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ever beaten。 He drew； and the arrow went home in the red on its left
edge。 He drew again； and the arrow went home in the red on its right
edge。 He drew a third time； and the arrow went home straight in the
very centre of the red； where was a little black spot。
Now a great laugh went up； since clearly the Suffolk man was beaten
ere ever he began。
〃Your Dick may do as well； he can do no better；〃 said the King； when
the target was brought to him。
Grey Dick looked at it。
〃A boon； your Grace；〃 said Dick。 〃Grant that this clout may be set up
again with the arrows fast。 Any may know them from mine since they are
grey； whereas those I make are black； for I am a fletcher in my spare
hours； and love my own handiwork。〃
〃So be it；〃 said the King； wondering； and the clout was replaced upon
its stand。
Now Grey Dick stretched himself； looked at the clout； looked at his
bow； and set a black…winged arrow on the string。 Then he drew； it
seemed but lightly and carelessly； as though he thought the distance
small。 Away flew the shaft； and sank into the red a good inch within
the leftmost arrow of Jack Green。
〃Ah；〃 said the onlookers； 〃a lucky shot indeed！〃
Again he drew； and again the arrow sank into the red； a good inch
within the rightmost shot of Jack Green。
〃Oh！〃 said the onlookers； 〃this man is an archer； but Jack's last he
cannot best； let the devil help him how he will。〃
〃In the devil's name； then； be silent！〃 wheezed Grey Dick； with a
flash of his half…opened eye。
〃Ay； be silentbe silent！〃 said the King。 〃We do not see such
shooting every day。〃
Now Dick set his foot apart and； arrow on string； thrice he lifted his
bow and thrice let it sink again； perhaps because he felt some breath
of wind stir the still air。 A fourth time he lifted； and drew； not as
he had before； but straight to the ear； then loosed at once。
Away rushed the yard…long shaft； and folk noted that it scarcely
seemed to rise as arrows do； or at least not half so high。 It rushed；
it smote； and there was silence； for none could see exactly what had
happened。 Then he who stood near the target to mark ran forward； and
screamed out：
〃By God's name； he has shattered Jack Green's centre arrow； and shot
/clean through the clout！/〃
Then from all sides rose the old archer cry； 〃/He； He！ He； He！/〃 while
the young Prince threw his cap on high； and the King said：
〃Would that there were more such men as this in England！ Jack Green；
it seems that you are beaten。〃
〃Nay；〃 said Grey Dick； seating himself again upon the grass； 〃there is
naught to choose between us in this round。 What next； your Grace？〃
Only Hugh； who watched him； saw the big veins swell beneath the pale
skin of his forehead； as they ever did when he was moved。
〃The war game；〃 said the King； 〃that is； if you will； for here rough
knocks may be going。 Set it out； one of you。〃
Then a captain of the archers explained this sport。 In short it was
that man should stand against man clad in leather jerkins； and wearing
a vizor to protect the face； and shoot at each other with blunt arrows
rubbed with chalk； he who first took what would have been a mortal
wound to be held worsted。
〃I like not blunted arrows；〃 said Grey Dick； 〃or； for the matter of
that； any other arrows save my own。 Against how many must I play？ The
three？〃
The captain nodded。
〃Then； by your leave； I will take them all at once。〃
Now some said that this was not fair； but in the end Dick won his
point； and those archers whom he had beaten； among them Jack Green；
were placed against him； standing five yards apart； and blunted arrows
served out to all。 Dick set one of them on the string； and laid the
two others in front of them。 Then a knight rode to halfway between
them； but a little to one side； and shouted： 〃Loose！〃
As the word struck his ear Dick shot with wonderful swiftness； and
almost as the arrow left the bow flung himself down； grasping another
as he fell。 Next instant； three shafts whistled over where he had
stood。 But his found its mark on the body of him at whom he had aimed；
causing the man to stagger backward and throw down his bow； as he was
bound to do； if hit。
Next instant Dick was up again and his second arrow flew； striking
full and fair before ever he at whom it was aimed had drawn。
Now there remained Jack Green alone； and； as Dick set the third arrow；
but before he could draw； Jack Green shot。
〃Beat！〃 said Dick； and stood quite still。
At him rushed the swift shaft； and passed over his shoulder within a
hairbreadth of his ear。 Then came Dick's turn。 On Jack Green's cap was
an archer's plume。
〃Mark the plume； lords；〃 he said； and lo！ the feather leapt from that
cap。
Now there was silence。 No one spoke； but Dick drew out three more
arrows。
〃Tell me； captain；〃 he said； 〃is your ground marked out in scores； and
what is the farthest that any one of you has sent a flighting shot？〃
〃Ay；〃 answered the officer； 〃and twenty score and one yard is the
farthest； nor has that been done for many a day。〃
Dick steadied himself； and seemed to fill his lungs with air。 Then；
stretching his long arms to the full； he drew the great bow till the
horns looked as though they came quite close together； and loosed。
High and far flew that shaft； men's eyes could scarcely follow it； and
all must wait long before a man came running to say where it had
fallen。
〃Twenty score and two yards！〃 he cried。
〃Not much to win by；〃 grunted Dick； 〃though enough。 I have done twenty
and one score once； but that was somewhat downhill。〃
Then； while the silence still reigned； he set the second arrow on the
string； and waited； as though he knew not what to do。 Presently； about
fifty paces from him； a wood dove flew from out a tree and； as such
birds do at the first breath of spring； for the day was mild and
sunny； hovered a moment in the air ere it dipped toward a great fir
where doubtless it had built for years。 Never； poor fowl； was it
destined to build again； for as it turned its beak downward Dick's
shaft pierced it through and through and bore it onward to the earth。
Still in the midst of a great silence； Dick took up his quiver and
emptied it on the ground； then gave it to the captain of the archers；
saying：
〃And you will； step sixty； nay； seventy paces； and set this mouth
upward in the grass where a man may see it well。〃
The captain did so； propping the quiver straight with stones and a bit
of wood。 Then； having studied all things with his eyes； Dick shot
upward； but softly。 Making a gentle curve； the arrow turned in the air
as it drew near the quiver； and fell into its mouth； striking it flat。
〃Ill done；〃 grumbled Dick； 〃had I shot well； it should have been
pinned to earth。 Well； yon shadow baulked me； and it might have been
worse。〃
Then he unstrung his bow； and slipped it into its case。
Now； at length； the silence was broken； and in good earnest。 Men；
especially those of Dunwich； screamed and shouted； hurling up their
caps。 Jack Green； for all jealousy was forgotten at the sight of this
wondrous skill； ran to Dick； clasped him in his arms； and； dragging
the badge from off his breast； tried to p