One fine morning, Robin was walking slowly through the forest. Suddenly, he saw a young man in front of him. The man wore a scarlet and black suit, and he had a scarlet cap. His hair was long and fair, and he carried a bow. The young man was watching some deer. After a few minutes, he shot an arrow and killed one of them.
'Good shot, my friend,' shouted Robin Hood.
The young man turned round and said, 'Who are you?'
'I am Robin Hood,' replied the outlaw.
'What is your name?'
'My name is Will,' replied the young man.
'You must come to live with us in the forest,' said Robin. 'We are all outlaws.'
Just then, Little John came running up to them.
'This is Will,' said Robin Hood.
'We shall call you Will Scarlet,' laughed Little John, 'because you have a scarlet suit and cap.'
Robin Hood liked brave men and good fighters. One day Will Scarlet said to him, 'Do you know Friar Tuck?'
'No,' replied Robin Hood.
'He is a very brave man, and a good fighter,' said Will.
'I would like to meet him,' said Robin. 'Tomorrow I shall go to look for him.'
Next morning, Robin got up early, and set off on his horse to look for Friar Tuck. He carried a sword, and a bow and arrows. Soon Robin came to a stream. He got off his horse, and tied it to a tree. He walked along a path by the stream.
Suddenly, he saw Friar Tuck in front of him. The friar was sitting on the grass. He was looking at the stream, and he did not see Robin Hood. Robin Hood crept up to him, but Friar Tuck did not hear him. Then Robin bent over the friar and held his sword to the friar's throat.
'Good morning, Friar,' said Robin. 'I wish to go across the stream, and I don't want to get my feet wet. You must carry me across.'
Friar Tuck smiled. 'Yes, certainly, my friend,' he replied, 'but first take away your sword.'
Robin took away his sword, and Friar Tuck bent down. Robin climbed on to his back.
The friar stepped into the stream and walked across. At the other side, the friar waited for Robin to get off his back. Robin jumped down. Suddenly Friar Tuck got hold of Robin's arm and threw him to the ground.
'Now, boy,' he said, 'you must carry me back again.'
Robin got up, and Friar Tuck climbed on to his back. Robin stepped into the stream and walked across. At the other side Robin waited for the friar to get off his back. Friar Tuck jumped down. Then Robin turned round quickly and held his sword to the friar's throat.
'Now, friar,' said Robin angrily,'you must carry me back again.'
Robin climbed on to the friar's back again. The friar stepped into the stream, and he began to walk across. When they were nearly across, Friar Tuck threw Robin Hood into the water. There was a big splash.
Robin got up and walked out of the stream. He was very angry. He took out his sword and ran towards the friar. Friar Tuck was waiting for him. They began to fight with their swords.
At last, they stopped fighting and shook hands. Robin Hood blew his bugle three times, and twenty men with bows and arrows came running out of the forest.
'These are some of my men,' said Robin Hood. 'We live in the forest and we are all outlaws. Will you come ti live with us?'
'Yes, certainly,' replied Friar Tuck, and ge whistled three times. A pack of dogs came running out of the forest. 'These are my dogs,' said Friar Tuck. 'They will come with me and live in the forest.'
