Page 44 - the-merry-adventures-of-robin-hood

about, waiting for them.
Then when the Sheriff and his dame had sat down, he
bade his herald wind upon his silver horn; who thereupon
sounded three blasts that came echoing cheerily back from
the gray walls of Nottingham. Then the archers stepped
forth to their places, while all the folks shouted with a
mighty voice, each man calling upon his favorite yeoman.
‘Red Cap!’ cried some; ‘Cruikshank!’ cried others; ‘Hey for
William o’ Leslie!’ shouted others yet again; while ladies
waved silken scarfs to urge each yeoman to do his best.
Then the herald stood forth and loudly proclaimed the
rules of the game as follows:
‘Shoot each man from yon mark, which is sevenscore
yards and ten from the target. One arrow shooteth each
man first, and from all the archers shall the ten that shoot-
eth the fairest shafts be chosen for to shoot again. Two
arrows shooteth each man of these ten, then shall the three
that shoot the fairest shafts be chosen for to shoot again.
Three arrows shooteth each man of those three, and to him
that shooteth the fairest shafts shall the prize be given.’
Then the Sheriff leaned forward, looking keenly among
the press of archers to find whether Robin Hood was among
them; but no one was there clad in Lincoln green, such as
was worn by Robin and his band. ‘Nevertheless,’ said the
Sheriff to himself, ‘he may still be there, and I miss him
among the crowd of other men. But let me see when but ten
men shoot, for I wot he will be among the ten, or I know
him not.’
And now the archers shot, each man in turn, and the