第27章

Onebyonethearchers，steppingforward，deliveredtheirshaftsyeomanlikeandbravely。Oftwenty-fourarrows，shotinsuccession，tenwerefixedinthetarget，andtheothersrangedsonearit，that，consideringthedistanceofthemark，itwasaccountedgoodarchery。Ofthetenshaftswhichhitthetarget，twowithintheinnerringwereshotbyHubert，aforesterintheserviceofMalvoisin，whowasaccordinglypronouncedvictorious。

``Now，Locksley，’’saidPrinceJohntotheboldyeoman，withabittersmile，``wiltthoutryconclusionswithHubert，orwiltthouyieldupbow，baldric，andquiver，totheProvostofthesports?’’

``Sithitbenobetter，’’saidLocksley，``Iamcontenttotrymyfortune；onconditionthatwhenI

haveshottwoshaftsatyondermarkofHubert’s，heshallbeboundtoshootoneatthatwhichIshallpropose。’’

``Thatisbutfair，’’answeredPrinceJohn，``anditshallnotberefusedthee——Ifthoudostbeatthisbraggart，Hubert，Iwillfillthebuglewithsilver-penniesforthee。’’

``Amancandobuthisbest，’’answeredHubert；

``butmygrandsiredrewagoodlongbowatHastings，andItrustnottodishonourhismemory。’’

Theformertargetwasnowremoved，andafreshoneofthesamesizeplacedinitsroom。Hubert，who，asvictorinthefirsttrialofskill，hadtherighttoshootfirst，tookhisaimwithgreatdeliberation，longmeasuringthedistancewithhiseye，whileheheldinhishandhisbendedbow，withthearrowplacedonthestring。Atlengthhemadeastepforward，andraisingthebowatthefullstretchofhisleftarm，tillthecentreorgrasping-placewasnighlevelwithhisface，hedrewhisbowstringtohisear。Thearrowwhistledthroughtheair，andlightedwithintheinnerringofthetarget，butnotexactlyinthecentre。

``Youhavenotallowedforthewind，Hubert，’’

saidhisantagonist，bendinghisbow，``orthathadbeenabettershot。’’

Sosaying，andwithoutshowingtheleastanxietytopauseuponhisaim，Locksleystepttotheappointedstation，andshothisarrowascarelesslyinappearanceasifhehadnotevenlookedatthemark。

Hewasspeakingalmostattheinstantthattheshaftleftthebowstring，yetitalightedinthetargettwoinchesnearertothewhitespotwhichmarkedthecentrethanthatofHubert。

``Bythelightofheaven！’’saidPrinceJohntoHubert，``anthousufferthatrunagateknavetoovercomethee，thouartworthyofthegallows！’’

Huberthadbutonesetspeechforalloccasions。

``Anyourhighnessweretohangme，’’hesaid，``amancanbutdohisbest。Nevertheless，mygrandsiredrewagoodbow——’’

``Thefoulfiendonthygrandsireandallhisgeneration！’’

interruptedJohn，``shoot，knave，andshootthybest，oritshallbetheworseforthee！’’

Thusexhorted，Hubertresumedhisplace，andnotneglectingthecautionwhichhehadreceivedfromhisadversary，hemadethenecessaryallowanceforaverylightairofwind，whichhadjustarisen，andshotsosuccessfullythathisarrowalightedintheverycentreofthetarget。

``AHubert！aHubert！’’shoutedthepopulace，moreinterestedinaknownpersonthaninastranger。

``Intheclout！——intheclout！——aHubertforever！’’

``Thoucanstnotmendthatshot，Locksley，’’saidthePrince，withaninsultingsmile。

``Iwillnotchhisshaftforhim，however，’’repliedLocksley。

Andlettingflyhisarrowwithalittlemoreprecautionthanbefore，itlightedrightuponthatofhiscompetitor，whichitsplittoshivers。Thepeoplewhostoodaroundweresoastonishedathiswonderfuldexterity，thattheycouldnotevengiveventtotheirsurpriseintheirusualclamour。``Thismustbethedevil，and