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But here come forth the others； let them shoot； and then I will match
those that win against all the world。〃
〃So be it；〃 said the Queen。 Thereupon； beckoning to young
Richard Partington； she whispered something in his ear； and straightway
the Page bowed and left the place； crossing the meadow to the other
side of the range； where he was presently lost in the crowd。
At this； all that stood around whispered to one another；
wondering what it all meant； and what three men the Queen was
about to set against those famous archers of the King's guard。
And now the ten archers of the King's guard took their stand again；
and all the great crowd was hushed to the stillness of death。
Slowly and carefully each man shot his shafts； and so deep was
the silence that you could hear every arrow rap against the target
as it struck it。 Then； when the last shaft had sped； a great roar
went up； and the shooting； I wot； was well worthy of the sound。
Once again Gilbert had lodged three arrows in the white； Tepus came
second with two in the white and one in the black ring next to it；
but stout Clifton had gone down and Hubert of Suffolk had taken
the third place； for； while both those two good yeomen had lodged
two in the white； Clifton had lost one shot upon the fourth ring；
and Hubert came in with one in the third。
All the archers around Gilbert's booth shouted for joy till their throats
were hoarse； tossing their caps aloft； and shaking hands with one another。
In the midst of all the noise and hubbub five men came walking across
the lawn toward the King's pavilion。 The first was Richard Partington；
and was known to most folk there； but the others were strange to everybody。
Beside young Partington walked a yeoman clad in blue； and behind
came three others； two in Lincoln green and one in scarlet。
This last yeoman carried three stout bows of yew tree； two fancifully
inlaid with silver and one with gold。 While these five men came
walking across the meadow； a messenger came running from the King's
booth and summoned Gilbert and Tepus and Hubert to go with him。
And now the shouting quickly ceased； for all saw that something
unwonted was toward； so the folk stood up in their places and leaned
forward to see what was the ado。
When Partington and the others came before the spot where the King and
Queen sat； the four yeomen bent their knees and doffed their caps unto her。
King Henry leaned far forward and stared at them closely； but the Bishop
of Hereford； when he saw their faces； started as though stung by a wasp。
He opened his mouth as though about to speak； but； looking up； he saw
the Queen gazing at him with a smile upon her lips； so he said nothing；
but bit his nether lip； while his face was as red as a cherry。
Then the Queen leaned forward and spake in a clear voice。
〃Locksley；〃 said she； 〃I have made a wager with the King that thou
and two of thy men can outshoot any three that he can send against you。
Wilt thou do thy best for my sake？〃
〃Yea；〃 quoth Robin Hood； to whom she spake； 〃I will do my best for thy sake；
and； if I fail； I make my vow never to finger bowstring more。〃
Now； although Little John had been somewhat abashed in the Queen's bower；
he felt himself the sturdy fellow he was when the soles of his feet pressed
green grass again； so he said boldly； 〃Now； blessings on thy sweet face；
say I。 An there lived a man that would not do his best for theeI will
say nought； only I would like to have the cracking of his knave's pate！
〃Peace； Little John！〃 said Robin Hood hastily； in a low voice；
but good Queen Eleanor laughed aloud； and a ripple of merriment
sounded all over the booth。
The Bishop of Hereford did not laugh； neither did the King；
but he turned to the Queen； and quoth he； 〃Who are these men
that thou hast brought before us？〃
Then up spoke the Bishop hastily； for he could hold his peace no longer：
〃Your Majesty；〃 quoth he； 〃yon fellow in blue is a certain outlawed
thief of the mid…country； named Robin Hood； yon tall； strapping villain
goeth by the name of Little John； the other fellow in green is a certain
backsliding gentleman； known as Will Scarlet； the man in red is a rogue
of a northern minstrel； named Allan a Dale。〃
At this speech the King's brows drew together blackly； and he turned
to the Queen。 〃Is this true？〃 said he sternly。
〃Yea；〃 said the Queen； smiling； 〃the Bishop hath told the truth；
and truly he should know them well； for he and two of his friars spent
three days in merry sport with Robin Hood in Sherwood Forest。 I did
little think that the good Bishop would so betray his friends。
But bear in mind that thou hast pledged thy promise for the safety
of these good yeomen for forty days。〃
〃I will keep my promise；〃 said the King； in a deep voice
that showed the anger in his heart； 〃but when these forty
days are gone let this outlaw look to himself； for mayhap
things will not go so smoothly with him as he would like。〃
Then he turned to his archers； who stood near the Sherwood yeomen；
listening and wondering at all that passed。 Quoth he；
〃Gilbert； and thou； Tepus； and thou； Hubert； I have pledged
myself that ye shall shoot against these three fellows。
If ye outshoot the knaves I will fill your caps with silver pennies；
if ye fail ye shall lose your prizes that ye have won so fairly；
and they go to them that shoot against you； man to man。
Do your best； lads； and if ye win this bout ye shall be glad
of it to the last days of your life。 Go； now； and get you gone
to the butts。〃
Then the three archers of the King turned and went back to their booths；
and Robin and his men went to their places at the mark from which they
were to shoot。 Then they strung their bows and made themselves ready；
looking over their quivers of arrows； and picking out the roundest
and the best feathered。
But when the King's archers went to their tents； they told
their friends all that had passed； and how that these four
men were the famous Robin Hood and three of his band； to wit；
Little John； Will Scarlet； and Allan a Dale。 The news of this
buzzed around among the archers in the booths； for there was not
a man there that had not heard of these great mid…country yeomen。
From the archers the news was taken up by the crowd that looked
on at the shooting； so that at last everybody stood up；
craning their necks to catch sight of the famous outlaws。
Six fresh targets were now set up； one for each man that was to shoot；
whereupon Gilbert and Tepus and Hubert came straightway forth
from the booths。 Then Robin Hood and Gilbert of the White Hand
tossed a farthing aloft to see who should lead in the shooting；
and the lot fell to Gilbert's side； thereupon he called upon Hubert
of Suffolk to lead。
Hubert took his place； planted his foot firmly； and fitted a fair；
smooth arrow； then； breathing upon his fingertips； he drew the string
slowly and carefully。 The arrow sped true； and lodged in the white；
again he shot； and again he hit the clout； a third shaft he sped；
but this time failed of the center； and but struck the black；
yet not more than a finger's…breadth from the white。
At this a shout went up； for it was the best