Part 37 (1/2)

A la about the stage ca felloith very dirty ragged clothes upon him, and a black patch over one eye He wore a beard, pointed and untrimmed, and he listened very cal

”Cos for you,”

cried Nat, flourishi+ng his staff

”If you will use a shorter staff than this, Master Wind-bag,” said the beggar, quietly, and showing his stick, ”I'll take all the beating _you_ can give e

The beggar took off his ragged coat and lie

[Illustration: ROBIN HOOD DEFEATS NAT OF NOTTINGHAM AT QUARTER-STAFF

_The beggar dealt his foe a back-thrust so neatly, so heartily, and so swiftly that Nat ept off the stage into the crowd as a fly off a table_]

They fenced for an opening, both playing well The beggar, for all his limp and one eye, had a pretty notion of the sport, but he had the queerest gait upon hie under Nat's blows the people laughed continuously

Nat caught hiar ht, and Nat lifted hi blow

But the one-eyedsuddenly on one side, and, as Nat's staff was descending vainly, the beggar dealt his foe a back-thrust so neatly, so heartily, and so swiftly that Nat ept off the stage into the crowd as a fly off a table

The beggar waited the full time for him to return; and then claimed the prize

The victory of this queer unknoas popular Nat was a great bully and braggart, and many of thear went to fetch his prize fro and applause He found Monceux seated in a handsohter and herwas in progress

The Sheriff narroatched each colanced often towards Mistress Monceux The de near her feet, so that every hter signalled ”No,” and ”No” again to her father as the various bowar paused to watch the contest It seely

Master Patch was thus for some minutes close to the Sheriff's tent His patched eye was turned towards it, and he seereat man's near presence But he had taken due note, nevertheless, of Master Monceux and his cold daughter, and the round at the latter's feet

One of the Nottingham men, a tanner by trade, had so far been an to be disdainful of the rest, and to swagger it somewhat each time his turn to shoot came round ”The prize will surely be thine, Arthur-a-Bland,” cried Monceux, loudly clapping his hands together after this fellow had made a fair shot

”Indeed, I do not think that Master Hood himself would beat me to-day,”

adar heard both reossip,”

he said, ”here in Nottingham town; yet I would venture to advise thee, were this pretty place in Sherwood and the bold Robin within earshot”

The archer turned towards his, of Robin Hood?” he sneered, angrily

”I know too ossip, I boasted ofwith a stranger who had met me very civilly upon the road Says he: 'If you can hit yon mark I'll know you a better archer than Robin Hood' So I flew antly, and 'twas a tidy shot, near two hundred paces My arrow struck the er?' says I He made for reply such a bowshot as never I have seen before; for, having stepped back a score of yards, he yet was able to speed his arrow so cleverly as to split mine own from end to end 'Thou art Robin Hood,' I said then, and I had fear upon me”

”What then?” asked Arthur-a-Bland, co,” the beggar went on, ”and for my archery five silver crowns”