If you keep on trying for years you will be able to do it
quite as well. I'll teach you. Shall I?"
"I should like you to," said Robin, shaking his head; "but I can't
stop here. I must go home to my father."
"Oh! must you?" said Little John. "Go home to your father and
mother, eh?"
Robin shook his head.
"No," he said; "my mother's dead, and I live sometimes with father
and sometimes with aunt. I am going home to father now, as soon as
you show me the way. When are you going to show me?"
Little John screwed up his face till it was full of wrinkles.
"Ah," he said, "I don't know. You must ask the captain."
"Who is the captain?" said the boy.
"Eh? Why, Robin Hood, of course. But I wouldn't ask him just yet."
"Why not?"
"Eh? Why not? Because it might be awkward. You see, it's a long
way, and you couldn't go by yourself."
"Well, you could show me," said young Robin. "You would, wouldn't
you?"
"I would if I could," said Little John; "but I'm afraid I couldn't."
"Oh! you could, I'm sure," said young Robin. "You're so big."
"Oh! yes, I'm big enough," said Little John, laughing; "but if I
were to take you home your father would not let me come back again;
and besides, the captain would not let me go for fear that I should
be killed.
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