Long ago, a man called Robin Hood lived in England in Sherwood Forest.

As a boy Robin had been cheated by a few noblemen and since then he decided that he would never spare the rich. He would rob the rich and give back to the poor.

The Sheriff of Nottingham placed many rewards for the capture of Robin Hood but nobody ever caught him. Robin Hood had a number of men who served him and made him their leader.

They acted as informers who warned Robin Hood about the Sheriff’s intentions to catch him. Rich people were scared of going through Sherwood Forest because they knew Robin Hood would attack.

The pressure mounted on the Sheriff of Nottingham to capture Robin Hood. He sought the help of the king but he refused to send any of his men to help capture of Robin Hood.
Finally, the Sheriff thought of a plan.

"Let us have a competition to choose the best shooter in Nottingham. Robin Hood cannot resist such a competition. He will surely come, and when he does, my guards will capture him,” he told his noblemen. All of them agreed.

Robin Hood was an excellent shooter and no one was better than him in Nottingham. However, Robin Hood’s loyal men dissuaded him from going but he could not resist from taking part in any competition to prove that he was the best.

"Robin, this competition is a trap to catch you,” said one of the men. "It would be foolish to talk into the lion’s den,” said another. But Robin Hood was not willing to listen.
The next day, all arrangements for the competition were made. The crowds were all seated and ten contestants were there. The Sheriff turned to one of the guards and asked in a whisper, "Has Robin come?” "No, Your Highness, Robin has red hair. None of the contestants have red hair.” The Sheriff said, "He must be scared.”

The competition began. After ten rounds William, the Sheriff’s man, who also participated and another man in a green outfit were vying for the first prize—a golden arrow. It was time for the last arrow to be shot; the winner of this round would be declared the best shooter in Nottingham.
William took aim first and shot; it was very close to the center.

The Sheriff applauded. "Good shot, William,” he said. Then it was the turn of the man in green; he let go of his arrow. The crowd cheered hysterically. It went through William’s arrow and bull’s eye. And within a flash the man in green let go of two more arrows which came flying towards the chair on which the Sheriff sat and stuck on either side of it. The Sheriff was stunned.

The man in green was none other than Robin Hood. Before the Sheriff recovered, he pulled off his black wig, threw it in the ground, jumped over a wall on to his waiting horse and was gone.

"Get him, you fools. That is Robin Hood,” shouted the helpless Sheriff, but it was too late. Robin Hood had escaped again.

Ends