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.
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