LESSON XL.

A Trial in Archery.

ad'-ver-sar-y, opponent, an

tagonist.

de-lib-e-ra'-tion, coolness,care. dex-ter-i-ty, cleverness, skill.

versary.

brag'-gart, boaster.

clam'-our, noise, shouts.

an-tag-o-nist, opponent, ad- pre-cau'-tion, care, delibera

tion.

run'-a-gate, vagabond, scoun

drel.

"Now, Locksley," said Prince John to the yeoman, with a bitter smile," wilt thou try conclusions with Hubert, or wilt thou yield up bow, baldric, and quiver, to the provost of the sports?"

"Sith it be no better," said Locksley, "I am content to try my fortune; on condition that when I have shot two shafts at yonder mark of Hubert's, he shall be bound to shoot one at that which I shall propose."

"That is but fair," replied Prince John, "and it shall not be refused thee. If thou dost beat this braggart, Hubert, I will fill thy bugle with silver pennies for thee."

"A man can do but his best," answered Hubert; "but my grandsire drew a good long bow at Hastings, and I trust not to dishonour his memory."

The former target was now removed, and a fresh one of the same size placed in its room. Hubert,

who, as victor in the first trial of skill, had the right to shoot first, took his aim with great deliberation. At length he made a step forward, and drew his bow-string to his ear. The arrow whistled through the air, and lighted within the inner ring of the target, but not exactly in the

centre.

"You have not allowed for the wind, Hubert,” said his antagonist, bending his bow, "or that had been a better shot."

So saying, and without showing the least anxiety to pause upon his aim, Locksley stept to the appointed station, and shot his arrow as carelessly in appearance, as if he had not even looked at the mark; yet it alighted in the target two inches nearer to the white spot which marked the centre than that of Hubert.

"By the light of Heaven!" said Prince John to Hubert, "and thou suffer that runagate knave to overcome thee, thou art worthy of the gallows."

Thus exhorted, Hubert resumed his place, and not neglecting the caution which he had received from his adversary, he made the necessary allowance for a very light air of wind, which had just arisen, and shot so successfully, that his arrow alighted in the very centre of the target.

"Thou canst not mend that shot, Locksley," said the prince, with an insulting smile.

"I will notch his shaft for him, however," replied Locksley.

And, letting fly his arrow with a little more precaution than before, it alighted right upon. that of his competitor, which it split to shivers. The people who stood around were so astonished at his dexterity, that they could not even give vent to their surprise in their usual clamour.

"And now," said Locksley, "I will crave your grace's permission to plant such a mark as is used in the North Country."

He then left the lists, but returned almost immediately with a willow wand, about six feet in length, perfectly straight, and rather thicker than a man's thumb. He began to peel this with great composure, observing, at the same time, that to ask a good woodsman to shoot at a target so broad as had hitherto been used, was to put shame upon his skill. "For his own part," he said, "and in the land where he was bred, men would as soon take for their mark King Arthur's round table, which held sixty knights around it. A child of seven years old," he said, "might hit yonder target with a headless shaft; but," added he, walking deliberately to the other end of the lists, and sticking the willow wand upright in the ground, "he that hits that rod at five score yards, I call him an archer fit to bear both bow and quiver before a king."

"My grandsire," said Hubert, "drew a good bow at the battle of Hastings, and never shot at such a mark in his life, and neither will I. If this

N *

yeoman can cleave that rod, I give him the buckler."

"Cowardly dog!" said Prince John. "Sirrah, Locksley, do thou shoot; but if thou hittest such a mark, I will say thou art the first man that ever did so."

"I will do my best, as Hubert says," answered Locksley; "no man can do more."

He then took his aim with great deliberation, and the multitude awaited the event in breathless silence. The archer vindicated their opinion of his skill; his arrow split the willow rod against which it was aimed. A jubilee of acclamations followed; but Locksley, after giving the prize of twenty nobles to Hubert, mixed with the crowd, and was seen no more. SIR WALTER SCOTT.

The lesson is taken from "Ivanhoe," the grandest, perhaps, of all Sir Walter Scott's novels. The scene is laid in the reign of Richard I., at the time when that prince was a prisoner in the hands of the Duke of Austria, and the affairs of England were administered by Prince John. The jealousy of the Normans to the Saxons had not yet died out. Hubert was a Norman. Locksley, who was none other than the famous Robin Hood, was a Saxon, and reckoned the best archer of his day. Targets. The mark at which the archers fired. It was generally oval, with concentric rounds drawn round it. The centre was a black spot upon a white ground, or vice versa. The nearer the arrow went to the centre, the greater was the skill of the archer.

Lists. The enclosed space at a tournament, within which the various games and trials of skill took place. This

space was usually marked off by ropes, stretched all round it. Yeoman.-A title given to those who were at the head of the class below gentlemen, and possessed a certain amount of freehold property.

Baldric.-A girdle or richly-ornamented belt. It was worn in feudal times, and served to show the rank of the

wearer.

Provost of the sports.--The officer appointed to superintend the sports, and see that everything was conducted according to the laws of chivalry-what we might term the umpire.

Hastings.-The battle of Hastings, fought in 1066, by which the English crown was transferred from the Saxon line to William the Conqueror.

You have not allowed for the wind.—In archery, as well as in rifle shooting, allowance must be made, in taking aim, for any wind that may be blowing, which would necessarily affect the direction of the arrow or ball.

In the North Country.-Robin Hood's famous haunt was Sherwood Forest, Nottinghamshire.

King Arthur's round table.-King Arthur, the mythic king of the native Britons, established an order of knighthood, limited to sixty knights. They all dined at one table, and, to avoid disputes as to precedence, the table was made round.

EXERCISES.

1. Quote and explain all the terms in the lesson that have reference to the games of the period to which the story belongs.

2. What is meant by—(a) Making allowance for the wind; (b) The inner ring of the target; (c) The white spot; (d) Thou art worthy of the gallows; (e) I will notch his shaft for him; (ƒ) A headless arrow; (g) A jubilee of acclamations followed.

3. Tell what you know regarding Prince John, Richard I., and Robin Hood.

4. Derive contending, precedence, considering, victorious, conclusions, propose, exactly, antagonist.