One evening in July, Robin Hood was sitting by the camp fire. He was talking to Marian. Alan A 'Dale was singing, and all the men listening.
'Where is Hugh?' asked Marian. Hugh was one of the outlaws.
'He has gone to Nottingham to see his father,' replied Robin; 'but he will come back this evening.'
At last, Hugh came back. He was very excited.
'There is an archery competition in Nottingham next week,' he said, 'and the Sheriff will give a silver arrow to the winner.'
'I shall go and win the arrow,' said Robin.
'Can I go with you?' asked Little John.
'Yes, certainly,' replied Robin. 'I shall take about twenty men with me.'
The next week, Robin Hood and his friends set off. They pretended to be farmers. They wore farmers' clothes.
At last they reached Nottingham. A lot of people were there. They had come to watch the archery competition.
Robin and his friend saw the silver arrow. It was near the targets, and two soldiers were guarding it.
The competition began. The Sheriff was there with his wife. He looked at Robin Hood and his men, but he did not know them because they were wearing farmers' clothes.
'Get ready to shoot,' shouted the Sheriff. First, a soldier shot three arrows. The arrows missed the target, and everybody laughed.
Several more men shot arrows, but they all missed the target.
'They do not shoot very well,' said Little John to Alan A 'Dale.
At last it was Robin Hood's turn. He shot three arrows. They all hit the target.
'Hurrah, the farmer has won,' the crowd shouted.
Robin Hood won the silver arrow, and the Sheriff's wife presented it to him.
Suddenly a man shouted, 'That man is not a farmer. He is Robin Hood, the outlaw.'
The Sheriff shouted to his soldiers. 'Get hold of him,' he cried. 'I want to take him prisoner.'
Robin fought with his sword. Soon he got back to the other outlaws, and they all fought the soldiers. They pushed through the crowd, and the soldiers ran after them. The outlaws shot arrows at the soldiers, and killed several of them.
It was a long way to Sherwood Forest.
'The soldiers will catch us before we get there,' said Alan A 'Dale.
The soldiers shot arrows at the outlaws. An arrow went through Little John's knee, and he fell down.
'Now the soldiers will catch us,' thought Robin. 'We shall not reach the forest.'
The outlaws were near an old castle. Sir Richard at Lea lived there. He was a friend of Robin's.
'Quick,' said Robin, 'run to the castle.'
Robin carried Little John on his back.
They reached the castle, and ran over the drawbridge. Then they pulled up the drawbridge very quickly.
'Good,' said Robin, 'now we are safe.'
The Sheriff and his soldiers stood outside. They were very angry.
'Let us in. Let us in,' they cried.
The Sheriff shouted, 'Let me in. I want to take Robin Hood prisoner.'
'No,' replied Sir Richard. 'He is my friend. You shall not get him.'
'If you do not let me in, you will be hanged,' cried the angry Sheriff.
Then he went away with his soldiers. Sir Richard's wife was called Lady Elizabeth. She fetched some hot water and bandages. Robin took the arrow out of Little John's knee and bathed it. Then he put a bandage round it.
