tall figure came to the front; one moment, and the
cry was "Gold," while Viola's clap of the hands brought on her a frown
from her mother, who thought demonstrativeness improper. She had to
content herself with pinching my fingers every time one of those shafts
went home to the heart of the target, and Harold stood, only too facile
princeps, while Eustace sauntered up to us with the old story about the
sun or the damp, I forget which, only it was something that had spoilt
his archery.

Hippolyta was undaunted. The small target and longer range had thrown
out many a competitor before now, and her not very low-pitched tone was
heard observing that no dumb giant should beat her at her own tools.

Whatever had been her weariness of her successes before, it was gone
now, and she shot splendidly. Never had such shooting been known in
the annals of the club, and scarcely a word passed as the two went
pacing between the two little targets, Harold with his calm, easy
movement, business-like but without effort, and Hippolyta with
excitement beginning to tell on her. Each time she passed us we saw
her step more impetuous, the glow on her cheeks deeper, and at last
that her eyes were full of tears; and after that, one arrow went into
the outer white, and the last even into the green; while Harry's final
shot was into that one great confluent hole that the centre of the
target had become.

"Heard ye the arrow hurtle through the sky?
Heard ye the dragon monster's deathful cry?"

whispered Viola. "Mamma won't let me cheer, and I must have it out
somehow."

And as I sprang up and hurried to Harold, she came with me, taking care
to cast no look behind, for fear of detaining glances; and she put out
both hands to shake his, as he stood with the smile lighting up his
face as he saw the pleasure he had given; though Eustace never came
forward, unable to rejoice where he had been so palpably and publicly
excelled.

Hippolyta behaved well. She came up holding out her hand, and saying,
"Well, Mr. Alison, if one is to fall, it is a pleasure to have so
mighty a victor. But why did you never let me see before what a
Palnatoke (if I must not say Tell) I had to deal with?"

"I had no time for the practices," said Harold, puzzled as to who
Palnatoke was.

"Worse and worse! You don't mean that you shoot like this without
practice?"

"Lucy taught me a little."

"Well, if heaven-born archers come down on one