Приключения Робин Гуда

           "

           "TopleasuremyQueenIwilldoit,"saidSirRobertLee,"butforthesakeofnootherinalltheworldwouldIwageragroat,fornomancanstandagainstTepusandGilbertandClifton."

           ThenturningtotheKing,QueenEleanorsaid,"IwantnosuchaidasSirRobertgivethme;butagainstthywineandbeerandstoutbowsofyewIwagerthisgirdleallsetwithjewelsfromaroundmywaist;andsurelythatisworthmorethanthine."

           "Now,Itakethywager,"quoththeKing."Sendforthyarchersstraightway.Butherecomeforththeothers;letthemshoot,andthenIwillmatchthosethatwinagainstalltheworld."

           "Sobeit,"saidtheQueen.Thereupon,beckoningtoyoungRichardPartington,shewhisperedsomethinginhisear,andstraightwaythePagebowedandlefttheplace,crossingthemeadowtotheothersideoftherange,wherehewaspresentlylostinthecrowd.Atthis,allthatstoodaroundwhisperedtooneanother,wonderingwhatitallmeant,andwhatthreementheQueenwasabouttosetagainstthosefamousarchersoftheKing’sguard.

           AndnowthetenarchersoftheKing’sguardtooktheirstandagain,andallthegreatcrowdwashushedtothestillnessofdeath.Slowlyandcarefullyeachmanshothisshafts,andsodeepwasthesilencethatyoucouldheareveryarrowrapagainstthetargetasitstruckit.Then,whenthelastshafthadsped,agreatroarwentup;andtheshooting,Iwot,waswellworthyofthesound.