Page:Tudor Jenks--The defense of the castle.djvu/35

Rh losers to a new trial; for he desired in every way to gain the good will of the men on whom so much might depend.

Edgar was proud of his skill as an archer, and easily won every contest in which he took part, until the baron persuaded old Hugh to join in the sport. The veteran was unwilling at first, for he pretended to be too lazy.

"I am growing old, and my joints are stiffening." he said, as he came forward and leaned down with pretended difficulty to choose a bow. "Still, if it gives you pleasure to make sport of an old soldier's weakness, I can but let fly an arrow, and trust to fortune!"

He tried one bow after another, and then dropped them all, with a shake of his gray head.

"These are but baby toys," said he. "If I were to draw sharply there would be splinters flying. Give me but a moment's grace, and I will bring such a bow as a man may depend upon in a quarrel!"

"The old soldier's weakness finds the bows too weak," remarked the baroness playfully, as the old man turned away. He threw back a grim smile over his shoulder, but made no reply as he strode away to the quarters where he lodged. He reappeared with the long bow he had brought with him to the castle, and drawing it from its case