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The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood-Part6_Howard Pyle(1853-1911)_English Literature(文学名著)-第2页

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arrow lodged close beside the stranger's. Then after a short



space they all three shot again, and once more each arrow lodged

within the clout, but this time Adam o' the Dell's was farthest



from the center, and again the tattered stranger's shot was

the best. Then, after another time of rest, they all shot for



the third time. This time Gilbert took great heed to his aim,

keenly measuring the distance and shooting with shrewdest care.



Straight flew the arrow, and all shouted till the very flags

that waved in the breeze shook with the sound, and the rooks



and daws flew clamoring about the roofs of the old gray tower,

for the shaft had lodged close beside the spot that marked



the very center.

"Well done, Gilbert!" cried the Sheriff right joyously.



"Fain am I to believe the prize is thine, and right fairly won.

Now, thou ragged knave, let me see thee shoot a better



shaft than that."

Nought spake the stranger but took his place, while all was hushed,



and no one spoke or even seemed to breathe, so great was the silence

for wonder what he would do. Meanwhile, also, quite still stood



the stranger, holding his bow in his hand, while one could count five;

then he drew his trusty yew,



holding it drawn but a moment, then loosed the string.

Straight flew the arrow, and so true that it smote a gray



goose feather from off Gilbert's shaft, which fell fluttering

through the sunlit air as the stranger's arrow lodged



close beside his of the Red Cap, and in the very center.

No one spoke a word for a while and no one shouted, but each man



looked into his neighbor's face amazedly.

"Nay," quoth old Adam o' the Dell presently, drawing a long breath



and shaking his head as he spoke, "twoscore years and more have I

shot shaft, and maybe not all times bad, but I shoot no more this day,



for no man can match with yon stranger, whosoe'er he may be."

Then he thrust his shaft into his quiver, rattling, and unstrung



his bow without another word.

Then the Sheriff came down from his dais and drew near, in all his



silks and velvets, to where the tattered stranger stood leaning upon

his stout bow, while the good folk crowded around to see the man



who shot so wondrously well. "Here, good fellow," quoth the Sheriff,

"take thou the prize, and well and fairly hast thou won it, I bow.



What may be thy name, and whence comest thou?"

"Men do call me Jock o' Teviotdale, and thence am I come,"



said the stranger.

"Then, by Our Lady, Jock, thou art the fairest archer that e'er mine



eyes beheld, and if thou wilt join my service I will clothe thee with a

better coat than that thou hast upon thy back; thou shalt eat and drink



of the best, and at every Christmastide fourscore marks shall be thy wage.

I trow thou drawest better bow than that same coward knave Robin Hood,



that dared not show his face here this day. Say, good fellow, wilt thou

join my service?"



"Nay, that will I not," quoth the stranger roughly.

"I will be mine own, and no man in all merry England shall



be my master."

"Then get thee gone, and a murrain seize thee!" cried the Sheriff,



and his voice trembled with anger. "And by my faith and troth,

I have a good part of a mind to have thee beaten for thine insolence!"



Then he turned upon his heel and strode away.

It was a right motley company that gathered about the noble



greenwood tree in Sherwood's depths that same day.

A score and more of barefoot friars were there, and some that



looked like tinkers, and some that seemed to be sturdy beggars

and rustic hinds; and seated upon a mossy couch was one all clad



in tatteredscarlet, with a patch over one eye; and in his

hand he held the golden arrow that was the prize of the great



shooting match. Then, amidst a noise of talking and laughter,

he took the patch from off his eye and stripped away the scarlet



rags from off his body and showed himself all clothed in fair

Lincoln green; and quoth he, "Easy come these things away,



but walnut stain cometh not so speedily from yellow hair."

Then all laughed louder than before, for it was Robin Hood



himself that had won the prize from the Sheriff's very hands.

Then all sat down to the woodland feast and talked among themselves



of the merry jest that had been played upon the Sheriff, and of the

adventures that had befallen each member of the band in his disguise.



But when the feast was done, Robin Hood took Little John apart and said,

"Truly am I vexed in my blood, for I heard the Sheriff say today,



`Thou shootest better than that coward knave Robin Hood, that dared

not show his face here this day.' I would fain let him know who it



was who won the golden arrow from out his hand, and also that I am




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