In his bony hand, however, he held that
at which they did not laugh, namely, the great black bow, six feet
six inches long, which he said had come to him "from the sea," and was
fashioned, not of yew, but of some heavy, close-grained wood, grown
perhaps in Southern or even in far Eastern lands. Still, one of them,
who had tried to draw this bow to his ear and could not, said aloud that
"the Suffolk man would do naught with that clumsy pole." Whereat, Grey
Dick, who heard him, grinning, showing his white teeth like an angry
dog.
Near by, on horseback and on foot, were the King, the young Prince
Edward, and many knights and ladies; while on the other side stood
scores of soldiers and other folk from the castle, who came to see this
ugly fellow well beaten at his own game.
"Dick," whispered Hugh, "shoot now as you never shot before. Teach them
a lesson for the honour of Suffolk."
"Let me be, master," he grumbled. "I told you I would do my best."
Then he sat himself down on the grass and began to examine his arrows
one by one, to all appearance taking no heed of anything else.
Presently came the first test. At a distance of five score yards was
set a little "clout," or target, of white wood, not more than two feet
square. This clout had a red mark, or eye, three inches across, painted
in its centre, and stood not very high above the sward.
"Now, Richard," said the King, "three of the best archers that we have
about us have been chosen to shoot against you and each other by their
fellows.
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