SHOOTING MATCH. 127 



was his adversary. ' Very well,' replied the king. ' I 

 shall award twenty-five louis to the winner.' 



" The question ran from mouth to mouth, ' Who is there to 

 contend against Simon 1'Archer ? Who will shoot a match 

 with Simon 1'Archer V 



" The group of gardes forestiers opened to make way for one 



of their number, B , the favourite of Monseigneur the 



Adonis, the Lovelace of the band the most admired in the 

 dance the proudest under arms. He advanced with 

 haughty steps, and announced that he accepted the chal- 

 lenge. 



" Many wagers were laid. The king alone betted in favour 

 of Simon ; nearly all the others were in favour of B . 



"The match consisted in shooting at twelve pigeons, 

 alternately, with ball, as they each flew separately from a 

 cage. Limits were marked, within which each pigeon must 

 fall, and umpires appointed to judge of the shots. 



"The king repaired to a small eminence; the courtiers 

 formed several groups around his person, and the other 

 assistants placed themselves in a circle. 



" The two champions were well known, and their reciprocal 

 skill excited the greatest degree of interest amongst the 

 spectators. This interest was redoubled when the adver- 

 saries took up their position. 



" I have already described the Chataigneraie de Biprion. 

 Imagine the silence that reigns amongst the spectators, and 

 their anxiety for the result. 



" The first shot was allotted to Simon, who killed his bird ; 

 the keeper also fired with similar success. They each con- 

 tinued to give proofs of almost miraculous precision, until 

 the fifth shot, when the garde-cliasse missed, and a mur- 

 mur was heard amongst the bystanders. Things, however, 

 were soon re-established on an equal footing; for Simon, no 

 doubt agitated by the enthusiasm he had excited, missed his 



