第36章

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，onperil