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yet not more than a finger's…breadth from the white。
At this a shout went up； for it was the best shooting that Hubert
had yet done that day。
Merry Robin laughed； and quoth he； 〃Thou wilt have an ill
time bettering that round； Will； for it is thy turn next。
Brace thy thews； lad； and bring not shame upon Sherwood。〃
Then Will Scarlet took his place； but； because of overcaution；
he spoiled his target with the very first arrow that he sped；
for he hit the next ring to the black； the second from the center。
At this Robin bit his lips。 〃Lad； lad；〃 quoth he； 〃hold not the string
so long！ Have I not often told thee what Gaffer Swanthold sayeth；
that ‘overcaution spilleth the milk'？〃 To this Will Scarlet took heed；
so the next arrow he shot lodged fairly in the center ring；
again he shot； and again he smote the center； but； for all that；
stout Hubert had outshot him； and showed the better target。
Then all those that looked on clapped their hands for joy because
that Hubert had overcome the stranger。
Quoth the King grimly； to the Queen； 〃If thy archers shoot
no better than that； thou art like to lose thy wager； lady。〃
But Queen Eleanor smiled； for she looked for better things
from Robin Hood and Little John。
And now Tepus took his place to shoot。 He； also； took overheed
to what he was about； and so he fell into Will Scarlet's error。
The first arrow he struck into the center ring； but the second missed
its mark； and smote the black； the last arrow was tipped with luck； for it
smote the very center of the clout； upon the black spot that marked it。
Quoth Robin Hood； 〃That is the sweetest shot that hath been sped
this day； but； nevertheless； friend Tepus； thy cake is burned； methinks。
Little John； it is thy turn next。〃
So Little John took his place as bidden； and shot his three arrows quickly。
He never lowered his bow arm in all the shooting； but fitted each shaft
with his longbow raised； yet all three of his arrows smote the center
within easy distance of the black。 At this no sound of shouting was heard；
for； although it was the best shooting that had been done that day；
the folk of London Town did not like to see the stout Tepus overcome
by a fellow from the countryside； even were he as famous as Little John。
And now stout Gilbert of the White Hand took his place and shot
with the greatest care； and again； for the third time in one day；
he struck all three shafts into the clout。
〃Well done； Gilbert！〃 quoth Robin Hood； smiting him upon the shoulder。
〃I make my vow； thou art one of the best archers that ever mine eyes beheld。
Thou shouldst be a free and merry ranger like us； lad； for thou art
better fitted for the greenwood than for the cobblestones and gray
walls of London Town。〃 So saying； he took his place； and drew a fair；
round arrow from his quiver； which he turned over and over ere he fitted
it to his bowstring。
Then the King muttered in his beard； 〃Now； blessed Saint Hubert； if thou wilt
but jog that rogue's elbow so as to make him smite even the second ring；
I will give eightscore waxen candles three fingers'…breadth in thickness
to thy chapel nigh Matching。〃 But it may be Saint Hubert's ears were stuffed
with tow； for he seemed not to hear the King's prayer this day。
Having gotten three shafts to his liking； merry Robin looked
carefully to his bowstring ere he shot。 〃Yea；〃 quoth he to Gilbert；
who stood nigh him to watch his shooting； 〃thou shouldst pay us
a visit at merry Sherwood。〃 Here he drew the bowstring to his ear。
〃In London〃here he loosed his shaft〃thou canst find nought
to shoot at but rooks and daws； there one can tickle the ribs
of the noblest stags in England。〃 So he shot even while he talked；
yet the shaft lodged not more than half an inch from the very center。
〃By my soul！〃 cried Gilbert。 〃Art thou the devil in blue；
to shoot in that wise？〃
〃Nay；〃 quoth Robin； laughing； 〃not quite so ill as that； I trust。〃
And he took up another shaft and fitted it to the string。
Again he shot； and again he smote his arrow close beside
the center； a third time he loosed his bowstring and dropped
his arrow just betwixt the other two and into the very center；
so that the feathers of all three were ruffled together；
seeming from a distance to be one thick shaft。
And now a low murmur ran all among that great crowd；
for never before had London seen such shooting as this；
and never again would it see it after Robin Hood's day had gone。
All saw that the King's archers were fairly beaten； and stout Gilbert
clapped his palm to Robin's； owning that he could never hope to draw
such a bowstring as Robin Hood or Little John。 But the King；
full of wrath； would not have it so； though he knew in his
mind that his men could not stand against those fellows。
〃Nay！〃 cried he； clenching his hands upon the arms of his seat；
〃Gilbert is not yet beaten！ Did he not strike the clout thrice？
Although I have lost my wager； he hath not yet lost the first prize。
They shall shoot again； and still again； till either he or that knave
Robin Hood cometh off the best。 Go thou； Sir Hugh； and bid them shoot
another round； and another； until one or the other is overcome。〃
Then Sir Hugh； seeing how wroth the King was； said never a word；
but went straightway to do his bidding； so he came to where Robin Hood
and the other stood； and told them what the King had said。
〃With all my heart；〃 quoth merry Robin； 〃I will shoot from this
time till tomorrow day if it can pleasure my most gracious lord
and King。 Take thy place； Gilbert lad； and shoot。〃
So Gilbert took his place once more； but this time he failed； for；
a sudden little wind arising； his shaft missed the center ring；
but by not more than the breadth of a barley straw。
〃Thy eggs are cracked； Gilbert；〃 quoth Robin； laughing； and straightway
he loosed a shaft； and once more smote the white circle of the center。
Then the King arose from his place； and not a word said he；
but he looked around with a baleful look； and it would have been an ill
day for anyone that he saw with a joyous or a merry look upon his face。
Then he and his Queen and all the court left the place； but the King's
heart was brimming full of wrath。
After the King had gone； all the yeomen of the archer guard came
crowding around Robin； and Little John； and Will； and Allan；
to snatch a look at these famous fellows from the mid…country；
and with them came many that had been onlookers at the sport；
for the same purpose。 Thus it happened presently that the yeomen；
to whom Gilbert stood talking； were all surrounded by a crowd
of people that formed a ring about them。
After a while the three judges that had the giving away of the prizes
came forward； and the chief of them all spake to Robin and said；
〃According to agreement； the first prize belongeth rightly to thee；
so here I give thee the silver bugle； here the quiver of ten golden arrows；
and here a purse of twoscore and ten golden pounds。〃 And as he spake
he handed those things to Robin； and then turned to Little John。 〃To thee；〃
he said； 〃belongeth the second prize； to wit； fivescore of the finest harts
that run on Dallen Lea。 Thou mayest shoot them w