He drew the
good yew bow quickly, and quickly loosed a shaft; so short was the time
that no man could draw a breath betwixt the drawing and the shooting;
yet his arrow lodged nearer the center than the other by twice the
length of a barleycorn.
"Now by all the saints in Paradise!" cried the Sheriff, "that is a
lovely shaft in very truth!"
Then Adam o' the Dell shot, carefully and cautiously, and his 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.
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