Robin Hood and Will Scarlet (Campfire Story)

One fine May morning, ROBIN HOOD and Little John were resting by a cool spring under a beech tree, beside the road. And down the road came a young man.

And what a young man! He was dressed all in scarlet silk, from his hat to his stockings. There was a feather in his cap. A sword at his side. And as he strolled along, he held a red rose under his nose and sniffed it. SNIFF.

Little John laughed. 'Look at that fancy fellow. I've never seen such a peacock.'

'He looks like he's never done a day's work in his life,' said Robin. 'Watch this. I'll have some fun with him.'

So Robin jumped up and stood in the middle of the road. 'Stop, friend! This is the King's forest. Anybody who passes through here has to pay a toll.'

The young man looked at him, and sniffed his rose. SNIFF. 'Do they?' he said. 'And who's going to make me pay it?'

'I am,' said Robin. And he pulled an arrow from his quiver.

The young man drew his sword. 'An arrow against a sword? That's hardly fair.'

'You're right,' said Robin, and he put down his bow. And he cut himself a good stout oak staff. 'We'll settle it with staffs, then.'

So the young man in scarlet went to the hedge, and looked it over, and found a young oak sapling. And he pulled it up out of the ground. Roots and all. With one hand. And he knocked the dirt off the roots, and trimmed it into a staff.

Little John's mouth fell open.

And Robin said, 'Hmm.'

And they fought. WHACK! WHACK! Back and forth across the road. And the young man was fast, and strong, and Robin couldn't get a single blow past him. WHACK! And then the young man's staff came down on Robin's head so hard that he saw stars, and sat down in the dust.

Little John ran out laughing. 'Stop, stop! Don't hit him again! That's Robin Hood!'

And the young man dropped his staff. 'Robin Hood?' he said. 'Are you Robin Hood? Then I've just knocked down the very man I came looking for. And my own cousin!'

'Your cousin?' said Robin, rubbing his head.

'I'm Will Gamwell,' said the young man. 'Your Uncle Gamwell's son. Don't you remember me? We used to play together when we were boys.'

And Robin looked at him, and laughed, and hugged him. 'Will! Little Will! But what are you doing out here, looking for me?'

And Will's face fell. 'My father's steward was a bully, and he insulted my father, and struck him. And I hit the steward. Just once. But I hit him too hard, and he died. So now I'm an outlaw, like you. And I came to Sherwood to ask if I could join your band.'

'Join us?' said Robin. 'After the way you swing a staff? I'd be a fool to turn you down.'

And Little John said, 'But we can't call him Will Gamwell. The Sheriff will be looking for that name.'

'Look at him,' said Robin. 'All in red, from head to foot. We'll call him Will Scarlet.'

And they did. And Will Scarlet became one of the best of all the Merry Men. And for the rest of his days, he still wore scarlet. And Robin never again judged a man by his clothes. ROBIN HOOD!