Ivanhoe

"You have not allowed for the wind, Hubert," said his antagonist,

bending his bow, "or that had been a better shot."

So saying, and without showing the least anxiety to pause upon his

aim, Locksley stept to the appointed station, and shot his arrow as

carelessly in appearance as if he had not even looked at the mark. He

was speaking almost at the instant that the shaft left the bowstring,

yet it alighted in the target two inches nearer to the white spot which

marked the centre than that of Hubert.

"By the light of heaven!" said Prince John to Hubert, "an thou suffer

that runagate knave to overcome thee, thou art worthy of the gallows!"

Hubert had but one set speech for all occasions. "An your highness

were to hang me," he said, "a man can but do his best. Nevertheless, my

grandsire drew a good bow--"

"The foul fiend on thy grandsire and all his generation!" interrupted

John, "shoot, knave, and shoot thy best, or it shall be the worse for

thee!"

Thus exhorted, Hubert resumed his place, and not neglecting the

caution which he had received from his adversary, he made the necessary

allowance for a very light air of wind, which had just arisen, and

shot so successfully that his arrow alighted in the very centre of the

target.

"A Hubert! a Hubert!" shouted the populace, more interested in a known

person than in a stranger. "In the clout!--in the clout!--a Hubert for

ever!"

"Thou canst not mend that shot, Locksley," said the Prince, with an

insulting smile.

"I will notch his shaft for him, however," replied Locksley.

And letting fly his arrow with a little more precaution than before, it

lighted right upon that of his competitor, which it split to shivers.

The people who stood around were so astonished at his wonderful

dexterity, that they could not even give vent to their surprise in their

usual clamour. "This must be the devil, and no man of flesh and blood,"

whispered the yeomen to each other; "such archery was never seen since a

bow was first bent in Britain."

"And now," said Locksley, "I will crave your Grace's permission to plant

such a mark as is used in the North Country; and welcome every brave

yeoman who shall try a shot at it to win a smile from the bonny lass he

loves best."

He then turned to leave the lists. "Let your guards attend me," he said,

"if you please--I go but to cut a rod from the next willow-bush."