Part 11 (1/2)
The contest went on and the first round came to an end Out of twenty and three rivals nineteen had scored bulls at this range The nal to the heralds, and these announced the results with loud flourishi+ngs
The target was taken down and the range increased The range of the mark from the archers for the second round was fixed at forty ells--the same distance as had chanced before between Robin and Master Will when in the greenwood together The outlaw offered to shoot first; but the heralds requested the round
Robin fitted his arrow quietly and with soly towards the target ”A bull! Another bull to Locksley!” cried out Warrenton, in stentorian tones, and the fickle usto
Will aimed with even more unconcern than before His arrow took the center fairly and squarely, however; and was in reality a better shot than Robin's The shafts ithdrawn; then the other contestants followed This round brought down the number of coet to a distance of five-and-fifty ells; and truly the painted circles upon it seeain took his stand, but with soht was uncertain, and a little fitful wind frolicked across the range in a way very disturbing to a bowman's nerves His eyes half-anxiously addressed themselves to that box wherein he had spied Mistress Fitzwalter
His heart leaped--she had returned, and her strange gaze was fixed upon him! Robin drew his bow and flew his shaft Unconsciously he used the arrow plucked froain the center, amid the cries and jubilations of Stuteley and the old retainer
”Now Master Roughbeard, better that!” shouted Warrenton
The outlaw smiled scornfully and race, and ers released the arrow It leaped forth rushi+ngly towards the target, and all eyes followed it in its flight
A loud uproar broke forth when the ave their score--an inner circle, and not a bull Master Will nal of disbelief; and strode forward down the lists to see for himself It was true: the wind had influenced a pretty shot just to its undoing, and Will had to be content with the hope that the saht come to Robin or any of the other bowmen before the round was ended
The outlaished especially to win--that he haolden arrow--frohold of Sherwood, snapped into twenty pieces, with a letter of truculent defiance wrapped about the scraps He wished to make it plain to Master Monceux that the free archers of Sherere better ainst them, and that they despised hi beaten his heart grew hot within hi,” said he, as he returned to Robin's side ”Fortune may mar your next shot, as she has h, friend,” answered Robin, s; ”and yet I do hope that the arrow may be won by my hand This is our second test, Master Will,” he added, in a low voice ”Forget it not--the freedoreenwood is the reward that I do seek even olden arrow”
The outlaw's anger went suddenly fro,” he said, brightly ”You have in truth beaten ed shot”
With Will out of it, the contest came to an easy conclusion; and presently the Sheriff's arroas duly awarded to Robin of Locksley by the markers
The lad came forward shyly to receive the prize
”Master Monceux thinks that you should shoot oncefro up, Robin espied the lean-faced reeably down at him
”Let my lord state the terms of this new contest, then,” answered Robin, ”and the reason for't”
”'Tis said that you were over-favored by the wind and by the light”
An angry ansas upon the lad's lips: but he checked hinity turned and went back to where the archers stood grouped together Soon as he made known to him the difficulty which the Sheriff had raised, Will o' th' Green became furious
”Locksley, have none of this truht to any share in it, or to a fresh contest Nor will I shoot again Let Monceux vex his brain as he hbeard, or for you We have our own notions of right and justice; and since the Sheriff is loth to part with the prize that he has offered--why, yield it back to him, friend--and take the reward fronant protests were now heard frost the onlookers: and the Sheriff saw that he had raised a storm indeed ”Locksley! Robin Locksley!” was shouted noisily round and about; and Warrenton and Stuteley busily fostered the tumult Master Monceux at last bade the heralds announce that Robin of Locksley had won the golden arrow--since the archer who had made nearest points to him did not desire nor seek a further trial
”Were it necessary, lording,” muttered old Warrenton, ”I would show you how to notch the arrow of the best archer here about--a merry trick, and one that I learned in Lancashi+re, where they have little left to learn of archery, for sure”
”Nay,” put in Roughbeard, loudly, ”the arrow is his without need of further parleyings I do adh on another occasion ill, perchance, reverse our present positions Take or leave the arrow as you will, Locksley For my part I would love to prick Monceux with it heartily”