And I would laugh at it," said the honest Jester, "if I could for weeping." And he shed tears of unfeigned sorrow.
Gurth's countenance kindled--"Wamba," he said, "thou hast a weapon, and thy heart was ever stronger than thy brain,--we are only two--but a sudden attack from men of resolution will do much--follow me!" "Whither ?--and for what purpose ?" said the Jester.
"To rescue Cedric." "But you have renounced his service but now," said Wamba.
"That," said Gurth, "was but while he was fortunate--follow me!" 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 outlaws who had just assailed his master; but, besides that he wore no mask, the glittering baldric across his shoulder, with the rich bugle-horn which it supported, as well as the calm and commanding expression of his voice and manner, made him, notwithstanding the twilight, recognise Locksley the yeoman, who had been victorious, under such disadvantageous circumstances, in the contest for the prize of archery.
"What is the meaning of all this," said he, "or who is it that rifle, and 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--for they are as like thine own, as one green pea-cod 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 from his pouch, and, repeating his charges to them to stand fast, went to execute his purposes of reconnoitring.
"Shall we stand fast, Gurth ?" said Wamba; "or shall we e'en give him leg-bail?
In my foolish mind, he had all the equipage of a thief too much in readiness, to be himself a true man." "Let him be the devil," said Gurth, "an he will.

We can be no worse of waiting his return.

If he belong to that party, he must already have given them the alarm, and it will avail nothing either to fight or fly.
Besides, I have late experience, that errant thieves are not the worst men in the world to have to deal with." The yeoman 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, and whither they are bound.