Say, will you draw first or last?"
"Last, Sire," he answered, "that I may know their mettle."
Then a man stepped forward, a strong and gallant looking fellow, and
loosed his three arrows. The first missed the clout, the second pierced
the white wood, and the third hit the red eye.
The clout having been changed, and the old one brought to the King with
the arrows in it, the second man took his turn. This time all three
of the arrows hit the mark, one of them being in the red. Again it
was changed, and forth came the great archer of the guard, a tall and
clear-eyed man named Jack Green, and whom, it was said, none had ever
beaten. He drew, and the arrow went home in the red on its left edge.
He drew again, and the arrow went home in the red on its right edge. He
drew a third time, and the arrow went home straight in the very centre
of the red, where was a little black spot.
Now a great laugh went up, since clearly the Suffolk man was beaten ere
ever he began.
"Your Dick may do as well; he can do no better," said the King, when the
target was brought to him.
Grey Dick looked at it.
"A boon, your Grace," said Dick. "Grant that this clout may be set up
again with the arrows fast. Any may know them from mine since they are
grey, whereas those I make are black, for I am a fletcher in my spare
hours, and love my own handiwork."
"So be it," said the King, wondering; and the clout was replaced upon
its stand.
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