Bide the rest of you here, and Will Stutely shall
be your chief while I am gone." Then straightway Robin Hood donned a
fine steel coat of chain mail, over which he put on a light jacket of
Lincoln green. Upon his head he clapped a steel cap, and this he covered
by one of soft white leather, in which stood a nodding cock's plume. By
his side he hung a good broadsword of tempered steel, the bluish blade
marked all over with strange figures of dragons, winged women, and what
not. A gallant sight was Robin so arrayed, I wot, the glint of steel
showing here and there as the sunlight caught brightly the links of
polished mail that showed beneath his green coat.
So, having arrayed himself, he and the four yeomen set forth upon their
way, Will Scarlet taking the lead, for he knew better than the others
whither to go. Thus, mile after mile, they strode along, now across a
brawling stream, now along a sunlit road, now adown some sweet forest
path, over which the trees met in green and rustling canopy, and at the
end of which a herd of startled deer dashed away, with rattle of leaves
and crackle of branches.
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