retainer 98 the retainer 98 pivots on the torsion spring 100 as described above as shown in fig1 once the bowstring 94 has been pulled behind the retainer 98 the torsion spring 100 biases the retainer 98 into the original position thereafter the cocker 96 is reversed the bowstring 94 biases the hook 88 forward until the bowstring 94 contacts the retainer 98 as shown in fig1 as the hook 88 move forward a magnet 102 preferably a neodymium iron boron magnet or similarly powerful magnet draws the hook 88 upward and out of the line of fire of the bowstring 94 thereafter an arrow 104 is positioned on the rail 106 once all of the safety devices have been disengaged the trigger 108 is actuated to release the retainer 98 causing the bowstring 94 to drive the arrow 104 down the rail 106 when it is desired to reload the alternative embodiment of the crossbow 86 the cocker 96 can be used to draw the hook 88 rearward to slide the hook 88 relative to the rare earth magnet 102 to release the hook 88 therefrom alternatively the hook 88 may be engaged by the user and slid forwardly relative to the rare earth magnet 102 to release the hook 88 therefrom although the invention has been described with respect to a.