"Are the arrows of the great Prince Kaou so well fitted to the
cord," she said, "that he dares to try his skill with one who,
although a girl, hath yet the wit and right to test his skill?"
The guards laid hands upon the intruder to drag her away, but the
prince, nettled at her tone, yet glad to welcome any thing that
promised novelty or amusement, bade them hold off their hands.
"No girl speaketh thus to the Prince Kaou and liveth," he said
insolently. "Give me instant test of thy boast, or the wooden
collar[1] in the palace torture-house, shall be thy fate."
[1] The "wooden collar" was the "kia" or "cangue,"--a terrible
instrument of torture used in China for the punishment of
criminals.
"Give me the arrows, Prince," the girl said, bravely, "and I will
make good my words."
At a sign, the slaves handed her a bow and arrows. But, as she
tried the cord and glanced along the polished shaft, the prince
said:
"Yet, stay, girl; here is no target set for thee. Let the slaves
set up the people's target. These are not for such as thou."
"Nay, Prince, fret not thyself," the girl coolly replied. "My
target is here!" and while all looked on in wonder, the undaunted
girl deliberately toed the practice line, twanged her bow, and
with a sudden whiz, sent her well-aimed shaft quivering straight
into the small white centre of the great bearskin--the imperial
target itself!
With a cry of horror and of rage at such sacrilege, the guards
pounced upon the girl archer, and would have dragged her away.
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