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；