Did Robin indeed trust to that tangled undergrowth to keep his secret hid?
And if so, what chance was there of its being found unless the whole dell was dug up?
A short while back it seemed so much to have found out this dell.
When he had been resolved to search the whole forest through, no wonder the task had been practically impossible; but when he had had indications of a confined locality, he had looked upon his work as well-nigh accomplished, and had come here with a heart full of high hopes.

And now he was confronted by difficulties that appeared almost as insurmountable as before; for he plainly saw the hopelessness of attempting single-handed to delve the whole dell over.

Robin would return before the task was more than begun.

He would guess the import, would set a close watch, and would slay the bold invader of his haunted dell without pity or remorse.

Whilst the only other plan, that of bringing a gang of men to work strong enough to be a guard to themselves, was simply out of the question for Cuthbert.