Приключения Робин Гуда
Robin Hood Shoots Before Queen Eleanor
Thentenfreshtargetswerebroughtforward,andeverysoundwashushedasthearcherstooktheirplacesoncemore.
Thistimetheshootingwasmorespeedilydone,foronlynineshaftswereshotbyeachband.Notanarrowmissedthetargets,butinthatofGilbertoftheWhiteHandfivearrowswereinthesmallwhitespotthatmarkedthecenter;ofthesefivethreewerespedbyGilbert.Thenthejudgescameforwardagain,andlookingatthetargets,calledaloudthenamesofthearcherchosenasthebestbowmanofeachband.OftheseGilbertoftheWhiteHandled,forsixofthetenarrowshehadshothadlodgedinthecenter;butstoutTepusandyoungCliftontrodcloseuponhisheels;yettheothersstoodafairchanceforthesecondorthirdplace.
Andnow,amidtheroaringofthecrowd,thosetenstoutfellowsthatwereleftwentbacktotheirtentstorestforawhileandchangetheirbowstrings,fornoughtmustfailatthisnextround,andnohandmusttrembleoreyegrowdimbecauseofweariness.
Thenwhilethedeepbuzzandhumoftalkingsoundedallaroundlikethenoiseofthewindintheleafyforest,QueenEleanorturnedtotheKing,andquothshe,"ThinkestthouthattheseyeomensochosenaretheverybestarchersinallmerryEngland?"
"Yea,truly,"saidtheKing,smiling,forhewaswellpleasedwiththesportthathehadseen;"andItellthee,thatnotonlyaretheythebestarchersinallmerryEngland,butinallthewideworldbeside.
