Against how many must I play?
The three ?" The captain nodded.
"Then, by your leave, I will take them all at once." Now some said that this was not fair, but in the end Dick won his point, and those archers whom he had beaten, among them Jack Green, were placed against him, standing five yards apart, and blunted arrows served out to all.

Dick set one of them on the string, and laid the two others in front of them.

Then a knight rode to halfway between them, but a little to one side, and shouted: "Loose!" As the word struck his ear Dick shot with wonderful swiftness, and almost as the arrow left the bow flung himself down, grasping another as he fell.

Next instant, three shafts whistled over where he had stood.
But his found its mark on the body of him at whom he had aimed, causing the man to stagger backward and throw down his bow, as he was bound to do, if hit.
Next instant Dick was up again and his second arrow flew, striking full and fair before ever he at whom it was aimed had drawn.
Now there remained Jack Green alone, and, as Dick set the third arrow, but before he could draw, Jack Green shot.
"Beat!" said Dick, and stood quite still.
At him rushed the swift shaft, and passed over his shoulder within a hairbreadth of his ear.

Then came Dick's turn.