Bring him
down.'
"Herne raised his crossbow, and let fly the bolt; but it missed its mark,
and the buck, startled by the noise, dashed down the brake wholly
uninjured.
"King Richard's brow grew dark, and Herne uttered an exclamation of
rage and despair.
"'Thou shalt have a third and yet easier trial,' said the king. Old Osmond
Crooke shall lend thee his bow, and thy quarry shall be yon magot-pie.'
"As he spoke, the arrow sped. But it quivered in the trunk of the tree,
some yards from the bird. The unfortunate shooter looked distracted;
but King Richard made no remark, until, towards the close of the day,
he said to him, 'Thou must regain thy craft, friend Herne, or I cannot
continue thee as my chief keeper.'
"The keepers congratulated each other in secret, for they felt that their
malice was about to be gratified.
"The next day Herne went forth, as he thought, alone, but he was
watched by his enemies. Not a shaft would go true, and he found that
he had completely lost his mastery over hound and horse. The day
after that he again rode forth to hunt with the king, and his failures
made him the laughing-stock of the party. Richard at length dismissed
him with these words, ' Take repose for a week, and then thou shalt
have a further trial.
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