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swarthy； savage； and bandy…legged archer； who bears the owl gules
on a black shield； the cognizance of the Lord Rowski de Donnerblitz。
〃Which； fellow？〃 says Otto； turning fiercely upon him。
〃The chain； to be sure！〃 says the leering archer。 〃You do not
suppose I am such a flat as to choose that velvet gimcrack there？〃
Otto laughed in scorn； and began to prepare his bow。 The trumpets
sounding proclaimed that the sports were about to commence。
Is it necessary to describe them？ No： that has already been done
in the novel of 〃Ivanhoe〃 before mentioned。 Fancy the archers clad
in Lincoln green； all coming forward in turn； and firing at the
targets。 Some hit； some missed； those that missed were fain to
retire amidst the jeers of the multitudinous spectators。 Those
that hit began new trials of skill； but it was easy to see； from
the first； that the battle lay between Squintoff （the Rowski
archer） and the young hero with the golden hair and the ivory bow。
Squintoff's fame as a marksman was known throughout Europe； but who
was his young competitor？ Ah？ there was ONE heart in the assembly
that beat most anxiously to know。 'Twas Helen's。
The crowning trial arrived。 The bull's eye of the target； set up
at three…quarters of a mile distance from the archers； was so
small； that it required a very clever man indeed to see； much more
to hit it； and as Squintoff was selecting his arrow for the final
trial； the Rowski flung a purse of gold towards his archer； saying
〃Squintoff； an ye win the prize； the purse is thine。〃 〃I may as
well pocket it at once； your honor；〃 said the bowman with a sneer
at Otto。 〃This young chick； who has been lucky as yet； will hardly
hit such a mark as that。〃 And； taking his aim； Squintoff
discharged his arrow right into the very middle of the bull's…eye。
〃Can you mend that； young springald？〃 said he； as a shout rent the
air at his success； as Helen turned pale to think that the champion
of her secret heart was likely to be overcome； and as Squintoff；
pocketing the Rowski's money； turned to the noble boy of Godesberg。
〃Has anybody got a pea？〃 asked the lad。 Everybody laughed at his
droll request； and an old woman； who was selling porridge in the
crowd； handed him the vegetable which he demanded。 It was a dry
and yellow pea。 Otto； stepping up to the target； caused Squintoff
to extract his arrow from the bull's…eye； and placed in the orifice
made by the steel point of the shaft； the pea which he had received
from the old woman。 He then came back to his place。 As he
prepared to shoot； Helen was so overcome by emotion； that 'twas
thought she would have fainted。 Never； never had she seen a being
so beautiful as the young hero now before her。
He looked almost divine。 He flung back his long clusters of hair
from his bright eyes and tall forehead； the blush of health mantled
on his cheek； from which the barber's weapon had never shorn the
down。 He took his bow； and one of his most elegant arrows； and
poising himself lightly on his right leg； he flung himself forward；
raising his left leg on a level with his ear。 He looked like
Apollo； as he stood balancing himself there。 He discharged his
dart from the thrumming bowstring： it clove the blue airwhiz！
〃HE HAS SPLIT THE PEA！〃 said the Princess； and fainted。 The
Rowski； with one eye； hurled an indignant look at the boy； while
with the other he levelled （if aught so crooked can be said to
level anything） a furious glance at his archer。
The archer swore a sulky oath。 〃He is the better man！〃 said he。
〃I suppose； young chap； you take the gold chain？〃
〃The gold chain？〃 said Otto。 〃Prefer a gold chain to a cap worked
by that august hand？ Never！〃 And advancing to the balcony where
the Princess； who now came to herself； was sitting； he kneeled down
before her； and received the velvet cap； which； blushing as scarlet
as the cap itself； the Princess Helen placed on his golden
ringlets。 Once more their eyes mettheir hearts thrilled。 They
had never spoken； but they knew they loved each other for ever。
〃Wilt thou take service with the Rowski of Donnerblitz？〃 said that
individual to the youth。 〃Thou shalt be captain of my archers in
place of yon blundering nincompoop； whom thou hast overcome。〃
〃Yon blundering nincompoop is a skilful and gallant archer；〃
replied Otto； haughtily； 〃and I will NOT take service with the
Rowski of Donnerblitz。〃
〃Wilt thou enter the household of the Prince of Cleves？〃 said the
father of Helen； laughing； and not a little amused at the
haughtiness of the humble archer。
〃I would die for the Duke of Cleves and HIS FAMILY；〃 said Otto；
bowing low。 He laid a particular and a tender emphasis on the word
family。 Helen knew what he meant。 SHE was the family。 In fact
her mother was no more； and her papa had no other offspring。
〃What is thy name； good fellow；〃 said the Prince； 〃that my steward
may enroll thee？〃
〃Sir；〃 said Otto； again blushing； 〃I am OTTO THE ARCHER。〃
CHAPTER XI。
THE MARTYR OF LOVE。
The archers who had travelled in company with young Otto gave a
handsome dinner in compliment to the success of our hero； at which
his friend distinguished himself as usual in the eating and
drinking department。 Squintoff； the Rowski bowman； declined to
attend； so great was the envy of the brute at the youthful hero's
superiority。 As for Otto himself； he sat on the right hand of the
chairman； but it was remarked that he could not eat。 Gentle reader
of my page！ thou knowest why full well。 He was too much in love to
have any appetite； for though I myself when laboring under that
passion； never found my consumption of victuals diminish； yet
remember our Otto was a hero of romance； and they NEVER are hungry
when they're in love。
The next day； the young gentleman proceeded to enroll himself in
the corps of Archers of the Prince of Cleves； and with him came his
attached squire； who vowed he never would leave him。 As Otto threw
aside his own elegant dress； and donned the livery of the House of
Cleves； the noble Childe sighed not a little。 'Twas a splendid
uniform 'tis true； but still it WAS a livery； and one of his proud
spirit ill bears another's cognizances。 〃They are the colors of
the Princess； however；〃 said he； consoling himself； 〃and what
suffering would I not undergo for HER？〃 As for Wolfgang； the
squire； it may well be supposed that the good…natured； low…born
fellow had no such scruples； but he was glad enough to exchange for
the pink hose； the yellow jacket； the pea…green cloak； and orange…
tawny hat； with which the Duke's steward supplied him； the homely
patched doublet of green which he had worn for years past。
〃Look at you two archers；〃 said the Prince of Cleves to his guest；
the Rowski of Donnerblitz； as they were strolling on the
battlements after dinner； smoking their cigars as usual。 His
Highness pointed to our two young friends； who were mounting guard
for the first time。 〃See yon two bowmenmark their bearing！ One
is the youth who beat thy Squintoff； and t'other； an I mistake not；
won the third prize at the butts。 Both wear the same uniformthe
colors of my houseyet wouldst not swear that the one was but a
churl； and the other a noble gentleman？〃
〃Which looks like the nobleman？〃 said the Rowski； as black as
thunder。
〃WHICH？ why； young Otto； to be sure；〃 said the Princess Helen；
eagerly。 The young lady was following the pair； but under pretence
of disliking the odor of the cigar； she had refused the Rowski's
proffered arm； and was loitering behind with her parasol。
Her interposition in favor of her young protege only made the black
and jealous Rowski more ill…humored。 〃How long is it； Sir Prince
of Cleves；〃 said he； 〃that the churls who wear your livery permit
themselves to wear the ornaments of noble knights？ Who but a noble
dare wear ringlets such as yon springald's？ Ho； archer！〃 roared
he； 〃come； hither； fellow。〃 And Otto stood before him。 As he
came； and presenting arms stood respectfully before the Prince and
his savage guest； he looked for one moment at the lovely Helen
their eyes met； their hearts beat simultaneously： and； quick； two
little blushes appeared in the cheek of either。 I have seen one
ship at sea answering another's signal so。
While they are so regarding each other； let us just remind our
readers of the great estimation in which the hair was held in the
North。 Only nobles were permitted to wear it long。 When a man
disgraced himself； a shaving was sure to follow。 Penalties were
inflicted upon villains or vassals who sported ringlets。 See the
works of Aurelius Tonsor； Hirsutus de Nobilitate Capillari；
Rolandus de Oleo Macassari； Schnurrbart； Fresirische Alterthumskunde；
&c。
〃We must have those ringlets of thine cut； good fellow；〃 said the
Duke of Cleves good…naturedly； but wishing to spare