Part 10 (2/2)
”Oh, aylet me see 'Tis Judith, or Joan, or some such na: but 'tis surely of no account The archery is now to begin; and here I would have you give heed----”
He reco anxious that Robin should shi+ne to-day for Ga was done, and that, after all, the red knights were conquerors It fell to Geoffrey to ride forward and accept the coveted laurel wreath Dipping his lance, Geoffrey caused his charger to bend its knees before the regal-looking box: and Master Monceux, after an inflated speech, placed the circlet of bays upon the end of Geoffrey's lance Then the unknown knight for a brief instant raised his vizor The lean-faced lance of understanding with the knight
The Sheriff nodded to give the knight to understand that he was satisfied With closed visor the scarlet one then paced his steed slowly and in quiet dignity around the lists, followed dutifully by Stuteley, until they had returned to the Monceux box Again saluting gracefully, he extended his lance, with the wreath still depending from it, towards the Sheriff, as it seemed
”Does he return the wreath, and wherefore?” asked Robin, in puzzled voice
”To her to whom the wreath is yielded our Sheriff will award the title of Beauty's Queen,” explained Warrenton ”'Tis a foolish custom Master Geoffrey, in thisMistress Monceux Otherwise, the Sheriff would have him beaten, no doubt; or injured in some shameful way upon his departure from the lists”
”So that is the rule of it, eh, Warrenton?” said Robin ”I would like to choose my own Queen----”
”ItMaster Montfichet See--the wreath has been duly bestowed and the Sheriff will announce his girl Queen, until the night, of Beauty in all Royal Nottinghaolden arroon Doubtless, the winner will have to yield it up to Monceux's girl again, on a pretence that all is hers, now she is Queen So shall my lord the Sheriff keep his prize after all; and be able to offer it again next year----”
Robin checked the garrulous old ive hly; ”and do you tell me how I am to enter myself in the lists”
”Your esquire should announce you,” returned the other, respectfully
”See, here he coht would thank you,Robin ”He ait for us at Nottinghaers of the unhorsed knights froht of conquest, as you know”
”I will accept theuessing that this was the reply that Geoffrey would desire him to make ”Now tell the heralds that Robin of Locksley will enter for the Sheriff's prize Give no ly, in a lower voice
Stuteley vanished, and Robin turned again to the lists The Sheriff's daughter had already been crowned, and sat now in supercilious state in the Sheriff's own seat Geoffrey had gone, and Fitzwalter's box was empty
”I'll not shoot at all,” said Robin, suddenly ”Go, Warrenton, bring back Stuteley to ed my ?” asked Warrenton, solicitously
”Forgive ot----”
”Nay--'tis not that at all I have no wish to shoot Fetch Will to iven in Robin's nanified that he would shoot first of all He came into the box even as Warrenton went out for hirily, Robin took the bow fro his quiver about him He strode moodily across the lists to the spot where the other archers had already gathered When they saw this youngling with his odd little cape preparing hi his bow and slipped an arrow across it
The crowd became suddenly silent, and this nerved the lad to be hiot his momentary vexation and aiet and struck it full in the ether Robin stepped back
”None so bad a shot, master,” said the next archer to him, in a quiet tone ”You have provided yourself noith a truer shaft, I ween?”
It was Will o' th' Green, with stained face and horse-hair beard His eyes challenged Robin's in ironical defiance, as he moved to take his turn His aim seemed to be made without skill or desire to better Robin's shot; yet his arrow found resting-place side by side with the other
The mob cheered and applauded themselves hoarse; while the markers scored the points evenly to these first two archers
These two stood apart, silent amidst the din Once Will seelanced sidelong at young Stuteley and Warrenton; then hummed a ballad-tune under his breath