SUGGESTIONS FOR STUDY

Notice how simply and easily Stevenson gives you the whole situation, the time and the place, together with the persons, the scene, and the action. What phrases does he use to suggest the pleasantness of the day, and the first scenes? Notice carefully how he makes you feel the rapid flowing of the river. What words like racing, swung, etc., does he use to carry out this effect of the swiftness of the water? Do you understand what he says about Pan and the reeds? Does Stevenson make the action clear when he tells of the landing, and the resting on the bank? What is the use of the passage about the bells? Notice how he introduces the story of his accident by explaining about the fallen trees. Read carefully the story of the accident. What are the clearest sentences, and those that tell the most? How much does the author tell of his own feelings? How does he make you understand how cold he was? Does the reading of the incident leave you distressed, or amused? Which effect do you think that the author intended? Go through the selection and pick out the clear little pictures that Stevenson has scattered through it.

THEME SUBJECTS

When the Canoe Upset
Paddling around the Snags
How We Crossed the Portage
A Narrow Escape
On the Lake in a Storm
Along the Banks of the River
Carried Away by the Current
When the Gasoline Engine
Stopped

When I Learned to Swim
Adrift without Oars
My First Dip in the Ocean
Going Sixty Miles an Hour
When We Broke through the
Ice
Glimpses of the Country from
the Train

Floating down the Stream

At the Mercy of the Waves

SUGGESTIONS FOR THEME-WRITING

A Narrow Escape:-Think of some accident that has happened to you, or to some one you know, and that you can write about for this theme. Tell clearly just when and where the accident took place. Notice how Stevenson gets an effect of contrast by describing the peacefulness of the country. See if

you can do the same thing. Notice, also, how unsuspecting the victim is before the accident; he is thinking of very pleasant things. Can you represent the victim in your story as feeling pleasant and happy, and then being overtaken by his accident? Tell in a lively way just what occurred. Explain clearly what was said and done, and how the person concerned in the accident felt. Show how the escape was brought about. Express, in a clear, brief way, the feeling of the persons involved, after the affair was all over.

- Notice what vivid interest

Floating down the Stream: ing little pictures Stevenson has given of the country through which he passed in his canoe. Can you do something of the same kind, describing scenes that you know, along some river or small stream?

THE ARCHERY CONTEST

WALTER SCOTT

(From Ivanhoe, Chapter XIII)

THE Sound of the trumpets soon recalled those spectators who had already begun to leave the field; and proclamation was made that Prince John, suddenly called by high and peremptory public duties, held himself obliged to discontinue the entertainments of to-morrow's festival: nevertheless, that, unwilling so many good yeomen should depart without a trial of skill, he was pleased to appoint them, before leaving the ground, presently to execute the competition of archery intended for the morrow. To the best archer a prize was to be awarded, being a bugle-horn, mounted with silver, and a silver baldric richly ornamented with a medallion of St. Hubert, the patron of silvan sport.

More than thirty yeomen at first presented themselves as competitors, several of whom were rangers and under-keepers in the royal forests of Needwood and Charnwood. When, however, the archers understood with whom they were to be matched, upwards of twenty withdrew themselves from the contest, unwilling to encounter the dishonour of almost certain defeat. For in those days the skill of each celebrated marksman was as well known for many miles round him, as the qualities of a horse trained at Newmarket are familiar to those who frequent that well-known meeting.

The diminished list of competitors for silvan fame still amounted to eight. Prince John stepped from his royal

seat to view more nearly the persons of these chosen yeomen, several of whom wore the royal livery. Having satisfied his curiosity by this investigation, he looked for the object of his resentment, whom he observed standing on the same spot, and with the same composed countenance which he had exhibited upon the preceding day.

"Fellow," said Prince John, "I guessed by thy insolent babble thou wert no true lover of the long-bow, and I see thou darest not adventure thy skill among such merry-men as stand yonder."

"Under favour, sir," replied the yeoman, "I have another reason for refraining to shoot, besides the fearing discomfiture and disgrace."

"And what is thy other reason?" said Prince John, who, for some cause which perhaps he could not himself have explained, felt a painful curiosity respecting this individual.

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Because," replied the woodsman, "I know not if these yeomen and I are used to shoot at the same marks; and because, moreover, I know not how your Grace might relish the winning of a third prize by one who has unwittingly fallen under your displeasure." Prince John coloured as he put the question, "What is thy name, yeoman?"

"Locksley," answered the yeoman.

"Then, Locksley," said Prince John, "thou shalt shoot in thy turn, when these yeomen have displayed their skill. If thou carriest the prize, I will add to it twenty nobles; but if thou losest it, thou shalt be stript of thy Lincoln green, and scourged out of the lists with bowstrings, for a wordy and insolent braggart."

"And how if I refuse to shoot on such a wager?" said the yeoman. - "Your Grace's power, supported,

as it is, by so many men-at-arms, may indeed easily strip and scourge me, but cannot compel me to bend or to draw my bow."

"If thou refusest my fair proffer," said the Prince, "the provost of the lists shall cut thy bowstring, break thy bow and arrows, and expel thee from the presence as a faint-hearted craven."

"This is no fair chance you put on me, proud Prince," said the yeoman, "to compel me to peril myself against the best archers of Leicester and Staffordshire, under the penalty of infamy if they should overshoot me. Nevertheless, I will obey your pleasure."

"Look to him close, men-at-arms," said Prince John, "his heart is sinking; I am jealous lest he attempt to escape the trial. And do you, good fellows, shoot boldly round; a buck and a butt of wine are ready for your refreshment in yonder tent, when the prize is won."

A target was placed at the upper end of the southern avenue which led to the lists. The contending archers took their station in turn, at the bottom of the southern access, the distance between that station and the mark allowing full distance for what was called a shot at rovers. The archers, having previously determined by lot their order of precedence, were to shoot each three shafts in succession. The sports were regulated by an officer of inferior rank, termed the Provost of the Games; for the high rank of the marshals of the lists would have been held degraded, had they condescended to superintend the sports of the yeomanry.

One by one the archers, stepping forward, delivered their shafts yeomanlike and bravely. Of twenty-four arrows, shot in succession, ten were fixed in the target, and the others ranged so near it, that, considering the