What does the author mean when he writes that "the race for the white house is about to enter an important stage"? why is this stage important?

Rebels inspire loyalty.

Explanation:

Howard Pyle's "The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood," tells the story of the outlaw Robin Hood and his men. The story is a retelling of the children's tale and how they evade the King and also overcome so many foes.

The given passage is an excerpt from chapter 2 of the text. It presents how the Tinker, who was supposed to present the arrest warrant but ends up joining the band of Merry Men, a group of outcasts under Robin.

This scene represents the universal theme of how rebels inspire loyalty.