The butt or target
used in archery at Solvamhall
was not
marked out in
concentric rings as at the present day, but was prepared in
fanciful
designs.
In the illustration is shown a numbered target prepared by Sir
Hugh himself.
It is something of
a curiosity, because it will be found
that he has so cleverly arranged the numbers that every one of the
twelve
lines of three adds up to exactly twenty-two.
One day, when the
archers were a little tired of
their sport,
Sir Hugh de
Fortibus said, "What ho, merry archers!
Of a truth it is said that a
fool's bolt is soon shot, but, by my faith, I know not any man among
you
who shall do that which I will now put forth.
Let these numbers
that
are
upon the butt be set down afresh, so that the twelve lines thereof
shall
make twenty and three instead of twenty and two."
To
rearrange the numbers one
to nineteen so that
all the
twelve lines
shall add up to twenty-three will be found a fascinating puzzle. Half
the
lines are, of course, on the sides, and the others radiate from the
centre.
See
answer
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