Getting up on a hedge, Stead could see these strange harvestmen
loading the waggons and driving them off. He also heard that Sir
George had come late in the evening, and taken old Lady Elmwood and
several of the servants into Bristol for greater safety. Then came
the heavy boom of a great gun in the distance.

"The Parliament men are having their turn now--as the King's men had
before," said Gates.

And all who had some leisure--or made it--went off to the church
tower to get a better view of the white tents being set up outside
the city walls, and the compact bodies of troops moving about as if
impelled by machinery, while others more scattered bustled like
insects about the camp.

Steadfast, however, went home, very anxious about his own three cows,
and seven sheep with their lambs, as well as his small patches of
corn, which, when green, had already only escaped being made forage
of by the Royalist garrison, because he was a tenant of the loyal
Elmwoods. These fields were exposed, though the narrow wooded ravine
might protect the small homestead and the cattle.

He found his new guest very happy cracking nuts, and expounding to
Rusha what kinds of firearms made the various sounds they heard.
Patience had made an attempt to get her to exchange her soiled finery
for a sober dress of Rusha's; but "What shall I do, Stead?" said the
grave elder sister, "I cannot get her to listen to me, she says she
is no prick-eared Puritan, but truly she is not fit to be seen."
Stead whistled. "Besides that she might bring herself and all of us
into danger with those gewgaws."