"
"Killed?" said the boy, staring at his big companion.
"Why, who would kill you?"
"Your father, perhaps."
"What, for being kind to me?"
"I can't explain all these things to you, mite. Here's someone
coming. Let's ask him. Hi! Captain! Young squire wants me to
take him home."
Robin Hood, who had just caught sight of the pair and come up,
smiled and shook his head.
"Not yet, little one," he said. "I can't spare big Little John.
Why, aren't you happy here in the merry greenwood under the trees?
I thought you liked us."
"So I do," said young Robin, "and I should like to stay ever so
long and watch the deer and the birds, and learn to shoot with my
bow and arrows."
"That's right. Well said, little one," cried Robin Hood, patting
the boy on the head.
"But I'm afraid that my father will be very cross if I don't try to
go home."
"Then try and make yourself happy, my boy," said Robin Hood, "for
you have tried hard to go home, and you cannot go."
"Why?" said young Robin.
"For a dozen reasons," said the outlaw, smiling. "Here are some:
you could not find your way; you would starve to death in the
forest; you might meet people who would behave worse to you than
the young swineherd, or encounter wild beasts; then, biggest reason
of all: I will not let you go.
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