"Cowardly dog!" said Prince John.---"Sirrah Locksley, do thou
shoot; but, if thou hittest such a mark, I will say thou art the
first man ever did so. However it be, thou shalt not crow over
us with a mere show of superior skill."

"I will do my best, as Hubert says," answered Locksley; "no man
can do more."

So saying, he again bent his bow, but on the present occasion
looked with attention to his weapon, and changed the string,
which he thought was no longer truly round, having been a little
frayed by the two former shots. He then took his aim with some
deliberation, and the multitude awaited the event in breathless
silence. The archer vindicated their opinion of his skill: his
arrow split the willow rod against which it was aimed. A jubilee
of acclamations followed; and even Prince John, in admiration of
Locksley's skill, lost for an instant his dislike to his person.
"These twenty nobles," he said, "which, with the bugle, thou hast
fairly won, are thine own; we will make them fifty, if thou wilt
take livery and service with us as a yeoman of our body guard,
and be near to our person. For never did so strong a hand bend a
bow, or so true an eye direct a shaft."

"Pardon me, noble Prince," said Locksley; "but I have vowed, that
if ever I take service, it should be with your royal brother King
Richard. These twenty nobles I leave to Hubert, who has this day
drawn as brave a bow as his grandsire did at Hastings. Had his
modesty not refused the trial, he would have hit the wand as well
I."