'On, boys! Charge! Hurrah!'

The gate rocked violently, and Nancy began to feel her position was a
perilous one. All the little people were screaming at the top of their
voices, when suddenly, in the midst of the din, appeared old Sol.

'What now! Who are these trying to break one of Her Majesty's gates down?
Be off, you young ruffians! Teddy Platt, you're at the bottom of all the
mischief brewing in the parish. I'll get my big stick out and give you a
thrashing before I've done with you.'

Old Sol's words were fierce, but the boys knew he had the softest heart
in the village, and they stood their ground. 'It's all the button-boy,'
said Nancy eagerly, as she descended from her perch, and laid her little
hand confidingly on the old man's arm. 'He brought these boys up to fight
me, but I was up the mast, and they couldn't shake me off!'

'We told you we wouldn't fight a girl,' protested Teddy indignantly; 'you
don't speak the truth.'

'Well, what did you bring the boys for?' demanded the small maiden
severely.

'We came,' put in Sam boldly, 'to tell you that if you were so cheeky you
would soon get into trouble. We ain't going to stand sauce from you.'

'What has the little lass been doing, you young scoundrels?'

'They're only boys, grandfather; let us come in to mother, and leave
them. They're the rudest boys I've ever seen, and the button-boy is the