red eve-第16节

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it　smote；　and　there　was　silence；　for　none　could　see　exactly　what　had
happened。　Then　he　who　stood　near　the　target　to　mark　ran　forward；　and
screamed　out：

〃By　God's　name；　he　has　shattered　Jack　Green's　centre　arrow；　and　shot
/clean　through　the　clout！/〃

Then　from　all　sides　rose　the　old　archer　cry；　〃/He；　He！　He；　He！/〃　while
the　young　Prince　threw　his　cap　on　high；　and　the　King　said：

〃Would　that　there　were　more　such　men　as　this　in　England！　Jack　Green；
it　seems　that　you　are　beaten。〃

〃Nay；〃　said　Grey　Dick；　seating　himself　again　upon　the　grass；　〃there　is
naught　to　choose　between　us　in　this　round。　What　next；　your　Grace？〃

Only　Hugh；　who　watched　him；　saw　the　big　veins　swell　beneath　the　pale
skin　of　his　forehead；　as　they　ever　did　when　he　was　moved。

〃The　war　game；〃　said　the　King；　〃that　is；　if　you　will；　for　here　rough
knocks　may　be　going。　Set　it　out；　one　of　you。〃

Then　a　captain　of　the　archers　explained　this　sport。　In　short　it　was
that　man　should　stand　against　man　clad　in　leather　jerkins；　and　wearing
a　vizor　to　protect　the　face；　and　shoot　at　each　other　with　blunt　arrows
rubbed　with　chalk；　he　who　first　took　what　would　have　been　a　mortal
wound　to　be　held　worsted。

〃I　like　not　blunted　arrows；〃　said　Grey　Dick；　〃or；　for　the　matter　of
that；　any　other　arrows　save　my　own。　Against　how　many　must　I　play？　The
three？〃

The　captain　nodded。

〃Then；　by　your　leave；　I　will　take　them　all　at　once。〃

Now　some　said　that　this　was　not　fair；　but　in　the　end　Dick　won　his
point；　and　those　archers　whom　he　had　beaten；　among　them　Jack　Green；
were　placed　against　him；　standing　five　yards　apart；　and　blunted　arrows
served　out　to　all。　Dick　set　one　of　them　on　the　string；　and　laid　the
two　others　in　front　of　them。　Then　a　knight　rode　to　halfway　between
them；　but　a　little　to　one　side；　and　shouted：　〃Loose！〃

As　the　word　struck　his　ear　Dick　shot　with　wonderful　swiftness；　and
almost　as　the　arrow　left　the　bow　flung　himself　down；　grasping　another
as　he　fell。　Next　instant；　three　shafts　whistled　over　where　he　had
stood。　But　his　found　its　mark　on　the　body　of　him　at　whom　he　had　aimed；
causing　the　man　to　stagger　backward　and　throw　down　his　bow；　as　he　was
bound　to　do；　if　hit。

Next　instant　Dick　was　up　again　and　his　second　arrow　flew；　striking
full　and　fair　before　ever　he　at　whom　it　was　aimed　had　drawn。

Now　there　remained　Jack　Green　alone；　and；　as　Dick　set　the　third　arrow；
but　before　he　could　draw；　Jack　Green　shot。

〃Beat！〃　said　Dick；　and　stood　quite　still。

At　him　rushed　the　swift　shaft；　and　passed　over　his　shoulder　within　a
hairbreadth　of　his　ear。　Then　came　Dick's　turn。　On　Jack　Green's　cap　was
an　archer's　plume。

〃Mark　the　plume；　lords；〃　he　said；　and　lo！　the　feather　leapt　from　that
cap。

Now　there　was　silence。　No　one　spoke；　but　Dick　drew　out　three　more
arrows。

〃Tell　me；　captain；〃　he　said；　〃is　your　ground　marked　out　in　scores；　and
what　is　the　farthest　that　any　one　of　you　has　sent　a　flighting　shot？〃

〃Ay；〃　answered　the　officer；　〃and　twenty　score　and　one　yard　is　the
farthest；　nor　has　that　been　done　for　many　a　day。〃

Dick　steadied　himself；　and　seemed　to　fill　his　lungs　with　air。　Then；
stretching　his　long　arms　to　the　full；　he　drew　the　great　bow　till　the
horns　looked　as　though　they　came　quite　close　together；　and　loosed。
High　and　far　flew　that　shaft；　men's　eyes　could　scarcely　follow　it；　and
all　must　wait　long　before　a　man　came　running　to　say　where　it　had
fallen。

〃Twenty　score　and　two　yards！〃　he　cried。

〃Not　much　to　win　by；〃　grunted　Dick；　〃though　enough。　I　have　done　twenty
and　one　score　once；　but　that　was　somewhat　downhill。〃

Then；　while　the　silence　still　reigned；　he　set　the　second　arrow　on　the
string；　and　waited；　as　though　he　knew　not　what　to　do。　Presently；　about
fifty　paces　from　him；　a　wood　dove　flew　from　out　a　tree　and；　as　such
birds　do　at　the　first　breath　of　spring；　for　the　day　was　mild　and
sunny；　hovered　a　moment　in　the　air　ere　it　dipped　toward　a　great　fir
where　doubtless　it　had　built　for　years。　Never；　poor　fowl；　was　it
destined　to　build　again；　for　as　it　turned　its　beak　downward　Dick's
shaft　pierced　it　through　and　through　and　bore　it　onward　to　the　earth。

Still　in　the　midst　of　a　great　silence；　Dick　took　up　his　quiver　and
emptied　it　on　the　ground；　then　gave　it　to　the　captain　of　the　archers；
saying：

〃And　you　will；　step　sixty；　nay；　seventy　paces；　and　set　this　mouth
upward　in　the　grass　where　a　man　may　see　it　well。〃

The　captain　did　so；　propping　the　quiver　straight　with　stones　and　a　bit
of　wood。　Then；　having　studied　all　things　with　his　eyes；　Dick　shot
upward；　but　softly。　Making　a　gentle　curve；　the　arrow　turned　in　the　air
as　it　drew　near　the　quiver；　and　fell　into　its　mouth；　striking　it　flat。

〃Ill　done；〃　grumbled　Dick；　〃had　I　shot　well；　it　should　have　been
pinned　to　earth。　Well；　yon　shadow　baulked　me；　and　it　might　have　been
worse。〃

Then　he　unstrung　his　bow；　and　slipped　it　into　its　case。

Now；　at　length；　the　silence　was　broken；　and　in　good　earnest。　Men；
especially　those　of　Dunwich；　screamed　and　shouted；　hurling　up　their
caps。　Jack　Green；　for　all　jealousy　was　forgotten　at　the　sight　of　this
wondrous　skill；　ran　to　Dick；　clasped　him　in　his　arms；　and；　dragging
the　badge　from　off　his　breast；　tried　to　pin　it　to　his　rough　doublet。
The　young　Prince　came　and　clapped　him　on　the　shoulder；　saying：

〃Be　my　man！　Be　my　man！〃

But　Dick　only　growled；　〃Paws　off！　What　have　I　done　that　I　have　not
done　a　score　of　times　before　with　no　fine　folk　to　watch　me？　I　shot　to
please　my　master　and　for　the　honour　of　Suffolk；　not　for　you；　and
because　some　dogs　keep　their　tails　too　tightly　curled。〃

〃A　sulky　fellow；〃　said　the　Prince；　〃but；　by　heaven；　I　like　him！〃

Then　the　King　pushed　his　horse　through　the　throng；　and　all　fell　back
before　his　Grace。

〃Richard　Archer；〃　he　said；　〃never　has　such　marksmanship　as　yours　been
seen　in　England　since　we　sat　upon　the　throne；　nor　shall　it　go
unrewarded。　The　twenty　angels　that　you　said　you　would　stake　last　night
shall　be　paid　to　you　by　the　treasurer　of　our　household。　Moreover；　here
is　a　gift　from　Edward　of　England；　the　friend　of　archers；　that　you　may
be　pleased　to　wear；〃　and　taking　his　velvet　cap　from　off　his　head；　the
King　unpinned　from　it　a　golden　arrow　of　which　the　barbed　head　was　cut
from　a　ruby；　and　gave　it　to　him。

〃I　thank　you；　Sire；〃　said　Dick；　his　pale　skin　flushing　with　pride　and
pleasure。　〃I'll　wear　it　while　I　live；　and　may　the　sight　of　it　mean
death　to　many　of　your　enemies。〃

〃Without　doubt　it　will；　and　that　ere　long；　Richard；　for　know　you　that
soon　we　sail　again　for　France；　whence　the　tempest　held　us　back；　and　it
is　my　pleasure　that　you　sail　with　us。　Therefore　I　name　you　one　of　our
fletchers；　with　place　about　our　person　in　our　bodyguard　of　archers。
Jack　Green　will　show　you　your　quarters；　and　instruct　you　in　your
duties；　and　soon　you　shall　match　your　skill　against　his　again；　but
next　time　with　Frenchmen　for　your　targets。〃

〃Sire；〃　said　Dick；　very　slowly；　〃take　back　your　arrow；　for　I　cannot　do
as　you　will。〃

〃Why；　man？　Are　you　a　Frenchman？〃　asked　the　King；　angrily；　for　he　was
not　wont　to　have　his　favours　thus　refused。

〃My　mother　never　told　me　so；　Sire；　although　I　don't　know　for　certain
who　my　father　may　have　been。　Still；　I　think　not；　since　I　hate　the
sight　of　that　breed　as　a　farmer's　dog　hates　rats。　But；　Sire；　I　have　a
good　master；　and　do　not　wish　to　change　him　for　one　who；　saving　your
presence；　may　prove　a　worse；　since　King's　favour　on　Monday　has　been
known　to　mean　King's　halter　on　Tuesday。　Did　you　not　promise　to　whip　me
round　your　walls　last　night　unless　I　shot　as　well　as　I　thought　I
could；　and　now　do　you　not　change　your　face　and　give　me　golden　arrows？〃

At　these　bold　words　a　roar　of　laughter　went　up　from　all　who　heard
them；　in　which　the　King　himself　joined　heartily　enough。

〃Silence！〃　he　cried　presently。　〃This　yeoman's　tongue　is　as　sharp　as
his　shafts。　I　am　pierced。　Let　us　hear　whom　he　will　hit　next。〃

〃You　again；　Sire；　I　think；〃　went　on　Dick；　〃because；　after　the　fashion
of　kings；　you　are　unjust。　You　praise　me　for　my　shooting；　whereas　you
should　praise　God；　seeing　that　it　is　no　merit　of　mine；　but　a　gift　He
gave　me　at　my　birth　in　place　of　much　which　He　withheld。　Moreover；　my
master　there；〃　and　he　pointed　to　Hugh；　〃who　has　just　done　you　better
service　than　hitting　a　clout　in　the　red　and　a　dow　beneath　the　wing；
you　forget　altogether；　though　I　tell　you　he　can　shoot　almost　as　well
as　I；　for　I　taught　him。〃

〃Dick；　Dick！〃　broke　in　Hugh　in　an　agony　of　shame。　Taking　no　heed；　Dick
went　on　imperturbably：　〃And　is　the　best　man　with　a　sword　in　Suffolk；
as　the　ghost　of　John　Clavering　knows　to…day。　Lastly；　Sire；　you　send
this　master　of　mine　upon　a　certain　business　where　straight　arrows　may
be　wanted　as　well　as　sharp　swords；　and　yet　you'd　keep　me　here
whittling　them　out　of　ashwood；　who；　if　I　could　have　had　my　will；　would
have　been　on　the　road　these　two　hours　gone。　Is　that　a　king's　wisdom？〃

〃By　St。　George！〃　exclaimed　Edward；　〃I　think　that　I　should　make　you
councillor　as　well　as　fletcher；　since　without　doubt；　man；　you　have　a
bitter　wit；　and；　what　is　more　rare；　do　not　fear　to　speak　the　truth　as
you　see　it。　Moreover；　in　this　matter；　you　see　it　well。　Go　with　Hugh　de
Cressi　on　the　business　which　I　have　given　him　to　do；