Not long after his encounter with the ambush by the Sheriffs Knights, Robin and Will Scarlett were travelling through the Forest on their way to relieve a rich Norman of his money. They approached a fallen tree trunk that lay across a bubbling stream.
As Robin stepped onto one end of the tree bridge a large man appeared at the other side.
"Move over" shouted the man to Robin, "I am crossing this bridge"
"I shall do no such thing" replied Robin, "You shall move over for me instead"
The man laughed across the stream. "You seem to be certain that you can make me move. Would you like to try ?".
He picked up a large branch by the side of the bridge and stepped towards the centre of it.
Robin looked around. He could not see a branch as big on this side of the bridge, and so had to collect a smaller branch. He walked towards the centre and stood before the man.
They began to fight with the branches. As Robin hit the man, the man hit Robin, and on it went. At one point Will Scarlett, standing watching on the bank thought that Robin was going to win. Robin hit the man on the head and then swung his branch around ready to push him into the stream. As Robin raised the branch he was taken by surprise. Before he knew what had happened Robin had been pushed and was losing his balance. With a large splash he landed in the stream, bottom first. The man on the bridge laughed loud and long.
"I said move over young one" he laughed. "You should have let me pass"
Robin looked up. "I must agree it would have been a better idea."
"Are you alright Robin ?" shouted Will from the bank
"Robin ? Robin Hood ?" asked the man on the bridge. "The same Robin Hood who saved the fair lady Marian ? The same Robin who is hunted by the Sheriff ?" He knelt down and pulled a rather wet Robin out of the stream.
"I am an outlaw too, looking for somewhere to live"
Robin looked across at Will. "You can join with us if you like. With fighting like that you would be able to help us a lot" The man nodded, eager to help Robin.
"What is your name ?" asked Will
"John Little" replied the man.
"Well, you shall be Little John, our newest outlaw" said Robin
With a shake of the hands, the three outlaws continued their journey.