It was the archer's contest for the golden arrow, and twenty men stepped forth to shoot. Among them was a beggar-man, a sorry looking fellow with leggings of different colors, and brown scratched face and hands.
The first target was to be placed at thirty ells distance, and all those who hit its center were allowed to shoot at the second target, placed ten ells farther off.
The trumpet sounded again, and the archers prepared to shoot. Rob looked to his string, while the crowd smiled and whispered at the odd figure he cut, with his vari-colored legs and little cape.
Now the archers prepared to shoot again, each with some little care.
``And how if I refuse to shoot on such a wager?'' said the yeoman.
And do you, good fellows, shoot boldly round; a buck and a butt of wine are ready for your refreshment in yonder tent, when the prize is won.''
The archers, having previously determined by lot their order of precedence, were to shoot each three shafts in succession.
"But I have seen you, Johnston, and you, Samkin Aylward, and one or two others who are still with us, shoot as well as the best.
"Yet I have seen Johnston shoot these twenty years, and I will not flinch from it.
I take it unkindly of thee, Samkin, that thou shouldst call all eyes thus upon a broken bowman who could once shoot a fair shaft.
“There’s them living who say that Nathaniel Bumppo's right to
shoot on these hills is of older date than Marmaduke Temple’s right to forbid him,” he said.
"If ye handle yew bow and apple shaft no better than ye do oaken cudgel, I wot ye are not fit to be called yeomen in my country; but if there be any man here that can
shoot a better shaft than I, then will I bethink me of joining with you."
