ROBIN HOOD AND HIS MERRY MEN

There are many legends and songs about Robin Hood. The legends say that he and his three hundred men lived in Sherwood Forest, not far from the town of Nottingham. His men dressed in green and were good at shooting with bows and arrows. Robin Hood and his merry men attacked and robbed the rich and helped the poor as much as they could. More than once the Sheriff of Nottingham tried to catch Robin and his merry men, but he couldn’t. Robin always fooled his enemies. Once Robin played a trick on one of the Sheriff’s men whom he met in the forest. The man had orders to arrest Robin Hood. But he did not know who he was talking to. “Help me to find Robin,” he said to Robin Hood, “and I shall give you half the money that I’ll get for his head.” “All right,” said Robin, “let’s go to Nottingham. We shall find Robin Hood there. I know him, and I’ll help you to catch him.” When they came to the town, Robin gave the man so much drink that he fell asleep. After that Robin walked off, and the man had to pay the bill. Some time after, Robin and his friends came to Nottingham to take part in a shooting contest held there by the Sheriff. The prize, an arrow of gold, was for the best shot. Robin, who was dressed like a beggar, won the prize. The next evening as the Sheriff was going to bed, an arrow with a letter on it suddenly whistled through the open window of his bedroom. The Sheriff read, “Thank you for the golden arrow. It was a good prize for my shooting. Robin Hood.”