"Julius," said Robin in an awestruck voice a few days later, when they met as usual at the entrance of the wood, "I do believe the tramp has really come. You said you would be here at ten o’clock punctually, but I waited and waited and you never turned up, so I thought you had forgotten all about it and that I had better go on to the hut by myself. When I had got quite close up to it I saw a boot sticking out of the door, and it gave me such a fright, I simply scooted back into the road again. I was jolly glad to see you coming along, I can tell you." "I thought you wanted a tramp to come," said Julius rather scornfully. "The best thing we can do is to tell the policeman, and he’ll send the fellow about his business pretty quick. I call it cheek for a nasty dirty beggar to go and rest in our nice house." "It looked quite a good boot," replied Robin, "not all over holes like some of them have. Perhaps he’s only a poor clean wanderer who wouldn’t do any harm." "Let us have another look," said Julius. "We needn’t go very near." With much care and precaution the boys crept silently through the undergrowth until they came in sight of Robin Hood’s Lair, taking the greatest pains to avoid treading on dead sticks or twigs, after the manner of Red Indians tracking their prey. "There are two boots now," said Robin under his breath, "and they’re quite tidy, both of them. Perhaps he’s not a tramp after all." As he spoke, there was a movement inside the hut, and a man emerged into the open. The youthful spies crouched low among the bracken to watch the intruder. He was a tall, well-knit figure, but with a droop in his shoulders which told of ill-health and fatigue. His face bore out the same story, for it was white and drawn as if with long suffering, and his somewhat weather-worn clothes only emphasized the frailty of the form beneath. His cap was off, and the sun glinted down upon his fair hair and short well-trimmed beard, revealing a shapely head and thoughtful brow. "He’s the nicest tramp I ever saw," remarked Julius, "but he looks awfully ill." "I don’t believe he’s a beggar," rejoined Robin. "I expect he’s just someone come to stay at the village so as to get sea-air after having been in a hospital. They often do that. He must be very poor, however, for though he seems quite respectable, his coat is all patched and frayed." The intruder had turned and was contemplating the architecture of the hut with an amused countenance. He now replaced his cap and walked away in an irresolute manner, as if he did not know exactly in which direction to bend his steps. To the boys’ dismay he finally bore down straight towards their hiding-place. "Keep still, Julius," whispered Robin. "That’s the way wild animals do when danger is near. If we run, we’re sure to be seen."