OfallthetrainnoneescapedexceptWamba，whoshowedupontheoccasionmuchmorecouragethanthosewhopretendedtogreatersense。Hepossessedhimselfofaswordbelongingtooneofthedomestics，whowasjustdrawingitwithatardyandirresolutehand，laiditabouthimlikealion，drovebackseveralwhoapproachedhim，andmadeabravethoughineffectualattempttosuccourhismaster。Findinghimselfoverpowered，theJesteratlengththrewhimselffromhishorse，plungedintothethicket，and，favouredbythegeneralconfusion，escapedfromthesceneofaction。
　　YetthevaliantJester，assoonashefoundhimselfsafe，hesitatedmorethanoncewhetherheshouldnotturnbackandsharethecaptivityofamastertowhomhewassincerelyattached。
　　``Ihaveheardmentalkoftheblessingsoffreedom，’’
　　hesaidtohimself，``butIwishanywisemanwouldteachmewhatusetomakeofitnowthatI
　　haveit。’’
　　Ashepronouncedthesewordsaloud，avoiceverynearhimcalledoutinalowandcautioustone，``Wamba！’’and，atthesametime，adog，whichberecognisedtobeFangs，jumpedupandfawneduponhim。``Gurth！’’answeredWamba，withthesamecaution，andtheswineherdimmediatelystoodbeforehim。
　　``Whatisthematter?’’saidheeagerly；``whatmeanthesecries，andthatclashingofswords?’’
　　``Onlyatrickofthetimes，’’saidWamba；``theyareallprisoners。’’
　　``Whoareprisoners?’’exclaimedGurth，impatiently。
　　``Mylord，andmylady，andAthelstane，andHundibert，andOswald。’’
　　``InthenameofGod！’’saidGurth，``howcametheyprisoners?——andtowhom?’’
　　``Ourmasterwastooreadytofight，’’saidtheJester；``andAthelstanewasnotreadyenough，andnootherpersonwasreadyatall。Andtheyareprisonerstogreencassocks，andblackvisors。
　　Andtheyliealltumbledaboutonthegreen，likethecrab-applesthatyoushakedowntoyourswine。
　　AndIwouldlaughatit，’’saidthehonestJester，``ifIcouldforweeping。’’Andheshedtearsofunfeignedsorrow。
　　Gurth’scountenancekindled——``Wamba，’’hesaid，``thouhastaweapon，andthyheartwaseverstrongerthanthybrain，——weareonlytwo——butasuddenattackfrommenofresolutionwilldomuch——followme！’’
　　``Whither?——andforwhatpurpose?’’saidtheJester。
　　``TorescueCedric。’’
　　``Butyouhaverenouncedhisservicebutnow，’’
　　saidWamba。
　　``That，’’saidGurth，``wasbutwhilehewasfortunate——
　　followme！’’
　　AstheJesterwasabouttoobey，athirdpersonsuddenlymadehisappearance，andcommandedthembothtohalt。Fromhisdressandarms，Wambawouldhaveconjecturedhimtobeoneofthoseoutlawswhohadjustassailedhismaster；but，besidesthatheworenomask，theglitteringbaldricacrosshisshoulder，withtherichbugle-hornwhichitsupported，aswellasthecalmandcommandingexpressionofhisvoiceandmanner，madehim，notwithstandingthetwilight，recogniseLocksleytheyeoman，whohadbeenvictorious，undersuchdisadvantageouscircumstances，inthecontestfortheprizeofarchery。
　　``Whatisthemeaningofallthis，’’saidhe，``orwhoisitthatrifle，andransom，andmakeprisoners，intheseforests?’’
　　``Youmaylookattheircassockscloseby，’’saidWamba，``andseewhethertheybethychildren’scoatsorno——fortheyareaslikethineown，asonegreenpea-codistoanother。’’
　　``Iwilllearnthatpresently，’’answeredLocksley；
　　``andIchargeye，onperilofyourlives，nottostirfromtheplacewhereyestand，untilIhavereturned。Obeyme，anditshallbethebetterforyouandyourmasters——Yetstay，Imustrendermyselfaslikethesemenaspossible。’’
　　Sosayingheunbuckledhisbaldricwiththebugle，tookafeatherfromhiscap，andgavethemtoWamba；thendrewavizardfromhispouch，and，repeatinghischargestothemtostandfast，wenttoexecutehispurposesofreconnoitring。
　　``Shallwestandfast，Gurth?’’saidWamba；
　　``orshallwee’engivehimleg-bail?Inmyfoolishmind，hehadalltheequipageofathieftoomuchinreadiness，tobehimselfatrueman。’’
　　``Lethimbethedevil，’’saidGurth，``anhewill。
　　Wecanbenoworseofwaitinghisreturn。Ifhebelongtothatparty，hemustalreadyhavegiventhemthealarm，anditwillavailnothingeithertofightorfly。Besides，Ihavelateexperience，thaterrantthievesarenottheworstmenintheworldtohavetodealwith。’’
　　Theyeomanreturnedinthecourseofafewminutes。
　　``FriendGurth，’’hesaid，``Ihavemingledamongyonmen，andhavelearnttowhomtheybelong，andwhithertheyarebound。Thereis，Ithink，nochancethattheywillproceedtoanyactualviolenceagainsttheirprisoners。Forthreementoattemptthematthismoment，werelittleelsethanmadness；fortheyaregoodmenofwar，andhave，assuch，placedsentinelstogivethealarmwhenanyoneapproaches。ButItrustsoontogathersuchaforce，asmayactindefianceofalltheirprecautions；
　　youarebothservants，and，asIthink，faithfulservants，ofCedrictheSaxon，thefriendoftherightsofEnglishmen。HeshallnotwantEnglishhandstohelphiminthisextremity。Comethenwithme，untilIgathermoreaid。’’
　　Sosaying，hewalkedthroughthewoodatagreatpace，followedbythejesterandtheswineherd。
　　ItwasnotconsistentwithWamba’shumourtotravellonginsilence。
　　``Ithink，’’saidhe，lookingatthebaldricandbuglewhichhestillcarried，``thatIsawthearrowshotwhichwonthisgayprize，andthatnotsolongsinceasChristmas。’’
　　``AndI，’’saidGurth，``couldtakeitonmyhalidome，thatIhaveheardthevoiceofthegoodyeomanwhowonit，bynightaswellasbyday，andthatthemoonisnotthreedaysoldersinceI
　　didso。’’
　　``Minehonestfriends，’’repliedtheyeoman，``who，orwhatIam，islittletothepresentpurpose；
　　shouldIfreeyourmaster，youwillhavereasontothinkmethebestfriendyouhaveeverhadinyourlives。AndwhetherIamknownbyonenameoranother——orwhetherIcandrawabowaswellorbetterthanacow-keeper，orwhetheritismypleasuretowalkinsunshineorbymoonlight，arematters，which，astheydonotconcernyou，soneitherneedyebusyyourselvesrespectingthem。’’
　　``Ourheadsareinthelion’smouth，’’saidWamba，inawhispertoGurth，``getthemouthowwecan。’’
　　``Hush——besilent，’’saidGurth。``Offendhimnotbythyfolly，andItrustsincerelythatallwillgowell。’’
　　CHAPTERXX
　　Whenautumnnightswerelonganddrear，Andforestwalksweredarkanddim，Howsweetlyonthepilgrim’searWaswonttostealthehermit’shymnDevotionborrowsMusic’stone，AndMusictookDevotion’swing；
　　And，likethebirdthathailsthesun，Theysoartoheaven，andsoaringsing。
　　_TheHermitofStClement’sWell。_
　　Itwasafterthreehours’goodwalkingthattheservantsofCedric，withtheirmysteriousguide，arrivedatasmallopeningintheforest，inthecentreofwhichgrewanoak-treeofenormousmagnitude，throwingitstwistedbranchesineverydirection。
　　Beneaththistreefourorfiveyeomenlaystretchedontheground，whileanother，assentinel，walkedtoandfrointhemoonlightshade。
　　Uponhearingthesoundoffeetapproaching，thewatchinstantlygavethealarm，andthesleepersassuddenlystartedupandbenttheirbows。
　　Sixarrowsplacedonthestringwerepointedtowardsthequarterfromwhichthetravellersapproached，whentheirguide，beingrecognised，waswelcomedwitheverytokenofrespectandattachment，andallsignsandfearsofaroughreceptionatoncesubsided。
　　``WhereistheMiller?’’washisfirstquestion。
　　``OntheroadtowardsRotherham。’’
　　``Withhowmany?’’demandedtheleader，forsuchheseemedtobe。
　　``Withsixmen，andgoodhopeofbooty，ifitpleaseStNicholas。’’
　　``Devoutlyspoken，’’saidLocksley；``andwhereisAllan-a-dale?’’
　　``WalkeduptowardstheWatling-street，towatchforthePriorofJorvaulx。’’
　　``Thatiswellthoughtonalso，’’repliedtheCaptain；——
　　``andwhereistheFriar?’’
　　``Inhiscell。’’
　　``ThitherwillIgo，’’saidLocksley。``Disperseandseekyourcompanions。Collectwhatforceyoucan，forthere’sgameafootthatmustbehuntedhard，andwillturntobay。Meetmeherebydaybreak——
　　Andstay，’’headded，``Ihaveforgottenwhatismostnecessaryofthewhole——TwoofyoutaketheroadquicklytowardsTorquilstone，theCastleofFront-de-Buf。Asetofgallants，whohavebeenmasqueradinginsuchguiseasourown，arecarryingabandofprisonersthither——Watchthemclosely，foreveniftheyreachthecastlebeforewecollectourforce，ourhonourisconcernedtopunishthem，andwewillfindmeanstodoso。
　　Keepaclosewatchonthemtherefore；anddispatchoneofyourcomrades，thelightestoffoot，tobringthenewsoftheyeomenthereabout。’’
　　Theypromisedimplicitobedience，anddepartedwithalacrityontheirdifferenterrands。Inthemeanwhile，theirleaderandhistwocompanions，whonowlookeduponhimwithgreatrespect，aswellassomefear，pursuedtheirwaytotheChapelofCopmanhurst。
　　Whentheyhadreachedthelittlemoonlightglade，havinginfrontthereverend，thoughruinouschapel，andtherudehermitage，sowellsuitedtoasceticdevotion，WambawhisperedtoGurth，``Ifthisbethehabitationofathief，itmakesgoodtheoldproverb，ThenearerthechurchthefartherfromGod——Andbymycockscomb，’’headded，``Ithinkitbeevenso——Hearkenbuttotheblacksanctuswhichtheyaresinginginthehermitage！’’
　　Infacttheanchoriteandhisguestwereperforming，atthefullextentoftheirverypowerfullungs，anolddrinkingsong，ofwhichthiswastheburden：——
　　``Come，trowlthebrownbowltome，Bullyboy，bullyboy，Come，trowlthebrownbowltome：
　　Ho！jollyJenkin，Ispyaknaveindrinking，Come，trowlthebrownbowltome。’’
　　``Now，thatisnotillsung，’’saidWamba，whohadthrowninafewofhisownflourishestohelpoutthechorus。``Butwho，inthesaint’sname，everexpectedtohaveheardsuchajollychantcomefromoutahermit’scellatmidnight！’’
　　``Marry，thatshouldI，’’saidGurth，``forthejollyClerkofCopmanhurstisaknownman，andkillshalfthedeerthatarestoleninthiswalk。Mensaythatthekeeperhascomplainedtohisofficial，andthathewillbestrippedofhiscowlandcopealtogether，ifhekeepsnotbetterorder。’’