Will Stukely, a farmer with a wife and children, cannot pay taxes as two tax collectors so inform the Sheriff of Nottingham. The tax collectors are empathetic and indeed one of them suggests that Will be allowed to postpone payment until his crops come in. The Sheriff is having none of that and plans to hang Will as a lesson to all that they better pay their taxes on time. Robin intends to save Will but not by an armed assault as Little John suggests but by subterfuge. For, according to Robin, King Richard always said: "Let your wits be sharper than your enemy's sword." One of the many things I like about this series is its humor. In this case, it's when Robin and Little John waylay a butcher. The butcher is, of course, terrified and tells them to take everything. Robin and Little John then have a humorous and friendly argument over how much to pay the butcher for his wagon and meat. The amount they settle upon makes the butcher happy. Robin proceeds to Nottingham and tricks (by appealing to his avarice) the Sheriff into leaving the town and proposes an exchange of prisoners - the Sheriff for Will. The ending is suspenseful and well done and even a bit humorous.
Review of A Guest for the Gallows
