Year: 1863

+ Amongst the other amusements on this
occasion, shooting with the cross bow was
one, at which the king himself was unhapi-
ly very expert. 1t is well known how SIX
years afterwards, at the Infamous massacre
ofSt. Bartholomew, he shot at the Hugen-
OTIS, his own subjects. At Nerac, however
the game was certainly little more harm
less--an orange placed at proper distance,
having been chosen for the mark.


Whenever kings or princes value them,
selves upon excelling in particular art
there are few persons SO presumptuous as
to be able to surpass them. Not cour
tier dared to hit the golden fruit with his
arrow, in order not to deprive the king of
tho glory, or vain notion of being the best
shooter with the cross bow in the kingdom.
The Duke de Guise was also an excellent
marksman, but at the same time an excel
lent courtier. His arrow few, Of course.
fer from the mark. There were many spec
tators, both from the palace and town, who
really believed that the king excelled all
courtiers, as his arrow had flown the near
est and nearly grazsd the orange. They
were, however, as yet ignorant OF the man
ner of shooting as practiced at courts.


Suddenly there was cry of "Now for the
Prince of BearnP' Young Henry stepped
forward with his cross bow, and taking aim,
at one shot split the golden mark exactly in
the middle. A murmur of applause arose
among the spectators; the ladies, smiling,
whispered something into each others ears;
the king looked, however, black, and was
little pleased with the skill young Henry
had displayed.


According to the rules Of the game, the
prince of Bearn wanted to begin again, and
have the first aim at the fresh orange that
had been stuck up as the mark. This was
opposed by Charles, who determined not to
be deprived of his assumed perogative, ex
claimed, "We must go on in the usual or
der.n "Certainly;" s,id Henry, according
to the rules of the game Kings, when
angry, seldom accustom themselves to any
rule. As Henry, notwithstanding, again
stepped forward to take aim, he was rude
ly pushed away by the King; the young
prince, naturally impetuous, started back
few PAGES, and bending the string OF his
bow, took aim with his arrow at Charles.
His Majesty, dreadfullv alarmed ran away
and sheltered himself behind one of the
stoutest of his courtiers, who fancying the
arrew already in his body, cried out "msu
tire !" at the same time placing his broad
hands before his stomach, as if to keep Oh
the deadly weapon. Henry although very
much enraged, burst out into a loud laugh
at the sight Of the little stout man standing
before the king in such trembling atti-
tude The maids and women Of Nerac, see
ing the young prince laugh so Justify, began
also to litter, and their example was soon
followed by all except the courtiers, who
scarcely knew what sort OF a face to make
up on the occasion But the king who was
as little inclined to laugh as his brosd-bac
ed courtier, cried out from his refuge place
in an angry tone, "Bring away the Prince
of Bearn." Luckily, however, Lagaucherie
Henry's preeeptor, was at hand who led
him away by the arm to the palace.


This little quarrel between Charles and
the young prince led, of course, to no seri-
Gus consequences-Henry, who was a
thoughtless young fellow, was obliged to
crave pardon of the king, and the matter
was settled.


On the morrow the same company as
sembled again, to shoot with the cross bow
at the same kind of mark as on the prece-
ding day All the maids, ladies, and men of
Nerac were present, and the number Of spec.
tators much greater than before, in hopes
of again having something to laugh "a. The
king however, did not attend this day, but
remained under some pretext. or other, at
the same palace.


This day all the shooters took much bet
ter aim than on the preceding day; thegood
people of Nerac could not at all conceive
how they had become so expert in one
night. The mark was removed farther,
nevertheless all the oranges were soon hit
The young Duke de Guse in particular dis
tinguished himself by his skill, the last or
ange that was left having been placed up
as the mark, he took aim, and split it in
halves.


Henry was very much disappointed at all
the oranges being gone as he had such
particular wish to have a trial in skill with
his young rival. He looked right and left
to try to discover something that would
serve as mark to cover his arrow, but in
vain. At last he described among the
spectators young girl of about the same
age as himself, a perfect model of beauty.
She stood there looking on the festive
scene in simple attire, with her lovely in
nocent face half shadowed by her bonnet.
Henry hastily went up to the little beauty
Nerac not that it was her he wanted as a
mark to his arrow, but the rose which she
wore at her bosom. Henry asked her for
the flower, and blushingly she gave him
the image Of herself He fastened with it
to the target aud sticking it up as a mark,
ran back to the shooting-house.


"Now, duke" exclaimed the prince pant
ing, you are the winner, there's another
mark for you, and tits yours to have the
first aim," at the same time sucking the
blood from his wounded finger, which he
had scratched with thorn of the rose


The duke took aim, le. fly, and missed.
Henry, stepping forward, took aim, and
casting a glance over his arm to the side
srbaro stood tho littla heautv o,d tban on