The forester,
who had personated the friar, sent an arrow after the flying sheriff,
calling with a strong voice, "To the sheriff's left arm,
as a keepsake from Robin Hood." The arrow reached its destiny;
the sheriff redoubled his speed, and, with the one arrow in his arm,
did not stop to breathe till he was out of reach of another.
The foresters did not waste time in Nottingham, but were soon at a distance
from its walls. Sir Guy returned with Alice to Gamwell-Hall; but thinking
he should not be safe there, from the share he had had in his son's rescue,
they only remained long enough to supply themselves with clothes and money,
and departed, under the escort of Little John, to another seat of the Gamwells
in Yorkshire. Young Gamwell, taking it for granted that his offence
was past remission, determined on joining Robin Hood, and accompanied him
to the forest, where it was deemed expedient that he should change his name;
and he was rechristened without a priest, and with wine instead of water,
by the immortal name of Scarlet.
CHAPTER IX
Who set my man i' the stocks?----
I set him there, Sir but his own disorders
Deserved much less advancement.--Lear.
The baron was inflexible in his resolution not to let Matilda leave
the castle. The letter, which announced to her the approaching
fate of young Gamwell, filled her with grief, and increased
the irksomeness of a privation which already preyed sufficiently
on her spirits, and began to undermine her health.
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