Page 307 - the-merry-adventures-of-robin-hood

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 Hu-
bert 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 Scar-
let’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, me-
thinks. 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, al-
though it was the best shooting that had been done that day,

0 The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood