hast a weapon, and thy heart was ever stronger than thy brain
--we are only two--but a sudden attack from men of resolu-
tion will do much--follow me!

Whither?--and for what purpose?" said the Jester.

"To rescue Cedric."

As the Jester was about to obey, a third person suddenly
made his appearance, and commanded them both to halt.
From his dress and arms, Wamba would have conjectured him
to be one of those who had just assailed his master; but the
glittering baldric across his shoulder, with the rich bugle-
horn which it supported, made him recognize Locksley the
yeoman.

"What is the meaning of all this," said he, "or who is it
that rifle, ransom, and make prisoners in these forests?"

"You may look at their cassocks close by," said Wamba,
"and see whether they be thy children's coats or no ¹ --for they
are as like thine own as one green pea is to another."

"I will learn that presently," answered Locksley; "and I
charge ye, on peril of your lives, not to stir from the place
where ye stand until I have returned. Obey me, and it
shall be the better for you and your masters. Yet stay, I must
render myself as like these men as possible."

So saying, he unbuckled his baldric with the bugle, took a
feather from his cap, and gave them to Wamba; then drew a
vizard ² from his pouch, and went to execute his purpose of
reconnoitering. He returned in the course of a few minutes.

"Friend Gurth," he said, "I have mingled among yon
men, and have learnt to whom they belong. There is, I
think, no chance that they will proceed to any actual violence
against their prisoners. For three men to attempt them at
this moment were little else than madness; for they are good
men of way. But I trust soon to gather a force; you are both
servants, and, as I think, faithful servants, of Cedric the
Saxon, the friend of the rights of Englishmen. He shall not

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