAR UNDERNEAD DIS LAITL STEAN LAIS ROBERT EARL OF HUNTINGTUN NEA ARCIR
VER AS HIE SAE GEUD AN PIPL KAULD IM ROBIN HEUD SICK UTLAWS AS HI AN IS
MEN VIL ENGLAND NIDIR SI AGEN OBIIT 24 KAL。 DEKEMBRIS 1247。
And now； dear friend； we also must part； for our merry journeyings have ended；
and here； at the grave of Robin Hood； we turn； each going his own way。
End