"Time to disappear!" Robin's voice sang out, causing his men to scatter and run.

The eager glow in Vaisey's eyes warned him he'd been recognized, and there was nothing to do but give up the game and dash away.

"Guards! Guards!" Vaisey screamed, while Gisbourne stood by, looking angry and confused. "It's Hood! AFTER HIM!"

As guards closed in around him, Robin did the one sure thing he could think of to divert their attention. Wishing he had his bow, Robin called cheekily out, "Don't worry, Sheriff! I'm not really sick. In fact, I'm right as rain!" Untying the bursting purse he'd begged from Aylesbury, Robin lifted it high above his head and shook out its contents, showering silver coins onto the ground.

"Payday, boys!" one of the guards shouted, bending down to scoop up as much money as he could.

Gisbourne bit back obscenities, due to Marian's presence, but Vaisey was less polite. Roaring out a stream of curses, Vaisey jumped from the platform and began kicking his guards, who continued gathering coins, in spite of the Sheriff's onslaught. Gisbourne drew forth his sword, but it was too late. Robin Hood and his men had made their way through the portcullis, kicking up their heels as they ran away.

"An all too familiar view, Gisbourne," Vaisey fumed, his eyes bulging from their sockets as they followed Robin's backside. "Pretty as it is."

"Pretty, my lord sheriff?" Marian asked, innocent of Vaisey's feelings toward "Hood."

Gisbourne sneered in disgust. "He stole your nobles' tax monies! With respect, my lord, how are we going to pay for...?"

"Pay for what?" Marian couldn't help asking.

"One word, Gisbourne," Vaisey answered, ignoring the "leper's" queries. Standing on his toes to whisper into Gisbourne's ear so the leper wouldn't hear, he hissed the word, "Ransom."

...

"Unhappy," Allan sniffled to Little John later that afternoon, both men celebrating the gang's successful mission by secretly munching on mushrooms.

"No unhappy," Little John grinned back, euphoric. "Happy."

"Not us," Allan replied. "Robin. He needs cheering up."

"Give him some mushrooms."

"Won't work. He won't eat 'em. What he needs is his woman."

Little John looked stricken for a moment, remembering how Alice was now sharing Luke the Bowmaker's bed and board. Rising unsteadily to his enormous feet, he threw back his head and bellowed forth a wild anguished cry.

"More mushrooms?" Allan offered.

When John had regained his happy, confused state, Allan continued his discussion. "We gotta help Robin, Big Man," he decided. "Much isn't the only one who can help him."

"Help Robin," Little John agreed.

"Right. Here's what we do," Allan decided, fueled by the mushrooms' effects. "We go find Marian, and tell her what Robin won't. We ask her to marry him, 'stead of Gisbourne."

"She might say 'no,' " Little John realized.

"Not bein' funny, but no woman's ever said 'no' to me. Come on. Where do you think Marian's hidin'?"

"Locksley," Little John decided, thinking only of Alice.