 he, walking deliberately to the
other end of the lists, and sticking the willow wand upright in the ground, »he
that hits that rod at five-score yards, I call him an archer, fit to bear both
bow and quiver before a king, an it were the stout King Richard himself.«
    »My grandsire,« said Hubert, »drew a good bow at the battle of Hastings, and
never shot at such a mark in his life - and neither will I. If this yeoman can
cleave that rod, I give him the bucklers - or rather I yield to the devil that
is in his jerkin, and not to any human skill; a man can but do his best, and I
will not shoot where I am sure to miss. I might as well shoot at the edge of our
parson's whittle, or at a wheat-straw, or at a sunbeam, as at a twinkling white
streak which I can hardly see.«
    »Cowardly dog!« said Prince John. - »Sirrah Locksley, do thou shoot; but, if
thou hittest such a mark, I will say thou art the first man ever did so. Howe'er
it be, thou shalt not crow over us with a mere show of superior skill.«
    »I will do my best, as Hubert says,« answered Locksley; »no man can do
more.«
    So saying, he again bent his bow, but on the present occasion looked with
attention to his weapon, and changed the string, which he thought was no longer
truly round, having been a little frayed by the two former shots. He then took
his aim with some deliberation, and the multitude awaited the event in
breathless silence. The archer vindicated their opinion of his skill: his arrow
split the willow rod against which it was aimed. A jubilee of acclamations
followed; and even Prince John, in admiration of Locksley's skill, lost for an
instant his dislike to his person. »These twenty nobles,« he said, »which, with
the bugle, thou hast fairly won, are thine own; we will make them fifty, if thou
wilt take livery and service with us as a yeoman of our body-guard, and be near
to our person. For never did so strong a hand bend a bow, or so true an eye
direct a shaft.«
    »Pardon me, noble Prince,« said Locksley; »but I have vowed, that if ever I
take service, it should be with your royal brother King Richard. These
