Onebyonethearchers，steppingforward，deliveredtheirshaftsyeomanlikeandbravely。Oftwenty-fourarrows，shotinsuccession，tenwerefixedinthetarget，andtheothersrangedsonearit，that，consideringthedistanceofthemark，itwasaccountedgoodarchery。Ofthetenshaftswhichhitthetarget，twowithintheinnerringwereshotbyHubert，aforesterintheserviceofMalvoisin，whowasaccordinglypronouncedvictorious。
``Now，Locksley，’’saidPrinceJohntotheboldyeoman，withabittersmile，``wiltthoutryconclusionswithHubert，orwiltthouyieldupbow，baldric，andquiver，totheProvostofthesports?’’
``Sithitbenobetter，’’saidLocksley，``Iamcontenttotrymyfortune；onconditionthatwhenI
haveshottwoshaftsatyondermarkofHubert’s，heshallbeboundtoshootoneatthatwhichIshallpropose。’’
``Thatisbutfair，’’answeredPrinceJohn，``anditshallnotberefusedthee——Ifthoudostbeatthisbraggart，Hubert，Iwillfillthebuglewithsilver-penniesforthee。’’
``Amancandobuthisbest，’’answeredHubert；
``butmygrandsiredrewagoodlongbowatHastings，andItrustnottodishonourhismemory。’’
Theformertargetwasnowremoved，andafreshoneofthesamesizeplacedinitsroom。Hubert，who，asvictorinthefirsttrialofskill，hadtherighttoshootfirst，tookhisaimwithgreatdeliberation，longmeasuringthedistancewithhiseye，whileheheldinhishandhisbendedbow，withthearrowplacedonthestring。Atlengthhemadeastepforward，andraisingthebowatthefullstretchofhisleftarm，tillthecentreorgrasping-placewasnighlevelwithhisface，hedrewhisbowstringtohisear。Thearrowwhistledthroughtheair，andlightedwithintheinnerringofthetarget，butnotexactlyinthecentre。
``Youhavenotallowedforthewind，Hubert，’’
saidhisantagonist，bendinghisbow，``orthathadbeenabettershot。’’
Sosaying，andwithoutshowingtheleastanxietytopauseuponhisaim，Locksleystepttotheappointedstation，andshothisarrowascarelesslyinappearanceasifhehadnotevenlookedatthemark。
Hewasspeakingalmostattheinstantthattheshaftleftthebowstring，yetitalightedinthetargettwoinchesnearertothewhitespotwhichmarkedthecentrethanthatofHubert。
``Bythelightofheaven！’’saidPrinceJohntoHubert，``anthousufferthatrunagateknavetoovercomethee，thouartworthyofthegallows！’’
Huberthadbutonesetspeechforalloccasions。
``Anyourhighnessweretohangme，’’hesaid，``amancanbutdohisbest。Nevertheless，mygrandsiredrewagoodbow——’’
``Thefoulfiendonthygrandsireandallhisgeneration！’’
interruptedJohn，``shoot，knave，andshootthybest，oritshallbetheworseforthee！’’
Thusexhorted，Hubertresumedhisplace，andnotneglectingthecautionwhichhehadreceivedfromhisadversary，hemadethenecessaryallowanceforaverylightairofwind，whichhadjustarisen，andshotsosuccessfullythathisarrowalightedintheverycentreofthetarget。
``AHubert！aHubert！’’shoutedthepopulace，moreinterestedinaknownpersonthaninastranger。
``Intheclout！——intheclout！——aHubertforever！’’
``Thoucanstnotmendthatshot，Locksley，’’saidthePrince，withaninsultingsmile。
``Iwillnotchhisshaftforhim，however，’’repliedLocksley。
Andlettingflyhisarrowwithalittlemoreprecautionthanbefore，itlightedrightuponthatofhiscompetitor，whichitsplittoshivers。Thepeoplewhostoodaroundweresoastonishedathiswonderfuldexterity，thattheycouldnotevengiveventtotheirsurpriseintheirusualclamour。``Thismustbethedevil，andnomanoffleshandblood，’’
whisperedtheyeomantoeachother；``sucharcherywasneverseensinceabowwasfirstbentinBritain。’’
``Andnow，’’saidLocksley，``IwillcraveyourGrace’spermissiontoplantsuchamarkasisusedintheNorthCountry；andwelcomeeverybraveyeomanwhoshalltryashotatittowinasmilefromthebonnylasshelovesbest。’’
Hethenturnedtoleavethelists。``Letyourguardsattendme，’’hesaid，``ifyouplease——Igobuttocutarodfromthenextwillow-bush。’’
PrinceJohnmadeasignalthatsomeattendantsshouldfollowhimincaseofhisescape：butthecryof``Shame！shame！’’whichburstfromthemultitude，inducedhimtoalterhisungenerouspurpose。
Locksleyreturnedalmostinstantlywithawillowwandaboutsixfeetinlength，perfectlystraight，andratherthickerthanaman’sthumb。Hebegantopeelthiswithgreatcomposure，observingatthesametime，thattoaskagoodwoodsmantoshootatatargetsobroadashadhithertobeenused，wastoputshameuponhisskill。``Forhisownpart，’’
hesaid，``andinthelandwherehewasbred，menwouldassoontakefortheirmarkKingArthur’sround-table，whichheldsixtyknightsaroundit。A
childofsevenyearsold，’’hesaid，``mighthityondertargetwithaheadlessshaft；but，’’addedhe，walkingdeliberatelytotheotherendofthelists，andstickingthewillowwanduprightintheground，``hethathitsthatrodatfive-scoreyards，Icallhimanarcherfittobearbothbowandquiverbeforeaking，anitwerethestoutKingRichardhimself。’’
``Mygrandsire，’’saidHubert，``drewagoodbowatthebattleofHastings，andnevershotatsuchamarkinhislife——andneitherwillI。Ifthisyeomancancleavethatrod，Igivehimthebucklers——
orrather，Iyieldtothedevilthatisinhisjerkin，andnottoanyhumanskill；amancanbutdohisbest，andIwillnotshootwhereIamsuretomiss。Imightaswellshootattheedgeofourparson’swhittle，oratawheatstraw，oratasunbeam，asatatwinklingwhitestreakwhichIcanhardlysee。’’
``Cowardlydog！’’saidPrinceJohn——``SirrahLocksley，dothoushoot；but，ifthouhittestsuchamark，Iwillsaythouartthefirstmaneverdidso。Howeveritbe，thoushaltnotcrowoveruswithamereshowofsuperiorskill。’’
``Iwilldomybest，asHubertsays，’’answeredLocksley；``nomancandomore。’’
Sosaying，heagainbenthisbow，butonthepresentoccasionlookedwithattentiontohisweapon，andchangedthestring，whichhethoughtwasnolongertrulyround，havingbeenalittlefrayedbythetwoformershots。Hethentookhisaimwithsomedeliberation，andthemultitudeawaitedtheeventinbreathlesssilence。Thearchervindicatedtheiropinionofhisskill：hisarrowsplitthewillowrodagainstwhichitwasaimed。Ajubileeofacclamationsfollowed；andevenPrinceJohn，inadmirationofLocksley’sskill，lostforaninstanthisdisliketohisperson。``Thesetwentynobles，’’
hesaid，``which，withthebugle，thouhastfairlywon，arethineown；wewillmakethemfifty，ifthouwilttakeliveryandservicewithusasayeomanofourbodyguard，andbeneartoourperson。
Forneverdidsostrongahandbendabow，orsotrueaneyedirectashaft。’’
``Pardonme，noblePrince，’’saidLocksley；``butIhavevowed，thatifeverItakeservice，itshouldbewithyourroyalbrotherKingRichard。ThesetwentynoblesIleavetoHubert，whohasthisdaydrawnasbraveabowashisgrandsiredidatHastings。
Hadhismodestynotrefusedthetrial，hewouldhavehitthewandaswellI。’’
Hubertshookhisheadashereceivedwithreluctancethebountyofthestranger，andLocksley，anxioustoescapefurtherobservation，mixedwiththecrowd，andwasseennomore。
ThevictoriousarcherwouldnotperhapshaveescapedJohn’sattentionsoeasily，hadnotthatPrincehadothersubjectsofanxiousandmoreimportantmeditationpressinguponhismindatthatinstant。Hecalleduponhischamberlainashegavethesignalforretiringfromthelists，andcommandedhiminstantlytogalloptoAshby，andseekoutIsaactheJew。``Tellthedog，’’hesaid，``tosendme，beforesun-down，twothousandcrowns。Heknowsthesecurity；butthoumaystshowhimthisringforatoken。TherestofthemoneymustbepaidatYorkwithinsixdays。Ifheneglects，I
willhavetheunbelievingvillain’shead。Lookthatthoupasshimnotontheway；forthecircumcisedslavewasdisplayinghisstolenfineryamongstus。’’
Sosaying，thePrinceresumedhishorse，andreturnedtoAshby，thewholecrowdbreakingupanddispersinguponhisretreat。
CHAPTERXIV
Inroughmagnificencearray’d，WhenancientChivalrydisplay’dThepompofherheroicgames，AndcrestedchiefsandtissueddamesAssembled，attheclarion’scall，Insomeproudcastle’shigharch’dhall。
Warton。
PrinceJohnheldhishighfestivalintheCastleofAshby。Thiswasnotthesamebuildingofwhichthestatelyruinsstillinterestthetraveller，andwhichwaserectedatalaterperiodbytheLordHastings，HighChamberlainofEngland，oneofthefirstvictimsofthetyrannyofRichardtheThird，andyetbetterknownasoneofShakspeare’scharactersthanbyhishistoricalfame。ThecastleandtownofAshby，atthistime，belongedtoRogerdeQuincy，EarlofWinchester，who，duringtheperiodofourhistory，wasabsentintheHolyLand。
PrinceJohn，inthemeanwhile，occupiedhiscastle，anddisposedofhisdomainswithoutscruple；andseekingatpresenttodazzlemen’seyesbyhishospitalityandmagnificence，hadgivenordersforgreatpreparations，inordertorenderthebanquetassplendidaspossible。
ThepurveyorsofthePrince，whoexercisedonthisandotheroccasionsthefullauthorityofroyalty，hadsweptthecountryofallthatcouldbecollectedwhichwasesteemedfitfortheirmaster’stable。Guestsalsowereinvitedingreatnumbers；
andinthenecessityinwhichhethenfoundhimselfofcourtingpopularity，PrinceJohnhadextendedhisinvitationtoafewdistinguishedSaxonandDanishfamilies，aswellastotheNormannobilityandgentryoftheneighbourhood。Howeverdespisedanddegradedonordinaryoccasions，thegreatnumbersoftheAnglo-Saxonsmustnecessarilyrenderthemformidableinthecivilcommotionswhichseemedapproaching，anditwasanobviouspointofpolicytosecurepopularitywiththeirleaders。
ItwasaccordinglythePrince’sintention，whichheforsometimemaintained，totreattheseunwontedguestswithacourtesytowhichtheyhadbeenlittleaccustomed。Butalthoughnomanwithlessscruplemadehisordinaryhabitsandfeelingsbendtohisinterest，itwasthemisfortuneofthisPrince，thathislevityandpetulancewereperpetuallybreakingout，andundoingallthathadbeengainedbyhispreviousdissimulation。
OfthisfickletemperhegaveamemorableexampleinIreland，whensentthitherbyhisfather，HenrytheSecond，withthepurposeofbuyinggoldenopinionsoftheinhabitantsofthatnewandimportantacquisitiontotheEnglishcrown。UponthisoccasiontheIrishchieftainscontendedwhichshouldfirstoffertotheyoungPrincetheirloyalhomageandthekissofpeace。But，insteadofreceivingtheirsalutationswithcourtesy，JohnandhispetulantattendantscouldnotresistthetemptationofpullingthelongbeardsoftheIrishchieftains；